Odd, isn't it, how so many people cheered Jesus and then called for His crucifixion? But maybe it's not surprising considering how fickle the human heart is (Jeremiah 17:9). It's just hard to believe sometimes that the Lord's way and not my way is going to be best.

Jesus came to be King over all  -- even how we live our lives. But it can be a struggle when we face correction. It takes such grace to give and receive godly correction. But that's where we find out who our true friends are: "Wounds from a friend can be trusted but an enemy multiplies kisses" (Proverbs 27:6; see also Proverbs 15:5; 9:8-9; Psalm 141:5).

Got friends? (The picture portrays Judas' kiss of betrayal.)

Palm Sunday and Holy Week are nearly here! I'm excited for Sunday and the week ahead. Hope to see you there!

Should we deliberately do ministry out of our weakness? Paul boasted in his weaknesses and said, "When I am weak, then I am strong."

I met a young man that aspired to be a pastor but after I heard him speak, I struggled with the idea of him as a pastor. Why? 1 Timothy 3:2: "A (pastor) must . . . be able to teach." The man was very confusing to listen to -- not able to teach.

So here's a question -- should he be a pastor because he's incapable or should he not be a pastor because he's incapable?

What do you think?

Following Christ is about showing off God's power through our lives. The apostle Paul did this by how he preached (1 Corinthians 2:4-5), how he endured hardship (2 Corinthians 4:7-11); and how he responded to his "thorn in the flesh" -- a matter that he asked the Lord to take away three times and the Lord said "No" three times (2 Corinthians 12:8-10). The Lord promised him that his grace would be sufficient; that there would be strength for his weakness. Paul concludes, "When I am weak, then I am strong." That's curious. We are strong when we are weak. Why? That's when the Lord's power shows through us.

Do you realize how this redefines everything? Pick whatever illness -- cancer, diabetes, appendecitis, anything -- all our bodily weakness is our opportunity to show off God's power. Pick your temptation -- anger, worry, lust, pride, jealousy, anything -- all our fleshly lusts become our opportunity to show off God's power through the Holy Spirit working through us (Romans 8:12-13). Pick your career -- business, law, government, services, education -- it's all our opportunity to show off God's power working through us. Pick your family role -- child, parent, sibling, cousin, anything -- it's our opportunity to show off God's power working through us (1 Corinthians 13).

So here's your opportunity to "show off" God's power. What's he been doing in your life?

"It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption" (1 Cor. 1:30).

Jesus has become wisdom from God for us. There was a time that Jesus was not wisdom from God for us and that there was a time that He became wisdom from God for us. This happened when Jesus accomplished our salvation and when the Holy Spirit applied our salvation. Jesus' life and death on the cross and resurrection accomplished our salvation. He lived a perfect life and so was a perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 4:15; 9:24-26). Because of this He became our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. When God calls us into faith in Christ, Jesus becomes wisdom for us. Previous to this, we thought Jesus to be irrelevant or foolish. But then we understood that we need righteousness, holiness, and redemption and that faith in Jesus brings this wisdom. Paul frames it this way in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11:

"Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God."

Let's pray for this wisdom from God to be received by many people in 2010!

God calls us to salvation through the preached message of the cross. Throughout 1 Corinthians 1 we've learned about this idea of "call." Apostles are called (1). Christians are called to be holy (2). We put our faith in Jesus when we call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (2). God called us into fellowship with Jesus (9). Because of God's call we view Christ as the power and wisdom of God and not weak and foolish (24). There is a time "when you were called" (25). God chooses and subsequently calls the weak to shame the strong, the foolish to shame the wise (26-28). Like Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus' effective call, we are spiritually raised by God's call. "It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus . . . " (30). Verse 4 makes so much more sense in this light. Note who gets the thanks. "I always give thanks to God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus." So this is one more reason that we "boast in the Lord" (31). 

It was a great morning to worship and be together. It is a great privilege to hear what God is doing in your lives. A number of people mentioned serious challenges they face. I hope that our focus on the cross and our boast in the Lord will linger long in your spirit so that God gives you grace for the week ahead. We are all going to need that!

I wonder what God's call will be in your life this week.

It was a great day together! I truly enjoy the moments we have as a congregation -- the worship was outstanding; the fellowship was a delight; the food was abundant; good to hear the report from our mission team -- a good day! I wonder how God is going to show himself to the team members now that they are back home. Will they be missionaries here, too? Will all of us be missionaries where we are planted?

Isn't it odd how many people think the message of the cross is foolish but have never really checked out God's side of the debate?

Besides Epicureans and secular humanists, there are other "wise" systems -- often they are spoken best at funerals. Here's one that makes my stomach turn -- "God needed more angels in heaven, so that's why he had to die." Or, at my friend Les' funeral -- one of his buddies gave some reflections that went kind of like this: "We went 4 wheeling and got stuck in the mud together. We drank beer together. Les really lived." That's a "wise" system. You only go around once in life. Go for the gusto. Have fun with your friends. Then you'll really live. Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow you die. THAT CAN'T BE ALL THERE IS! Check out John 10:10.

