Jonathan Gross on Faith

This last Saturday several of us gathered together for the apologetics Bible study that Lisa has been facilitating this semester. For this meeting we spent some time studying how the word "faith" is used in the Bible. Unsurprisingly, "faith" is found in a large number of verses, so we restricted ourselves to passages from Genesis up through Judges 5:15. Even with a relatively small cross-section of scripture, we found many underlying concepts regarding faith becoming clear from context. To give you a flavor of our time, let me briefly describe some of the concepts that stood out to me.

Faith is frequently talked about as an important component in a marital relationship. Breaking faith in this kind of a relationship is a serious thing (Exodus 21:8, Numbers 5:12, 27). This picture of faith in a marriage is extended to Israel's relationship to God in Joshua 24:14, where faithfully serving God requires putting away other gods just like marriage requires putting away other men/women.

There is also a legal sense of faith described several times in Leviticus (5:15, 6:2). Although we don't often use faith in a secular sense, there is still a legal concept of acting in good (or bad) faith that can help give us a more complete understanding of the word. Throughout the Law, breaking faith with God seems tied to breaking the covenant He established with His people.

The marital and legal aspects of faith have reciprocity in common. Both husband and wife are expected to remain faithful to one-another, and the covenant God established with His people lays down expectations for the behavior of both God and the people. While His people constantly break faith with Him, we have a perfect example of faithfulness in God Himself (Genesis 24:27, Deuteronomy 7:9).

There are certainly many more qualities of faith to be explored, so we plan to continue our study at the final meeting of this semester. I encourage you to come and learn about faith with us so we can all more faithfully answer others regarding the hope we possess (1 Peter 3:15)!

Theology 101: Thanksgiving

Hi Ya'll.  This is your IV Blog.  Yes, I have been MIA for quite a while.  Since the past is in the past, I thought it good to start writing again.  This month is November.  We often think about the major holiday at the end of the month, Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving, as you may know, started when the first pilgrims from across the ocean came to live in America and stopped to give thanks to God for helping them get through their first year in a new land.  Imagine coming to a new land across the ocean.  The ocean possibly does not have a name.  The land has no comforts.  There are no societies, clubs, universities, malls, and plowed lands.  There is no promise of food.  There are no freinds to welcome them to this new land.  As far as they know, they might be the only ones there.  The winter is cold, the summer is hot.  There is no air conditioning or heater.  They won't be able to run to the store or back to England if they forgot something.  In many ways, you as college students have left every comfort of family, home cooked food, and all things familiar to come get an education.  Some of us have not.  It is because of hard work by our families that we are able to enjoy comforts where ever we are.  Some of us, do not have any support, we are pulling ourselves along by our own efforts.  Whatever circumstance we find ourselves in, the Lord God says to give thanks.  

I Thessalonians 5:18 says "give thanks in all circumstances."

This is among a list of other commands.  Thanks means "an expression of gratitude" from Google's definition.  From the Webster 1828 dictionary, gratitude means

An emotion of the heart, excited by a favor or benefit received; a sentiment of kindness or good will towards a benefactor; thankfulness. Gratitude is an agreeable emotion, consisting in or accompanied with good will to a benefactor,and a disposition to make a suitable return of benefits or services, or when no return can be made, with a desire to see the benefactor prosperous and happy. Gratitude is a virtue of the highest excellence, as it implies a feeling and generous heart, and a proper sense of duty.

God wants us to realize what He has done for us.  We really do have reason to be thankful to Him for providing for us.  We have many comforts in life.  There is always food nearby.  We have His help in every trouble.  We can ask Him for anything.  Jesus gave thanks when He broke bread and established the practice of communion with His disciples.  He gave thanks before multiplying the 5 loaves and two fish.  In the Old Testament, God commanded a sacrifice of thanksgiving with real animals.  God deserves our praise, but we must accept this and understand it for ourselves.  We must understand what God has done for us as individuals, and also as families, peoples, countries etc.  It is good to give thanks for it moves our eyes off ourselves and onto God who is to be Lord of our lives.  Thanks.  Thanksgiving.  Gratitude.  What has God done in your life?  Have you thanked him for it?  It is right to give thanks and praise.  

