The Story of Your Life

Life is precious, brief, and unpredictable. Your life is a journey with a beginning, a direction, a purpose, and a destination. You will have good and bad days. Some days are an emotional rollercoaster that include both joy and sorrow. Some seasons it will be difficult to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. God is working in every season. Do you trust Him?

As you live each day by faith, there is so much unknown. The questions are many: Where is God taking me? Where will the adventure end? What will God do next? How will God work this out? When will things be settled? Why is God doing this? As you cry out with honest and raw prayers, God is listening. He is working in your waiting.

The apostle Paul said that your life is “a letter from Christ, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Corinthians 3:3). God is writing the story of your life. You may not see it or feel it, but He is working all things for your good and His glory. Be still, relax, let go, cease striving, and know that He is God. Trust Him as He continues to write the story of your life.

The Adoption Journey

My wife and I rejoice in our recent adoption. We sat in the courtroom and were handed the official decree of adoption. After 2 years and 7 months of transitions with foster homes, our daughter is an official member of our family. We ate cupcakes and rejoiced with officials and friends.

There are so many spiritual connections that we have seen in our adoption journey. As Christians, we have been adopted into God’s family. Each of us were previously enemies of God and alienated from his family. But through the love and mercy of Christ, we have been adopted into God’s family receiving all the blessings and benefits of his children. The boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places (Psalm 16:6). We are full heirs of God’s rich inheritance.

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.” (Galatians 4:4-7 NIV)

As a natural response of the great love we have received, we open our arms to the needs of others. The Bible tell us that true religion is “to look after orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27). Jesus says, “Whoever receives one such child in my name, receives me” (Matthew 18:5).

We live in a broken, needy world. Each of our gifts and callings are unique. What is the next step God is taking you to take? May we not waste our lives pursuing empty, fleeting pleasures. How we live today really matters. Let’s make every day count for the kingdom of God.

God is Working in Our Waiting

Every person who walks this earth will experience periods of waiting. One of the hardest aspects of life, the concept of waiting is frequently mentioned in the Bible. From the cradle to the grave, each of us will struggle with waiting.

What do we do in our waiting? Many of us will walk through stages of grief: anger, denial, and questioning God. As we lift up our desires, we hope, pray, and wonder when the answer will come. Not knowing the mind of God, we question whether the Lord is telling us no or to continue waiting. The apostle Paul asked God three times to remove the “thorn in his flesh.” As months and years go by, we wonder if it’s time to let go and move on.

My wife and I have been married nearly seven years. Marriage is wonderful, but the years of hardship we’ve experienced have been brutal. Most of our journey together has been bombarded with trials. We have faced job loss, near foreclosure, infertility, and years of waiting on an adoption match. When we finally got matched with a baby girl, we prepared her bedroom and enjoyed a baby shower with friends. But the adoption didn’t finalize. We sat in an empty bedroom and cried. Husbands and wives grieve differently, but the pain we share is felt to the core. I felt like I needed to be strong for my wife when all I wanted to do was fall apart.

In these difficult moments, if we are not careful, we can begin to question the goodness of God. The hymn writer William Cowper wrote the lyric, “Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.” As we dig into the Scriptures, we see that God is good, loving, and sovereign.

Our story is just beginning, and we rejoice in the daughter God has brought into our family. My wife and I can both say she was worth the wait. Our darkest days of waiting drew us closer to Christ and made our marriage stronger.

Dear friend, God is working in your waiting. You may not feel or see it, but He is working for your good and His glory. His plans are so much higher. Trust him. Waiting is hard, and some days are cruel. Lean into Jesus for your strength. He is sufficient and more than enough. In each season of life, God is working in our waiting.

Break Every Chain (Monologue)

The Bible is God’s love story to written to us

Let’s begin with the bad news

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God

Each of us have been born in sin, with a sin nature

We are blinded in sin.

