Why not stay with the New International Version?

Switching translations for preaching can be a big deal, and you might be wondering, “What’s wrong with the NIV I've used for years?” The answer is, “Nothing.” The 1984 NIV has been a great translation. It’s the most popular and most widely used translation in the world. In Bible sales (per unit and total dollars), the 1984 NIV has dominated all other translations for a long time.

However, recently the New International Version’s publisher, Zondervan, announced that their new 2011 edition would soon replace the 1984 edition. The 2011 NIV is in print and as stores sell the last of the 1984 editions in stock, they are being replaced with the 2011. This change prompted the leadership at The Fellowship to consider switching translations since the 1984 NIV will no longer be available and the 2011 has been so highly criticized.[1] So what’s the big deal with the new 2011 edition?

About ten years ago the TNIV came out, then was revised in 2005. The “Today’s New International Version” was met with such controversy regarding its “gender-neutral translation philosophy” that it is out of print today. Despite the less-than-favorable response the TNIV got, the translation of the 2011 NIV is based on the TNIV. The result was a new NIV that is 39% different from the 1984 NIV you are using right now (12,166 verses out of 31,101 have been changed). Words and phrases that were changed include “father” to “parent”, “man” to “person”, “he” and “him” to “they” and “them”, and “forefather” to “ancestor”. Is it a big deal? Not in every case - but in most cases, the Hebrew or Greek words being translated are indeed masculine (he, him, father, etc), not neutral (they, them, parent, etc). So from a translation standpoint, the message may be essentially the same, but the words are inaccurate.

Following the release of the TNIV New Testament in 2002, Vern Poythress and Wayne Grudem evaluated it and cataloged over 900 translation inaccuracies. Vern Poythress is Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary and Editor of the Westminster Theological Journal. And Wayne Grudem serves as Research Professor in Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary and is the former President of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Grudem followed up in 2005 with almost 3,000 more inaccuracies in the TNIV Old Testament. Altogether the TNIV logged 3,686 inaccuracies. About 25% of these have been corrected for the 2011 NIV, but not that’s still not enough to earn it a recommendation from the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood as a “sufficiently reliable English translation.”[2]

Therefore due to the literal inaccuracies and controversy of the 2011 NIV, and the inability of new believers and members to find a 1984 NIV to follow along with, we have decided to switch to a different translation - the English Standard Version.

Why switch to the English Standard Version?

First published in 2001, the English Standard Version was the result of a collaboration of over 100 of the world’s leading evangelical scholars and pastors. Rapidly gaining wide acceptance due to its blend of trusted scholarship and readability, the ESV has become the fastest-growing English Bible in the world.

The ESV is “essentially literal” (or “word-for-word”), which means the translators sought to keep the precise wording of the original text as much as possible, as well as capture the personal style of each biblical author. Keeping the exact word order in every instance is impossible, since grammar, syntax, and idiom differ from language to language. Taking these differences into account though, the translators have produced a Bible that strives for “word-for-word” correspondence, but is also highly readable and fluid in English.[3]

For preaching, the ESV is more transparent than many other translations, and its commitment to the original text leaves interpretive ambiguities for the pastor to interpret. For example, 2 Corinthians 5:14 in the Greek is “agapē tou Christou” which literally means “the love of Christ.” Interpretively “the love of Christ” could mean “the love Christ has for us” or “the love we have for Christ” or both even. By staying committed to a literal translation, the ESV renders this phrase “the love of Christ” and lets the pastor (or reader) interpret, while the NIV for example, translates it “Christ’s love.” This may be the correct interpretation, but the ESV lets the reader decide. Similarly in 1 John, “agapē tou theou” means “the love of God.” The phrase appears in 1 John 2:5, 4:9, and 5:3. The ESV consistently stays with the literal “the love of God,” while many other translations have interpreted it “God’s love” or “love for God.” While one of these may be correct, in the ESV the pastor or reader has the freedom to decide.[4]

In short, the English Standard Version is a solid literal translation that is easy to read, and comes with none of the gender-inclusive controversy that the 2011 NIV has experienced. As a translation rapidly growing in popularity and endorsement, we have decided to preach from, and encourage personal use of the English Standard Version at The Fellowship. To find out more about the English Standard Version, visit www.esv.org.

Steve Adler  |  Discipleship Pastor

Sources

[1] Prominent leaders and conventions endorse critical resolution of 2011 NIV: http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=35663

[2] An evaluation of gender-neutral language in the 2011 NIV by The Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood: http://www.cbmw.org/Resources/Articles/An-Evaluation-of-Gender-Language-in-the

[3] About the ESV's translation philosophy and manuscripts used in translation: http://www.esv.org/esv/translation/about/

[4] Interpretive transparency for preaching from the ESV: http://static.crossway.org/excerpt/why-our-church-switched-to-the-esv/why-our-church-switched-to-the-esv.pdf (page 11)

As adults we all want something, but do we want a fulfilling, personal relationship with Jesus Christ? I think we all do, and sometimes we don’t even know it. It’s that feeling, that longing, almost an urgency that we can’t name. We’ve heard other people talk about their relationship with Jesus and how amazing, rewarding, or fulfilling it is. And we say to ourselves… I want that. Maybe you have a personal relationship with Him, but it is erratic. It is stop-and-go, kind of tortoise and hare, or you started out with a big shovel digging into Christ, but only got a few inches deep. We’ve read the promises in God’s Word. We make a commitment again and again to apply them in our lives. Then for whatever reason, we stop short of seeing it through. Why? Fear? Is it the unknown? Is it too hard?

Maybe we are like children in the candy aisle. We want too much or we want it all. We don’t know what to choose, so we choose nothing. We go home empty handed. But when our desire is for God, He is ready and willing to give us what we want. He won’t cut our “wanters” out. He will fill them up. Our God is a God of abundance and He goes above and beyond. The promises in his Word tell us so.  (Philippians 4:19, 1 Peter 1:8, Ephesians 1:7-8)

Inspired by the "Hungry" series, Tori Mitteness submitted this guest blog. She blogs (lots of great food ideas) at Taste and See.

