DEEPER

 

 

This Sunday we're launching our new series, Redemption: The Gospel according to Ruth. For those of you who like to dig deeper and delve into Ruth on your own I'm including a few recommended books on Ruth. All of them are written at a fairly easy level that don't require any technical knowledge.

John Piper, A Sweet & Bitter Providence: Sex, Race and the Sovereignty of God. Buy it here.

John Piper, Ruth: Under the Wings of God. A companion book to the one above. This book is a series of poems written from the perspective of Boaz, Ruth and Naomi, based on the events in the book of Ruth. Buy it here.

Dean R. Ulrich, From Famine to Fullness: The Gospel According to Ruth. Buy it here.

 

Iain M. Duguid, Esther & Ruth: Reformed Expository Commentary. Buy it here.

 

Sinclair B. Ferguson, Faithful God: An Exposition of the Book of Ruth. Buy it here.

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I don't know if you've noticed, but at TAC, we've been engaged in a year-long experiment. Out of a desire to experience deep, meaningful times of worship in response to God's Word, we have been trying a new way of participating in the Lord's Supper (new to us anyway). Recently I've had a few people ask me about why I like this method, and so I thought I'd share with you all.

The Original Method
When Jesus instituted what we call The Lord's Supper or Communion, it was during the Passover meal. He and his disciples were gathered around the table, participating in this symbolic meal which reminded them of God's great act of redemption in saving his people out of slavery in Egypt (see Luke 22:7-23).

It seems from passages like I Corinthians 11:17-34, that the early church would gather every Sunday night to celebrate the Lord's Supper. The whole church would gather in a home and share a meal together, which would culminate with the bread and wine of Communion. The Lord's Supper was a meal.

Our Traditional Method
In recent history, evangelical churches like ours have celebrated communion monthly, instead of weekly, and served the bread and cup by passing them up and down the aisles for everyone to take their own. This is a good way of celebrating communion. There's much to commend about it. There's a neat symbol of unity as everyone in the room eats the bread and drinks the cup at the exact same moment. We all participate in the one cup at the same time. I like that. I also like how this method is easier and more convenient for those with mobility issues. There's also something to be said about the ability to easily pass the elements by without drawing attention to yourself. This is a nice way of minimizing the awkwardness for the visitors in our midst.

Our Newer Method
While still recognizing the advantages of other methods, I want to give you four reasons that I really like the method that we've been using this past year.

First, it requires an active response to God's word, not a passive response. It requires a greater act of the will as we get up and walk forward. We engage our entire bodies in this act of worship. We worship with body and mind.

Second, I like how this method is much more personal. As I come forward the server will look me in the eye and say "This is Christ's body broken for you, Steve". That moment never gets old. To have a dear friend, look at me and to say my name as a participate is a powerful moment. Even more powerful is to be the server who has the deep privilege of sharing that special moment with dozens of friends and church family.

Third, I like how this method creates opportunity for prayer. As you come forward, you can stop and pray with the prayer partners in the front row. I earnestly want TAC to be a place of deep community where no one carries life's burdens (and joys) alone. It's important to me that we are creating space for private intercessory prayer during our worship times.

Fourth, I like how in response to God's Word, we have opportunity to worship and respond as we each feel lead, in our own timing. God's Spirit moves in unique ways in each of us, and we need to create space for each of us to respond to His leading as we need to. You can sing loudly. You can be completely quiet. You can pray. You can seek prayer from others. You can receive the Lord's Supper. You can worship and respond to God's Word, however the Spirit leads in your heart.

 

I'm not sure if there is a perfect method for sharing the Lord's Supper with 200 people. Every method will have its advantages. The important thing is to see past the method to the meaning: Jesus Christ, the perfect God-man, died the death that we deserve, that might have reconciliation with God and life forever with Him. That is what we remember, celebrate and proclaim as we participate, regardless of what method we choose.

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We we're so blessed and thankful that Marie Enns joined us on Sunday to update us on Place of Rescue and her work in Cambodia. To learn more about Place of Rescue, check out their website www.placeofrescue.com. 

If you would like to support Place of Rescue, you can do so through their website, or you can give through our Sunday offering by indicating "Place of Rescue" on your offering envelope.

