NUMBER ELEVEN, 2021
In this issue 3
Go for It
6
How is the Bible Relevant Today?
charles r. swindoll steve johnson
Leaders: Lives and Lessons 8
Peter and Consistency
11
Delegate the Workload
steve johnson
charles r. swindoll
Purposeful Living 12 Purpose to Live a Teachable Life steve johnson
Beyond the Broadcast 14
Respecting Authority
Puzzle 15 Being Teachable
Insights is published by Insight for Living Canada, the Bibleteaching 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 40 years. We hope this publication will instruct, inspire, and encourage you in your walk with Christ. Copyright © 2021 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 Centre for Christian Charities. Printed in Canada.
GO FOR IT by charles r. swindoll
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ow many people stop because so few the little craft began drifting away from the pier towards the horizon, my friend say "Go!"? In his fine little book Fully Human, Fully went to the end of the pier, waving both Alive, author John Powell relates an experi- arms wildly like semaphores spelling conence which happened to a friend while he fidence. He kept shouting: "BON VOYAGE! was vacationing in the Bahamas. The friend You're really something! We're with you. was sightseeing when he noticed a crowd We're proud of you!" Had you been there gathered toward Almost every day— as that homemade boat the end of a pier. He certainly every was leaving, which walked down to investigate the commotion. week—we encounter group would you have Powell says: someone who is in his joined? C'mon, be honest. No doubt the great ...he discovered or her own homemade majority of us would that the object of all the attention was a boat, thinking seriously have thought more of the danger than the young man making about setting forth. adventure. Most of the last-minute It may be a friend, a us would have anticipreparations for mate, a colleague, a pated the rigors and a solo journey neighbour, a family the difficulties and the around the world risk rather than the in a homemade member. The ocean fun, the discoveries, b o a t . Wi t h o u t of possibilities is the incredible opporexception everyone enormously inviting, tunities that lay ahead on the pier was pessimistic. All yet terribly threatening. of the man putting out were actively Urge them on! Shout a to sea. How few are volunteering to rousing "You are really those who see beyond the danger...who say tell the ambitious something...I'm proud to those on the edge sailor all the things of you!" Dare to say of some venture, "Go that could possibly go wrong. "The what they need to hear for it!" Funny, isn't it? sun will BROIL the most, "Go for it!" I suppose it's related to one's inner ability to you!" "You won't Then pray like mad. imagine, to envision, have enough food." "That boat of yours won't withstand the to be enraptured by the unseen, all the waves in a storm." (And, of course, those hazards and hardships notwithstanding. I'm convinced that one of the reasons familiar words) "You'll never make it." When my friend heard all these discour- mountain climbers connect themselves aging warnings to the adventurous young to one another with a rope is to keep the man, he felt an irresistible desire to offer one on the end from going home. Guys out some optimism and encouragement. As front never consider that as an option...but
those in the rear, well, let's just say they are the last to get a glimpse of the glory. I've been thinking recently about how glad I am that certain visionaries refused to listen to the crowd on the pier. I'm glad... • That Edison didn't give up on the light bulb • That Luther refused to back down • That Michelangelo kept painting • That Lindbergh kept flying • That Papa Ten Boom said "Yes" to frightened Jews • That the Julliard School of Music saw beyond the braces and wheelchair and admitted a violin student named Perlman You could add to that list. You may even belong on the list. Almost every day—certainly every week—we encounter someone who is in his or her own homemade boat, thinking seriously about setting forth. It may be a
friend, a mate, a colleague, a neighbour, a family member. The ocean of possibilities is enormously inviting, yet terribly threatening. Urge them on! Shout a rousing "You are really something...I'm proud of you!" Dare to say what they need to hear the most, "Go for it!" Then pray like mad. How much could be accomplished if only there were more brave souls on the end of the pier smiling and affirming. Taken from Charles R. Swindoll, "Go for It," in The Finishing Touch: Becoming God's Masterpiece (Dallas: Word, 1994), 134–35. Copyright © 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.