Saint John’s Revelation is a hard letter to interpret. With all its bowls and trumpets and dragons, what are we to make of this book? It’s the last book of the New Testament canon and Jesus’s last message to His church. It can be very intimidating - but obviously it has use and value so we can’t neglect it in our study of the Scripture.

Without recommending one approach over the others, I’d like to offer five different approaches to interpreting Revelation. Maybe these five different “lenses” will help you see it as a layered and intricate book, but not a scary or intimidating one. Then you can read it and decide for yourself!

1. Preterist - The word “preterism” comes from the Latin for “past.” This approach interprets Revelation in the light of events that occurred in the past - most likely events that took place before the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD, or possibly events in the first few centuries before the destruction of the Roman Empire in the 400’s. In this approach, Revelation 1.1 tells us that the events will happen imminently, and have now since passed. Only chapters 21-22 (vision of new heaven and new earth) prophecy events to take place in the future.

2. Futurist - As the name implies, this approach takes the opposite stance from the Preterist. This approach interprets everything after chapter 3 to be events yet to take place. For the futurist, Revelation is a vision of events that will happen soon before Christ’s return and the end of the world.

3. Historicist - A bit of a mashup of the first two, this approach sees Revelation as symbolic of events that take place between the two advents of Christ. Revelation’s series of events began at Christ’s first coming, and stretch across the entire period of time until He returns. In this approach, the events correspond to actual events or people in God’s New Testament history of redemption.

4. Idealist - Reluctant to identify anything in Revelation with particular events or people, this approach is perhaps the most different. To the Idealist, John’s visions are symbolic of the all the struggles the church faces between Christ’s first and second comings. This approach allows the letter to have its impact on Christians struggling under political and religious persecution in the first century, but also holds that the visions describe circumstances the universal church will deal with until Jesus returns.

5. Eclectic - This last method is an incorporation of the strengths of the other four approaches. Acknowledging Revelation may be written about specific past and future events, but allowing that the interpretation of some events may apply to the church in all circumstances, this approach seems the easiest and most logical to take - however, the interpreter ends up being able to ascribe many different meanings to the same vision.

At the end of the day, one thing is for certain - Jesus wins! And if you don't get anything else out of this letter, be encouraged that victory belongs to God. The church is triumphant, and one day God will make everything perfect and new again. “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22.20)

Steve Adler  |  Discipleship Pastor

Read Proverbs 31.10-31

Though most of the Proverbs were written (or recorded as spoken) by Solomon, no author is named for this acrostic that ends the Proverbs. Written in a similar format to Psalm 119, each verse begins with the successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

"Excellence" is the theme. Verse 10 begins, "An excellent wife who can find?" and the poem begins to wrap up in verse 29, "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." By starting and ending the description with "excellence," the author creates a framework for all the virtues to fit and blend into. In other words, her excellence comes from her having (or being) "the whole package!"

As the author describes the perfect (model for a) woman, he fairly consistently alternates between her virtue within her own household and her involvement in economic matters. In verses 11-13, 15, 17, 19, 21-22, 25, and 27, she is extolled for how she manages her house and her family. She has her husband's trust and is good to him, she works hard, fixes dinner, dresses everyone warm when its cold outside, has a good sense of humor, and isn't lazy. Then in verses 14, 16, 18, 20, and 24, she is praised for her wisdom and financial savvy. She is wise financially, she's a good steward, she is entrepreneurial and works hard for financial reward, but she's not greedy - she helps the poor and needy.

All of which lead the author to conclude in verses 28-31 that her children see her effort and her husband also, and it inspires praise from them. A woman who "fears the LORD" is worthy of praise - her godliness outweighs her charm, beauty, and all of these other qualities. This model is presented in the light of her fear of the LORD. And that's the key - this is a model.

Something for all women to aspire to.

And something for all men to look for.

Steve Adler  |  Discipleship Pastor

So what do we do? How should Christians respond? Navigating the holidays, with all of Santa’s myth and folklore, popularity and mystery, can be tricky for a people who know the real meaning of Christmas - which is Immanuel, “God with us.” Ultimately, there are three ways to deal with Santa: we can wholesale reject him, we can unquestioningly accept him, or we can intentionally (and carefully) incorporate him into a bigger picture - namely, the celebration of the incarnation and gracious giving.

WHOLESALE REJECTION
This approach often demonizes Santa and turns him into a villain, a commercial fairy tale meant to encourage indulgence and greed. You’ll hear “Santa” is an anagram for “Satan,” and things like that. But the truth is, while there may be some things about Santa you want to reject in your family traditions, there may also be elements of Santa you want to keep around.

UNQUESTIONING ACCEPTANCE
On the other end of the spectrum is the approach that can’t get enough Santa. Every myth, every tradition played out to its fullest - in blind embrace, this approach focuses entirely on toys and flying reindeer and elves, the whole story. However, as you think through Christmas traditions in your family, there may actually be some things that need to be rejected.

I think the truth is, most people live somewhere in between these extremes. Obviously, there are varying degrees of each of these approaches. And there are good things to be noted in each, as well as bad. So the last option might be the most responsible.

INTENTIONAL INCORPORATION
This mixing of the first two approaches takes the good, leaves the bad, and uses Santa to serve another purpose - telling the real Christmas story. Historically, Santa’s legend evolved from Saint Nicholas, a Christian bishop known for generously helping the poor and children. Also, there are creative ways to let children flex their imaginations without being irresponsible or flippant. Mixing Santa into the Christmas tradition while still primarily celebrating the Advent story is possible - it just takes more work, more intentionality!

There are lots of great resources out there to expound the good and bad in each of these approaches, but the important thing to remember is that as Christians we are called to glorify God in everything we do, whether that’s eating or drinking (or celebrating Christmas) or whatever we do (1 Cor. 10.31).

Steve Adler  |  Discipleship Pastor

Now imagine a game of Telephone that lasts sixteen hundred years and spans several continents. The story starts out about a Christian bishop named Nicholas who lives out Christ’s command to “sell what you have and give to the poor” by spending his inheritance helping the needy. The story ends up about a chubby, old man (that never ages) who lives at the North Pole making toys alongside an army of elves - toys that will be delivered (with the help of flying reindeer) all over the world in one night by entering and exiting homes through chimneys.