Theology 101: Salvation

Hello IV'ers!  Welcome back to another semester of IV epicness.  Last year, this blog focused on themes and reflections from the talks given during large group.  While I hope to do some reflecting on the large group talks, the main focus of the blog this semester is going to be basic theology and the teachings most basic and foundation to our faith in Christ.  I may also break down big words like propitiation from time to time.

So, the topic for today's blog post is salvation.  From Webster's 1828 dictionary, salvation means

1. The act of saving; preservation from destruction, danger or great calamity.
2. Appropriately in theology, the redemption of man from the bondage of sin and liability to eternal death, and the conferring on him everlasting happiness. This is the great salvation.

A quick word search on Biblegateway.com returns 129 verses in which salvation appears.  A great number of these references are in the psalms where the psalm writers talk about God being our salvation.  What are we saved from?  What is it about us that needs to be saves?  When we trust in God for salvation, for him to save us, we trust and believe Him for several things.  We believe what God says about us - that we sinned against Him by disobeying his commands, that we are desperately in need of this salvation because we cannot save ourselves, that we need to be saved from the spirit of the world.  We trust in God to save us from ourselves, from continually sinning, and from the devil and his forces.  We trust that God accomplished this salvation through Jesus' death on the cross.  Romans 1:16 says "For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith."

Salvation is God's saving work in our hearts.  When we are saves, instead of being thieves, liars, cowards, adulterers and following through with other wrong behaviors, God saves us from these acts.  He saves us from the hurt and pain these actions cause.  He causes us to focus on him.  Salvation, being saved, is where we start our walk of faith with him.

Next time, I hope to cover more of the verses on salvation.  Until next time, check out the links to the verses on salvation from Bible Gateway above.

Thoughts on IV talks and the Resurrection

Hi Fellow IV'ers!  Yes, that's a new term for us all.  As we come upon Easter Sunday and remember our risen Savior, I wanted to recap the a few things from the IV talks we have had.  I wasn't there this past Thursday so I apologize for not including anything from it here. We did, though, have the illustrious Steven Seibert and Mark Charles come and talk to us.  From crazy freshman stories to feasting unto the Lord, there is no one way to honor God this Easter.  But these two reminded us of some core values.  Steven reminded us through his lessons learned in IV to go back to the basics - read your bible and love your neighbor.  There is no greater way to hear God's voice than to read what He is thinking in the Bible.  The Bible is a supernatural book.  For when we read it, God comes and meets with us.  In it He tells us how to love our neighbor.  Mark Charles opened up an Old Testament scripture in Deuteronomy 14 where God gives a very different perspective to tithing than the one given from church leadership using Malachi 3:10.  The thing about scripture is that it cannot be separated from itself.  When studying a topic, every scripture must be taken into account - its context, cultural influences, etc.  Many times we get the "Our church isn't doing well so give us money" talk.  Jesus died on the cross to take away our sins.  He died to give us new life.  I don't always consider the money talk to give life, in fact I think it drains the life out of the church.  Money should be given from a glad and willing heart.  The scriptures tell us to give cheerfully and to the work of God's kingdom.  It is great when there are programs at church that can be done with tithed money, but there is also work going on in the mission field and elsewhere.  My point is this, as Mark Charles tithed to God and made a feast in honor and faith to God, so to, that is what we are to do with our actions.  We read the bible in honor and faith to God.  We give money to the work of God's kingdom, whether to the church or missions, in honor and faith to God.  All of this is done by saying "yes" to God (another thing Steven learned while at IV).  Where does God want your time, talent, and money to go?  Maybe He wants you to tithe to organizations that feed the poor.  Maybe He wants your money to help orphans and widows.  Maybe beyond your money, He want you to use your time and talents in these places.  Maybe He wants you to shine His light in the work place, and show that life is not all about the next promotion but about living a full life unto Him.  There is more purpose than getting bogged down in the things the church and others can demand of us.  It requires listening to His voice.  He may send us into the church, but at the core, everything needs to start with Christ.  The basis for what we do needs to start in our hearts, dying to ourselves, and rising with Christ to walk in the life He has for us.  Maybe you are not there yet.  Start by saying yes to God at the basic level.  "Yes, God, I will give my life, time, money and talents to You."  Maybe you are there, you know that God has spoken to you and you are in His will in a big way.  Continue to say "yes" to God.  Whether at one end or somewhere in between, say yes to God.  Read or reread the resurrection story of how He died and rose again for you.  Learn to love your neighbor as Christ did.  Say,yes to Him and honor him with feasting and gladness this resurrection Sunday.