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I've had a few people asking follow-up questions on my negative reference to Bruce Wilkinson's book The Prayer of Jabez on Sunday. If you missed Sunday's message on the danger of twisting the truth into error, you can listen to it here.

On Sunday I did give Wilkinson's The Prayer of Jabez as one example of teaching that sounds like biblical truth, but is actually twisted the truth into error, and therefore is not truth, but "myth". It surprises me how many Christians devote themselves to these kinds of pseudo-biblical myths, instead of the truth of the gospel. I read the book again this morning, and am even more convinced that its teaching in itself (not just abuses, but the actual content) is unbiblical and even potentially dangerous. So, let me briefly explain why I think The Prayer of Jabez is unbiblical.

Wilkinson breaks Jabez's prayer into four principles:

1. God wants us to pray for his blessing
2. God wants us to pray for his blessing in our ministry
3. God wants us to pray for spiritual power in our ministry
4. God wants us to pray for deliverance from temptation/evil.

All four of these principles are biblical. I could list other scriptures that would support these ideas. You should pray for God's blessing, spiritual power and deliverance. That's a good thing. However, Wilkinson treats this prayer as the key to unlocking God's blessing and abundance in your life. There is a whole life of abundance waiting for you, that God won't give you, and can't give you, until you claim it through the prayer of Jabez. Wilkinson tells the story of the man who went to heaven and was shocked to learn of all the blessing and abundance that God wanted to give him, but the man never received because he didn't ask. So, God has an abundant, prosperous, blessed life for you, and through repeating the prayer of Jabez daily, you can unlock his abundance in your life.

That's my summary of the book. Here are a couple issues:

1. In this view, God is handcuffed and we are sovereign. God is made into a sort of blessings vending machine, where the right phrase or the right actions will unlock his abundance. Wilkinson writes in the preface "I want to teach you a daring prayer that God always answers. It is brief...but I believe it contains the key to a life of extraordinary favour with God" (p. 7 emphasis mine). The key to unlocking extraordinary favour with God is repeating this fairly obscure Old Testament prayer daily, which God always answers.
   
2. The Prayer of Jabez assumes that abundance is always good and is always God's will, and any lack of that is a result of sin. Wilkinson writes, "the only things that can break this cycle of abundant living is sin, because sin breaks the flow of God's power" (p.85). This is the core belief of prosperity teaching: godliness leads to abundance, sin leads to suffering. I believe this to be wrong teaching and unbiblical.

What then does the Bible actually teach?

1. Suffering and persecution are the expected norm for the followers of Christ.
   
   "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim 3:12)
   "through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22)
   "A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you." (John 15:20)
   
   
2. Sometimes God brings pain to his people and does not remove it, even when they ask. Instead he provides sustaining grace, not abundance.
   
   "So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
   
   "And going a little farther he [Jesus] fell on his face and prayed, saying, "‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.'... Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." (Matthew 26:39,42)
   
   
3. In the Bible, wealth is not portrayed as a blessing so much as a danger, not that wealth is wrong, but the pursuit of wealth is dangerous and placing your hope, security and trust in your wealth is idolatry and a denial of God.
   
   "those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction." (I Tim 6:9)
   
   "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy." (I Tim 6:17)
   
   
4. Finally, God is not most glorified in our wealth and abundance, but is most glorified when we treasure Christ, not wealth, and find deep satisfaction in Christ, even while suffering the loss of all things.
   
   "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8)
   
   "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.  If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." (I Peter 4:12-16)
   
   "Whom have I in heaven but you?
   And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
   My flesh and my heart may fail,
   but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:25-26)

So, in summary, I feel that Wilkinson uses I Chronicles 4:10 to promote his version of the prosperity gospel. While his teaching is not nearly as dangerous as more extreme prosperity teaching, it still remains harmful. Particularly troubling his both his mechanical view of God as blessing dispenser, as well as his view that peace, health and abundance are always God's will for you, only hindered by your sin or your lack of asking. Jesus summarized what it means to be his follower with these words "And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?" (Luke 9:23-25).

As J.I. Packer has said of God "And still He seeks the fellowship of His people and will send them both joy and sorrow to detach their hands from the things of this world and attach those hands to the things of Himself."

