Says Who? Who Do You Trust? - Henry Knapp

As with all wars, there were multiple reasons for the fighting during the English Civil War. Fought 200 years before our own civil war, the English Civil War had economic causes, political causes, and social causes. But, at its core, the English Civil War was a religious war—a war between two different types of Christians. It seems absurd to us today, and terribly un-Christian, to fight and kill over different theological beliefs, but for a decade war raged across the British Isles.

As so often happens, out of the darkness, God raised up many marvelous things. Out of the English Civil War, one bright light was the creation of a statement of faith, a description of what we believe, entitled, “The Westminster Confession of Faith”. Some of you will easily guess that I am a fan. Indeed I am. I believe that the Confession wonderfully and accurately captures so much of the biblical witness to the Gospel and Truth. The authors of the Confession were trying to describe what the Bible teaches—and they were convinced that the Bible teaches truth. While everything in the world (including the Confession itself) is subject to error, only the Bible reliably speaks that which is true.

But, how do we know this? How do we know that what the Bible says is accurate? The Confession acknowledges the importance of this question and lists numerous reasons why we should trust it—the respect of history, the value given by the Church, the unified goal of glorifying God, the agreement of all its parts, and many more. But after listing all these things, the Confession says this:

“However, we are completely persuaded and assured of the infallible truth and divine authority of the Bible only by the inward workings of the Holy Spirit, who testifies by and with the Word in our hearts.”

You might want to read that again. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

So, how do we know the Bible is what it claims to be, the true witness to God? “By the inward workings of the Holy Spirit.” There are lots of supporting evidences, there are lots of good reasons in the Bible to trust what it says. But, the only sure reason? “The work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.” Where does that come from? How can we be assured by the Spirit in our hearts?

This week in worship, we are looking at the last two verses in John’s Gospel. As we read these together, you might think… “What a weird way to end it all”. And, you might be right! But, there is a reason John wraps up his Gospel account this way. There is a reason, after talking all about Jesus’ life and ministry, that he ends by talking about his own truthfulness and the manifold works of Jesus not recorded in the Bible. If you have read John’s account this far, I think he is counting on you to experience exactly the blessings of the Holy Spirit we are talking about here.

Join us in worship on Sunday as we explore these verses together!

As you prepare for worship this week, please read John 21:24-25.

1. What three things about the author does he want us to know in verse 24?

2. How does the author’s self-description advance the Gospel’s call?

3. Why does the author tell us that there are many other things Jesus did (vs. 25)? Why would he feel compelled to tell us that?

4. The end of verse 25 certainly sounds like hyperbole. Is it appropriate for Scripture to use hyperbole, or is the Bible actually claiming that the world couldn’t hold the books that detail Jesus’ full life?

5. In verse 24, the author says that we know his testimony is true. How do we know that? Do you know that? If so, how?

6. Would these verses have been received differently by John’s original audience than we hear them now? If so, how?

The Hope of a Future - Doug Rehberg

In 1985 R.C. Sproul wrote a book that got a wide reading. At the same time he produced a series of videos under the same title: The Holiness of God.

All over the country people watched and read as R.C. expounded on Isaiah’s awesome experience of seeing God sitting on His throne in His Heavenly Throne Room (Isaiah 6). Many Christians who were new to the faith or mature in their faith grew in the grace and knowledge of the Gospel as a result of the book and the video series. Churches around the country used both for small group discussion and studies. It is said that Charles Colson, former special counsel to the President of the United States, was discipled as a new believer through this seminal work by R.C. Sproul.

Listen to what the editor of the book has to say about R.C.’s work:

“Central to God’s character is the quality of holiness. Yet, even so, most people are hard-pressed to define what divine holiness is. Many preachers today avoid the topic altogether because people don’t quite know what to do with words like “awe” or “fear”. R.C. Sproul, in this classic work, puts the holiness of God in its proper and central place in the Christian life. He presents an awe-inspiring vision of God that encourages Christians to become holy just as God is holy. Once you encounter the holiness of God, your life will never be the same.”

And while it might be true that encounters with God’s holiness will change your life forever, it seems that many lives throughout the Scriptures remained decidedly unchanged after an exposure with divine holiness. Think of post-Red Sea Israel. Think of God’s people in the shadow of Sinai bowing down to a golden calf. Think of Peter, James, and John after the Mount of Transfiguration, etc. The truth is that, while there are abundant displays of divine holiness throughout the Bible, in nearly every case of human exposure, real and tangible heart change is rarely a byproduct. And nowhere is that clearer than in this week’s text. This week we are back again in John 21, taking another look at Jesus and Peter.