Now that’s a game of Telephone!

So when and how did the story of Saint Nicholas change so much? Obviously it evolved little by little, with subtle cultural changes being made all the time. But there are a few major turning points worth noting as we unwrap Santa - events that changed the story or the expectations. Interestingly, the biggest changes have come only in the last 200 years or so. Here is a (very) brief timeline of Santa Claus’s evolution:

343 - Soon after Bishop Nicholas’s death, the Eastern Church began to celebrate his life and remember his inspiring witness.

Late 900’s - Prince Vladimir I introduced Russia to Saint Nicholas and Christianity, and even today Nicholas is one of Russia’s most beloved saints.

1100’s - Poor children began receiving gifts and candy from French nuns on December 6th (St. Nicholas Day), but it was still about helping the needy in honor of Nicholas and ultimately, Christ.

For hundreds of years little of his story changed. And in celebrating St. Nicholas Day, it involved not much more than a feast and gifts given to needy children. Nicholas has remained a favorite saint all over Europe. Even today you’ll find him commemorated in Russian, Italian, French, Dutch, English, and Belgian churches.

1809 - The biggest change yet came when Washington Irving wrote the imaginative satire Knickerbocker’s History of New York. Saint Nicholas was described as a member of the Dutch bourgeoisie (wealthy middle class), an elvish figure with a clay pipe who brings gifts down chimneys.

1821 - Even bigger changes came from an anonymous poem with illustrations called The Children’s Friend. In this poem “Sante Claus” arrives from the North on Christmas Eve (not December 6th) to reward good children with safe gifts such as balls, dolls, or books so children can learn. Arriving in a sleigh pulled by a flying reindeer, he also punishes bad children by leaving them black rods to be disciplined with (something like switches).

1823 - The Americanization of Saint Nicholas took a giant leap forward with a poem we’ve all heard, A Visit From Saint Nicholas - better known as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. This poem forms the basis of much of what we think about Santa’s look and about his Christmas Eve activity, and became a defining holiday classic in America.

1864-1886 - Political cartoonist Thomas Nast gave us a picture of Santa’s look during a series of annual drawings based on these earlier poems. He drew a round Santa with a long beard, red suit, and pipe. This was also the time when “Saint Nicholas” phonetically changed to “Santa Claus.”

1931 - By the late 1920’s a thoroughly American Santa had evolved - no longer an elvish figure, he was now a full-sized, aged man wearing red and white fur. Norman Rockwell and other popular artists solidified this picture of Santa. Then in 1931, Haddon Sundblom was commissioned by Coca-Cola to draw Santa for Coke’s “Thirst Knows No Season” campaign. He drew Coke’s Christmas advertisements for thirty-five years, implanting Santa firmly into contemporary commercial culture. Coke’s Santa became an icon for consumers at Christmastime and the Santa we most recognize today.

So what should Christians do with Santa? He started out strong, a Christian bishop, protector of children, a symbol of beneficence. But he’s become the icon for commercialism and indulgence during the holidays. We’ve heard his beginning and how he evolved, but now what? Next time, we’ll put Santa in perspective and consider how Christians might respond to him.

Steve Adler  |  Discipleship Pastor

Getting to the root of questions like “Who is Santa” and “Was he a real person” lead us back in time to the village of Patara, on the southern coast of modern-day Turkey. Nicholas was born around 270 AD to wealthy, yet devoutly Christian parents who taught him to revere and obey the teachings of Jesus. While still young, Nicholas lost his parents to an epidemic and received his inheritance - an inheritance that he spent living out Jesus’s command to “sell what you have and give to the poor” (Matt. 19.21).

Nicholas was appointed Bishop of Myra (also located in modern-day Turkey), and his reputation for being generous spread. He became known for his concern and generosity toward the needy, and also for his love of children. Then under Diocletian, one of the most ruthless of the Roman emperors, Nicholas was exiled and imprisoned for his faith. However, after his release he attended the Council of Nicaea in 325, where he vehemently argued for the doctrine of the Trinity. Almost twenty years later in 343 AD, Bishop Nicholas died. Now the day of his death, December 6th, is celebrated around the world as St. Nicholas Day - a day of remembering the generous saint by giving gifts and feasting.

There are many extraordinary stories of the bishop helping the needy, including one about a poor father of three daughters who had no dowry (payment for marriage) to offer potential husbands. With nothing to offer, the daughters would likely be sold into slavery. But three different times a bag of gold appeared at the home. Tossed through the window, legend has the bags of gold landing in shoes set before the fire to dry. And unknowingly today, we still practice a custom born out of this legend - hanging stockings on the fireplace for Saint Nicholas to fill.

As you start to see some connections emerging between Santa and Saint Nicholas, the questions begin to evolve; if Santa’s roots are in a fourth-century Christian saint, how did we move from Saint Nicholas to the jolly, red-suited, white-bearded man we call Santa today? To that we’ll turn next time…. Until then, Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Steve Adler  |  Discipleship Pastor

Next Step:

St. Nicholas Day is celebrated all over the world in different ways - in many places, its the primary gift-giving day, not Christmas. Parents, don’t waste this opportunity to start a new tradition in your family. Tell your children about the real Saint Nicholas. Let his example help you teach about Jesus’s commands to care for the poor and needy. Be creative! It doesn’t have to replace Christmas, but do something special to remember Nicholas and his generosity. (Parents, its also a great way to remind ourselves a few things about the Christmas season and the Christian message of hope, sacrifice, and generosity.)

But then, who is Santa? And where did he come from? If you saw any Black Friday spending reports, you might think he’s the real reason for the season. So who is this jolly, bearded, red-suited man who keeps a list and checks it twice? Why does he reward the nice children with gifts? Was he a real person? Why does he travel by flying reindeer?

For Christians (especially parents with small kids), Santa can sometimes be downright hard to deal with. Should we participate in "Santa" traditions? Are we lying to our kids if we do? Are we robbing or depriving them of some opportunity to flex their imaginations if we don’t? Are we promoting consumerism and indulgence if we do? Will they resent us or think they missed out if we don’t? A reasonable case could be made either way - and for Christians, who should be intentional about the traditions in their homes, it can be hard to know exactly what to do with Santa.

