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Month: April 2014

Jesus Is Risen, THEREFORE…

Published by Jeff Kennon on April 21, 2014

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There is perhaps no greater chapter in the Bible that explains the doctrine of the resurrection than 1 Corinthians 15. In it, Paul helps those in Corinth with their struggle with a bodily resurrection.

Having been influenced by Greek thought, the Corinthians questioned how a physical body that is perishable could be made suitable for the spiritual realm. But Paul emphatically writes that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised (1 Cor. 15:13).

And if Christ has not been raised from the dead, there is no gospel. Our faith is in vain and we are to be pitied above all people. But Christ has been raised. Therefore, we will be raised as well.

Because Christ has been raised, there is life after death. All who are in Christ will receive new bodies because Christ is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor 15:20). In other words, Jesus is the first to be resurrected. In due time, those who are believers will experience the same.

Because Christ has been raised, we have victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:57). The sting of death has been removed for as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Cor. 15:22).

Because Christ has been raised, our faith is not in vain. We are made alive. We have victory over death. We have the hope of a new resurrected body. So what does this mean? What does Paul encourage the Corinthians to do with this truth of the resurrection?

It’s important to note that in all of Paul’s letters, theology leads to praxis. Doctrine leads to the living of every day life. Therefore, the doctrine of the resurrection naturally leads to Paul exhorting believers in how to live.

Paul writes:

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58).

So because Christ is risen, we should now…

  • Hold strongly to the truth of the gospel. Our faith is not in vain. Christ is risen. Don’t be knocked loose from holding to that which is “of first importance” (1 Cor. 15:3-5), the message of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.
  • Get to work building up the church. Share the gospel, teach, encourage, serve, pray, and love others. And don’t do such things half-heartedly, but “abound” or “excel” in them.
  • Realize that what we do for the kingdom is not wasted. Whatever you are contemplating on doing for the kingdom, do it! Michael Bird writes that “the resurrection moves us to take risks for God because the resurrection proves that God is behind us, before us and with us. Our labor in the Lord in this life plants seed that will sprout forth in the resurrection life; thus, what work we do in this age will flower in the coming age of new creation.”

From Paul’s understanding of the resurrection, Easter Sunday impacts Monday. It works itself out in everyday life as we seek to glorify God and make Him known.

 

 

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If Not For The Resurrection…

Published by Jeff Kennon on April 20, 2014

th-2 If Christ has not been raised from the dead, then according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19…

All preaching is worthless

If you attended church today, then what you heard was bogus. It was nothing but empty words that had no power to change.

Your faith is worthless

If you have placed your faith in Christ, then it is worthless as you are trusting in something that is a lie. “If Christ hasn’t been raised, the Christian faith is fiction and we are stranded in the fall of humanity, trapped in our imperfections. In other words, there is no hope, no purpose, no plan for the future. This is all there is.” (see Raised? Finding Jesus by Doubting the Resurrection)

The Apostle’s testimony is false

We have been fed a lie. “Without the resurrection, Jesus’ teachings are a sham, half-baked ideas from a wandering Jew with a messiah complex” (from Raised?) And the apostles only continued the conspiracy by passing down the fable of the resurrection from generation to generation.

You are still in our sins

There is no forgiveness. Paul wrote in Romans that Jesus was raised “for our justification” (4:25); that we now “walk in newness of life (6:4-5); and that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (8:1). But if there is no resurrection, all of this is a lie.

Believers who have died are lost forever

If Christ has not been raised, then “the human terror of death as a gloomy portal leading to oblivion and divine condemnation would be justified” (see 1 Corinthians by David Garland). Believers remain in the clutches of death.

Believers are to be pitied.

If there is no resurrection, then “Christians become pathetic dupes, taken in by a colossal fraud,” writes Garland. “Their transformation and glorious spiritual experiences in this life are all make-believe. They are the most pitiable of all human beings because they have embraced Christ’s death and suffering for nothing.”

 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead…

Christ is risen! And you, O death are annihilated!

Christ is risen! And the evil ones are cast down!

Christ is risen! And the angels rejoice!

Christ is risen! And life is liberated!

Christ is risen! And the tomb is emptied of its dead;

For Christ having risen from the dead,

Is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be glory and power, now and forever, and from all ages to all ages.

                  AMEN.

(cited from Evangelical Theology  by Michael F. Bird)

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Wanna Go Deeper In Your Faith?

