Discussion Questions from 06/27/2010 Sermon at WBC

This morning I preached from Luke 17:11-19. The title was "Weren't The Other Nine Doing What They Were Supposed to Do?" You can watch or listen to it later this week here.

I am leaving for Zambia later this afternoon, so will not be preaching tonight or next Sunday, July 4th. I do, however, urge you to think through some of the implications of the text and message from today. Here are some questions for further thinking and consideration:

1. Why is it that this passage isn't primarily about thanksgiving?

2. Read 2 King 5:1-19. What are some parallels between the two passages?

3. Why do you think Luke alludes to a passage like the one in 2 Kings?

4. What does it mean that Jesus IS the Word of God (see John 1:1, 14)?

5. Does the healed leper who returns to Jesus disobey Jesus' command to go to the priest(s)? Why not?

6. What does it mean that Jesus is the final, ultimate High Priest?

7. What does it mean that Jesus healed 10 men of their disease, but only one of their eternal, sin problem?

8. The last thing Jesus says in this passage is, "Go your way, your faith has made you well." Whyt is that phrase so beautiful regarding eternal salvation and being right with God? How have you tried to 'be well' with God by your works? What do you find yourself doing that is an effort to 'get God on your good side'?

9. The one Jesus heals is a Samaritan. He obviously heals those that do not look like Him or like us (here in North American Arkansas!). What does that say about His heart to heal foreigners?

10. How does your life reveal that you love and want to see Jesus save and heal those who do not look like us? In what ways do things need to same? In what ways do you need to repent and aggressively and intentionally do some other things?

Fathers Who are Serious about Their God-Ordained Responsibility - Part V

Calling all Fathers!!!!

Okay, so I am sorry for the delay on this last one for anyone who noticed. I intended on doing it Friday, but... Then I intended on getting to it Saturday, but...

Please scroll down for Parts I, II, III, and IV of this series.

So here goes. The more I have thought about it, the more I want to say. There are literally thousands of ways to be 'radically intentional' about making disciples of Christ with and for your children ('to the glory of Jesus Christ'!).

• You could sing with them - my kids LOVE the VBS songs...buy the CD and sing it with them (or purchase some kids praise CD's and listen in the car).

• You must let them see you read and love and cherish the Bible. This is one of the most profound impacts my dad has had on me - EVERY MORNING I saw him reading and loving the Bible!

• You could watch sports with them (or other 'family-friendly' things) and talk through ways someone might or might not display godly, Christ-like character.

On and on the list could go. I leave you (for now) with two interrelated challenges for all dads:

(1) Carve out TIME with your children. Spend time with them. ALOT of time with them. No one has EVER said, 'man, I wish I had spent more time at the office rather than being at home with my family.' Someone may be at the office longer and/or later than you. Someone else may get the 'workaholic' award. Let them get it! You go and let your kids give you the 'best dad in the world' award!

(2) Practically live out Deuteronomy 6 with your family. Read it. Study it. Intentional think through ways you can talk with your kids throughout the day about the ways and purposes and things of God. Ask God for wisdom in doing this and to remind you to do this. He will hear and obey and honor the request. It's not JUST about taking them to church with you. It's not JUST about reading the Bible once a week with them. These things are important for sure. However, if they don't see how it plays out through your life (model the Gospel) and in conversation (talk about the implications of the Gospel), the other things just might become another ritual for them.

If you are saved and God has blessed you with children, He has empowered you already (see Ephesians 2:10) with the skills and tools and wisdom to obey Ephesians 6:4.

Fathers Who are Serious about Their God-Ordained Responsibility - Part IV

Calling All Dads!!!!

Another way dads can fulfill their responsibility to obey Ephesians 6:4 is to visit this web-site and share with their kids a different unreached people group and pray for God to work in that area.

Global Prayer Digest is a web-site designed to have the church pray for a different unreached people group every day of the year.