On Sunday mornings we’re “Unwrapping Jesus.” And here at the blog over the next couple of weeks, we’re “Unwrapping Santa.” We’ll take a look at Santa Claus, try to answer a few of our questions, and hopefully you’ll walk away with your soul fed and your mind more informed about this “polar”-izing symbol of Christmas….

Steve Adler  |  Discipleship Pastor

“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you  in Christ Jesus,” 1 Corinthians 1.4

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,” Ephesians 1.16

“I thank God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,” Philippians 1.3-4

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,” Colossians 1.3

“We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,” 1 Thessalonians 1.2

“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.” 2 Thessalonians 1.3

“I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,” 1 Timothy 1.12

“I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.” 2 Timothy 1.3

“I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,” Philemon 4

You don’t have to read far in the Apostle Paul’s letters before you get to thanksgiving. Of all his epistles only 2 Corinthians, Galatians, and Titus lack an address of thanks in the first chapter. But what made Paul so thankful? This was a man that had been shipwrecked, beaten, stoned, robbed, hated by both Jews and Gentiles, hungry, cold - and some of his letters were even written while in prison! (2 Cor. 11.23-29)

So what did the apostle have to be so thankful for? Paul remembered something that we so easily forget.

The gospel.

Not blessing, not money, not health, not success, not results, not comfort, not good works. The gospel. The gospel is an announcement - a proclamation of something thats already taken place. The gospel is not something we can be to other people. The gospel is not something to be lived out. The gospel is not simply what you believe to get into Heaven.

The gospel is more than that. The gospel is something thats already been done. Its good news, not good advice. Jesus died for us. He set us free from sin and death, and made us alive to obedience and joy! When we were unable to save ourselves, Someone else saved us and made us co-heirs with Himself to all the riches of God.

Paul remembered this, and in his letter to the church at Colossae (written while imprisoned) he encouraged them to remember it too. He says, “as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Col. 2.6-7) Evoking imagery of trees and building - things that need strong foundations - Paul exhorts them to not forget the foundation. And the result?

Abounding in thanksgiving.

Christians should overflow with thanksgiving. When we forget about Jesus, we forget to be thankful.

This holiday, remember the foundation of your faith - Christ Jesus the Lord. Just as you received him, so walk in him. You received him humbly and without any doing of your own. Walk in him the same way - humbly and thankfully.

Steve Adler  |  Discipleship Pastor

The United States Marine Corps was formed by Captain Samuel Nicholas by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress, on November 10, 1775, and today’s date is celebrated as the birthday of the Marines. For the past 236 years, the Marines have stood ready to fight for our country. Honor, courage, and commitment are their tenets. Amphibious assault, air-ground, expeditionary - they do it all - and do it as the smallest of the armed forces under the Department of Defense. As of June, 2011, there were less than 150,000 active duty Marines. As a branch of the armed forces in America, they symbolize protection from tyranny, freedom for the oppressed, and courage in the face of adversity. The Marine Corps slogan is “semper fidelis,” which is Latin for “always faithful.” But there is another birthday today that produced for us a man who pointed to the One who really is Always Faithful.

Martin Luther was also born on this day in 1483. His father, a miner, wanted more for his son, and enrolled Martin in school to become a lawyer. But in a moment of desperation, Martin made a vow to God that he would become a monk if his life was spared. So entering an Augustinian monastery, Martin Luther was put on a path that ultimately would revolutionize the Christian faith and the history of Europe and the Catholic Church.

As time went on, Luther became increasingly convinced of the abuses of the Church and the Pope. That, coupled with his own wrestling with assurance of salvation, led him back to the doctrine of justification by grace through faith as he studied through the book of Romans. With his famous 95 Theses posted to the Castle Church door, Luther’s honor, courage, and commitment to stand up to the Pope and the Catholic Church ignited the Protestant Reformation - a period of the Church’s history summarized by latin phrases as well. Known as the “Five Solas,” they are “Solus Christus,” “Sola Gratia,” “Sola Fide,” “Soli Deo Gloria,” and “Sola Scriptura.” In that order they mean, “Christ Alone,” “Grace Alone,” “Faith Alone,” “The Glory of God Alone,” and “Scripture Alone.”

While Luther was fighting a different kind of oppression and abuse than the Marines, they both stood/stand for freedom - one national and the other religious. Today, be proud of your country and those who’ve served. Thank the Lord that He, in His grace, has placed you under the protection of a strong armed force.

But also be thankful that He’s had men and women throughout the ages (like Martin Luther) willing to fight for truth in Scripture, willing to stand up to tyranny and abuse, and seek the Lord for reform and freedom in the Church.

Steve Adler  |  Discipleship Pastor

How easily do we forget that He is coming back? Do we pray for His return? Do we pray for our Lord to come? Maranatha helped keep that hope at the forefront of Christians’s minds in the early days of the church. Remembering to pray for Jesus to return quickly escapes us often. Next week our Student Ministry is doing something unlike it has ever done, and this thing is not commonplace among young people in our world today. We are having a Maranatha Week. We have asked the students to fast from something that will allow them to spend a greater amount of time with God (Facebook, texting, XBOX, etc.). The idea is to remove some sort of distraction and spend more time seeking the face of God. Along with this, we are asking Jesus to come and to invade our lives. The students have responded with great maturity and excitement in choosing something that will be difficult to give up and will cause them to rely on God.

You should be proud of our students. You should hear their prayers as they cry out for Jesus to move in their lives and those surrounding them. There’s a pretty good chance if you have a student in our ministry, then you have been prayed for on a Wednesday night. Asking God to do big things in your life or to grow more deeply in Him requires persistence, desire, and being radical. Giving up something you love for a week is a small step towards learning that this life isn’t all there is, but at least its a step. Join us in prayer as the students embark on a spiritual journey over the next week, a journey we hope will help teach them how to be firmly rooted in Christ and how to desire that He be greater in their lives.

Maranatha!

