NUMBER ELEVEN, 2017
In this issue
8
6 3 6 8
12
How to Fin
Love Offers a Place to Unload
charles r. swindoll How to Find a Church
robyn roste
What's Right About Church?
steve johnson
Names of Jesus
11 Prince of Peace
The Hea[r]t of the Issue
12 Church Conflict
steve johnson
Beyond the Broadcast
15 The Church: Who Needs It?
Insights is published by Insight for Living Canada, the Bible-teaching ministry of Charles (Chuck) R. Swindoll. Chuck is the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Texas. His international radio program Insight for Living has aired for more than 35 years. We hope this publication will instruct, inspire, and encourage you in your walk with Christ. Copyright Š 2017 Insight for Living Canada. All rights reserved. No portion of this monthly publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture passages are taken from the NLT. Unless otherwise noted, photography and illustration by Tim Schellenberg. IFLC is an autonomous ministry and certified member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities. Printed in Canada.
by charles r. swindoll
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magine two mountain hikers I start by meditating on the “each other” trudging along, each carrying commands in the New Testament. Here are several: a backpack. The one on the left has a • “Love each other with genuine affection” (Romans 12:10) light pack that a child could carry. The poor soul on the right is so loaded down • “Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you” (Romans 15:7) we can’t even see his head or body…just a couple spindly legs wobbling under the • “Live peacefully with each other” (1 Thessalonians 5:13) burden he’s carrying. I’ve deliberately saved my favourite for The hiker on the right illustrates how life often feels—plodding along an end- special emphasis: “Share each other’s less march up a mountain with a pack too burdens…” (Galatians 6:2). As Scripture fills my mind, something heavy for one person. Life’s burdens weigh heavy on us, we changes deep within my heart. I quit feel we can’t go on, and we wonder, How focusing on my burden, I stop comparing, could anybody love me…especially God? and I start considering the load another That thought hits worst when we glance may be carrying. I remember that loads to the left. Our packs feel like they might are meant to be shared. God’s grace is buckle us, while the other guy’s seems made for such moments! Now, back to our story. Imagine what virtually non-existent. Comparison is lethal! When you’re that overloaded hiker might be lugging in down—I mean bottom-of-the-ocean his pack. Maybe a long-standing grudge down—if you focus on how easy others that’s poisoning his mind. Perhaps a have it, self-pity will siphon that last drop broken relationship with his wife or an ongoing argument with one of his adult of motivation you need to finish the day. Comparison leaves us with the short children. A stack of unpaid bills, all overstraw every time (yes, every time). Either due, adds more weight and worry. The question is: Where can he go to we’re on top and start feeling smug and sassy or we feel down and discouraged unload…so someone else can share because the other person is better look- his burden? A big auditorium, Sunday after Sunday, ing or better read or makes more money or wears nicer clothes or has a better car sitting by himself alongside a bunch of other folks? Hardly. He needs up-closeor…or… When we start thinking thoughts like and-personal caring, the opportunity for that, only one thing is able to correct our authentic sharing. He needs a church thinking: God’s Word. It works every time where people don’t just say they love each (yes, every time). Here’s what works for me. other; they show it by picking up each oth-
As Scripture fills my mind, something changes deep within my heart. I quit focusing on my burden, I stop comparing, and I start considering the load another may be carrying.
er’s burdens. Community like that allows us to unload and gain fresh strength. In healthy churches, people love Christ and love each other by bearing one another’s burdens. Their arms are open to those with packs too big to carry alone. They don’t point fingers of shame and blame or preach or compare. Such unloving responses only increase the crushing load. Love means offering hope from the heart and a helping hand. It means catching the one fainting under life’s loads. At Insight for Living Ministries, we regularly hear from people around the world, expressing gratitude for the daily, tangible ways they feel their burdens eased by the teaching of God’s Word. I’m so thankful for that! Aren’t you? I’m also grateful for YOU! When you partner with us, you bring Christ’s love to people whose hearts are breaking and emotions are buckling under the weight of
sin. Your financial investment means we can continue to invite them to unload that burden on Christ and then come alongside them in their journey to help bear their packs when their life-load intensifies. Thank you for sharing the joyful burden of proclaiming Christ’s love and truth across the world. Let’s keep climbing…together!