 

For the view of a man much wiser than myself I'd recommend the following two videos from Dr. John Piper.

 http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/MediaPlayer/4364/Video/

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTc_FoELt8s

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Like me, I'm sure you have all been impacted by the news and subsequent images of the earthquake that took place in Haiti this week. First of all, let me urge you to be in prayer. God is sovereign and good, even in the midst of chaos, and we need to be in prayer for the lives that are at stake, the nation as a whole, the aid that is on its way and the progress of the gospel in a very, very poor country.

There are many good and effective organizations that you can support financially, that are bringing relief to Haiti, and I'd encourage you to support as you are able. This Sunday at TAC, we will be taking up a special offering for the C&MA's Global Emergency Response Fund. So, I'd urge you to pray for the people of Haiti and pray about what you can do to help.

If you would like to donate to the Christian & Missionary Alliance's Global Emergency Response Fund, click the following link and then change the fund/designations from "Global Advance" to "Global Emergency Response Fund".

http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s44829

Also, whether you give on Sunday or over the web, all donations to Haiti relief will be matched by the Canadian Government. 

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We are blessed to have so many translations of the Bible in English. There are twenty English versions available on biblegateway.com, and perhaps there are others I'm not aware of. This is an amazing gift. For the vast majority of languages there are one or maybe two translations of the Bible. For instance, almost a billion people read Chinese, and yet there are only two translations of the Bible in that language. So, I am so thankful that we have any translation of the Bible, never mind such an abundance of strong translations.

Why So Many Translations?
One of the primary reasons why there are so many English translations is that there are different translation theories. When translating the Bible from the original Hebrew and Greek languages into English there are essentially three approaches:

1. Literal: This is the attempt to keep as close as possible to the exact words and phrasing as in the original languages. They translate word-for-word and try to maintain the original word order and to translate individual words consistently throughout. The most common examples are the NASB and the ESV.
2. Dynamic Equivalent: This is the attempt to capture the words, phrases and idioms into a modern equivalent. They translate phrase-by-phrase, trying to convey the meaning of the sentence as a whole. The most common example is the NIV.
3. Paraphrase: This is the attempt to translate the ideas of the original in a fresh, new way. They are less concerned with the exact words and mostly concerned with communicating the sense of the original. The most common examples are the Message and the NLT.

 

Some people think that all translations are made equal, and that you should find the one that is easier or more enjoyable to read. But the differences between literal and paraphrased translations are not about readability, but about interpretation. The more literal a translation is, the less often the translator has to make an interpretive decision in their translation.

So, Which Translation is Best?
So which is preferable, a literal translation or a paraphrase? This question is actually connected to the doctrine of Scripture. The statement of faith of the Christian & Missionary Alliance states, "The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation of people. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice." In other words, we believe that the very words, and all of the words in the original writings are the words of God and are without error. Therefore, the very words matter! It's not just the concepts that are inspired, but the very Hebrew and Greek words.

Ideally, you wouldn't need a translation because you were able to read the Bible in its original languages with as much comfort and easy as if it were your first language. That's not realistic. And so, since we need a translation, the best translation will be the one that is as close as possible to the very words of the original, with as little interpretation as possible. Imagine Jesus called you on your cell phone. Wouldn't you want the best cell coverage and clearest connection possible so that you wouldn't miss anything?

The most literal translation we have is the New American Standard Bible. The NASB is a great translation. The only downside is that it might be too literal to read. It's rather wooden and cumbersome and harder to memorize. I find myself tripping over the words as I read. It's a literal and faithful version, but it doesn't make very readable English.

If you want a more readable version, The New International Version is written at a grade 8 reading level. However, the NIV is a phrase-by-phrase translation that interprets more than I'd like. While it is generally a faithful translation, it doesn't provide the accuracy and reliability of a literal translation.

And so, the best translation available is the English Standard Version. The ESV is an "essentially literal" translation, meaning that it takes a literal approach to translation, but without sacrificing flow and readability. Like the NIV, the ESV reads at about a grade 8 level. Like the NASB, the ESV is translated in a literal, word-for-word style. Since being released nine years ago, the ESV has quickly been recognized by evangelical scholars and pastors as the most reliable and faithful English Bible translation available.