Brandon Weir   |  Student Pastor

That day Martin Luther fulfilled Jon Hus's prophecy from a hundred years earlier. In 1415, on the night before he was burned at the stake for preaching against the Catholic Church's abuses, Hus wrote, "Today, you are burning a goose ["Hus" means "goose" in Czech]; however, a hundred years from now, you will be able to hear a swan sing, you will not burn it, you will have to listen to him." And listen to him they did. They still listen. If you travel all over Germany even today, there are swan statues that symbolize Martin Luther and his influence. 

In Luther's day, the only hope for reduced time in Purgatory for members of the Church came in the form of Indulgences; these merits were based on the sinless life and perfect works of Jesus and Mary, His mother. According to the Catholic Church, their merits were "stored up" in heaven, where they could be dispersed by the Pope - for a price.  And many of Luther's theses were aimed directly at the sale of Indulgences. Consider his words in thesis 27, "There is no divine authority for preaching that the soul flies out of the purgatory immediately as the money clinks in the bottom of the chest."

Luther had spent months preaching against the sale of Indulgences, and compiling his theses. So on the evening before Nov. 1 (All Saints Day), he posted his 95 Theses where they would be read and discussed by other Augustinian monks - on the door of the church. On All Saints Day, the Indulgence business would be booming as people came from all over to pay to see relics (items the Catholic Church collected and charged people to see) such as a veil sprinkled with the blood of Christ, a twig of Moses' burning bush, or a piece of bread from the last supper.

As news of Luther's "attack" spread, a new era in the church's history dawned. The Word began to be translated into common languages. There was a return to Scripture as the Authority - not the Pope. "Sola Scriptura" (Scripture Alone) became the battlecry of The Reformation. These "protesters" and their movement, Protestantism, gained steam and began refocusing the good news about Jesus on grace and faith and God's sovereign plan for the ages. Martin Luther taught that Christ is our righteousness. That we are justified by grace alone, through faith alone - not through the Catholic Church and her Indulgences. And Luther's motivation, I believe, is summed up in thesis 62, "The true treasure of the church is the Holy gospel of the glory and the grace of God."

October 31 is indeed a day to celebrate! But it has nothing to do with pagan rituals or pumpkins or costumes. On this day just under 500 years ago, one man took a stand against the entire Catholic Church because he believed the authority and truth of the Bible. And it ignited a movement that we are proud to be part of still today. So what are you celebrating this October 31?

Don't let Reformation Day go by unnoticed. As you celebrate today, use this date as a teaching moment in your family. Take a moment to thank God for His saints and their convictions. And finally, thank God for their boldness and ask Him to give us that same spirit of unrest when we see abuse. Soli Deo Gloria! (The Glory of God Alone)

Steve Adler  |  Discipleship Pastor

In Philippians 1:19-26, the Apostle Paul talks about his life in a reckless way. Listen to how little he tries to protect an “image” in front of the church he leads from a distance. He seems to have no care of whether his life was to end that very day. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know.” (Phil. 1:21-22) Paul could not decide whether it was better to live and labor for Christ or to die and be with Him. He saw the benefits in both. Paul’s deep devotion to Christ came from the Damascus Road. Jesus knew Paul (Saul at that time) by name. Jesus knew Paul. Paul’s devotion came from his relationship with Christ. It’s amazing to see how people live their lives when Jesus is their best friend.

Paul’s statement amazes me for a number of reasons, but most of all because of Paul’s devotion to Christ above himself. Many times I will do anything to protect my life and my image. I know that I am not alone in this desire to protect myself, but I long to love the Lord as Paul did. God is calling all of us to be reckless with our lives, but this does not mean we are all called to stop caring about our lives today. Often we think if we are not living out the Bible fully today then we are failures at Christianity. Paul had been growing in his faith for a while to come to that point. Be reckless for Christ in small ways: give away money to a needy cause, fast from something for a week, tell a coworker or a friend about Jesus, spend thirty minutes with God instead of in front of the TV. There are many ways we can be reckless for Jesus right where we are. Watch as God starts with the small things and grows you into a person deeply devoted to Christ, as Paul was. As you begin to grow, watch as it affects the people around you. Let’s become a reckless church for Christ.

Brandon Weir  |  Student Pastor

Paul's letter to the Romans can be divided into two main parts - the first is basically descriptive (chapters 1-11), while the second part (chapters 12-16) is mostly prescriptive.

Briefly, descriptive texts describe something that happened. So we derive a lot of what we know about God, and about the life of righteousness, by reading these descriptive texts that tell us what happened. For example, we know that God is triune because of what is described at Jesus' baptism. In Matthew 3.16-17, as Jesus (the Son) was baptized, a dove (the Spirit) descended to rest on him, and a voice (the Father) said, "This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased." All three Persons of God are visible in this text, and as Matthew describes the event, we infer that God is three-in-one.

Prescriptive texts are those that prescribe actions, so we learn what to do and what not to do by simply being told. For example, we know not to steal because God spoke into the Law, "You shall not steal" (Ex. 20.15). And on the other hand, we should put God's words into practice, because we have been commanded in James 1.22, "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only...."

Now, Romans is (for the most part) descriptive from chapters 1-11. Paul describes God's revelation of Himself and His righteousness (1-8), and Israel's part in that revelation (9-11). Chapters 12-16 are mostly prescriptive, and give us practical implications of, and instructions for, applying the righteousness of God. These verses (Rom. 12.1-2) are at the intersection of these two main parts of the book of Romans.

"I appeal to you therefore..."

"Therefore" refers back to chapters 1-11. Since Paul is gearing up to tell us (prescribe) in chapters 12-16 how to live as a follower of Jesus, he leans on everything about God he has described in chapters 1-11. In other words, our obedience to his instructions in the second part of the letter, should come about because of everything that happened in the first part.

"brothers, by the mercies of God,... "

"By the mercies of God" also points back to chapters 1-11, where God is shown to save freely and out of His mercy, not owing to anything in us.

"to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

This is Old Testament talk. Paul uses language and imagery from Israel's past sacrificial system to illustrate that our bodies, indeed our whole lives, should be devoted and "sacrificed" to God (Heb. 13.15-16) - in the same way that, before Jesus, animals were sacrificed as an acceptable act of worship to God (see Lev. 1-7).