I love 1 Corinthians 1:29: "so that no one may boast before Him." That's the point of the cross (Isaiah 42:8; 48:11). Many, many layers of pride get peeled off of us at the cross. It sounds like this: "Lord Jesus, I am sorry for my sins." "Father, not My will but Yours be done." "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do."

My favorite story today was from Art. His friend didn't want to watch the movie about Christianity. Art asked why. His friend said, "That's not what I believe." Art said, "How do you know?" So the friend decided to give it a look. Several weeks later, he said to Art, "You were right." And Art said, "I wasn't right. It was God talking to you." In other words, Art understood that spiritual leadership in a conversation is not about winning the point but about joining God in His work; it's not about the debate but about God revealing Himself.

Thank God for His gift and the awesome privilege to preach "Christ crucified."

Stay true.

While a seminary student, I initiated a year long debate which occurred most Saturdays between three Jehovah Witness leaders from the Twin Cities and a team that consisted of two friends and myself. Our aim was to discuss the Bible and debate our differences. It was never easy to go into these Saturday morning debates. Yet, in spite of our differences, both sides respected one another. And, I think these JW leaders may have begun to discover Jesus Christ as the Son of God (a pivotal line of thought was the Revelations passages which say "I am the Alpha and the Omega; the First and the Last.").

In a postmodern, pluralistic world one would think that respectful dialogue about differences could frequently happen. I do believe it's very possible with many people. However, there are a few issues to navigate. One issue is what the other person thinks or believes about you and your convictions. Are you going to jam your religion down their throat? Are you going to judge them? Or, does your friend realize that you would like to share his/her journey and talk about his/her questions and issues? From our side of the conversation, there are issues, too. We're perceived by some as not exhibiting God's love; by others as reinforcing the Republican versus Democrat divide; and even by some as "angry".

So I propose two things. First, that we engage people with a passionate yet respectful dialogue. And second, just make the point as often as you can in your circle of influence -- that a passionate, respectful dialogue about faith is a good thing. I think that's a great way to honor what Jesus did on the cross for us.

What about all the different denominations? Don't they damage the idea of Christian unity?

"Is Christ divided?" Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 1:13. The answer is "No." Christ is unified in every sense. He is relationally unified with the Father and the Holy Spirit: "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). His heart has no division in its expression of love toward His people: "He showed them the full extent of His love" (John 13:1). He is fully God and fully human and will always have these two natures in complete unity forever: "He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them" (Hebrews 7:24). Christ is not divided. Nor should His body be divided. "The body is a unity, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:12).

So how do we approach various denominations? As a church we associate with Converge Worldwide (aka Baptist General Conference) and the Minnesota-Iowa Baptist Conference in order to advance the good news of Christ together. We also join with other churches in ways that advance the message of Christ crucified and share the love of Christ in practical ways. Common Cup is a shared ministry of many churches in our area that serves physical needs of people. Our church is a strong participant. We do make it a point to team up with other churches and so to honor the fact that Christ is not divided.

A curious fact -- studies have shown that there were up to 16 churches in the city of Rome by the time that the apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Romans. At an early stage, many congregations had formed in Rome. This is an example of how the local church can have many individual, congregational expressions and yet be a part of the larger body of Christ.

A silly joke -- a man was stranded for 7 years on an island; finally he was rescued and he showed his rescuers around his primitive camp before leaving. They noticed three huts and asked him why he had three huts. The first one is where i go when the afternoon rains come. The second hut is my place of worship. "What about the third hut?" his rescuers asked. "That's another church," the man said. "A few years ago there was a bad squabble and there was a church split."

Your thoughts?

We're all leaders. But how should we respond to those who God puts in leadership in the church? Our text yesterday taught us not to idolize leaders; or to follow one leader so absolutely that we are divisive in the church. So how do we respond to leaders without idolizing them?

We know that we are to stay away from bad leaders who lead us astray (Isaiah 3:12); who teach falsehood and promote controversies (1 Timothy 1:3-4). We are to imitate the faith of good leaders (Hebrews 13:7) and it is to our advantage to obey our leaders and submit to them (Hebrews 13:17). The key in knowing the difference between good and bad leaders is discerning if the leader is being led by the Lord Jesus. We know a good leader from a bad leader because a good leader knows his role and will never compromise the message of the cross of Christ. "For Christ (sent me) to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross be emptied of its power" (1 Corinthians 1:17).

What are your thoughts on being a faithful follower?

Spiritual transformation happens because of fellowship with Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 1:9: "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

Our passage from Sunday (1 Cor. 1:1-9) explains this fellowship. We are "sanctified in Christ Jesus" (2) in a way that brings grace and peace "from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (3). Sin is forgiven and we have peace with God through faith in Christ (Romans 5:1). Grace is given in Christ so that we are enriched in every way (4-5). Specifically, the "testimony about Christ was confirmed in you" (they called on the name of Jesus for salvation) (6) and "you are not lacking in any spiritual gift" (7). We wait for the revealing  of our Lord Jeus Christ (7). Because Christ sustains us "to the end" we will be "blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (8).

The name Jesus Christ our Lord appears 9 times in 9 verses. Could the point be more clear? It's all about fellowship with Jesus.

Sunday is going to be great. Hope to see you all there.