Scripture tells us that men love darkness rather than light

 

We have spurned God’s law

We are bound and shackled in the chains of sin

Chains of pride, selfishness

Chains of envy and jealousy

Sinful chains of lust

Chains of addiction, laziness, indifference, ambivalence

 

Our transgressions are many

Our sins outnumber the grains of sand

We stand helpless and broken

Our situation is bleak

If you, O Lord, kept a record of wrongs, who could stand?

But with you there is forgiveness, therefore you are feared

 

Here is the good news

There is power in the name of Jesus

There is power in the precious blood of Jesus

That can cleanse every sin, every stain, every addiction.

He died so that you might live

Repent and turn to God

so that your sins may be wiped out

and times of refreshing may come from the Lord

 

There is no one too far gone

There is no one beyond the reach of Almighty God

Jesus can break the chains of sin and death

He can shatter every chain that binds you

Turn to him, trust in him today

The Rich King Became Poor

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” (2 Cor 8:9)

The Lord Jesus is rich. Rich is a reference to Christ’s preexistent status as the eternal Son of God in heaven. Jesus is the Creator of all, the Lord of all nations, First born of all Creation, the Preeminent One. He is the precious Son of God – fully God and fully man. He is the Name above all names, King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus Christ is the greatest, highest, Holiest, richest, Preeminent King.

The Lord Jesus Christ became poor. Poor is a reference to the humility of Christ’s incarnation, including His death. This is the truth of the Incarnation – God became man. Jesus took on flesh and skin. Christ took on our humanity. He was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. He faced the hardships of this cold world. He felt the painful effects of sin’s curse on the earth. He had no home. He had no place to lay His head. He humbled Himself as a servant.

Rich King Jesus became the poorest of the poor. He suffered and died the worst kind of death. He was beaten, bruised and ridiculed. He died a criminal’s death. A crown of thorns was placed upon His head. Nails were driven into His hands and feet. He was lifted high upon a cross. He suffered in anguish as the sins of the world were placed upon Him. He shed His blood as a ransom for many.

This truth is for you: Christ became poor so you could become rich. What does rich mean in this passage? The apostle Paul is not speaking of our earthly health, wealth and prosperity. He is not speaking of physical money, gold, stocks, bonds or IRAs. Paul is speaking of spiritual wealth: salvation and all the benefits that flow from Christ’s death and resurrection.

Ephesians 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” Those of us who trust in Christ become spiritually rich. We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. We could spend hours recounting the many blessings in Christ: salvation, forgiveness of sin, removal of guilt, clean conscience, changed heart and life, substantial healing, protection from evil, wisdom in decisions, provision of our needs, comfort in times of trouble, hope that endures, no fear of death and the promise of eternal life in heaven. What a great exchange this is! The Lord Jesus became poor, so that you would become spiritually rich.

Christ shed His blood to pay the penalty for your sins and mine. He took our sin and shame, so that we could be forgiven. He was forsaken that we might be forgiven. He was condemned that we might be accepted. He died that we might live. Forgiveness is freely offered to all who repent and trust in Jesus. This hope is for you. Christ became poor so you could become rich.

You Are Not Alone (at Christmas)

Genuine relationships with people are important. We were not meant to live life alone. We are better together. Marriage and family relationships were created by God. And the church is God’s design and plan for community. But in this dark world, many of our core relationships have been broken. The wounds we carry are deep. Life is hard. Each of us will walk through seasons of suffering, pain, and loneliness. At times, we feel hopeless. We can easily be led into despair.

With all the connection that technology offers us, many of us feel alone. We can be surrounded by people and feel lonely. We can interact with thousands on facebook, twitter, and instagram. We can connect with people around the world within seconds. All this connectedness still can leave us feeling isolated and lonely. Columnist David Brooks writes: “The suicide rate has surged to a 30-year high — a sure sign of rampant social isolation.”

There is a desperate craving in our hearts. We can search for meaning and purpose in the pursuits of friendships, relationships, marriage, family, pleasure, money, career, and more. All these things will leave you feeling empty. Nothing on this earth can satisfy your soul. It’s never enough.