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,..."

How are our minds transformed? By hiding the word of God in our hearts (Ps 119.11), and letting it reshape who we are.

"that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

This phrase "that by testing you may discern" is translated from the Greek "dokimazo." It gives the sense of finding out if something is valuable by putting it to use. As our minds are transformed and as we are tested, we learn the value and greatness of the will of God. And the will of God is good. It is acceptable. And it is perfect!

Steve Adler  |  Discipleship Pastor

It is obvious that the disciples were followers of Christ and that they believed in the truths Jesus taught -they believed it so much that they followed him in death. Being a disciple is not easily defined and whole books have been written on the subject. However, there is one aspect of being a disciple that is often overlooked.

The Greek word for disciple is mathetes, which literally means “a learner.” To be a follower of Christ means to be a learner. We see this in the disciples as they followed Jesus around for three years soaking up His teaching. Learning for the disciples meant listening, but it also meant doing. Jesus teaches his disciples by having them do what he teaches them. (Luke 9 and 10)

We live in an age where learning about Christ is more possible than ever before. A trip to the local Christian bookstore gives us a plethora of options to learn about Christ. The Fellowship’s foyer is filled with books for further study. We have commentaries and sermons more readily available to us than any other people in history. The question is, Are we are using those options to learn, to be true disciples?

Are we learning by putting our faith into practice? God wants us to be humble, approachable, and teachable. We should learn from the people around us and view discipleship as a healthy process. God’s been teaching me about what it means to be a disciple and that when we stop learning, we stop being true disciples.

Brandon Weir  |  Student Pastor

What if your power allowed you to get anywhere without a map or GPS system? What if you could pick a perfect cantaloupe every time? What if you could wash your car with your mind? Mow your lawn with a sneeze? What if you could read anyone’s handwriting (a child’s, your doctor, etc.)? Actually, God’s gifts are better than imaginary gifts of superheroes. We have the strength of joy on our side, and its unshakeable, indestructible, and invincible. Joy is just one of the many gifts that God gives to his people. And that joy makes us…strong? Of all the words you could use to describe the joy of the Lord, would “strong” be on your list? As believers, we already know that God is the source of our inner strength. He’s even called by that name – my Strength – in scripture. Here is what God’s Word has to say about the strength of joy.

O my Strength, I sing praise to you. Psalm 59:17

This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28:7

I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior, He is my strength. Habakkuk 3:18

According to Isaiah 60:5, God’s glory will make your heart throb and swell with joy. In Psalm 21:1, David wrote of rejoicing in the Lord’s strength and the joy of the victories given to him.

How can the joy of the Lord be our strength? Think of joy as God’s form of Wheaties. It keeps us going. It gives us wings. It supports our steps. It strengthens our resolve. It steadies our nerves. It steels up our spine. It lightens our load. It brightens our outlook. It lifts our hearts. 

Joy isn’t always just a byproduct of God’s blessings. Joy is a source of strength in our lives, and Jesus gave it intentionally. Here’s what He said in John 17:13, “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”

Joy in the believer’s life is in direct proportion to your walk with the Lord. Joy is a fruit of a Spirit-led life (Galatians 5:22). It is not something you can create by your own efforts. Do you like Ranch dressing? Ketchup? Butter? All of these condiments make things taste better. Who knows, you may consider one a food group. But whether you are a dipper, a dunker, or a drencher, your food is tastier with the addition. In our lives, everything we have from the Lord is made even better by the presence of joy. Ask the Lord to teach your heart to rejoice in His many blessings. Ask Him to add joy to your life of faith so that your faith is made stronger. Then the joy of the Lord can be your strength.

Tori Mitteness  |  Womens Ministry Lead Team

The Bible is an interesting book in many regards. It is a great book of history - much of it confirmed over and over again by modern archaeology and science. Over 23,000 times, historical and archaeological findings have confirmed stories in the Bible. No other ancient book can boast such a record of accuracy.

It is a phenomenal piece of literature, full of wisdom and stories - and they all have a striking unity. Indeed they all fit together to make up one story, the "great story" that flows from cover-to-cover in the Bible: Creation, Fall, Redemption. A story that, until Jesus, always points forward to Him. Then after Jesus, always points back at Him.

The Bible is an instructional book as well. It truly tells us how to live our "best life now." And it looks entirely different than how some of America's most "successful" pastors describe it. But it also tells us that our best life is not happening now - our best life begins when this one ends. The apostle Paul says it this way, "to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Phil. 1.21).

And maybe most importantly, the Bible is a book of theology - revealed to us by God in order to teach us about Him. To teach us about us. And to teach us about the Man Jesus Christ, who is the Great Mediator between a holy God and sinful men.

In it's original texts, the Bible is inerrant and infallible. It will stand forever, and it is objective truth. The Bible is the source, and an inexhaustible fountain, of all wisdom. And though our modern translations and editions are not free from error, we can rest assured that the Holy Spirit, the invisible Author, will lead us into truth and unlock the meaning of the scriptures when rightly studied and treasured.

Steve Adler  |  Discipleship Pastor

But what if you don't technically "do" anything?

What if you just go to church, then go home? Well, you can still "serve" your church in lots of ways!

Here is a (really) short, to-the-point list of ways that you can still serve your church. And even if you are already serving in the Cafe or Children’s Ministry, or at the Information Booth or elsewhere, you still may not be doing some of these things! Some are common sense. Some you may have never thought of.

Before the Service

-Read the passage to be preached in advance (if you know what it is)
-Pray for the service and those who will attend
-Greet visitors (act like you are the host)
-Think strategically about who to sit with
-Come early

During the Service

-Sing passionately (even if you're not good)
-Help with logistics (if there’s a problem, help fix it)
-Don’t be distracted
-Listen carefully
-Be aware of your facial expressions (you may affect people around you and/or discourage preachers)

After the Service

-Connect visitors with others
-Get newcomers information
-Start a conversation about the sermon
-Go to lunch with someone you've never had lunch with
-Stay late and visit

Now you may be asking, “how exactly are these 'serving'?” Some of the things on the list, if taken care of by attenders, can ease the job of your pastors on Sunday morning. Others just help the service run a little smoother. Some have direct benefits for your own soul - like reading the passage beforehand and praying for people in attendance.