What we find here is the revelation of something far more transformative than the holiness of God, and that’s the heart of God. What Jesus shows Peter is His heart, and therefore, God’s heart!

There’s only one place in the whole of the Gospel where Jesus opens the curtain and tells us the essence of His heart and that’s Matthew 11. In Matthew 11:28-29 He speaks of His heart. In John 21 He reveals it in all of its awesome transformative power.

In a message entitled, “Hope of a Future”, we will again be in John 21:15-22 seeing the heart of the matter.

Two-hundred years ago Charles Spurgeon wrote,

            “God is too good to be unkind

            and He’s too wise to be mistaken.

And when we cannot trace His Hand,

we must trust His Heart.”

It’s His heart that we will see this week! In preparation for Sunday’s message, you may wish to consider the following:

1. What was Jesus’ most frequently used name for God?

2. Why was this revolutionary for the Jews?

3. How would you describe the heart of God?

4. Can you find the meaning of Jesus’ revelation in Matthew 11:29?

5. What does he mean by “gentle and lowly”?

6. How does this square with verses 15-17 of John 21?

7. Last week Henry told us what Jesus means in verse 18 by examining verse 19, but what else is Jesus saying in verse 18?

8. How did Peter’s betrayal of Jesus reveal his heart?

9. What other kind of death might Jesus be referring to in verse 19?

10. What’s it mean to follow Jesus in light of His heart?

We’ll talk about all of it this week!

The Purpose-Driven Christ - Henry Knapp

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” As many of you know, the early centuries of the Christian Church were marked by sporadic, and at times, intense persecution. Following in the footsteps of Jesus, their leader, many early Christians refused to modify or deny their faith in Christ, even when threatened with brutal execution. And yet, try as they might, the powers of this world were not able to stamp out the Christian teaching. Indeed, the persecution seemed only to fuel the public witness of the faith and to magnify the response. Thus, Tertullian, an early Christian writer, could claim that, rather than diminish the power of Christianity, the persecution of believers only served to increase the Church. The Church sprouted and flourished despite (perhaps, because of?) the witness amidst the suffering of her members. Thus, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”

This was especially true of the original disciples. Of the original disciples, we know from the Scriptures or from church history and legend, that every one of them suffered greatly for the Gospel; and all but the Apostle John were martyred for their faith. Following the beheading of John’s brother, the Apostle James, as recorded in Acts 12, the apostles scattered throughout the world, carrying the Gospel message to all peoples. From Rome to Ethiopia, from Eastern Europe to India, the original disciples preached the love and grace of Jesus Christ. And everywhere they met with those who embraced the message, experiencing new life in the Lord, as well as those who rose up against it. Many, like Jesus Himself, were crucified, some beheaded, stabbed, hacked to death, or stoned. Each grisly death, however, advanced the Gospel message. “The blood of the martyrs… seeding the church.”

And, this experience—of persecution and resounding victory—is hardly limited to the original disciples. You can perhaps imagine their early passion and commitment; after all, they had walked with Jesus, seen His crucifixion, witnessed His resurrection and ascension. Perhaps one can understand their determination; but what of others? For centuries, believers have gone to their deaths with confidence and assurance in the salvation of the Lord. The Roman Empire devised horrific means of breaking the church, yet the opposite occurred—God strengthened, sustained, and grew His people through such brutality. Fed by the sufferings and blood of those dying for their faith, the church of God advanced throughout the world.

But, how? How does the martyrdom of Christians spur on the growth of the church? All the evidence we have points to the manner in which the followers went to their deaths. Yes, some of them gave eloquent “last words,” some were witty, some articulated well the Gospel with their dying breath. But, universally, the link that held them together was the character with which they exhibited trust in their Lord. It was not that the content of their beliefs was unimportant—it more was that what they believed shaped the way they acted, even at the most dramatic moment of their lives. What marks a man of God this way? How does a woman who claims Christ as her Savior witness so powerfully in such demanding situations?

When Peter was learning from Jesus how he would die (John 21:18), Jesus drew his attention to one thing, and one thing only—to Jesus Himself. Peter’s death was to glorify Jesus. Such a thing is unbearable to imagine, unless your eyes are fixed on what is really real, the source of true life, the only real meaning: Jesus Christ. And so, the call goes out to Peter, and to all of us, “Follow Me.”

