Everyone’s instinct is to read the Bible for understanding.

I totally appreciate this desire because the Bible has been so poorly understood through the years. We must look at the context, find the author’s intended meaning, and consider how it fits into our overall theology.

One problem with this push to understand is that some things we will never know completely. The Bible often records things that happen with little explanation. We can read that it happened, but we will never fully know what it means this side of heaven. This does not stop people from guessing and can lead to an endless stream of articles and arguments that typically prove unproductive.

Another issue is that gaining understanding can miss the purpose of scripture. The goal of the Bible is to change us into fully devoted followers of Jesus. Christians are people who do everything that Christ commanded (Matthew 28:20). Jesus himself said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24). The result of scripture should be that we do what we read and nothing less.

My instruction to people is to read the Bible and look for ways they can apply it. Skip past the complex parts to understand, as they are usually more fodder for arguments than application. The ironic part is that the more you keep reading and applying, the clearer those hard-to-understand passages become.

It is far better to know only ten things from the Bible and do all ten of them than to learn a hundred things and do none of them.

Our Church is setting aside one hour, at two different times, for people to focus their attention on community worship. For us, this is the only time that will happen in the next seven days.

This Sunday, we will gather with all the believers in our faith community. This provides us with a reminder to know that we are not alone in our faith. It gives us the opportunity to meet new people and share the love of Jesus in all its forms.

This Sunday, we will sing songs of praise and worship together. This is the only time when the whole community is invited to sing, reflect, and connect with Jesus with one voice.

This Sunday, we will be instructed in the word of God together. As a preacher, I have taken 8-10 hours to prepare something I think will bless the lives of people who are walking in faith. I have read widely, prayed deeply, listened closely, and prepared intensely to speak the word of the Lord in a way that is engaging for everyone. Sure, you can listen to this online anytime, but the difference is that, like going to a concert versus listening to a song on your phone, the context is part of the engagement.

This Sunday, we will share in communion as a community of believers. This is the only time all week when people take the bread and juice in reflection of Jesus’ death on the cross. I believe this is the foundational element of the Church gathering together. It reminds Christians of the grace we need for the mistakes of the past week and encourages us to live for Jesus the following week.

This Sunday will be the perfect opportunity to bring someone to worship and hear about Jesus for the first time. All studies still show that nonbelievers find Sunday morning the best onramp to faith.

This Sunday, Christians will meet all over the country and the world. This is a fantastic opportunity for every believer to engage their faith in a way they cannot do any other day of the week. If you call yourself a believer, I am sure that you do not want to miss it.

This year has been a blur. With Easter falling in late March, there was not much time between Christmas and Easter. During that time, I taught a membership class and did the follow-up. I led a small group and personally discipled two men. Our Church also had two families come who were considering being on staff, and we finally hired one of them. Every day this year has been full of positive activity for the kingdom of God.

Easter is the pinnacle of spring in the Church. Attendance is the highest it will be all year. We always collect a considerable offering and give half to a mission we support. Numerous people step up to serve and perform special songs during our worship. This year, lots of people have taken the step of baptism, along with others placing their membership. Mother’s Day is only a few weeks away, and the wave of growth, both numerically and spiritually, will carry us till Memorial Day.

Every month this year has been incredibly exciting. Each week, I meet with someone who wants to serve, get baptized, grow, join, or connect.

While I am excited, I am also a little frightened. Every time the Church begins to move the kingdom of God forward in a significant way, evil rears its ugly head to try and stop it. So here are a few things in my heart that I hope you will pray about with me.

1. Health. Often, evil will attack the health of Church leaders and key people or bring some tragedy in an effort to get people to take their eyes off Jesus.
2. Unity. One way to bring down a Church is to tear it apart from the inside. All week, I have been thinking about how everyone needs to understand that we are on the same team.
3. Leadership. As we are adding a new staff person and a new leader this spring, pray that God opens doors for them to move forward without delay in helping our Church.
4. Outreach. Hundreds of people have passed through the doors of our Church this year so far, and many are returning after a long absence while others are brand new. Pray that God will continue to work on their hearts and bring them back to worship. May this be the year that God does something incredible in the lives of these people who are taking their fledgling steps of faith.
5. The Pastor. [Me] Many days lately, it feels like I am under attack. I have been struggling with exhaustion, loneliness, and temptation in every way. Pray that I, along with every pastor, can lead with the power of the Holy Spirit through this spring and into the future.

