All work and no play

It's been at least 48 hours since I've walked out of the door of my apartment... for better or for worse. I've gotten a lot done, but as they say, all work and no play makes John a dull boy. I'm glad I like my work, though as I told Mary the other day, I'd probably have been a nuclear physicist or a chemist if I hadn't been an engineer, and I know I'd never have the schedule I have if I'd stuck with either of those. In lieu of the relatively boring details of the last day or so, I'll post my sermon notes.

The SS lesson reviewed chapter 2 of Ryle, focusing on the nature of sanctification but not quite getting to the end of the chapter which compare/contrasts it with justification. Sad, since that has been something that I would like to have heard given my past apparent ineptitude in explaining the differences to someone who clearly didn't understand the subject at all. Stephen made the point to emphasize that someone who has no desire to pursue holiness of life clearly has no connection with Christ, because one who has had the blood applied to his account could never do enough to conform his life to the One who gave His in exchange. When He says jump, he says "how high?"

Pastor Gary's morning message dovetailed well with the SS, beginning with the question "If you productivity at your job were to equal your productivity in the kingdom of God,... would you still have a job?" That question really got my attention, as the subject has been on my mind of late. I've been conscious of a dearth of my own involvement in church functions in general, and evangelistic speech in particular. It's not that I've been distant, but more that my focuses have been elsewhere. His later observation that, "wouldn't it been an embarrassing thing to reach heaven and be forced to acknowledge that there wasn't a single person there whom you had been used to bring there", hit me so hard it felt like I had an arrow hanging from my chest. There are many people that I am at least somewhat close to that are headed for a next-world of hurt, and yet I do little to speak of spiritual matters so as not to rock the proverbial boat. Don't I realize where they're headed or what I've been given? If I'd won a million dollars, wouldn't I be telling them all about it?

The new testament puts a non-trivial amount of focus on the bearing of fruit which, while being much broader than simple evangelism, is perhaps most characterized by the speaking of the good news to souls who need it. Holy living may raise questions, but it's not going to save anyone. That said, the presence of the Spirit is a powerful force to effect a change in one's living to the point that it is both baffling to unbelievers and unexplainable apart from that Spirit. Luke 5:17 - "..and the power of the Lord was present to perform healing." This power wasn't the power of the second Person, because that was veiled in humiliation. The gospels often speak of Jesus being heavily anointed by the Spirit of God; while we don't have it to the same measure, we do have that same Spirit. God, may that same Spirit so manifest itself in my actions.

The evening message focussed on Luke 5 and the account of the 4 men who lowered their paralyzed friend through a roof to get him to Jesus. Pastor Gary asked if we thought that their action was too "extreme" or whether it was justified. He made the point that we are quick to find fault in the actions of others, from how one orders a worship service to how people witness to others. Getting people to Jesus is worth any and all means, so long as you're bring them to the real Jesus and not a Jesus with the rough edges of total depravity and free justification.

We were also challenged to either host or support a 4-week evangelistic bible study in the coming fall months... something I plan to take take on. It's a funny feeling when someone challenges you to do something and you don't even have to think twice about it.

36 days and I'm off to the equatorial jungle. Ah yeah.