As you prepare for worship this Sunday, read John 21:18-22.

If you were to read verse 18 in isolation from the rest of the chapter, what might you conclude this means?

1. How is this section connected to the previous? Why might Jesus move from restoring Peter to this discussion?
2. The idea that a particular kind of death glorifies God raises all kind of questions. What might some of those be?
3. What does it take to “follow” someone? What do you need, and what do you NOT need, but that you might like?
4. Why is John called “the disciple whom Jesus loved?”
5. What reasons might Peter have for asking what would happen to John?
6. What does Jesus’ response to Peter indicate?

Hope in Failure - Doug Rehberg

Last week on Friday I did a video podcast with a friend from California. The title of the series he’s doing is “Church Hurts”. It’s pitched to the unchurched who, if they ever give the church a thought, it’s negative. They’ve been hurt by the church, or at least their perceptions of it.

For thirty minutes we talked about the decreasing number of people who attend church, denominational divisions, and reasons for the precipitous decline in the Western church. And when we were finished, my friend, John, asked his producer, Paul, for feedback on what he’s just heard. Instantly Paul says, “Where were the stories?”

He was right. In a half hour John had not solicited one story from me. It was all a pedantic discussion of cause and effect. And yet, in the moments that followed, stories abounded between Paul, John, and me. Paul was right when he said, “If you want to communicate lasting impressions and insights, you have to do it in story form. It’s stories that people remember. It’s through ruminating on a story that people are changed." (That’s exactly the point Steve Brown is making in his 5 Points of Communication detailed in last week’s mentor posting.)

This week we’re back in John 21, which is arguably the greatest summation of the Gospel that we find in Scriptures. Taken together with Luke 15, John 21 sets before us the essence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in vivid, arresting detail. How very different from all the things that pass for the Gospel these days. Here in John 21 we have the only post-resurrection miracle Jesus ever performs. It shows His mastery over nature and human nature.

This week I received a call from a friend who asked, “What’s behind the 153 fish?” The same could be asked of Peter’s fishing apparel. Why does he put on his outer garment before he jumps into the water? The same could be asked of the distance detail John adds – “about 100 yards from shore.” The answer to all of these questions is the same – they are details that verify the historical validity of this story. They are the things you find in an eyewitness account.

Now for those interested, over the history of the church people have offered myriad speculations on the meaning of 153. Augustine, for instance, points out that 153 is the sum of all the numbers from 1 to 17. Then he says that 17 is the total of 10 (standing for the Ten Commandments) and 7 (for the seven-fold Spirit of God in the Book of Revelation). If John heard such an interpretation, he would have exclaimed, “Poppycock!” That’s Greek for stupid!

The message of this profound story is found not in the number of fish or the clothing Peter is wearing, but in the incomparable reality of the Gospel – “All is grace!” Think of it. Here in all its starkness John shows us that there is no greater insult to Jesus than to doubt His love for you. Are you convinced that He could never love you any more than He does right now? Do you know and trust that you are complete in His righteousness? Do you know and trust that there is nothing you could do to make Him love you more? Are you so convinced of His acceptance that you don’t need the admiration of others and the proper doings of your own?

Look what Jesus is saying to Peter here. “I’m not going to put you in a leadership position in my church despite your big, fat failures, but because of them!” He doesn’t say, “You’re going to have to make up for your failures.” He’s saying the opposite! He’s saying, “Peter, plunge your failures into my endless sea of grace, and you will gain a new perspective – it’s not about you, it’s all about Me."

This week in a message entitled, “Hope in Failure”, we are going to dig further into this story. In preparation for the message, you may wish to consider the following:

1. Why is John the only gospel writer to tell us this story?
2. What does it tell us about John’s insight into the Gospel?
3. Why does John tell us about the charcoal fire in verse 9?
4. Where else do we see Jesus with bread and fish in the gospels?
5. Why doesn’t Jesus bless the bread and fish before giving it to the disciples?
6. What are all the doings of Peter in this story?
7. Why does Jesus address him as Simon, son of John, in His first question? (See Matthew 16:17)
8. Why is Peter grieved by the third question? (v.17)
9. How is Peter’s answer to Jesus’ third question different than his first two?
10. What does this story tell us about our hope in every failure?

See you in worship!