Ravi Zacharias (apologetist) on Life's Inescapable questions Part 1 of 2

Today I heard a great message on tough questions from Ravi Zacharias which I believe will be very helpful to you.  Take 30 minutes out of your day to listen and be edified in the truth.

http://www.rzim.org/let-my-people-think-broadcasts/lifes-inescapable-questions-part-1-of-2/

Global Project: China

Hi Friends. How are you? This is Lisa here. I apologize for the lack of posts as of late. No excuses are available, but reasons abound...sickness, class for work that occurred on Thursday are the two I can give you.  Well, this post was supposed to come out a few days before the deadline for the Global Project (GP) to China.  Since the deadline has past for this years GP, I would like you to read it as if you were considering going to China...or somewhere else.  It is Steven Russel's testimony on going to China last year.

Hello friends! I hope you’re having a great start of the semester. I am writing this little note to you because I feel God has put it on my heart to share with you that Saturday is going to be an epic day. Saturday is the deadline for applications to go on a GP with IV. Well at least the deadline to apply to go to China. I was blessed with the opportunity to go last year and I hope you go. I really want to encourage you though that God is with you no matter what decision you make. But oh how going on a GP will rock your world in all the right ways. If you are unsure if whether or not God wants you to go keep in mind that He gives us freedom to live this life as we decide. Plus I will throw in there that Jesus did kind of send us all out into the world as His people to make disciples of all nations. So read this over and pray about it. I really hope God sends you out to His people somewhere. Take a leap of faith with the knowledge that Jesus is on your side no matter what and make a decision that could change your life as well as the lives of the countless other people God will send your way. A really cool analogy is that life is a journey. I think that it shows how each of us starts somewhere and we end up somewhere else or perhaps in the same place but changed. One thing that really sticks out to me in this life is how none of us have the same experience in life. Everyone has their own individual journey that they have to navigate. But gradually however through lots of discovery we get our feet under us and become able to survive and manage everyday life. Not only that but it is what we overcome and have victory over and sometimes defeat that shape who we are. There is a really effective tool however that the enemy uses and that is fear. It shows its face in different places but its effects are always the same: inaction, hesitation, isolation, and a loss of confidence. Jesus took away our fears. Death has certainly lost its sting. Something however about the nature of a journey is that it is filled with choices. I think that fear is a choice even though it may not seem like it to you right now. It seems to me that people living in today are living in a bubble of comfort created by fear. Everything is as it has been and that is how it should always be because it is safe. For me this is very interesting because it describes my life as well as Mr. Bilbo Baggins (clever Mr. Tolkien). Adventure is something that terrifies and exhilarates. Change is a close relative of adventure. Change is just a fact of life. Did you ever think that we can not help but experience change at every moment in life? We each can get in routines but nothing ever happens quite the same twice. Something is different. A little change is enjoyable to tolerable for most of us. A lot of change can be stressful and difficult as well. We can get set in our ways. But have you ever thought that it was interesting how God created such a large and diverse world? I mean it really speaks to me about who God is. Didn’t He know that we would feel uncomfortable experiencing new things? I wonder. Change can scare some of us or it can unleash some of us. I think that we were meant to be blank slates at the start and through our experiences here on Earth become transformed into something completely new and awesome. We all start as something and end up as something else. You are uniquely intentionally