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HOW IS THE BIBLE RELEVANT TODAY? by steve johnson
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ne of my first after school jobs was working in a butcher shop. I learned to trim fat and cut meat, how to wrap and freeze properly, sharpen knives, and as a corollary, how to stop bleeding quickly. As good as these things were, they were about as relevant to my life as a high school student as knowing the price of rice in China. There was no connection between the world of high school and that of the butcher shop. Only later in life when I became a hunter, had to choose meat at the grocery store, and owned knives of my own did I see the relevance of that knowledge. My experience with the butcher shop job is like that of many Christians who struggle to relate to Scripture. Preachers say it is relevant and applicable to life in
the 21st century, yet for many, there is a huge disconnect. This disconnect exists because of difficulty relating to the world of the Bible. The times were different in every way. People we never knew did things we don’t comprehend in places we’ve never been in times we never lived. It really was a different world. Or was it? One reason we might not see Scripture’s relevance is because we focus on the discontinuity between the world of the Bible and our world and conclude Scripture’s irrelevant. Instead, we need to look at the points of continuity. It is these that provide the relevance for us. Here are three of them. The first point of continuity showing Scripture’s relevance today is the main
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character, God, does not change. He says, “I the same now as then. Human nature has am the LORD, and I do not change” (Malachi not changed. We live in a different era, with 3:6). His character and attributes are eter- different languages, cultures, and technolnally the same. The God that Bible charac- ogy, but human nature is not different. As ters related to is the same God we relate to. long as mankind exists, human nature will always be the same. There is continuity in that. The Bible characterizes basic human What about all that horror and bloodshed we see in the Old Testament? Is God nature as proud, self-centred, and indestill like that? The short answer is yes. But pendent of God, which it calls sin. It is this we have to understand that Christ’s com- separation from God that leads to all kinds ing ushered in an age of grace. We are in of ungodly behaviour. We like to think we a time when God is patiently withholding are morally superior to our ancestors, but judgment and giving people a chance to we’re not. We sin like they did because we repent (2 Peter 3:9). So although He hasn’t are sinners. Just as putting a pig in a tutu doesn’t make it a ballerina, so changing changed, His way of relating has changed. The second point of continuity showing language, culture, and technology doesn’t change human nature. Scripture’s relevance today is that God’s One reason we might not We are born separated see Scripture’s relevance from God and until, and Word has not changed. unless, God intervenes Our eternal God is because we focus on breathed His Word so it the discontinuity between in our life, we stay that way. Forever. too stands eternal. “The This is why we can grass withers and the the world of the Bible and our world and conclude relate to Scripture: Bible flowers fade, but the characters are just like word of our God stands Scripture’s irrelevant. us! We see ourselves in forever” (Isaiah 40:8). It is always able to speak to anyone’s situ- their actions and attitudes. Also, the same ation because it, “…is alive and powerful. Word that commanded, encouraged, It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged rebuked, or corrected is the same Word sword, cutting between soul and spirit, speaking to us today. And finally, the same between joint and marrow. It exposes God who dealt with them in judgment, or our innermost thoughts and desires” grace, is the same God we deal with today. My butcher shop job taught me some (Hebrews 4:12). But because Scripture was written when of the most practical skills I ever learned. and to whom it was means we have to What I thought was totally irrelevant bridge the gap to our world today. We do turned out to be totally applicable. And that by asking, “What is the theological Scripture is the same. We just need to truth of this passage? What is it teaching learn how to cut away the fat to get at the about God, man, and the world?” It is the meat of what really matters now. theology that we apply to our lives today. The final point of continuity showing Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Scripture’s relevance today is that another Living Canada. main character of the Bible, mankind, is
PETER AND CONSISTENCY by steve johnson
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nconsistency. We see it first in his you are Peter and on this rock I will build name Simon Peter—Simon, son of my church and the gates of Hades will not Jonah, or John. John means “dove-like,” overcome it” (Matthew 16:18). This knowlsuggesting the idea of docility and weak- edge had come to Peter through revelation ness, the roots of inconsistency. Simon from the Father, and provided grounding comes from petros, a piece of stone to become more consistent later. Really knowing Jesus is essential to chipped from a rock face, a pebble. Put together we might say that Simon was consistency. That happens by spending “a chip off the old block,” weak like his time in the Word, seeing Christ in the father. Maybe he’d seen it modelled as he pages of Scripture, and experiencing and trusting Him in our daily lives. grew up. Love We see it in his actions. Really knowing Jesus is Just before His ascen• He was the first to confess the deity of essential to consistency. sion, Jesus is probing the depths of Peter’s Christ, yet he was the That happens by heart (John 21:15–17). Is first to deny the Lord spending time in the it a cause Peter is inter• He boldly draws a sword to defend Jesus Word, seeing Christ in the ested in, or is it Christ? Jesus asks the same in Gethsemane, yet a pages of Scripture, and question three times few short hours later experiencing and trusting and three times he uses he denies Him as he Him in our daily lives. Peter’s old name Simon, cowers before the son of John. Three times he asks, “Do you accusation of a servant girl • He is the first to reach the empty tomb, love me?” Did Peter love Jesus more than himself ? Did Peter love Jesus? Out of the but he’s the first to suggest a return to probing and searching of the questioning fishing and the abandonment of the and the overpowering love of the Quescause of the kingdom Later, Peter becomes the more consis- tioner a new love was born. Peter’s love for Jesus became the ruling passion of his life. tent rock that Jesus saw. How? Now as never before, it was Peter the rock Knowledge In Matthew 16:13–19 (NIV), Jesus asks a rather than Simon the pebble. It was as a critical question: “Who do people say the son of God rather than a son of John. It was Son of Man is?” Peter answered, “You are deep love rather than an infatuation. The greater our love for Christ, the the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” It is in the context of this confession that stronger our devotion, obedience, and Jesus affirms Peter. “And I tell you that consistency of walk with Him will be. This
happens as we grow in the knowledge of how great God’s love is for us. Even after miserable failures like Peter’s God still loves us infinitely. Power The last element producing a transformation in Peter was when he was filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered Peter to be a witness. Love is an attribute of character. Power is an equipment of ability. Love is a grace. Power is a gift. Love is for life. Power is for service. With the filling of the Spirit there was now the power for Peter to be consistent. You and I may have knowledge about Christ and even love and appreciate Him for His love for us. But without the Spirit filling us and controlling us the power to be consistent is just not there. Our great-
est duty once we have become Christians is to be constantly living under the influence of God’s Spirit. As we look at the later years of Peter’s life through the letters he wrote, we see a man who is indeed a rock. He offers encouragement and stability to people who were suffering bitter persecution. He is solid and steady. He is no longer easily moved. He does not fluctuate and vacillate. He has matured. This is what I want for you and me. Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Living Canada.