Two Men and Two Boats - Doug Rehberg

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the many people who have influenced my ministry over the years. Some were mentors, but most were simply contributors. One such man was Dr. Bowens. He was an ordained Baptist minister who taught Social Studies at Western Branch High School in Tidewater, Virginia, back in the 1970s. Prior to 1971 I had never attended a school where a minister was on the faculty. What’s more, I had never attended a school with African American students or teachers, and he was African American. And by the end of the first week of class, any racial prejudice I may have harbored against him vanished. Dr. Bowens taught me a lot of what I’ve never forgotten - including this gem: All of creation testifies to truth, therefore no Christian should cede any area of human endeavor to the devil; no art, no science, no philosophy, no human enterprise.

Twenty years later a man in California wrote one of my favorite songs of all time. Here it is on Vimeo – “Heart of the Matter”. The reason this Don Henley song grabs me is because of the truth of his claim. Forgiveness is the heart of the matter! Forgiveness is at the heart of the heart of God and no gospel writer knows that as well as John.

One time Donald Grey Barnhouse was asked how long it took him to write a sermon. His answer was instructive: “Two days and 24 years.” That’s what Don Henley said about the song, “The Heart of the Matter”. He said, “It took me 42 years to write and four minutes to sing.” For John it took 3 years with Jesus, a cross, and an empty tomb to write chapters 20 and 21.

These chapters are arguably the two most important chapters in the Bible for the Christian not just because they detail and confirm the resurrection; but because they detail and confirm our resurrection. Not just our resurrection at the end of our lives, but in the midst of them. They confirm that the words of Paul in II Corinthians 5:17 are existentially true for every believer. But how? How are you a new creation? What’s the proof of it? Are you less sinful than you used to be? Are you more holy than you used to be?

Now some appeal to our position in Christ. They speak of our being clothed in the righteousness of Christ. They talk of Christ’s merits being imputed to us. And while that is absolutely true, there’s a very practical and demonstrative change the Holy Spirit brings to every Christian life that is lived under His sway and John alone among the gospel writers speaks of it. He underscores it in both chapters 20 and 21. But most miss it!

This Sunday and next we will zero in on it. This week in a message entitled, “Two Men and Two Boats” from John 21:1-14, we will examine the heart of the matter. In preparation you may wish to consider the following:

1. When do you think the disciples became Christians?
2. What marks their regeneration?
3. What’s the purpose of their regeneration?
4. Do you see any parallels with Matthew 16:1-19?
5. What is the significance of Luke 5:1-11 in understanding John 21:1-14?
6. Why are the two big catches at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and at the end?
7. Why the two different reactions of Peter in Luke 5 and John 21?
8. Why does Jesus come to the beach that morning?
9. Why have the disciples gone fishing?
10. How does Jesus’ behavior in chapter 21 mirror His words in John 20:22-23?

See you virtually this Sunday!

The Purpose of Things - Henry Knapp

I can’t begin to count how many disagreements Kelly and I have had through the years that basically boil down to a misunderstanding. Often it is my mishearing something Kelly has said, or her misreading something I have done. But, usually it comes down to our assuming why something has been said, and, of course, assuming wrongly. Supposing a negative motive, and getting it wrong, starts the ball rolling. Kel will say something to me, and I’ll assume that she intends to critique me; immediately, I get defensive, and the squabble begins!

I have done some work for a company that published theological articles. A “peer reviewer,” my job was to read prospective papers and see if they were suitable to print in the journal. Many were good, some excellent, and there were lots of reasons some submissions were poor. But, one of the more frequent objections I would have was the lack of a reason, a lack of purpose. It is very frustrating, as a reader, to be half-way through an article and still not be sure what exactly the purpose of the author is—what point is he trying to make, and why is it important?

Sometimes in life, the problem is no clear purpose. I always wondered, why make the bed? I’ll just be crawling back in later tonight. Or, why pay taxes? It’s just a drop in the ocean anyways. When there is no clear purpose, it is hard to be motivated to do the job. But sometimes, the problem is not the absence of a good purpose, but the presence of too many good purposes. When one solution solves so many problems, sometimes it is hard to focus on the one main reason the solution is given to begin with. And, suddenly, the solution is used for a lot of good reasons while ignoring the real purpose for which it was intended.

Thus, I fear, with the Gospel stories of Jesus. The record of Jesus’ life touches on so many things. Jesus’ teachings are beautiful, insightful, and sure to inspire. His miracles are full of compassion and wonder; His exemplary life is motivating; His sacrifice stirring. There is so much we can learn from Him. So much we should learn from Him! The Gospels teach us ethics (how to live), theology (how to think), passion (how to worship), love (how to serve), hope (how to expect). The Gospels teach so, so much, it’s possible to miss the main reason they were written. More than possible, I’d say that very often the real, main purpose we have been given the Gospel is frequently forgotten amidst the flurry of other good purposes.

