Oakhaven Church's Podcast

This is the first in a series of 3 minute life lessons.

Marriages are to be Holy. Like no other. But sometimes we fail to bring to our marriages the same components that are considered indispensable in other corridors of our lives.

As we consider again Christianity as it has been lived through history, we observe that we make assumptions about the early Christians that need re-examination. Christianity began to experience stress points early on. The early Christians were just as human as we in the 21st century. From the earliest biblical records of the church, we find dissatisfaction, disagreement and conflict.

Paul's letter to the believers in Rome is an exhortation to bear with one another, to accept one another, and to be welcoming to those who come from different backgrounds and contexts. Paul understood that as the church became more global and culturally diverse, the tendency to splinter would become an even greater threat to mission. This sermon uses Romans 14 as principle text. You are invited to listen, think, ponder and most importantly, allow God to transform you into His likeness.

This lesson features a glimpse of how some of the earliest of Christians expressed their faith in Christ and how their lives were lived. The intention of this lesson is to alert us to the way Christianity affected people living in the first and second centuries. From these brief character studies, we reflect on Scripture's unparalleled authority in forming our beliefs.

In addition, we consider the value of the writings of those, who, while uninspired, lend to us great insights to how faith has been lived out through the ages. They are also a reminder to us that each generation leaves behind their own writings, prayers, hymns and expressions of faith to contribute to the legacy of what it means to live as believers.

Larry Bertram works with Orphan's Lifeline of Hope International. In this presentation given on October 4, 2009, Larry shares the great need to provide resources and relief to disadvantaged children around the world.

Lifeline of Hope International provides help to orphanages in Russia, Kenya, Pakistan, Uganda and India, to mention a few. If you would like to know more, visit their website at: www.orphanslifeline.org

In this continuation of last week's lesson, we observe some of the events of history which shaped Christianity. To fully appreciate the myriad of things which have affected Christianity's spread and development, I recommend the following sources:

Mark Noll, Turning Points
Justo L. Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity
Rick Cornish, 5 Minute Church Historian
Rodney Stark, The Rise of Christianity

It is the writings of Scripture which provide us with inspired and God-ordained teachings for the carrying out of the Christian faith. The inspired writings of the Old Testament provides the backdrop of Christianity. The Gospels, Acts, Epistles and the book of Revelation, continue and complement those earlier writings and serve to shape Christianity through the years. While it is true that the Scriptures are the source to which we should go to keep focused on the core agenda of God, there are historical occurrences which have, for better or worse, influenced Christianity through the years. This sermon seeks to identify but a handful of those things which influenced Christianity into what it becomes in centuries to come.

While some sought to advance Christianity out of devotion to God, others saw Christianity as a force to be exploited for personal advancement. Whatever the motives, the impact of historical events has have brought about unmistakable effects on Christianity. As we seek to live out Christian lives in the twenty-first century, it is helpful to look back over our shoulder to clearer understand where some of our practices, attitudes and views began. Most importantly, it helps us to sift between what is tradition and what is doctrine.

Several sources were utilized in preparing these thoughts. Below is a partial list of those sources.

Everett Ferguson, Backgrounds of Early Christianity
Mark Noll, Turning Points

Phyllis Tickle, The Great Emergence, How Christianity is Changing and Why

Rodney Stark, The Rise of Christianity

Justo Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity, Vol. 1 & 2

The Effects of the Fall of Jerusalem on Christianity, By J. Julius Scott, Jr.
Wheaton College Graduate School access online at: http://www.preteristarchive.com/JewishWars/articles/1983_scott_effects-on-christianity.html

Have you ever been snookered? Swindled? Lied to? Mislead? Cheated?

Chances are we all have at one time or another "fallen for something" which sounded too good to be true. At various times during the history of Christianity there have been those who have been only too willing and eager to use influence to mislead and promote false ideas. Paul issues instructions to Timothy, the young evangelist, to be on alert to the destructiveness of false teaching and unhealthy doctrine. False teachings not only mislead people by conveying bad information, they drive wedges between people and victimize the vulnerable.