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DELEGATE THE WORKLOAD by Charles R. Swindoll
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he Christian worker is a strange to enjoy his or her taste in music and live it breed. He or she wants it to look as if up, just like anybody else. Frankly, those who look as if they’ve just the work is terribly hard. In fact, the more difficult and strained the look, the better. finished their last piece of bread do not Christian workers are notorious for what I minister very effectively, certainly not to call the “tired blood” look, better known as me. Those who minister to me, and those the overburdened and outdated “mission- to whom I think I minister, are men and ary image,” or, better stated, the exhausted women who truly enjoy life. We really don’t “over-burdened religious image.” They usu- need to spend all our time on the negative ally carry an old, worn-out Bible, and walk of life; there are enough heart-breaking experiences to go around with a slump, listing to port. The happiest people for all of us. They seldom smile—sort Please don’t misunderof a “please pity me” image. on earth ought to be Makes me want to gag. those of us in God’s stand me. Ministry is not an easy calling. There are I don’t mean to be super service. And we times when you must work critical. The tragic reality is, ought to look like it. longer than you should. some of these folks are overworked and hardly have enough to live And those times can occur back to back. But on. But I believe you can be in full-time we don’t need to remind most pastors of the ministry without having to resemble the need to work harder. We need a reminder of another sort. “You’re making your job poor-me stereotype. The happiest people on earth ought to be harder than it should be. Share the load. those of us in God’s service. And we ought Lighten up! Your work can be easier. Let us to look like it. We have every reason to smile help you get these things done.” more than anyone else. Even though our work is terribly serious, we ought to have Taken from Charles R. Swindoll, Great Days with more fun and have a better time doing it the Great Lives: Daily Insight from Great Lives of the Bible (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2005) 89. than anybody in any other career or call- Copyright © 2005 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All ing. I think an individual in cross-cultural rights reserved. Used by permission. ministry or a local pastor ought to be able
PURPOSE TO LIVE A TEACHABLE LIFE by steve johnson
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ome of the most difficult Christian more hope for fools than for people who people to engage with are those who think they are wise” (Proverbs 26:12). Teachable people approach life with an are knowledgeable but who have an attitude that they are the final arbiter of truth understanding they can learn from anyon the matter. They are like Job’s comfort- body regardless of that person’s state, staers to whom he sarcastically said, “You tus, or station in life. Such a spirit requires people really know everything, don’t you? humility and such humility keeps the door And when you die, wisdom will die with open to gain knowledge and truth even if it you!” (Job 12:2). In contrast, some of the comes from the most unlikely source. If you most delightful people to engage with are have humility, you’re able to take advice, be those who, despite their vast knowledge coachable, and never stop learning. With humility comes an honesty that and experience in life, are teachable. One of the most important purposes we recognizes when we have done somecan have is to live a teachable life. As Pas- thing wrong or poorly. The humble learn tor Chuck Swindoll says, “Our acute need from mistakes and screwups. Failure is is to cultivate a willingness to learn and to education. They don’t dwell on failure but rather learn from it and move on. To say, remain teachable.”¹ “I messed up” or “I don’t know” requires Teachability has four components. Hum il i t y: a n a dm ission of honesty with oneself and others. How do we get that kind of humility? In limitation Only God is all-sufficient. Only He addition to admitting our limitation we knows and can do everything. Teachability recognize and accept that we (and others) begins when we know and admit our limi- are what we are and have by the sovereign tations in ability or knowledge. “There is grace of God. We are not better or worse