Published by Jeff Kennon on April 18, 2014

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Want to go deeper in your faith? Most likely, you have been encouraged to do so at some point in your Christian life. If not, let me encourage you to pursue such a challenge.

But have you ever stopped to think about what “going deeper” actually means? Does it mean reading more theology books? Going on more mission trips? Praying longer? Memorizing Scripture? I do think it can involve such things as these, but ultimately, I believe going deeper in one’s faith  is centered on “the cross.”

It is the cross by which we see what it means to go deeper. And it is the cross by which we have the power to do so. Therefore, if we are to go to new depths in our faith, we will never move beyond the cross. It is the cross that informs and transforms our lives.

The Cross Informs

We glimpse the holiness, righteousness, justice, and wrath of God at the cross. We marvel at God’s love, grace, and mercy as well.

Our sin is exposed at the cross. We see its destructiveness. We see its power over our lives. We see how serious it is and how it leads to death.

And all of this is just the beginning. We will never plummet the depths of the cross. David Prior, in his commentary on 1 Corinthians writes that “we never move on from the cross, only into a more profound understanding of the cross.”

Therefore, we must preach the word of the cross to ourselves every day. It is the word of the cross that convicts and cuts against the grain of our self-centeredness. And it informs us as to what it means to live sacrificial lives in service to others.

The Cross Transforms

It is this preaching of the cross to ourselves that leads to transformation.  Paul wrote that the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). We are made anew by the power of God found in the gospel–the message of the cross.

The cross therefore, not only informs, but produces a spirituality that is counter-cultural to the world. The world values power, fame, and fortune, but the spirituality of the cross values suffering, deference, and sacrifice.

The cross produces humility. It creates an others-centeredness. It develops costly love for others. And it pushes us to participation with and service to those who are hurting in the world.

Going Deeper

Those who go deeper with Christ must realize that spiritual depth and insight are found in the humility, self-sacrifice, and surrender that Christian service requires.

Going deeper also means that we suffer. Paul wanted to know [Christ] and the power of his resurrection [and to] share in his sufferings (Philippians 3:10).  “The more a believer becomes like Christ,” writes Kent Hughes, “the more he or she will suffer.” Taking part in “the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings is the fellowship of elevated souls who are growing in their knowledge of Christ.”

The bottom line is that to go deeper in your faith is to become more like Jesus. It is to have his attitude of humility, obedience, and service (see Philippians 2:5-11). To grow spiritually is to be formed and transformed by the cross. It is to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow [Christ] daily (Luke 9:23).

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Around The Web

Published by Jeff Kennon on April 17, 2014

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You’re Waking Up Wrong – Own a smartphone? Do you start the day checking email, Facebook, etc…. If so, it’s a stressful way to start the day, but so many of us do it. We can’t help it.

Three Tips on Being a Friend of Sinners – If Jesus was a friend of sinners, we should be too, it seems — somehow, someway. And instantly, this discussion can drift into a much bigger one about Christians and culture and all that.

 REST – This is not about sleep but about a model for making meetings meaningful. Have you been in a boring or meaningless meeting lately? If so, you might want to take a look at this.

99 Resources to Make Your Personal and Business Life Hum – The right tool can make me more efficient and save hours of my time.

7 Reasons We Don’t Make Disciples – Today, mentoring young people is the most fulfilling thing I do. I enjoy preaching to crowds, but if I have to choose between speaking to an audience of a thousand or talking to a small group of spiritually hungry young leaders, I would choose the latter every time. That’s because relational discipleship is the lost art of Jesus and the secret of New Testament ministry.

Christians Get Depressed Too – David Murray, in relation to his book Christians Get Depressed Too, has released 5 short videos about Christians and depression. These videos present five Christians with five very different stories of depression and of how God gave them hope and help to recover

Love People, Not Evangelism

http://vimeo.com/90669059

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5 Reasons Why We Must Keep The Cross At The Center

Published by Jeff Kennon on April 16, 2014

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The cross is the test of everything which deserves to be called Christian. 

–Jurgen Moltmann

The cross is at the heart of Christianity. Therefore, we must keep the cross central. Here are 5 reasons why:

1. The cross is the revelation of God.

To know God is to know Christ on the cross. To know Christ on the cross is to know him as he is revealed by the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).

 When the crucified Jesus is called the ‘image of the invisible of God,’ the meaning is that this is God, and God is like this. God is not greater than he is in this humiliation. God is not more glorious than he is in this self-surrender. God is not more powerful than he is in this helplessness. God is not more divine than he is in this humanity.