Charles R. Swindoll serves as the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas.
The Man Who Hoped Against Hope SINGLE CD MESSAGE
HOW DO YOU STAND STRONG IN FAITH, NO MATTER WHAT?
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How to Find a Church by robyn roste
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spent my early 20s going to would have been so nice to move to a new school, moving around, and city and only need to consult my handy trying new things. In the “How to Find a Church in Six Simple Steps” midst of all the change I made brochure in order to make my decision. There’s a helpful article on Insight for a familiar decision over and over again. Living Canada’s website called How to Finding a church to attend. Whenever I moved to a new place it was Recognize a Healthy Church. I love this the same dilemma. Where should I go? approach—it’s a step up from just finding a I couldn’t figure out a scientific way to church to attend. The article lists six essenchoose a church so my selection process tial qualities of a healthy church. defaulted to either attending with a friend 1. God gets the glory The Church is the place where people or trying out nearby churches. come to learn of God’s nature and will, to This trial and error helped me deduce be formed by Him into His people, and to what I liked about different churches or deepen their love relationship with Him. services and what I didn’t. My only regret is I wish I took better notes along the way. It 2. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, is central
It would have been so nice to move to a new city and only need to consult my handy “How to Find a Church in Six Simple Steps” brochure in order to make my decision. A healthy church is a Christ-centred church. The gospel of Jesus Christ will be preeminent—leading God’s people to rejoice in Christ’s salvation, rest in His forgiveness, follow His example, and obey His teaching. 3. God is truly worshipped In a healthy church, love for the Lord will be behind everything that’s done, engaging people’s hearts so they can come before the Lord as a worshipping community. 4. God’s Word is not only taught but applied It’s crucial a pastor’s teaching is rooted in Scripture, be personal rather than theoretical, be relevant, be balanced with humility, love, and grace, and be only the means to one end—knowing and worshipping its Author, not the Bible itself. 5. God’s love can be seen and felt The traits God wants His people to be known for are compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, forgiving, and loving. 6. God’s good news will be shared with others A healthy church will be actively concerned about the world outside its walls, praying for people who don’t know or have turned away from God’s love. These are great characteristics to look for in a church as it brings to life things like exuding a warm, welcoming spirit, treating non-believers with respect and allowing the Holy Spirit to work with them in His way and time, and engaging people’s hearts. I know there’s no perfect formula or decision matrix for choosing a church. We all have different preferences and worship
styles and our needs change based on our life stage and circumstances. However, I wanted at least a few questions on paper so I know what to ask the next time I’m looking for a new church. Here are some of my ideas. • Does this church value Bible-teaching? Are the sermons Bible-teaching? • What other values does this church have? Do they correspond with mine? • What denomination is this church? What is their statement of faith? • Are there opportunities to be involved or volunteer? What are they? • Are there opportunities/programs to help me grow as a person? • Do I know anyone here? • What levels of accountability are within the leadership structure? • Will I be comfortable enough to worship in my own way? For me, the next step is to decide how important each question is. Which are deal-breakers, which can I live without? Understanding upfront no church can meet all my many needs and/or wants doesn’t mean I’m settling for an unhealthy church. The church’s purpose is to provide a place for believers to worship together, teach God’s word, and inspire one another to live holy lives. If I can find that much, I’ll be OK.
Robyn Roste is the media and marketing manager at Insight for Living Canada. Read "How to Recognize a Healthy Church" at insightforliving.ca/healthy-church
by steve johnson
If Jesus is doing what He said, why do we bash ourselves— His bride, His church?