than others, just different. And we are do not intend to listen. As you go through people in process of growing and changing. each day, remember that you can’t learn Hunger: an appetite to discover if you’re always talking. Being a quality listener requires personal discipline and and grow Teachable people have an appetite to a high regard for others. Listen attentively discover and grow. They have a desire and ask questions for clarification. Don’t and willingness to listen, learn, unlearn, lecture or pontificate. Listen to learn, not relearn, and apply. I believe Jesus wants us to reply. Learn more by talking less. to have this kind of hunger. He said “Take Help: an acceptance of feedback Becoming teachable requires being willmy yoke upon you. Let me teach you…” (Matthew 11:29). He also told us to “ask… ing to seek help and embrace the correction, counsel, and instructions of others. It seek…knock…” (Matthew 7:7 NIV). Solomon said, “It is the glory of God to requires humbly admitting limitation and conceal a matter, to search out a matter is inability to others who can teach and help. the glory of kings” (Proverbs 25:2). Proverbs It requires a desire to grow and being ready was written to provide instruction for life. to listen to them. Teachable people love But instruction’s only One of the most feedback. They seek and useful if you want it. Provembrace what others erbs 2:1–4 is full of verbs important purposes urging discovery: “listen… we can have is to live a have to say because they it’s going to make treasure…tune your ears… teachable life. As Pastor know them better. They aren’t concentrate…cry out… ask…search…seek….” If Chuck Swindoll says, “Our defensive at constructive we are hungry to discover acute need is to cultivate feedback and they receive and grow, we will discover a willingness to learn and it in love. They know they know everything opportunities for growth to remain teachable.” don’t therefore they listen to in every situation. This involves asking questions of our- learn rather than to reply. They put into selves, others, and situations. That’s the practice what they learn from wise people. Find those whose counsel is helpful, best way to deepen understanding. Cultivate the habit of asking questions before mentors you can tap into regularly. Listen making judgments, assumptions, state- to them. Learn from their experiences. Develop the skills they have you admire. Tap ments, or declarations. Another aspect of the hunger is a high in to their substantial networks of friends curiosity quotient. God uses human curi- and associates. Make note of what they have osity to expand our knowledge and under- learned from both failures and successes. Make it your purpose to live a teachable standing. Teachable people place themselves intentionally among people, events, life. cultures, and thoughts that will challenge their status quo. Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Living Canada. Hearing: an aptitude to listen Humility and hunger are essential to 1 Charles R. Swindoll (1997). Esther: A Woman of teachability but so is an aptitude to listen. Strength and Dignity, p.60, Thomas Nelson There is no point in asking a question if you
“My strong advice that I believe we need to hear is this: ‘Stop questioning authority and start respecting it.’” — CHUCK SWINDOLL
Respecting Authority
The course of David’s life changed the day he killed Goliath. He may have entered the field of battle an unknown shepherd boy, but he emerged a national hero. With the sling of a single stone, Goliath’s body crumpled to the dirt and David’s star rocketed to the sky. News of David’s victory echoed through the canyons of Judah. When the Israelite army marched home for a ticker-tape-style parade with King Saul in the lead, citizens lined the streets cheering. “Women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul” (1 Samuel 18:6). The women greeted Saul, but their voices acclaimed David. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. This was their song: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” (18:6–7) Their song’s lopsided praise of David ignited Saul’s jealous heart with hatred
toward the young champion. David had done nothing against Saul, yet in the coming days, Saul would attempt to kill David, forcing the next rightful king of Israel to flee like a felon on the run. Even though Saul behaved in an un-kingly manner, he was still the Lord’s anointed—a role that demanded respect. How would David respond to Saul: by kneeling before a king or attacking an enemy? David’s most dangerous opponent wasn’t the nine-foot-nine-inch-tall human war machine named Goliath; rather, his greatest foe was his own king, the man who at one time loved him as a son. David felled Goliath with the frontal assault of a well-placed stone. Dealing with Saul would require a different strategy for David: showing respect to Saul because Saul was the Lord’s anointed and trusting God to take care of David’s enemy.
“Respecting Authority” is from Chuck Swindoll’s series Wise Counsel for Troubled Times. You can stream this message online anytime at insightforliving.ca/audiolibrary.
Puzzle — Word Search
Being Teachable Difficulty ● ● ○ ○
There are 28 words from Proverbs 1:1–9; 2:1–5 (NIV) hidden in this puzzle. They may be spelled in any direction.
G J W I T H I N N K G I U L N A G U I D A N C E G V N I F O I G M T H G I S N I D S T E I N W A Y Z E K I W E T E P A T I G R R R K N A R E D A E R C N C N O L R N S N N I R C C U G G T I E A T O S J S C C G R G S N C Y A N O W S C H A B T B N S I N L G D C L R V Z V S E I I D V N P R U D E N C E N D A I H I I B P Q L T D F S I R N R O C F E F A Q I O G F L G V D V I A Q C L O O K X E L G N I N R A E L E L N J A L A M O D S I W A T S R X E Q F C
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