Here is an example from today's prayer topic:

Lematang People
by GC

“Aanjay, there are jobs in the city!” Matius announced. “This could be a chance to build our own future.” When they married, the Lematang custom required Matius (his name meaning “gift of God”) to move into his wife’s home. That would have been okay except that Aanjay’s older sister already had precedence. So Matius and Aanjay discussed how they could build their own future together. Matius had learned of a company exploring for oil and natural gas in an area within the traditional Lematang lands of southern Sumatra. “This could be our chance,” Aanjay agreed. The young couple began to make plans to get jobs with the company.
Generally, the Lematangs live as a community. Their houses face the roadway, which encourages people to visit with each other. Agriculture serves as their primary income and employment. Leaving the home village is rare, but acceptable. Even in another location they remain part of the group. When Matius and Aanjay move to the city, the people of their village will expect them to return for community activities and group decisions. Even if they leave Sunni Islam to follow Christ, they could still visit their home, but they would no longer be members of the community.

Pray that Christ-followers would heed God’s call to give out His Word to people working in the new industries coming to Sumatra. Pray that God would reveal His ultimate gift to the Lematang people.

Also, with each day's prayer topic, GPD offers a daily devotional you might want to share with your children as well.

Dads, this is just another easy and simple way to help your children know of the needs around the world and get them on God's agenda in praying for the world to turn to Christ and give Him the glory that is due His awesome name!

For your own personal devotion, dads, I encourage you to read Luke 10:2 and think about how God may use you (as you fulfill your God-given obligation) to pray with and for your children to go into the harvest field.

Two Wonderfully Done Adoption Videos

Get your kleenex ready...I'm just sayin'.

Lucy's Gotcha Day (Ethiopia)

Coburn Family (via Zach Nielson's blog)

Fathers Who are Serious about Their God-Ordained Responsibility - Part III

Calling All Fathers!!!!

This is the third of a five-part post on how fathers can practically do Ephesians 6:4 and bring their children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Part I is here and Part II here.

Another intentional action fathers can take with their children is to either (1) ask their children about what they learned in Sunday School; and/or (2) talk with them about some of the points of Sunday's sermon. [This is assuming that fathers are taking their children to church on Sundays...if not, dads, start by doing that!!!!]. Much curriculum that comes through WBC includes a information sheet for parents that aids in prompting further discussions with their kids about what they learned while they were in church. If your child is old enough to participate in a Sunday morning/evening worship service, take notes during the message and jot down good questions in the margins that you can ask your child later. This allows you, dad, to (a) intentionally pay attention to the message; (b) let your child see that you take the message from the Word of God seriously; and (c) prepare for instructing your child spiritually all at the same time! Depending on the age of your child, perhaps challenge them to take notes during the message and jot down questions they have for you as they think through what the Bible passage is teaching.

Another thought, that goes along with this, is to talk to your children each afternoon/evening of Vacation Bible School about the Bible lesson for the day. Ask them what they learned and help walk them back through the story for the day. This will help solidify what they have already heard that morning and allow you to talk through some implications with them on a more personal level.

Again, dads, this doesn't take much effort AT ALL. It just requires us being radically intentional about seizing God-given and already available opportunities to further our children along in the things and ways of God.

For your own personal growth: Read Ephesians 6:1-4 and jot down in your own words what your job is (as a father). Ask yourself, "Since this primary way God has designed for my child to grow spiritually, what needs to be adjusted or rearranged in my life to make this a priority?"

Two Recommended Books from Sunday's Sermon

Sunday morning, in my message to fathers, I recommended two books for men/husbands/fathers.

The first was The Masculine Mandate:God's Calling to Men by Richard D. Phillips

The other was The Complete Husband: A Practical Guide to Biblical Husbanding by Lou Priolo

Mohler on Manhood and Fathers

Yesterday, Al Mohler did a radio program on the necessity of fathers. You can listen and/or download it here.

The blurb from his web-site:

"'Are Fathers Necessary?' This is the question posed by Pamela Paul in her latest article in The Atlantic. Relevant data demonstrates that Ms. Paul is not the only person asking this question. Largely marginalized by the culture, the importance of Fatherhood is now being questioned more and more widely. On today’s program, Dr. Mohler discusses this trend and calls Christians to ensure their thinking about Fatherhood is in accord with the Word of God."

Today, he posted an article on manhood that serious Christians need to take a look at. You can read it here.

His conclusion:

"For Christians, the importance of this article is even greater. God intended for men to have a role as workers, reflecting God’s own image in their vocation. The most important issue here it not the gains made by women, but the displacement of men. This has undeniable consequences for these men and for everyone who loves and depends on them.