Conclusion
At TAC we value Truth and believe that the very words of the Bible are inspired and inerrant in the original manuscripts. Therefore, we want a literal Bible that takes every word seriously, without sacrificing readability. For this reason, we have changed our regular preaching and pew Bible to the English Standard Version.

To replace the pew Bibles, we were able to order straight from the publisher for a massive discount, and we used funds left in the Christine McGregor memorial fund. We have donated the old NIVs to the Union Gospel Mission for distribution to those in need.

To read the ESV, learn more about its translation and see its endorsements, go to www.esv.org
To learn about the new ESV Study Bible, go to www.esvstudybible.org
To purchase your own copy of the ESV, I recommend amazon.ca

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At TAC, we encourage everyone, and I mean everyone to be in a Community Group. This is not a peripheral side-ministry for a select few, but this is at the heart of what we do. It's our desire to see everyone connected into a Community Group. Here's four reasons why:

1. Because we value Authentic Community. The Christian life is not meant to be lived alone, but in gospel-centred community: a group of disciples of Christ committed to sharing their lives together, loving each other, serving each other, praying for each other, growing together and joining together on the mission entrusted to us.

2. Because we believe that the heart of church is not merely attending worship, but growing together in community. We desire everyone to connect with others and be part of our covenant community.

3. Because everyone is a minister. In Community Groups we "shepherd" each other. As we share our lives together, we support, encourage, serve and pray for each other. This is true ministry. This is not the work of a select few, but of all who follow Christ.

4. Because the radical call to love one another (17 times in the NT), cannot be fulfilled in a room with 200 other people. We love one another and fulfill the other 40+ "one another" commandments of the New Testament in the context of authentic relationships. When we gather as a handful of people, we are finally able to live the Christian life together that Christ has called us to.

Sign-up for new Community Groups will be on Sunday January 10th in the church foyer.

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A Scripture passage that has often spoken to me is I Timothy 6:17-19. In his parting words to his young apprentice Timothy, Paul writes,

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

So often we set our hope on the "uncertainty of riches". When we do this, we badly misunderstand money. When we trust in wealth as our hope and security, we are turning wealth into a god. Wealth is a god that always disappoints us. Instead, we are called to see money not as a god, but as a ministry opportunity. We should pursue a wealth of good works. We should pursue generosity. When our hope and security is God, "who richly provides us with everything to enjoy", we need not cling to our wealth like it's our only hope, but are free to live with generosity, ready to share, free to use our wealth to make a difference in the world around us. I find this so freeing. If God is my God, I don't need to cling to wealth, I can live with a radical generosity.

As a church, we don't want to become an inwardly focused organization that is focused primarily on running programs and services. We desire to be a family, a community that is radically shaped around the gospel and committed to joining God's mission and passionately loving God and our neighbours. Out of an overflow of worship and love for Christ we intentionally seek out ways to serve and love others, both locally and globally.

Malawi
One of the opportunities that God has provided us is through partnering with Lifeline Malawi, a medical mission organization based out of Calgary. Motivated by Christian love, Lifeline Malawi seeks to bring life-transforming hope and healing to Africa. So far they have built two medical clinics in Malawi, providing medical care in one of the poorest countries in the world.

In late May 2010, we are sending a team to Malawi to help build a home near one of the medical clinics. The second medical clinic is not fully operational, since they don't have enough medical staff. The best way to attract the medical workers they need is to provide housing. Our team will be helping the onsite builder. We are looking to raise $10,000 towards this building.

How You Can Help

1. Please pray for Malawi, the work of Lifeline Malawi and our team.

2. Let me challenge you to think hard about using your holidays to join this team and make a difference in one of the poorest places in the world. The trip dates are May 7-24. The team stays in a mission house in Ngodzi village, where the first medical clinic is located. There is a cook there and adequate showers for team members, as well as mosquito netting on the beds. There are opportunities to interact with people in the village, especially the children, and there is also a two day safari offered at the end of the work weeks. Is this something God is calling you to? Talk to Ron or Kathleen Beaton and hear more about what it would be like to join their team.