How do we stay on track? How do we make sure that, while we are absorbing, learning, and growing into all that the Gospels teach, how do we make sure that we are not losing the main purpose? Well, by God’s grace and providence, the Apostle John writes to tell us exactly what the purpose of his book is. No mistake, no assumptions, no misunderstanding. The purpose of the Gospel According to John is…

Well, come join us in worship this Sunday as we explore this very question. And, as you prepare, read John 20:30-31.

1. What is the connection between this paragraph (vs. 30-31) and the story of Jesus and Thomas which immediately precedes it?
2. Why would some of what Jesus did not be recorded (vs. 30)?
3. Why is it important to note that Jesus acted “in the presence of the disciples”?
4. Notice the use of  “purpose language” in verse 31. How do we know that John is describing his purpose here?
5. What does John say his purpose was? What other purposes might people often come to the Bible to discover? Why would it be bad to lose track of this particular purpose?

Peace Be with You - Henry Knapp

I well remember my first horror movie. A group of my older friends were gathering to watch something that we kind of knew was “off limits,” so naturally, I was all eager to join them. When the movie came on, I didn’t know what an “exorcist” was, but I quickly learned—at least what Hollywood’s version was like. Thus began an unexplainable interest in horror movies, which mercifully passed in a couple of years. Egads!

Of course, it is hard to find a good horror movie these days that doesn’t feature a good ole’ zombie or two. The whole idea of something that has died and then returned to life is beyond freaky. First off, we have a terrible fear of dying to begin with, then the image of the decaying body walking around again—ugh! Now, the thought that zombie-fear would be a modern phenomenon is crazy; people of every age knew that dead is dead, and the un-dead is just… wrong, so very wrong.

So, we shouldn’t minimize the fear and dread that overwhelmed the disciples upon their first encounter with the risen Lord Jesus. We are told in John 20:19 that Jesus’ followers were hiding out “for fear of the Jews,” who had just crucified their leader. And then, miraculously, Jesus stands among them! Talk about ratcheting up the horror level! The resurrection of Christ is such a fundamental aspect of our faith that many who are well-versed in the story may easily forget how freaky a resurrection really is. The disciples had as much an aversion to seeing dead bodies walking around as we do today. The horror and dismay which would have gripped the disciples would have been overpowering. Small wonder, then, that Jesus’ first words to them would be, “Peace be with you.”

Of course, the difference between Jesus’ resurrection and a zombie-infestation is massive. While part of the “terror-appeal” of a zombie is that they might share their deadness with you, Jesus’ resurrection was a victorious one over death itself. Jesus did not come back to life in some deformed fashion, but perfected in His humanity, the glorified Man. Of course, that very glory would undoubtedly add to the disciples’ fright—holiness always brings terror to those trapped in sin. Again, Jesus’ response? “Peace be with you.”

Think for a bit on the saying here: “Peace:” not simply the absence of strife, but the quality, sense, and possession of completeness; that you are totally in the center of God’s will, grace, and love. “Be with:” that that peace resides, that it comes upon you, that it stays, that it marks the quality of your life, now and into the future. “You:” God’s direction and interest is not random, it is not generic, it is not common. God’s peace is for you, yes, YOU. The work of Christ in redemption—His birth, life, death and resurrection—is so all-encompassing, that it would be easy to think of our own portion as a small, insignificant cog. But, not so! God’s peace, purchased with the life-blood of our Savior, is for you. He truly had you in mind as He was dying on the cross, and having been raised to life, He offers you His peace.

In every situation, in every circumstance, in every trauma, sorrow and frustration, Jesus’ word to you remains, “Peace be with you.”

In our preparation for worship this week, please read John 20:19-29. 

1. vs. 19: Why would the disciples be in fear of the Jews?
2. vs. 20: Why would Jesus show them his hands and side? What is he concerned about?
3. vs. 21: What is the connection between God’s peace and God’s sending? Pretty amazing, no?
4. vs. 22: “breath” is another word for “spirit”, so when Jesus “breaths” on His disciples, what picture is He trying to communicate?
5. vs. 25: How do you explain Thomas’ words here? Why is he being so stubborn?
6. vs. 26: Why the “eight days?” What is significant of this passage of time?
7. vs. 27: When Jesus says, “do not disbelieve,” what is He saying about disbelief?