The Lord has been doing great things in our Church and across numerous Churches. Pray that this post-Easter season will continue to have a dramatic impact on the lives of people as they live for Jesus.

Imagine this conversation.

The person said to me, “I think our Church is big enough. Honestly, it is starting to get too big for me already.”

My response was, “You are correct. Some of the people in this community should go to hell.”

Them, “What?”

“I mean, not everyone in this area needs to hear the Gospel of Jesus. Some of them don’t deserve grace. They should spend eternity in hell. I totally agree with you.”

Them, “I didn’t say that. “

“Well, if our Church quits reaching new people for Jesus, we are essentially saying, ‘No one else deserves to have a relationship with Jesus around here.'”

Them, “That is not at all what I meant. I meant it is hard to know everyone here now. Sometimes, it isn’t easy to connect with others because there are so many people. And we need to have Christian relationships.”

“Oh, my mistake. You don’t want everyone to go to hell. You want your needs met, and if that means other people go to hell, you really don’t care.”  

They said, “You are twisting my words.”

“I sure am. But I am also revealing what you mean when you say it. You just have not thought it through.”

Thankfully, this conversation never happened exactly like this. I am not that blunt. Sadly, I hear these comments all the time. All I want you to do is think through what you are saying.

Two of my boys were home, and they both wanted to have a campfire. I got the fire going, and everyone went out to grab a seat and enjoy the late afternoon.

I have four chairs that stay outside permanently. Two of them match and are made of hard plastic. They have acquired stains from being left outside for so long, and while ugly, they still work well. Another one is plastic with a metal frame. It was once an office chair and now looks out of place, but it is perfect for an evening by the fire. The last one is an old lawn chair whose material is well worn, and part of the arm wrap is missing from years of people picking at it.

My family sat in those chairs and had a wonderful afternoon of visiting, poking at the hot coals and trying to avoid the smoke. It was a great day.

While sitting there, I thought of a metaphor for the Church. Christians can be like my chairs: worn by the years, mismatched, and suffered from years of dealing with people. Somehow, God takes those chairs and uses them to make a wonderful experience.

God is not looking for perfection; he is seeking availability.

“Daily Devotions. Bible Reading. In my quiet time this morning.”

“Accountability partner. Discipleship. Spiritual growth.”

“Trying to give it to God. Praying about it. Seeking the Lord’s will.”

If you have been around Church for a very long time, you know the right language to use, which will lead others to believe you are a committed Christian. Drop a few well-timed words and phrases into a conversation, and people will automatically assume you have a vibrant faith.

It is easy to fool other people about your level of spiritual maturity. The trouble comes when you start believing your own lies. Suddenly, the right language became a real problem.

This Sunday, Churches will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. Hopefully, you plan on attending worship. I dream that the people of God will support one another in prayer. Here are a few things for you to pray about from now till Sunday.

1. Pray for Outreach. Numerous people have invited others to join them for this special day. Be in prayer that people accept the invitation and follow through on attending. Pray that their heart will be open and God will use this day to touch their soul.

2. Pray for the Children. Pray that the message of Jesus will reach the youngest generations through children’s Church. Pray for kind and warm people working in the nursery that would make parents feel at ease. Children are often the key to the parent’s heart.

3. Pray for the Worship Team. People have been preparing worship music, special songs, videos, and scripture readings. May everyone sing loudly, and the joy of the Lord overflow through our auditoriums. Don’t forget to pray for the sound and PowerPoint people, too.

4. Pray for Pastor/Preacher. (People like me) This is our Superbowl. Pray the sermon comes together and that we are able to speak boldly about the resurrection of Jesus. Pray for the person who preaches to rest well the night before, to shut out the voices of darkness, and to speak in the power of the Holy Spirit.

5. Pray that Jesus becomes famous. This weekend is not about giving praise to a worship team, teacher, or preacher. It is entirely about Jesus. Pray his name is glorified and people know him better because of what happened this weekend.

The Gospel according to Luke, contains a story from the cross of Jesus about one of those crucified with him. He looks at Jesus and says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43).

It is a fantastic story of the grace and power of Jesus. But I also need to say that he is NOT the model for Christians. I know that statement may surprise and even upset some people, but we are required to be consistent with our Biblical interpretation.