made by God crafted through the sometimes bitter forges of life. There is so much to experience and do its crazy! You can do anything that you want. I know that it can be scary and uncomfortable but that’s okay! The first step is always the hardest in my opinion. I like to think of myself as the main character in my story with God with me the whole time. I hope for you that you don’t let that fear keep you from seeing all there is in life to experience. If I told you that peaches were evil and that you should never eat one how totally wrong and sad it would be if you never bit into a big fat peach and felt the juices running down your face and tasted the good natural sweet flavor that it has to offer. Praise God for peaches! Praise God for life and the experiences waiting for us to be had. I think that it is totally true that there is no place like home but what if your home keeps changing? Where does God call home and what does that look like? What if you don’t have a home? Where would you go? We are at a stage in our life where we may be getting our first taste of being away from home. It is fun and different and at the same time scary. Pretty soon though you’re living life swimming with the current. I think that there is nothing wrong with going with the flow but I don’t think that we were supposed to stay there. I think that adventure is one way that God can teach us and show us who He is as well as who we are and how He has a heart for those who feel out of place and lost even. By going and putting yourself in a position to feel just that, you will better understand how people feel when they come to this country for the first time or how that child feels when they meet their new foster family. So I guess if you boil it down there is a lot to gain such a friend or an experience, or a revelation about God or yourself and what that means for you. What is there to lose? In my opinion nothing that matters, but we often hold onto so tightly those things which really have little actual value. But you have to weigh those things and see if it is worth going, I did in my own way. As you may or may not know I went to China last summer on IV’s Global Project. It was an amazing experience that I would love to tell you all about sometime but what I want to share with you is my experience around making the decision to go. So the story begins at the annual IV Christmas party. I was blessed with an amazing assortment of gifts in the white elephant gift exchange. One of those gifts was a pin that said Taiwan. I took this as a sign to go to China because I prayed that God would give me a sign so that I would know He wanted me to go in response to Rachel asking me if I wanted to go minutes earlier. So at this point the details kind of get a little foggy because in my mind I had already decided to go but I think I told her I would think about it and get back to her. So I came back to school in the spring after break and Urbana and I let Rachel know that I wanted to join her and the other people going on this awesome adventure. That’s pretty much it for me. For the duration of the trip however I was paralyzed by the fear that I was not actually supposed to be going. I landed in China and one of the thoughts in my head was that I was not meant to be here. But you know what was going through my head that was even more apparent? It was something like this, “Holy crap!!! I’m in China!!!! This is Chinese candy!!! These are probably Chinese people!!!! Aaaah!!!!”. The excitement of seeing all these different people and different things and different smells was like someone screaming at me, “Does is matter??? You are here!!! Live it up!!!”. I don’t know how people picture Jesus in their minds but I like to think of Him as the coolest hippy in the world. He is that guy that is just content and happy with where He is and is going to live it up. I thank you for reading this. I really hope that you choose to go serve the Lord. China was a stepping-stone for me but the awesome thing about that is there were people who were impacted in a really awesome way because I chose to make them a part of my journey. I love you and want to let you know Jesus loves you either way. But there are wonders out there that would change your life. Grace and Peace! Sincerely, Steven