"The failure of boys to strive for educational attainment is a sign of looming disaster. Almost anyone who works with youth and young adults will tell you that, as a rule, boys are simply not growing up as fast as girls. This means that their transition to manhood is stunted, delayed, and often incomplete. Meanwhile, the women are moving on.

"What does it mean for large sectors of our society to become virtual matriarchies? How do we prepare the church to deal with such a world while maintaining biblical models of manhood and womanhood?

"The elites are awakening to the fact that these vast changes point to a very different future. Christians had better know that matters far more important than economics are at stake. These trends represent nothing less than a collapse of male responsibility, leadership, and expectations. The real issue here is not the end of men, but the disappearance of manhood."

Fathers Who are Serious about Their God-Ordained Responsibility - Part II

Calling All Dads!!!!

Yesterday I mentioned a brief and simple way to get started getting in the Word with your kids.

Today let me offer another very easy and simple suggestion that will help bring your children up in the ways and purposes of the Lord.

Ask them once or twice a week (or more!) how you can pray for them? Once they respond, then say a quick prayer for them regarding what they mentioned. That's it! A quick and simple way to get in their world, spiritually, and point them to God. You might want to do this after your family worship time (see yesterday's post), or just random times throughout the week (before bed, in the morning before they go to school, after supper, before an event/activity in which they are involved, etc.).

What this will do is it will (1) let them know you care for them and want to take their requests to God; (2) hear you pray for them...thus have a model for them in prayer; (3) allow them to see how God answers the prayers you pray; (4) perhaps open a door for dialogue about some things your child is working through; (5) perhaps give you an opportunity to pray a biblical truth that you have discussed with your child for them in a particular situation.

All of this (and probably much more!) can happen with a simple question: "How can I pray for you?" It's just a matter of intentionally doing it. So, get busy praying for/with your kids!!!

I also encourage you today to read the first couple of chapters of the book of Proverbs and jot down some things you from the text regarding the parents' responsibility in educating their children spiritually.

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Fathers Who are Serious about Their God-Ordained Responsibility - Part I

Calling All Fathers!!!!!!

Yesterday morning at WBC, I preached to fathers for the first half of the message. Basically, all I did was call all of us who are dad's to repent of our failure of and commit to fulfilling our God-given responsibility to lead our families in the things of the Lord. See Ephesians 6:1-4 and Colossians 3:20-21.

Every day this week (Monday -Friday), I plan to help dads be practical in carrying this out and fulfilling what they committed to the Lord yesterday during the service.

For today, let me just begin this series of posts by urging dads not to think this is something that requires hours each day to do and a seminary degree to be able to pull off. It doesn't It requires intentional planning and obedience, but it really doesn't take that much time.

If you have never led out in a time of 'Family Worship' with your family, I would suggest starting something one night a week. You choose what is the best time for you and your family. It might be immediately after supper. It might be right before bed. It might be in the morning before, during, or after breakfast. But start with choosing a time and aim for about 10 minutes.

Once you have done that, one idea would be to either read a chapter of The Jesus Storybook Bible if you have smaller children (older children will love it too!); or read a different Proverb each week if you have older children. After you read, perhaps ask a question like, "what stuck out to you as I read?" and let them talk.

Don't make it more difficult than it is. Keep it simple, just take the initiative and do it!

I will type more tomorrow, but for now, read Deuteronomy 6 and jot down what responsibilities you are given as a dad and think through how that could work out practically in your life and in your home and family.

Discussion Questions from 06/20/2010 Sermon at WBC

Yesterday morning I did something a bit different from the norm. I preached two sermons in one and I took a break from Luke's Gospel. Being that it was Father's Day, I wanted to address fathers and being that we were beginning the process to nominate deacons for the upcoming rotation, I wanted to challenge the congregation to look for a particular kind of man to serve the next 3-year rotation.

You can watch/listen to the message here later in the week (be patient...it's VBS week here at WBC!).

The Scripture references used to challenge fathers were Ephesians 6:1-4 and Colossians 3:20-21. The one I used to address the kind of deacon to look for was Acts 6:1-7.

Here are some discussion questions to further the application in your own heart/life:

1. Why do you think Paul highlights fathers as being the ones to lead out in bringing their children up in the ways of the Lord?