First, this event is part of the old covenant. The fact is that Jesus has not died, been buried, resurrected, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and the Holy Spirit has not been poured out. In Acts chapter 2, Peter quotes from the book of Joel, a passage that is being fulfilled. The first line states, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” The beginning of the “last days” is Pentecost and not Easter. Just like Exodus 20 is the beginning of the Law and not Exodus 1 and the birth of Moses.

Second, this interaction is with Jesus. Jesus, as God in the flesh, has the power to forgive sins while he is on the earth with only a word. In fact, he does it multiple times with various people. A person with paralysis lowered through the roof to be healed is forgiven. A woman who anoints Jesus’ feet with perfume and her tears is forgiven. Jesus, looking down on the crowds from the cross, says, “Father, forgive them.” Jesus has the ability to do things that do not happen today.

Third, because he is God in the flesh, he can handle people however each situation requires. Whenever he is asked, “What must I do to be saved?” or “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” His answers vary. He tells the rich, young ruler to sell his possessions and give to the poor. No one argues that his words are a model for us as believers today.

Finally, we have no idea of this man’s backstory. He says to the other thief on the third cross, “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” (Luke 23:41). It appears this man knew several things about Jesus. He knew that he was sinless and did not deserve death. He understands he is somehow the guardian of a new kingdom in heaven because he asks to be remembered. Many scholars speculate that he was a follower of Jesus for a while and now repents from leaving Jesus.

The story of the thief on the cross is a story of the amazing power and forgiveness of Jesus. He is full of grace that extends to his final hours. BUT the story of the thief on the cross is not a model for us to look at and say, “He didn’t confess faith publicly, he wasn’t baptized, he didn’t go to Church, he didn’t… you fill in the blank.” He died before the new covenant was wholly established and put into place through Jesus.

If you are looking for a model of how to be saved by Jesus, read the Book of Acts. Numerous stories reveal the responses of the early Church to this question.

I am thankful that the thief was with Jesus in paradise after his death, but please remember that the Bible shows us God’s promises, patterns, and plans, and this man is not a model for us to follow as New Testament Christians.

Recently, I attended a Christian concert on the campus of a Christian University. The chapel was packed with excited people who truly enjoyed listening to Christian music.

To start the evening, a man walked to the front of the stage to welcome everyone and give a few words of instruction for our evening together. As he spoke, he said, “I am genuinely expecting God to move tonight.” Then, he went on to talk about the presence of the Spirit of God in that place. He finished by saying that lives would be changed because of their attendance that evening.

While his words hung in the air, people applauded, shouted Amen and Hallelujah, and raised their hands in emphatic praise. I stood there silently, wondering what he meant. I know his words were pure, honest, and hopeful that, at the end of the evening, people would be more like Jesus as a direct result of being in attendance that night.

This Sunday is Easter. It is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the grave following his death on the cross. It is the most significant day on the Christian calendar. I want to echo the man’s words that night, “I am praying that God will move this Sunday.”

Like that man, I am not exactly sure what I even mean by that statement.

Perhaps that means people will come to Church for the first time and hear the message of hope in Jesus. Maybe it means believers will be moved from complacency to commitment as the Lord touches their souls in some way. It might mean that a committed believer is encouraged in their soul to keep fighting the good fight of faith for another year. It could be that a senior believer will reconnect with the joy of eternity as they face the difficulties ahead with the hope of eternity.

I am not sure what I want God to do this Sunday, but I am praying for him to move in people’s lives. I expect that he will do things that I cannot fathom quite yet.

Would you join me in my prayer for this weekend? I am not sure what I am asking, but I am confident that God will take our prayers and do more than we ask or imagine.

I am not always a shining example of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. I have used words I should not have used. I have gotten angry and occasionally screamed and shouted. I have not only thought inappropriately, but I have also behaved in inappropriate ways.

If you were to ask a group of people if I am a good Christian, I am sure there would be mixed reviews.

I hope that during the conversation, someone says, “Yeah, but he …”

Then, they go on to list all my good qualities. They will say things like, “He got angry. Yeah, but he also tried to serve people in the name of Jesus.” Perhaps they would say, “He said some mean things. Yeah, but he also tried to tell everyone he could about Jesus.” Thing might even say, “Remember that time he did that awful thing. Yeah, but do you also remember all the times he tried to encourage and build people up?”

There are plenty of people who can list all our flaws and failures. I also hope there will be people who see the good things you and I did.

All of us have problems, and the measure of a Christian is the amount of good they do in the name of Jesus despite their issues.