Hearing or Following God?

Hi Y'all.  We have a post from our very own Jonathan Gross (the guy with the Jesus hair):

Last week at Charge Stephen Siebert challenged us with the question: is it more difficult to hear God or to follow God?

My answer to the question came quickly: I have more difficulty following God. I can think back to instances in my life where I understood (or strongly suspected) God wanted a certain action out of me. Times when I was to pray for someone, confess a sin, or give up material possessions. Too often I have convinced myself that my friend suffering from a headache didn't actually need my prayers, or that the lady on the other side of the counter would take offense at my offer. Too often I have decided to trust in my own resolve to overcome my weaknesses, instead of trusting the power of God in the presence of my fellow Christian. And too often I have concluded that loosening my grip on worldly goods is a slippery slope that will leave me destitute and unable to “really” help people.

By God's grace I have been able to break that pattern at times. It hasn't always been pretty. I have memories etched into my brain of people refusing my prayers and taking advantage of me financially. Sometimes it has been beautiful, though. Last semester I shared how God brought me healing from addiction through confession. Similar steps of faith in different relationships have brought the most profound senses of peace I have ever felt, and remain some of the treasures available to us on this earth that I most long for.

Those successes, even when outnumbered by the times I ignored God and the times when I didn't hear correctly or when the fruit of the obedience was hidden, give me a great desire to hear God again, because hearing is clearly a precondition for following. What I have been reminded of this week is that whether we choose to follow can also affect our ability to hear in the future. Every time we choose to ignore the voice of God in our lives, our actions reveal that we don't actually want to hear. I think the parable in Luke 19:11–27 offers a sobering perspective on the consequences of wasting graces God gives us. I pray that the Lord would have mercy on us and grace us with more words to follow in our individual and communal walks.

Testimony

Hi All!  How are you?  Last week we talked about the man born blind in John 9.  Jesus healed him by making clay from dirt and His spit.  Upon his healing, controversy arose over his testimony of being healed.  The man born blind (aka Steve) willingly shared his testimony with all who wanted to hear it (except for the Pharisees who wanted to hear it again but didn't want to believe in God).  He didn't have a fine tuned speech, he told what happened.

Talking about testimony, I would like to share a bit of my testimony.  For those who don't know who even writes these posts, this is Lisa - dark haired girl who usually sits in the back with tall husband named Nathan - currently serving as volunteer staff with IV.

When I was a kid, I went to a kids bible club called AWANA (Approved Workmen are not Ashamed).  We had games, memory scripture recitation, and lesson time.  When I was about 7 years old, during the lesson time, a lady got up to give the lesson.  She had a big red felt heart hanging around her neck.  She talked about sins she committed, and every time she sinned, she put a black dot on her big heart.  I felt convicted, and I remember bowing my head during the lesson and telling God I didn't want to sin anymore.  I knew He entered my heart then.

Since then many more things have happened which I would be glad to share with you, but would be too long for this blog post.  Remember that no matter what your testimony, it is valid proof of the living God, Jesus Christ inside of you.

The Woman at the Well

Hello Everyone!  I hope you all have had a great start to the semester.  At last weeks IV, we did an inductive bible study on John 4 with the story of the woman at the well.  She came in the heat of the day, an outcast of outcasts.  She meets Jesus not only in person, but spiritually.  He exposes her life of sin, and reveals His saving truth to her.  She is in awe, and she tells everyone in her town about her encounter with him - the very people that probably mocked her and put her off for her sin.

This semester as a group, we want to focus on being a witnessing community.  We want to reach out to our friends and neighbors and family with the good news of Jesus Christ.  For many of us, that's a really scary thought.  The woman at the well shows us a couple of things we can learn about witnessing.  1. She did not let her past get in the way of telling people about her encounter with Jesus.  Your past does not disqualify you from sharing the gospel.  2. Whatever the people thought of her, she did not let their thoughts about her get in the way.  Let the joy and freedom of your relationship with Jesus empower you to share despite what others may think of you.  3. She started by sharing her encounter with God.  Start with your testimony.  Tell people how the Lord saved you.

Reflection

Hello!  It's been a while since we chatted here.  The end of Fall 2013 came with the flurry of winter weather, finals, and the increased desire to get away from school.  I hope that you all have had a great break.  Before we head back to school and get caught up in the business of it, I wanted to encourage each one of you to take some time to reflect on where you have been the last couple months (or even years).  Here are some questions that I hope will help you as you take time to reflect.  I have been asking myself many of these same questions lately:

Where have you been the last few months (or years)?
What have you done to get to this point in life?
Where are you going?
What are your goals for school, life, and your walk of faith?
What would you like to do more?  What would you like to do less (besides studying :) )
What do you think you should be doing?
What things would be nice to do? (i.e. enjoyable, bring you joy, relaxation, necessary you-time)
How much time and commitment is it going to take to accomplish what you want to do?
Are all the things on your list of 'want to dos,' 'nice to dos,' and 'should dos' reasonable, helpful or even necessary?
Are there other things that should be on your list but aren't?
Are you praying for someone, and you want to see God work in their life in a new way this year? What can you pray specifically for that person?
What does God have in mind for you this year?

Take time to write out your thoughts...whatever will help you process, organize and remember your thoughts and goals.  In the Bible, Habakkuk 2:2 says "And the Lord answered me: 'Write the vision, make it plain upon tablets so he may run who reads it.' "  For more encouragement on the topic, I encourage you to read the whole chapter of Habakkuk 2.  So, my friends, reflect, seek God, set goals, walk in faith, and see God do great things in 2014.