Category Archives: Discipleship
Resources for Answering Other Religions
Our church is in the midst of a message series called “Answers: What to say when…?” This past Sunday we took on what to say when you interact with people from other religions. In follow up, I wanted to share a few of my favorite websites for dealing with other religions. So, here they are…
– Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry
– Apologetics Site of the North American Mission Board
– Alpha and Omega Ministries
– Watchman Fellowship
Feel free to share any others you may have.
What is Lent Anyway?
This week marks the beginning of a major religious celebration around the world called Lent. In our area it means FRIDAY’S ARE FOR SEAFOOD! What is Lent exactly? In Brief:
For Roman Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and other liturgical protestant denominations (those with a continuous history before AD 1500) Lent is the forty day period from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday. It is to be a season of soul-searching and repentance. It can be loosely traced to the early days of the church, but was certainly less formal (most scholars believe the time of fasting was two to three days and not forty) and of course much more spiritual. Lent, as we know it today, originated in the fourth century and has changed in practice throughout the years. In AD 325, the Council of Nicea discussed a forty day season of fasting and preparation for new converts to be baptized. In the seventh century, Gregory the Great moved the beginning of Lent from Sunday to Wednesday, now called Ash Wednesday. He is also credited with beginning the ceremony of marking foreheads with ashes, as a symbol of repentance taken from the Old Testament. The practice of fasting during Lent has become more relaxed over the centuries and in 1966, the Roman Catholic Church restricted fast days to Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Having moved to South Louisiana just five years ago, I have observed that Lent is practiced but not understood by many. Even many irreligious people will give up something of value (if you count chocolate, certain adult drinks, coffee, or some other modern convenience that doesn’t really affect a person’s way of life as valuable) and will abstain from meat on Friday. When asked the purpose behind this, the person will say, “I’m not sure,” or take a great guess that would fool everyone if they were playing the board game Balderdash. Herein lies the problem with modern spirituality – it’s long on activity and short on meaning and understanding.
Resources for Resolution
Here’s a few good resources/ideas for you who are gearing up for New Year’s resolutions or are just hoping to make 2008 a more productive and fruitful year.
1. Each year around this time, I pull out my copy of Jonathan Edwards’ resolutions. Edwards was a pastor and theologian in the 1700’s, but his writings and legacy continue to inspire a lot of people today. The resolutions of Edwards challenge me to think deeper and aim higher. Find them here.
2. A great commitment to make if you’re desiring to grow spiritually or to make a conscientous search for truth is reading through the Bible. The new year is a great time to start and there are a myriad of Bible Reading plans to choose from. Find them online, have them emailed to you daily, there may even be one in the back of your Bible. You can download the one I have used for some time here – NavPress Bible Reading Plans.
3. One thing that we desperately need is deep thinking about where we are, where we’ve come from, and where we are going. It’s easy to get dumbed down by entertainment and materialism. Deep thinking is tiring and risky for the media saturated, depraved mind. A tool to get you started is 10 Questions for the New Year by Donald Whitney. Our church publishes this each year and I have benefited from working through the questions. Find the 10 Questions and other helpful resources here.
4. One of the greatest gifts God has given you is the ability to read. Fast or slow, you can learn from the reading of books. Make a plan to read a few books to help you grow this year. If you pay taxes, you own a vast library which professionals keep updated with the world’s best reading materials (i.e. your public library). Choose some areas that you’d like to grow in and search for books, or ask someone who you admire what books have most inspired them. Harry Truman said, “every leader is a reader.” Make a commitment to read six or twelve or twenty-four books this year. Here is a great article on reading that inspired me.
Happy New Year!
Watch Out for the Watchtower
The Jehovah’s Witnesses are building a new Kingdom Hall near my church. I’ve been asked about their beliefs almost a dozen times already this week. Here are some helpful articles about the Witnesses, as well as some good web sites on the subject of apologetics and cult studies. If anyone knows of other good resources let me know.
