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Building Sandcastles
I was reading my Bible again (yes I have read it quite a bit since my last posting). I had another one of those “wow…I never noticed that before” Bible reading moments in John 20:19-30. In v. 20, Jesus shows Himself to the disciples and then they believe. Growing up in church, Thomas was always introduced as the doubter…one who lacked faith because he had “to see it to believe it.” And the other 10 disciples were the ones who had solid faith because they were where they were supposed to be in that locked room (interesting how such great men of faith hid in locked rooms in fear). I know that Thomas was willing to go die with Jesus in Jerusalem (John 11:16). So that tells me that he had faith in Jesus as well. So with those thoughts, I come to wonder:
1) were the disciples hiding in that room because they didn’t believe Mary Magdalene’s testimony (John 20:18) anymore than Thomas believed theirs (John 20:25)?
2) the point where they believed comes after Jesus shows His scars to them, not when others who had seen Jesus tell them He is alive (Mary, other women, and two disciples on the road to Emmaus). so why aren’t they considered just as much doubters as Thomas?
3) what was the week like between the first time the disciples saw Jesus and the next time they saw Him with Thomas? did they hound Thomas to believe? did the just let him be…give him space? did Thomas wrestle with it or just let it go? did he make fun of them…did they make fun of him? did they go around talking smugly like he wasn’t there, when he actually was, saying things like, “he’ll come around just give him time” or “just wait when He sees Jesus, then he will believe.”? or did they show their brother grace and offer encouragement?
4)did they have to talk Thomas into being in that room a week later? or were they just hanging out together like they used to? the doors are not noted to be locked any more…did encountering the living Jesus give them a new boldness?
5)oh yeah, and why in the world was Thomas not with the guys when Jesus revealed Himself the week before? my brain wanders in all kinds of directions with what excuses/reasons he might have had. maybe it was just God working it to give us a guy we can relate with.
Doubting is part of a growing faith. I get scared by those that never have any doubts at all. It tells me they don’t wrestle with what they believe. I would even go so far as to question whether their faith is truly their own. It is much easier to trust other’s opinions and ideas than to wrestle with our own and seek Truth found in God’s Word. A friend of mine says “faith is choosing to live as though God’s Word is true regardless of circumstances, emotions, and cultural trends.” This tells me two things. One, I choose to live this way…no one can do it for me. Two, there are voices all around and inside telling me that my faith in God’s Word and choosing to live by it is a big waste of time.
I am grateful that I live among a community of believers that makes room for doubts and doubters, those that get it and those that will in time, frustrations and failures. Be sure to have patience with those that “need to see to believe.” In time, they might also say of Jesus “My Lord, my God.”
The eleven disciples had to see Jesus in the flesh to believe that He had truly resurrected and they went on to flip the world upside down. You and I will see Jesus physically some day, but until then, not unlike Thomas during that in between week, we wrestle with our faith and doubts and choose to live by faith, building on the rock that is Jesus, because all else is building sandcastles. And, I don’t know about you, but I am tired of watching sandcastle lives get knocked down. What are you building your life on?
I don’t know what you are wrestling with today, but I would encourage you to seek Truth that can only be found in Jesus.
2007’s Top 5
2007 will be a year of on purpose ministry at Canyon Creek. Legend has
recalled Pro Football’s Coach Vince Lombardi’s speech to both rookies
and veterans of the game… every season he would begin, “This is a
football.” He would describe its feel, its shape, its size, how it can
be kicked, carried, or passed. He took them out on the field again
telling, “This is a football field.” He would tell the dimensions,
shape, and begin telling some of the rules. I imagine to some degree
this was embarrassing to some of the veterans of the game, but Lombardi
wanted people ingest the basics. If the basics were digested, then
winning would be how the team metabolized them.
On purpose ministry at Canyon Creek will be best demonstrated when we focus on and measure five basic areas.
1. Worship participation. It is our goal to have 140 people in
each of our morning services (280 total morning worship). That is a
goal we can only make when we take opportunities to expand our small
groups and tie guests those not yet our guests to the various events.
2. Sunday School average attendance with new units. In Sunday
School we want to see 250 by the end of 2007. This will mean working
toward and then creating 1 new Senior Adult class, 1 Median Adult
class, 1 Young Adult class, 1 Youth class, 1 Children’s class, and then
1 Preschool class. We will talk further about why new classes are
amazing tools for new growth.
3. Baptisms. Canyon Creek will bring 30 people to and then through baptism by the end of this year.
4. Discipleship. By the end of 2007 Canyon Creek will have 40
people who are mentors (walking with someone through some basic
discipleship materials) and 40 others who are being mentored.
5. Individual mission activity through the Sunday School. 50 people will participate with their class in some mission project.
These five measurable areas will help us to keep the challenge of
Christ’s Great Commission in front of us. It will call us to be
accountable to one another for the results of basic ministry as Jesus
outlined. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I
am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20,
NIV) If we are disciplined in doing what is right, we will be able to
see people come to Christ and begin to grow up in him. Vince Lombardi
also said “Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all time
thing. You don’t win once in a while, you don’t do things right once in
a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is habit.
Unfortunately, so is losing.” Church, let’s make disciples.
Show Me the Money: Biblical Tithing
Dr. Trey Turner
Leviticus 27:30; Matthew 23:23