3. We need your help in raising $10,000. There are three particular fundraisers that you can support right now.

Gleanings.
In the Old Testament, farmers were required to leave the corners and edges of their fields unharvested so that there would be food for the poor and needy. In the same way, we are asking you to leave your "extras", the spare change and coins you have, for the poor. There is a jar of coins in the foyer on Sundays. We're already on our second jar! The first jar held over $200, mostly pennies and small change! Let's fill this jar a few more times!

Bake Sale.
The next two Sundays (November 29, December 6), there will be a bake sale in the foyer. Plan to bring some cash and bring home some delicious desserts for a good cause. This is a unique opportunity where eating way too many sweets can be a genuinely good thing.

Baskets for Sale
Another way to give towards Malawi is to buy one of these really cool baskets. They would make a great Christmas present. Talk to Kathleen Beaton to get yours today.

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As we near the gift-giving Christmas season and near the end of the year, I wanted to recommend a few books for you that I've benefited from recently. Whether a gift for a friend or holiday reading for yourself, these are books that are written at a level that anyone could enjoy and benefit from.

Tim Keller - Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex and Power and the Only Hope that Matters.
Following up his excellent books Reason for God and Prodigal God, Keller turns now to deal with the issue of idolatry. He argues that an idol is anything that we make into an ultimate thing. Only God is ultimate, and anything we put in His place will disappoint. He specifically deals with the idols of love, money, power and success. This book is excellent and very helpful, particularly the chapters on love and money.

Francis Chan - Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
In Crazy Love, Chan calls Christians to understand the depth of God's love for us and then challenges us to live passionate, loving lives in response. This book is very easy to read, with a familiar message presented in a fresh dynamic way.

Kevin DeYoung - Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will
In this short book, Kevin DeYoung challenges the common misconceptions of God's will. In an era when so many young people feel trapped, not knowing God's will, DeYoung shows that God's will is not a nebulous secret knowledge, but has already been revealed to us. We already have what we need to live in obedience to God's will! A great little book, particularly aimed at students.

John Piper - This Momentary Marriage: a Parable of Permanance
A John Piper book is always worth the price. In this book, Piper calls us to see that marriage is not mainly about staying in love, but is primarily about displaying the Glory of God and His covenant keeping love. Marriage is a temporary parable or picture of God's eternal covenant love.

David L. Goetz - Death by Suburb: How to Keep the Suburbs from Killing Your Soul
How do you follow Jesus and pursue a deep spirituality in suburbs littered with coffee shops and SUVs? I really enjoyed this book. Goetz is able to see the trappings of the suburbs and their empty promises.

Bruce Ware - Father, Son & Holy Spirit: Relationships, Roles & Relevance
For most Christians, the doctrine of the trinity is viewed as 1) impossible to understand and 2) not relevant to real life. In this short book, Bruce Ware shows that both those premises are false. He clearly and effectively shows what the Bible has to say about the identity and roles of Father, Son and Spirit and then shows how the relationships within the Trinity are models for our relationships.

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This past Sunday we talked about our fourth core value, Missional Living. You can read about our 4 values, or listen to this Sunday's message.We talked about different ways to connect into our community and live as missionaries to South Delta. Here's a few suggestions for practical missional living:

1.  Find ways to get to know your neighbours. Invite them over for dessert or dinner. Invite them to join your for your family's thanksgiving meal. Be on the lookout for opportunities to connect in your neighborhood.

2. Be involved in the community. Play on a sports team, join a club, coach softball, volunteer somewhere. There a lots of places to use our hobbies and passions to connect with others and build relationships. If you have kids, be very involved in their clubs and sports teams. This is a great way to meet others.

3. Live your life in public. An effective missionary doesn't hide behind closed doors (or gated driveways). Go to coffee shops, talk to people, be friendly, walk instead of driving and intentionally find ways to connect with strangers. Tsawwassen is a friendly place where it isn't all  that wierd to talk to strangers. This can open up great opportunities.

4.  Find ways to serve others. If you live in a condo, serve on the strata or help out around the building. If you live in a house, be the best neighbour you can be. Mow lawns, rake leaves, shovel driveways,  look for opportunities to help and serve others.

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