This sermon is a look at how the gospel can be distorted to the point that it is robbed of its power. It can be stripped of its healing and transformative essence. Read the text of 1 Timothy 1: 3-20, then consider what you and I can do to help keep the gospel focused on Christ and his Redemptive and Grace-filled agenda.

Paul's admonition is to be alert to the outside influences upon Christianity which seek to disrupt/overturn us. In the early going, Christianity already had its share of those who would seek to "self-elevate" themselves and to cause divisions. Christianity was viewed by some as a movement which was gaining significant momentum and therefore, was sought as a means toward selfish ambitions .

Even before Creation, it was God's original idea to form a people who would carry out His divine agenda. This transforming and redeeming people would spread out God's welcome mat to a world in need of hope. The whole of the book of Ephesians is a call to unity, to allowing everyone a place in the body of Christ. Listen and consider how we as Christians have been challenged to this high calling and this high privilege.

Last Sunday was our annual Oakhaven "Unplugged" outdoor service. I didn't think to get a recording device for the sermon. But that's just as well. I have something special for you. This podcast is a song by my youngest, Josh Cleveland. It's titled "Witness Between Us". I would classify it as a modern day lament of sorts. A song about not settling for faith that doesn't stand the test. "I ain't quitt-n Jesus", the song says. And I won't settle anymore for any hallelujahs which don't mean anything.

My sermon last Sunday was from the text of Matthew 5:14-16 about putting our light out there where it can be seen by all. Josh's song is just that. It's a light giving illumination so others can see. Well done, son of mine.

Christianity through the ages has had its struggles to resist cultural influences. The Christians in Corinth had their work cut out for them. Their background in a pagan saturated community had introduced some non-christian attitudes and practices. Paul exhorts them to resist the tendency to try to elevate oneself over other Christian family members.

While 1 Corinthians 12 has rightly been the subject of studies of spiritual gifts and the importance of using gifts to benefit the church, this chapter also is about affecting the community at large. This lesson explores the ideas of the gifts and emphasizes the importance of keeping a proper perspective on individual gifts as a means to unity among the body of Christ as they sought to have an impact on their city and community.

By the time Paul writes first Corinthians, the Believers in that city had developed some significant problems. They were chiefly guilty of "self-elevation". Their worldliness was evident in the way they sought to elevate themselves above fellow believers. They needed to be reminded that the focus of their faith is..."the resurrected Christ".

They were going through the motions....in fact, their display of spiritual gifts was quite impressive....but they had lost their focus on what should have been at the center of their faith. Christianity through the ages has had this tendency. Paul's teaching here is relevant and and worthy of our prayerful consideration.

Jesus called his disciples to a solid identity in Him. It's no wonder that he referred to His church as being built on a "rock". As believers, we need to frequently review the foundation upon which we are called to build our lives. This sermon is an exploration into the original idea of God to form a people who would bless all nations through their mission and their message. Without Him, we don't have a rock to stand on.

The earliest of Christians were known......not so much by their name.....as their lifestyle. These earliest believers cared for one another. They were "family" in the truest sense of the word. They celebrated and "testified to the resurrection". (Acts 4:33) They realized that Jesus gave up His life for them and the Father gave it back to Him in the resurrection.

They understood that "giving up" was a standard God Himself demonstrated and they took it upon themselves to imitate Him. They sought to be a people "called out" to "give up". Those of us who are Christians today would do well to imitate these early believers.

This lesson is based upon the text in Acts 2: 42-47. This is the first in a series titled: "Christianity Through the Ages". In this series we will be examining the early Christians....how they lived day to day...their relationship to one another, their communities and God. Today's focus is on the identity of these first disciples as "Believers". What galvanized them in these first few days and weeks of the Pentecost of Acts 2? How did they encourage one another? What identified them as believers? How has our perception of being a follower/believer in Jesus changed over the centuries? What can we learn by examining those who first believed?

This message is a retrospective view of what Exodus teaches us. Arguably, there are other approaches to the book of Exodus which might produce additional reflections. But I seek here to emphasize again the desire of Yahweh to produce a people who will transform society by mirroring His own heart.