From www.4truth.net:
– Jehovah’s Witnesses: Overview
– Jehovah’s Witnesses View of Christ
– Jehovah’s Wintesses: Glossary, Words, and Concepts
– The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures: The Jehovah’s Witnesses Bible
– What to say to Jehovah’s Witnesses When They Knock on Your Door (an online book)
Also check out these sites:
www.carm.org
www.watchman.org
www.aomin.org
The best sure way to recognize error and counterfeit gospels is to be 100% certain of the truth and orthodoxy. For that I recommend the following books:
– John Stott’s Basic Christianity
– Wayne Grudem’s Bible Doctrine or Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know
– Paul Little’s Know What You Believe
Do I really love the truth?
Each week I receive Desiring God’s newsletters. Well worth reading, just like any of Pastor John Piper’s writings. Especially Don’t Waste Your Life (short and sweet) and Desiring God (longer but worth the time). Sign up for the newsletters at www.desiringgod.org.
Today’s article really hit home with me as I think about my own walk and other Christians I know.
Piper defines the three P’s: The idolatry of pragmatism that ruins the church; the pleasure in unrighteousness that refuses to love the truth; and the pride of being strong that leads to destruction.
Can we say we love the truth if we justify our position opposite it? Why? Pragmatism – “It’s easier this way.” “It’s working, so it must be OK with God.” “Everybody esle is doing it.” Pleasure – “I want it this way.” “I feel so much better now.” Pride – “I don’t see why this is wrong.” “God will forgive me.”
Religion vs. the Gospel
Religion says, if I obey, God will love me. Gospel says, because God loves me, I can obey.
Religion has good people and bad people. Gospel has only repentant and unrepentant people.
Religion values a birth family. Gospel values a new birth.
Religion depends on what I do. Gospel depends on what Jesus has done.
Religion claims that sanctification justifies me. Gospel claims that justification enables sanctification.
Religion has the goal to get from God. Gospel has the goal to get God.
Religion sees hardships as punishment for sin. Gospel sees hardship as sanctified affliction.
Religion is about me. Gospel is about Jesus.
Religion believes appearing as a good person is the key. Gospel believes that being honest is the key.
Religion has an uncertainty of standing before God. Gospel has certainty based upon Jesus’ work.
Religion sees Jesus as the means. Gospel sees Jesus as the end.
Religion ends in pride or despair. Gospel ends in humble joy.
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New Year’s Resources
A new year brings an opportunity to close a chapter & start a new one. Let me encourage you to do two things: 1) Ask some tough questions about where & who you are. Am I spiritually growing or plateaued? Am I being used by God or taking up space? How can I improve in my areas of weaknesses? Below is a link to some good questions to ask. 2) Start a new habit or pick up an old one that made you more effective for God. A few suggestions: Read the Bible everyday (see Bible Reading Plan link below); pray for five people a day on your church prayer list (God might surprise you and answer! 1 John 5:14-15); Invite one person a week to church; Share the gospel at least once per week.
Do something for God this year & watch yourself grow.
Lane
TEN QUESTIONS TO ASK AT THE START OF A NEW YEAR:
https://lanecorley.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/ten-questions-to-ask-at-the-start-of-a-new-year.pdf
BIBLE READING PLAN:
https://lanecorley.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/bible-reading-plan.pdf
Resolutions
I don’t make resolutions. I like the word re-committment instead. As I’m looking for New Year’s inspiration, I always look at Jonathan Edwards resolutions written in 1723. Worth reading often. Pick out a few for your New Year’s commitment.
THE RESOLUTIONS of Jonathan Edwards
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BEING SENSIBLE THAT I AM UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT GOD’ S HELP, I DO HUMBLY ENTREAT HIM BY HIS GRACE TO ENABLE ME TO KEEP THESE RESOLUTIONS, SO FAR AS THEY ARE AGREEABLE TO HIS WILL, FOR CHRIST’ S SAKE.
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Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.
1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’ s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.
2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new contrivance and invention to promote the aforementioned things.
3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.
4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.
5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God. July 30.
9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.
10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.
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Lane Corley 