So whether you "serve" in any particular ministry at The Fellowship, you can get involved.

It's never too late to improve your serve!

Steve Adler  |  Discipleship Pastor

*the list is copied and adapted from this blog post at 9marks.org.

Imagine if you lost everything; you may grieve as though you’ve experienced a death. So are wildfires evil? Was hurricane Katrina or the earthquake in Haiti? They have no will. They have no motives. They don’t kill or destroy maliciously. They just do. It’s their nature (pun intended). So while tragic, are they really evil?

They are, but not in the same sense as moral evil, or sin. Sin is evil because it doesn’t proceed from faith (Rom. 14.23). Sin proceeds from, and is produced by, evil desires (James 1.14-15). Wrong motives like pride, lust, anger, or jealousy - all things that dishonor and defame God’s glory. So since they are not immoral, how can we call wildfires or tsunamis or earthquakes “evil?”

But they are evil in a sense, although natural. Natural evil. The Bible calls it “calamity” in many places. Calamity is a result of the Fall and evidences God’s curse on the earth and the natural order, His “subjecting it to futility [and] bondage to decay…” (Rom. 8.19-21). Natural disasters are often used by Satan to accomplish his purposes of bringing about death and destruction (Job 1.18-19).

So what is there to learn from so much darkness and destruction? From this evil? What do the Scriptures teach us about natural evil and what purpose does it serve? There are at least two things we can learn from the Bible about natural evil - one brings conviction and hope, the other hope and assurance.

1. First, there should be conviction when we see natural disasters. When we watch wildfires engulfing homes and ponder the tragic implications of that, we should feel broken because of our own sin and the triviality with which we treat it. Very few of us watch natural disasters and feel the weight of sin and its effects on the world. But God has cursed even the earth; He subjected it to misery and suffering (Rom. 8.20-21), and natural disasters physically show us the spiritual repugnance of sin. But there is hope, the same hope that the creation has - that it will be set free. That it won’t always be this way (Rev. 21.1-4).

2. Then there is hope in serving and worshiping a God who controls even the wind and the seas (Mark 4.39-41). Calamity is not outside God’s control (Is. 45.7, 46.10-11, Amos 3.6).  And no matter the calamity, God’s character is always pure; we have assurance when we trust that His allowing (or not preventing) any disaster has an ultimately good purpose for those who love Him (Job 37, Job 37.13 particularly, Rom. 8.28).

Steve Adler  |  Discipleship Pastor

The nature of the Kingdom of God is supernatural and when we see the Kingdom at work in the Bible, amazing things are happening. This means that God is calling us to see amazing works in our lives. It is important for us to dream no matter our situation in life - whether we are young adults, in high school, married with three kids, or at the age of retirement. It is important that we move forward in our faith and not become stagnant; dreaming and vision are a big part of this. The Bible tells us, “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law” (Proverbs 29:18).

Many people have creativity and imagination coming out of their ears, but there is one thing they lack - they have no discipline. Discipline gives us the ability to carry out God’s plan for our lives. Paul tells us how important it is to have discipline in 1 Cor. 9, and in Titus, he says that God has given us discipline when He gave us His Spirit. Our discipline reveals Christ and prepares us to do great things. Doing big things for God requires sacrifice and a willingness to risk, but the rewards far outweigh the risk!

Brandon Weir  |  Student Pastor

But consider all the different ways the Bible speaks of the love of God. In fact, the Bible boldly states in 1 John 4.8 that “God is love.” That’s hard enough to get your head around! Is it simple to accept and believe? Yes. But D.A. Carson, research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, says that as a doctrine, the love of God is difficult. He offers five slightly different ways the Bible speaks of the love of God, and they are worth mentioning here:

1. The special love of the Son for the Father, and the Father for the Son. See John 3.35 and John 14.31.

2. God's providential love for the whole creation. This theme runs through the entire Bible, but it is most clearly seen in God's declaration that His creation is "good" (Genesis 1), and in the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus speaks of God's providential care for birds, the grass, etc. (Matthew 6.26-30).

3. "God's salvific stance toward his fallen world." In spite of the world's rebellion, God commands people to repent, and orders His people to take the message of reconciliation (through Jesus) to the ends of the earth. God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but wants people to repent (Ezekiel 33.11).

4. God's particular love for His elect. This one has been the cause of many arguments between Christians, partly due to misunderstanding this in light of the other four points - this is one aspect of God's complex love. But according to Deuteronomy 7.7-8 and Deut. 10.14-15, as well as Romans 9.6-13 with Jacob and Esau, and Ephesians 5.25-32 with Christ's love for "the church," there is evidently some special way that God loves His people that is different than how He loves everyone.

5. God's sometimes conditional love - conditioned, that is, on obedience. Jude commands us to "keep ourselves in God's love" (Jude 21), and Jesus tells his disciples to remain in His love (John 15.9). This way of treating God's love as conditional reminds us that we are still morally responsible for our actions, and have a part in our sanctification (our becoming holy, as He is holy). It's not as if we could ever fall out of His love, but remaining in His love is more like a teen getting home by curfew so as not to incur the wrath of his father. He will rest assured that his father is pleased with him. So it is with God's "conditional" love.

You can find greater treatment of each of these in D.A. Carson’s short book The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God.

Steve Adler  |  Discipleship Pastor

"For the word of the cross..." Inevitably, the more time we spend in the scriptures, the more we see the importance of reading them in context. Starting with "for," Paul forces us to read back at least one verse, where he has referred to preaching the Gospel, "not with words of eloquent wisdom," but truthfully. In Corinth (and other large Greco-Roman cities) well-skilled orators and philosophers would gather to speak, debate, and ultimately, try to make a name for themselves by displaying their "wisdom." Verse 18 (and through verse 5 of chapter 2) is meant to remind the Corinthians of the power of the message of the cross. In other words, Paul says that no matter how eloquently or skillfully put, the crucifixion of the Messiah cannot be explained in a way that will "make sense." Because we cannot reason our way to an understanding of God, Paul calls the Gospel "folly" or "foolishness" to the darkened mind. Paul means for the Corinthians (and us) to understand that the cross, more specifically, is impossible to understand by means of human wisdom, reason, or rationality. In fact, the crucifix was such a horrendous means of execution that it was taboo to even talk about in polite company.