Exodus closes with the narrative of God's continuing presence in the cloud and the fire settled above the tabernacle. When God's presence began to move, the people would pack up and move with Him. The subtlety of this is not lost. We, as God's sojourning people should also be ready to move with Him. We are called to be a people in motion. A people called to follow. A people called to be like the God we serve.

The relationship between Moses and God is described in various terms throughout Exodus. Moses is allowed to observe the powerful displays of God upon Mount Sinai. He is also invited to encounter God in the tent of meeting. In Exodus 33 Moses requests of God that he be allowed to see His glory. God allows Moses to see His glory but only from the safety of a cleft of rock. This leaves us to ask, "are we desirous to know God in a more intimate way?" Or, are we satisfied to remain at the same level of intimacy. Moses certainly had encountered God in powerful and impressive ways. Most people would have been content with those levels of intimacy. But Moses yearned for more. The more he saw of God, the more he desired to know. This sermon ponders the question of our own intimacy level with God and considers ways we are called upon to know Him at increasingly deeper levels. The material is based upon the narrative of Exodus 33:7-35:29.

This sermon covers material from Exodus 29-33:6. In these chapters God consecrates his priesthood for service among His people. The physical presence of God becomes evident through the smells of the burnt sacrifices and incense, the stain of blood from the slaughter of bulls and lambs and the eating of portions of some of the sacrifices. There is action, there is sensory involvement at every turn. The people of God could not help but observe that Yahweh is at work among them. The activity of God is evident and observable. The tabernacle is set in order. Craftsmen are empowered with guidance and the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the midst of God's unmistakable presence however, we experience an echo of the fall of man in Genesis. At this time when God's presence is ever so vivid, the people of God make a golden calf and worship the idol of their making. The wages of this sin brings death to 3,000 of the offenders. Even so, God pledges to keep the promise he had made to Abraham. He assures Israel that they will be granted entry into the promised land. God will make all things new. His promises are sure and His word is true. Even in the wilderness Israel will be reminded that He is a just God and He is a patient God.

This lesson is a broad encompassing view of Exodus 23:13-28:43. God's call to his people is one of compassion and mercy to others. This must begin with a call to holiness. Through the commandments of the Sinai covenant, God calls for a people who will be attentive to the will of God and responsive to His purposes. Commandments are centered on being socially responsible, upright and resistant to evil and self-serving ways. Put simply, God desires a people who will be reflection of His nature. Our call today is to realize the continuity of this covenant with that of our Christ-centered new covenant. God's desire has been congruent from Sinai to Golgotha. We are called to love, serve and shine as lights.

Text: 1 Samuel 1:1 - 2:11

Hannah serves as an excellent example of how to respond to anguish and trouble. Barren and unable to have children, she prays to God for blessing. She demonstrates faith and obedience as she appeals to God as a "servant". She pledges to God that she will return her son to Him as a servant to Eli. Hannah's prayer of devotion and confidence in God is inspiring and instructional. In this lesson which honors mothers, we find what is so special about godly women. They understand that God can take nothing and make something. It is the core of the Genesis creation epic. Countless are the moms who have made do with sparse food in their pantry to feed a hungry family....or to take care of a families' needs with limited resources. Our example here is of a mom who Trusts God, Serves God and Thanks God. This is indeed, a life to be imitated.

God's covenant work continues to get hammered out...even after the initial Ten Commandments is given. God is in the business of transforming lives. In this case He is focused upon the transformation of a people. The various laws and commands may seem to us as harsh and as carrying extreme consequences for those who disobey. We must realize however, that God has in mind to create a people who are fully aware that godliness brings about a society of goodness and blessing to others. A society which does not take these things seriously is destined to self-destruct. It is an oversimplification and a trite way to phrase it but these laws for their own good. One needs only to read the further narrative of the Exodus to see that Israel needs a law which is specific and consequential.

In Exodus 19, Moses instructs Israel to prepare to hear God's voice. From Mount Sinai comes smoke, light and the voice of God. "...the people will hear me speaking with you..." records, Exodus 19:9. In chapter 20 we have the content of that conversation. We still hear that conversation echoing today...if we listen. It is the law of God, that is certain....but it is more...it is the WISDOM OF GOD....for the ages. God's divine agenda was more than just freeing a people from Egyptian slavery. He was preparing a people. We continue to receive the call to be holy. The echo of these words still reverberates in this present age for all to hear.