2. Did you have a father who led you and your family in the ways and instruction of the Lord? What did he do?

3. What are some ways you can improve on this with your own family?

(See blog posts this week: "Fathers Who are Serious about Their God-Ordained Responsibility")

4. How was it that the church in the book of Acts was able to continue to experience growth despite obvious issues?

5. Have you prayed for whom God might have you nominate? Is he a man who meets the biblical qualifications (see Acts 6:1-7 and 1 Timothy 3:8-13) AND who is willing to 'think outside the traditional church box' in order to make disciples?

A MUST Read from Jerry Rankin!!!!

Jerry Rankin posted an article this morning that gets at the heart/root of the matter relating to what happened last week at the SBC in Orlando. You can read the entire article here. I urge you to do so. Below are some strong quotes from the article that I want to highlight here:

"All afternoon messengers to the SBC attentively followed the debate, passionately concerned about the outcome of recommendations by the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force. It was the highest attendance in eight years and a clear majority endorsed changes that should enable us to impact lostness across America and around the world.
"Yet, that night as the time for the IMB report approached it seemed that half the convention center exited. Did they really not care to hear what was being done to reach unengaged people groups and celebrate the impressive response to the gospel being seen overseas? Are they unconcerned about what their missionaries are doing as they go out on their behalf to labor in threatening and hostile areas to fulfill the Great Commission? The next night’s attendance of those hearing the North American Mission Board report was the sparsest crowd of any session.
"Was all our discussion and emotional dialogue about the priority of the Great Commission just rhetoric? It was often stated that everyone is for the Great Commission. There may be disagreement about how we should do it and to what extent changing structure and processes can help us make progress in the task, but is our commitment just in principle and doesn’t really represent the focus and concern of our lives?"

And again....

"Much of our debate centered around concern that Great Commission giving would undercut CP as if we were blind to fact it is already being eroded. I was distraught to hear strong support for deferring these actions in order to study the impact it would have on our programs and entities. It would have been one thing to advocate further study to discover how we could accelerate reaching lostness, but to be more concerned about OURSELVES and OUR PROGRAMS…! During the next year more than 20 million people among 6,000 unreached people groups will die and go to hell while we act out of concern that we may not be able to continue our programs. God help us."

"No, whether or not we have a Great Commission Resurgence won’t happen as a result of the vote last week in Orlando. It will be determined as churches gather for budget planning this fall. It will be decided by people in the pew deciding to be faithful stewards. It will happen when we have a church membership who have done more than just take comfort in having escaped the penalty of hell themselves, but their lives are so transformed by the unmerited grace of God they will be sharing it throughout their community and finding ways to lead their church to be involved in taking the gospel across North America and the world." (emphasis mine)

Great Commission Resurgence Task Force Report and SBC Resolutions

Tonight during WBC's regularly scheduled quarterly business meeeting, I spoke to what took place at the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando, FL this past week.

One of the main items up for discussion was the Great Commission Resurgence.

The recommendations (along with their full report) voted on by the convention this week can be read and/or watched here.

The resolutions voted on and approved by the convention can be found here.

You can read about the new SBC President, Bryant Wright here, here, and here at his church's web-site.

Ronnie Floyd's Final Word on the Week's Passing of the GCR

You can read the whole article he posted here.

His challenge(s) to the convention now that it passed:

"The Southern Baptist Convention has issued the final word - they affirmed the GCR recommendations overwhelmingly. The SBC entities will now begin to implement the will of the convention. We must pray for them. The Convention was clear - let’s make the changes as recommended, and we must present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and make disciples of all th
e nations. The Holy Spirit of God is our power to see this vision fulfilled. It is time for us to come together in love for the sake of the Gospel."

And again,

"Let’s take the challenges in the report and personalize them into our lives, our families, our churches, our state conventions, and our SBC entities. It starts with me. It starts with you. Show your church the GCR five-minute video on a Sunday morning. It will challenge them."

Father's Day Special At ChristianAudio.com!!!

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Whitney's work is very solid and a good practical guide for father's who aim to intentionally lead their families spiritually.


In addition, Christianaudio.com is currently having their twice-yearly sale on all of their resources. You can download virtually all of their books for $7.49 until July 2nd!!!!

And don't forget that each month Christianaudio.com offers a free download. This month is Francis Chan's Forgotten God.

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