"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing..." Who are those who are perishing? Two groups of people make up those who are perishing - 1. Jews and 2. Greeks (Gentiles) - and that pretty well includes everyone who does not embrace the Gospel with his/her whole life! To the Jews, the cross is folly for a couple of reasons. The Jewish people were looking for signs (1 Cor. 1.22), and though Jesus did His share of miraculous signs, they were not the "signs" any Jew was expecting. He did things like wash His disciples' feet (John 13.1-20) and drink from a cup borrowed from a Samaritan whore (John 4.1-30). But the Jews wanted a political leader to rise up and restore Jerusalem to its former glory, free from Roman rule. They looked for displays of raw power, not displays of love. Plus, they knew their Torah; they knew that "a hanged man is cursed by God" (Deuteronomy 21.23). And even though they had the prophets and knew Isaiah 53, a Messiah who suffered (or served) was way outside the expectations. The cross (and its implications) was simply impossible for Jews to overcome.

To the Greeks (Gentiles), the cross is folly for entirely different reasons. They valued men like Plato and Aristotle. The Greeks sought wisdom (1 Cor. 1.22), and though Jesus was incredibly wise (ritually stumping the Pharisees and teachers with His answers when they challenged Him) the Greeks dismissed and ridiculed the Gospel and those who preached it due to the simplicity of the message and the typical blunt-ness with which it was presented. Paul's lack of "words of eloquent wisdom" (1 Cor. 1.17) seemed uncultured and laughable. Plus, they had their preconceived ideas of God - God could not become a man, because that would involve Him in mundane human affairs, which was insulting for a god. Then theres "apatheia," or the inability to feel. To the Greek, Jesus could not be God because if He felt sorrow or joy, then some person must be influencing Him and is therefore more powerful than God. So for the Greek who tried to philosophize his way to God through mere human wisdom and rhetoric, the cross was not only an impossibility, but was ridiculous.

"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to those of us..." To those who can come to the cross in spite of our expectations. To those who come without needing wisdom or reason.

"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to those of us who are being saved..." Who treasure Jesus. Who have been justified and redeemed. Who are being sanctified. Who will one day be glorified.

"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to those of us who are being saved it is the power of God." The cross. The Gospel. The joyful (Heb. 12.2), sorrowful (Matt. 26.38-39), beautiful, painful torture and death by the most excruciating and disgusting means of punishment ever invented. Then the defeat of death and its sting (1 Cor. 15.55-57). Salvation (Rom. 1.16). Eternal life (1 John 5.20).

Amen.

Steve Adler  |  Discipleship Pastor

For this reason we have recently introduced a new song at The Fellowship. The song is "O God of Our Salvation" written by Matt Boswell, Michael Bleecker, and John Warren. "O God of Our Salvation" deals rightly with the Trinity and allows worshipers to fix their minds and hearts on each separate person but yet declare the triune God as the "God of our salvation from whom redemption comes."

I hope that you can worship the God of our salvation as you read and mediate on these lyrics:

O God of our salvation
Who reigns upon the throne
The sovereign Father, great is He
From whom all blessings flow

(Chorus)
O God of our salvation, From Whom redemption comes
O Father, Son and Spirit, The blessed three in one

Behold the Son our Savior
Who for our sin was slain
The Christ Who purchased with His blood
The wretched souls of men.

O God, The Holy Spirit
Revealing Deity
The fount of life and love divine
throughout eternity

Ascribe unending praises to the God Who reigns on high
How matchless is His power, His glory how divine
Ascribe O church the greatness and the glory due His name
One God, One Being, One Essence, O Triune God proclaimed. Amen.

Jonathan Hunt | Worship Pastor

That declaration led the philosopher Arthur Holmes to declare that "all truth is God's truth."  After all, Paul hyperbolically told the Corinthians in his first letter to them, that all things belong to them - "For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future - all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's." (1 Cor 3.21-23)

All things belong to the Corinthians because they are Christ's.  And Christ is God's. And Jesus is THE Truth. Truth then, wherever it is found, belongs to Christians.  What great news for the Christian!  What an opportunity we have to worship a God that brings all truth under the blanket of His ownership!

Math.  Art.  History.  Any truth to be found here belongs to the Christian. Science. Philosophy. Even in areas where it seems the very existence of God is challenged the most, truth exists.  And it belongs to the Christian.  Because we are Christ's, and He IS the truth.

And He is God's.

We cannot surrender the truth of 1 Cor 3.21-23 - that all things are ours, especially truth!  Truth cannot simply be handed over to scientists who can "prove" things with a method, or philosophers who dizzy us with rationale and logic.  Truth is ours!

And once we internalize this unique perspective, we mar the lines between faith and the pursuit of knowledge.  Faith and education, faith and philosophy, faith and science. Faith in your heart and knowledge in your brain no longer stand in opposition to each other, but neatly come alongside and complement one another.

How much more effective might Christians be if we were discipled to operate in this way - to love the Lord with our entire mind, not just our heart (Matt. 22:37)?  How different might the world be if Christians knew how to claim truth as their own, wherever it may be found?

Would we be better prepared to withstand the intellectual assaults of science and evolution?  Would students be more confident entering the college classroom knowing their professor is an atheist?  Would our workplaces be transformed because Christian employees have a worldview that doesn't pit what they learn at church against the "real-world," but rather provides a lens through which to see Christ in their "real-world" experiences?

All truth points to the existence of a Creator, to a Savior, who redeemed a sinful and fallen world.  All truth is objective and points us to the One who IS Truth. Truth is a Man.  His name is Jesus, and He belongs to God. And all Truth is God's.

And all Truth is ours!

Steve Adler  |  Discipleship Pastor