Who would have expected that Jesus was dead serious when he predicted the events of his own demise in Matthew 16:21? Luke's gospel tells the story of two disciples walking the road back to their home in Emmaus. Heads down, and feet shuffling, they sought to make sense of what the events of Golgotha meant. Just as they were at their wits end, a stranger appeared... and walked....and talked....and listened. Before that encounter would end, their eyes would be opened and their hearts would burn within them. They would come to believe...not just in the "it"... that is..the resurrection. They would believe in "Him".... the risen Savior. It was then that they recognized who Jesus really is.

Where is God when you are hungry? frightened? confused? angry? Truth is...He's right there with you. It might not feel like it, but feelings can be misleading. Shortly after Israel enters the wilderness, they are confronted with thirsty throats and hungry stomachs. OK...so maybe they are bad sports and weak of faith....but God still listens and God still responds. This lesson is about how God responds to those who are difficult and demanding. God loves the unlovable. Want to be a Godly person? Are you sure? God demonstrates his love so His people will know what kind of nation He wants them to be.

Following Yahweh's dramatic rescue of Israel from Pharaoh's pursuit, there is a time of reflection and praise. The song of Moses heralds the power of God as Israel is given passage through the Red Sea. Pharaoh's final hardening of heart leads to his demise. He and his warriors perish beneath the waves of God's judgment. A noteworthy feature of this song is found in the fact that it is God's power which leads to the outcome. The Red Sea disciples simply follow where God leads them. They can lay no claim to the victory. It is all by the hand of God.

This lesson surveys the narrative of the plagues and the subsequent departure of Israel from Egypt. (Exodus 7:8 - 14:31) God is not only a promise giver, he is a promise keeper. He keeps the covenant He has made with His people. There is a tension which exists between God's agenda and man's. At issue here is not only Pharaoh's desire to keep Israel under his control....but the greater theme is God's determination to keep His covenant. God's covenant will be kept no matter what. Pharaoh's hard heart is no match for the covenant keeper Yahweh. Embedded in this narrative is tragedy and triumph, rescue and redemption.

This sermon covers one of the many interchanges between Moses and Pharaoh. Pharaoh is oblivious to the identity of Jehovah God and expresses this outright. Even though Moses and Aaron are frustrated by Pharaoh's stubborn will, they are give assurance by God that He will act upon the hardened heart of Pharaoh. God continues to hear the cry of His people and he is poised to respond. God's remarkable grace is seen in that, even as He is preparing to demonstrate His power for the benefit of His people, they are already complaining at the process of the working of God's plan.

Who is Jesus? And what was he all about? Increasingly it seems, we hear of alternative views of Jesus. While this is a complex question, I suggest that an examination of his basic teachings reveal Him to be one who challenges us to living lives of humility, respect and devotion to God. This lesson explores Jesus from perspectives in the Gospel of Matthew. Using three metaphors from construction, I suggest that Jesus calls for a Foundation of Humility (Mt. 18:2) a Framework of Forgiveness (Mt. 18:21) and the Finish Work of Identity (Mt. 22:21)

God speaks to those who will hear His voice. In this lesson Moses is exposed to God's eternal nature as he observes a bush which burns but never is consumed. Moses is affirmed by God's adequacy in leading Israel from slavery to the land of promise.

This lesson covers the material in chapters 1 & 2 of Exodus. This material considers the focus of God upon his promise made to Abraham and his continuing work of creation as He creates in His people a pathway to a new creation. Emphasis is given to the characters of interest in this section. The strength of character in the two midwives, Shiphrah and Puah make possible the safe birth of Moses and countless other male children who were otherwise destined to be killed at the direction of the reigning Pharaoh. Yahweh uses the daughter of Pharaoh, Miriam, Reuel/Jethro, Zipporah and Moses to carry out His will.

** NOTE: The reference to Exodus as Creation should have been attributed to TERRENCE FRETHEIM instead of NAHUM SARNA...Special thanks to CLYDE WOODS author of the Genesis/Exodus commentary rather than Guy N. Woods as I mis-stated the first time I cited that source.

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