                                                                                            –Jürgen Moltmann

2. The cross is our salvation.

God’s revelation of himself in the cross is his provision of salvation. The cross must not just become an example of selflessness. The cross is that in which the sins of the world were atoned (Romans 3:21-26). It is the preaching of the cross which is the power of God by which others might be saved (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:18)

3. The cross leads to cruciformity.

We are not only saved by the cross but also shaped by it. We become cruciform people. Living lives defined by the cross leads to self-sacrifice, humility and service (Philippians 2:5-11).

The way to Christian maturity involves the cross. And specifically, it includes suffering. David Garland writes that “the Christian life is not a fast track to glory but a slow, arduous path that takes one through suffering.”

4. The cross transforms our relationships. 

As we become cruciform people who live lives of self-sacrifice, humility and self-sacrifice, this naturally changes relationships.

It is interesting that in Paul’s letters, when he dealt with factions in the church, he wrote of the cross. Paul was convinced that a proper understanding of the cross would lead to unity within the church (1 Corinthians 1:10-4:21).

5. The cross pushes us into the world.

The cross and mission go together. Just as Christ entered the world at it’s greatest need, so we must enter the world at it’s greatest need.

The cross for us means that we enter the world of those who are alienated and hurting. The church, compelled by the love of God, must enter the suffering of the world.

Discipleship of the crucified Christ is characterized by a faith that drives its adherents into the world with a relentlessness and a daring they could not manage on the basis of human volition alone.

                                                                                   –Douglas John Hall

We must be diligent in keeping the cross central.

We must pay attention to the words of D.A. Carson:

I fear that the cross, without ever being disowned, is constantly in danger of being dismissed from the central place it must enjoy, by relatively peripheral insights that take on far too much weight. Whenever the periphery is in danger of displacing the center, we are not far removed from idolatry.

May we say as Paul..

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Galatians 6:14

 

 

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Jesus Changes The Way You Farm, Ranch, and much more

Published by Jeff Kennon on April 15, 2014

Since I live in West Texas and know several farmers in the area, this video caught my attention. But the reason I like it has much more to do with how this young man views his job rather than the job itself.

God has given us certain passions and talents to be used for His glory. And when we do use them for His glory, whether they be teaching, coaching, computing, ranching, owning a business or waiting on tables at a restaurant, they are not used in vain.

The question for all of us then is how do we view our job? Do we see our work as good? Do we understand that the work we do allows us to help and love one another? Do we realize that our work lives display our worship of God?

The reality is that we can milk cows, farm cotton, and even practice law to the glory of God. The reason is due to what Christ has accomplished for us on the cross and the hope he has given us through the resurrection. Jesus has changed everything so whatever we do, we do so with purpose and direction.

Regardless of how trivial you may think your task at work might be, or even if you think you have an unimportant job, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ (Colossians 3:23-24).

The young ranch hand in this video says it perfectly: I may not be Billy Graham, but I can serve God in a blue collar job. How true this is! And how great it is to hear a young man begin to understand his job as an opportunity to work out his calling.

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The Final Days of Jesus

Published by Jeff Kennon on April 13, 2014

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What took place during the last days of Jesus’s life on earth? Below you will find an outline provided with Scripture references.

This outline is from the helpful book The Final Days of Jesus: The Most Important Week of the Most Important Person Who Ever Lived by Andreas J. Kostenberger and Justin Taylor.

One other resource for you during this Holy Week is found at Justin Taylor’s website. He will be posting daily videos about Jesus’s final days.