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was reflecting recently on a contemporary worship song that referred to the church as having “broken wings.” Describing the church this way really bothered me. My consternation is fed in part by the habit some have of viewing the universal church through the filter of one’s own personal or narrow local church experience and in terms of what we witness in North America. We see and focus on problems and failures and then conclude, “The church is broken. It is struggling to feebly stand against the onslaught of the world, the flesh, and the Devil on every side. The Lord better hurry and deliver us soon!” This fortress mentality is not only defeatist and paralyzing—it is unscriptural. As Jesus prepared His disciples for His departure from this earth He laid out His battle plan. “…I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it“ (Matthew 16:18). In contrast to the “broken wings” image is that of the resurrected, victorious Christ leading His church and the charge against the kingdom of darkness and setting the captives free. The “powers of hell” cannot conquer or succeed; they cannot stand against Christ and His church as he liberates souls. Only one of three things is true. 1. Jesus lied 2. He’s doing a poor job of building His church
3. He’s doing what He said He would do Personally, I like and believe the third option. Christ is building His church, He is setting the captives free, and the powers of hell cannot conquer it. If Jesus is doing what He said, why do we bash ourselves—His bride, His church? Why do we sing songs, write books, and preach sermons that attack His beloved and then think He is pleased that we do so? I know I wouldn’t be pleased if someone slandered my fiancé. Is the church perfect? No! Should we ignore problems? No! I am the first to admit that local churches and the believers comprising them are far from perfect. All I have to do is look at my own life and experience! We are fallible human beings and we fall short in many ways. Much of the New Testament was written to correct personal and corporate problems in local churches and to encourage and admonish Christians to press on from their imperfections. The whole process of becoming more holy and like Christ presupposes that we are unholy and unlike Christ in our thoughts, words, and deeds. We do need to correct the errors in belief and behaviour. That is the point of teaching, preaching, and admonishing one another. But just as in raising children, growth and health occur better in a positive nurturing environment rather than a continuously critical, negative one.
We also need to remember our local churches and their difficulties are not “the church universal” and the sum total of what the Lord is doing. Attend a missions conference or listen to someone with a global perspective telling of the tremendous things the Lord is doing around the world in the building of His church. You will gain a different and, I believe, truer perception. Why does all this matter? Because as someone once said, “Perceptions are reality.” Each of us believes the way we personally perceive things is the way they actually are. Furthermore, one’s perceptions about oneself tend to be self-fulfilling. As we think we are, we are. Constantly telling churches and believers about how broken and ineffective they are is not the key to health and victory. Being negatively focused on what’s wrong with them and not what’s right with them only weakens and discourages! Satan is called, “the accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10). By pointing out our failures and shortcomings he seeks to demoralize and defeat us. And he keeps doing it because it works.
Our adversary also uses our statements about how awful the church is to alienate those who are outside the church and confirm in their minds the idea that the church is for losers and should be avoided. Conversely, one biblical key to personal and corporate victory is to remind us constantly of the truth about our great position of victory in Christ and of the great work Christ is doing building His church worldwide. Keeping this in mind while we tackle our local and personal issues will help us stay balanced. Accept that the church is not perfect but don’t dwell on it or berate Christians for it. A change in our perception will go a long way toward a change in our performance. Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Living Canada.
Wondering what Insight for Living is all about? Read through our Case for Support and learn why we’re passionate about ministry in Canada at insightforliving.ca/support/case-for-support
“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) Origins: Peace comes from the Hebrew word shalom meaning completeness, soundness, and absence of conflict inside and out
Meaning: In Scripture the more foundational meaning of peace is the spiritual harmony brought about by one’s restoration with God Usage: Christ is the Prince of Peace because it is in Him, by Him, and through Him we’re restored to peace with God. The enmity we had because of our sin is removed by Christ’s death and the Holy Spirit is given to us to produce His fruit of peace in our lives and relationships.
Illustration by: Laura Vanderwel
Application: Seek peace with God through receiving Christ’s sacrifice for you (Romans 5:1). Surrender continuously to the Holy Spirit allowing Him to fill your life and relationships with peace (Galatians 5:22-23). Do all you can to preserve the bond of peace you have with other believers (Ephesians 4:1-3). Worry about nothing, pray about everything, and let God’s peace settle and guard your heart and mind (Philippians 4:6-7).
Church Conflict by steve johnson
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he church is made up of diverse volunteers with strong beliefs who come together and seek to bring about change. As such, it is an environment ripe for conflict. Wherever there are different perspectives there is potential conflict. What should set churches and believers apart from other organizations and individuals is not the absence of conflict but the reasons conflicts arise and how they are handled.
Here’s Where They’re At
When you talk about church conflict with people who don’t attend church, you may hear statements like, “All conflict especially in the church is bad,” or “Christians are hypocrites if they have conflict because they are supposed to love one another,” or “Churches have conflict because Christians are intolerant.”