Sunday
  • Jesus enters Jerusalem – Matt. 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19.
  • Jesus predicts his death – John 12:20-36.
  • Jesus visits the temple – Matt. 21:14-17; Mark 11:11.
Monday
  • Jesus curses a fig tree – Matt. 21:18-29; Mark 11:12-14.
  • Jesus cleanses the temple – Matt. 21:12-13; Mark11:15-18; Luke 19:45-48.
Tuesday
  • The lesson from the fig tree – Matt. 21:20-22; Mark 11:20-26.
  • Jesus teaches and engages in controversies in the temple – Matt. 21:23-23:39; Mark 11:27-12:44; Luke 20:1-21:4.
  • Jesus predicts the future – Matt. 24-25; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:5-36.
Wednesday
  • Jesus continues his daily teaching in the temple complex – Luke 21:37-38.
  • The Sanhedrin plots to kill Jesus – Matt. 26:3-5; Mark 14:1-2; Luke 22:1-2.
Thursday
  • Jesus instructs his disciples Peter and John to secure a large upper room in a house in Jerusalem and to prepare for the Passover meal – Matt. 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13.
  • In the evening Jesus eats the Passover meal with the Twelve, tells them of the coming betrayal, and institutes the Lord’s Supper – Matt. 26:20-29; Mark 14:17-23; Luke 22:14-30.
  • During supper Jesus washes the disciples’ feet, interacts with them, and delivers the Upper Room Discourse (Farewell Discourse) – John 13:1-17:26.
  • Jesus and the disciples sing a hymn together, then depart to the Mount of Olives – Matt. 26:30; Mark 14:26; Luke 22:39.
  • Jesus predicts Peter’s denials – Matt. 26:21-35; Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22:31-34.
  • Jesus issues final practical commands about supplies and provisions – Luke 22:35-38.
  • Jesus and the disciples go to Gethesmane, where he struggles in prayer and they struggle to stay awake late into the night – Matt. 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46.
Friday
  • Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested by the authorities (perhaps after midnight, early Friday morning) – Matt. 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:2-12.
  • Jesus has an informal hearing before Annas (former hight priest and Caiaphas’s father-in-law) – Matt. 26:57, 59-68; Mark 14:53, 55-65; Luke 22:63-71.
  • As predicted Peter denies Jesus and the rooster crows – Matt. 26:58, 69-75; Mark 14:54, 66-72; Luke 22:54b-62; John 18:15-18, 25-27.
  • After sunrise on Friday the final consultation of the full Sanhedrin condemns Jesus to death and sends him to Pontius Pilate – Matt. 27:1-2; Mark 15:1.
  • Judas changes his mind, returns the silver, and hangs himself – Matt. 27:3-10.
  • Pilate questions Jesus and send him to Herod Antipas – Matt.27:11-14; Mark 15:2-5; Luke 23:1-7; John 18:28-38.
  • Herod questions Jesus and send him back to Pilate – Luke 23:8-12.
  • Jesus appears before Pilate a second time and is condemned to die – Matt. 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13=25; John 18:38b-19:16.
  • Jesus is mocked and marched to Golgotha – Matt. 27:27-34; Mark 15:16-23; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17.
  • Jesus is crucified between two thieves – Matt. 27:35-44; Mark 15:24-32; Luke 23:33-43; John 19:18-27.
  • Jesus breathes his last – Matt. 27:45-56; Mark 15:33-41; Luke 23:44-49; John 19:28-37.
  • Joseph of Arimathea buries Jesus in a new tomb – Matt. 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42.
Saturday
  • The chief priests and Pharisees place guards at the tomb with Pilate’s permission – Matt. 27:62-66.
Sunday
  • Some women discover the empty tom and are instructed by angels – Matt. 28:1-7; Mark 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-7; John 20:1
  • The women, fearful and joyful, leave the garden and tell the disciples – Matt. 28:8-10; Luke 24:8-11; John 20:2.
  • Peter and John rush to the tomb based upon Mary Magdalene’s report and discover it empty – Luke 24:12; John 20:3-10.
  • Mary returns to the tomb and encounters Jesus – John 20:11-18.
  • Jesus appears to Cleopas and a friend on the road to Emmaus, later Jesus appears to Peter – Luke 24:13-35.
  • That evening Jesus appears to the Ten (minus Thomas) in a house (with locked doors) in Jerusalem – Luke 24:36-43.
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Don’t Seek Elegant Preaching of the Cross

Published by Jeff Kennon on April 13, 2014

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And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

1 Corinthians 2:1-2

It is in the nature of the cross that it cannot be preached elegantly and brilliantly, only in weakness.  –H.R. Weber (quoted in David Garland’s commentary on 1 Corinthians)

David Garland writes…

The subject of the preaching, Jesus Christ crucified, was regarded as weak, those who responded to the preacher were regarded as weak, and the preacher of the gospel came off as week. When Paul preached, others questioned his sufficiency for the task (2 Cor. 2:16; 3:5). 

The preacher’s task is not to create a persuasive message at all, but to convey effectively the already articulated message of another.

The message is God’s and it is conveyed by means that look weak, foolish, and unimpressive to the world.

Carrying a placard announcing the crucified Messiah as the glory of God in simple unadorned words make the herald look foolish in the eyes of the world. But such “foolishness” reveals that God, not the messenger, is to be credited for saving those who believe that message. 

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