Here’s Where You’re At
You understand that the church is made up of imperfect people who often have diverse perspectives, values, and beliefs on many things. But you also may believe that conflict has no place in the church, which makes all church conflict sinful. Or, you may be in denial and can’t admit when there actually is conflict.
Here’s Where Scripture’s At
Conflict, like anger, is natural. What makes conflict sinful is wrong motives for it and negative manifestations of it. We could paraphrase the NIV version of Ephesians 4:26-27 and say “In your conflict do not sin…and do not give the devil a foothold.” Jesus faced and dealt with conflict always without sin and wants us to do the same (Romans 12:14-18). The New Testament was written to a diversity of believers presupposing
conflict and often urging them to, “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3 NLT). Conflict and unity can live together because unity is not uniformity. We don’t all have to think and be the same to be unified. Sinful motivations behind conflict are bearing false witness, hatred, and gossip (Proverbs 6:19; 10:12; 16:28). James adds pride, inner evil desires, jealousy, envy, covetousness, and lust as well as judging and criticizing others (James 4:1-3, 11). Refusing to give up one’s rights, desires, or preferences in the name of unity produces sinful conflict. Qualities that should govern how conflict is manifested are humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, love, and unity in the Spirit.
how you have contributed by looking at what you have put first and why you want it so much. Figure out what is driving you—is it fear, love, or desire? If you are acting from sinful motives, confess and repent of it and seek forgiveness from God and others involved. Be ready and willing to forgive those you are in conflict with upon their confession and repentance of their sinful part in the conflict. Where there is no sin involved then bear with others’ differences. Where conflict erupts and you are not directly involved stay out of it and do not take up another’s offence. Accept that not all conf lict will be resolved. People may not change their values, beliefs, or opinions. The goal isn’t to remove differences in people or have an absence of conflict, but to achieve unity and peace.
Where to Go From Here
Accept that conf lict is natural, but not necessarily sinful. Where you have different people you have differing values, beliefs, and opinions and therefore disagreement. Why and how we have conflict makes the difference between it damaging or deepening relationships. See conflict as an opportunity for God to teach you something, serve other people, and glorify Him. Ask, “what would glorify God in this situation? How can I respond, now that I’m in it, in a way that will please and honour God in this situation?” Seek to understand the conflict. You can’t resolve conflicts unless you have the facts and understand the reasons. See
REMINDER:
Ask yourself, “What are they thinking, feeling, and wanting?”
This series provides training on having difficult conversations. How do you discuss difficult topics in a way you hear and are heard, maintain your influence, and avoid alienation? How do you deal with different worldviews while still valuing the person? Read our basic guidelines for having difficult conversations at insightforliving.ca/tough-talk.
The Church: Who Needs It?
“It is an error when believers think they need to be ‘members’ only of the universal—not the local—church. It’s both.” - CHARLES R. SWINDOLL As we enter adulthood in our faith, one of the most significant realizations to draw upon us is a healthy understanding of and appreciation for the church. Most go through real battles in coming to this conclusion. The church, during our growing up years, suffers the brunt of our criticism and the bulk of our complaints. We go through periods where we ignore or resent the church; then we go to the extreme of virtually worshipping the church. We want to come to terms with the role of the church, its importance in our lives, some major reasons for its effectiveness, and why Christ established it in the first place. It’s easy to think of one’s church involvement as a passive relationship...a once-aweek activity that requires little more than a slight passing interest. On the contrary, becoming a member of this local church carries with it certain expectations that dare not be diminished. As we consider the areas of greatest significance, no less than eight expectations are important enough to mention.
1. Assume the responsibility for his or her own spiritual nourishment through personal and corporate Bible study and prayer 2. Participate in the weekly worship services on a regular basis 3. Join the family life of the church in a congregational and/or small group context 4. Exercise his or her spiritual gifts in specific areas of involvement 5. Support the variety of ministries of the church through prayer and service 6. Contribute financially to the church in a consistent, generous manner 7. Share his or her faith personally while supporting others who proclaim the Gospel around the world 8. Respond positively to the leadership in matters of church policy and discipline By maintaining these expectations, our lives can be sufficiently nurtured, our church will remain a vital force in this world, and our God will be glorified.
“The Church: Who Needs It?” is from Chuck Swindoll’s series Growing Up in God’s Family. You can stream this message online anytime at insightforliving.ca/audiolibrary.