King Solomon is known for his wisdom. In his lifetime, he pursued everything . . . education, agriculture, construction, and romance. Nothing could satisfy. At the end of his life, he said all these pursuits were meaningless, empty, a chasing of the wind. In his book of regrets, he concludes with this simple advice: Fear God.

In our hearts, there is a yearning and a longing for the One true living God who created us. God is here, and he is not silent. His name is Emmanuel, God with us. God came to dwell among us. Jesus was born on Christmas to die for our sins and provide hope and forgiveness. Acts 17 tells us that God appointed the very times and places that we lives so that we might reach out and find Him.

This Christmas season, I pray you hear the voice of God calling out to you. You are loved. You are not alone. There is hope in Jesus. Reach out and find him. He is not far away. He is near. God is with us. This is the hope of Christmas.

Bible Study Questions

3 Basic Questions for Bible Study:

1. What? (What does it say?)

2. So what? (Why does it matter?)

3. Now What? (How does it apply to my life?)

Further Questions for Bible study:

1. What does this passage say?

2. What is the main point of the text (author’s intent)?

3. What does this passage say about God?

4. What does this passage say about Man?

5. How does this passage relate to the Gospel?

6. What Christ-centered Truths stand out?

7. What sin did God convict you of? (Repent, Pray, & Commit to Change)

8. What commands of God were you reminded of?

9. What promises of God were you reminded of?

10. What further questions do you have for future study?

Questions to Discuss After a Sermon:

1. What was the main point (or were the main points) of the sermon?

2. What encouraged/edified you the most in the sermon?

3. What did you learn?

4. Did you disagree or have concern with any of the sermon?

5. As time allows, discuss the 13 Bible Study Questions listed above.

Advent Devotional eBook

Our Providence worship staff is pleased to present an Advent Book. This devotional guide is divided into the four weeks that lead up to Christmas. Advent begins on Sunday, December 2. Each week focuses on a theme relating to Christ’s first coming. There are daily devotional readings written by our pastors for Monday through Thursday. At the end of the week, there is a selected passage followed by questions for reflection. We pray this is a helpful resource for personal and family devotions this Christmas season.

The PDF eBook is available at: http://www.pray.org/media/publications/publications/

This is a great opportunity to slow down during the busy Christmas season and meditate upon the wonder and miracle of Christ’s coming. It is also a great opportunity to lead your family in a weekly Bible study relating to the season. Christmas is filled with song, food and spending time with family inside and outside the home. This devotional guide includes suggestions for these items as well. Throughout each week, you will see Christmas recipes for the dinner table, familiar Christmas carols that retell of Christ’s miraculous birth, craft ideas for the home and for the kids, and dates and times for local Christmas events.

Special thanks to our worship intern, Michael Carter, for spearheading this project.

May Jesus Christ be our treasure this Advent season and all year long. God bless and keep you.

Good Friday Tenebrae Services

Here are some scripts & resources for Good Friday Tenebrae services. In 2011 we explored Old Testament passages that predict the cross and New Testament Gospel accounts of fulfillment. In 2010 we used Scriptural highlights from the Gospels tracing the Last Supper through the Garden, continuing with Christ’s trial and crucifixion, and concluding with His death and burial. In 2009 we used devotional readings considering eyewitnesses of Christ’s death at the foot of the cross. In 2008 we used devotional readings considering what Christ has accomplished for us through his life, death, and resurrection. In 2007 we used devotional readings on the seven sayings of Christ from the cross. I pray these will be a resource and blessing to you.

These scripts were prepared by the pastoral staff of ODBC.
© Open Door Baptist Church. Raleigh, NC.

For the 2011 “OT Prophecy” service,
click here: otprophecy-gf11.pdf

For the 2010 “Gospel Highlights” service,
click here: gospelhighlightsgf10.pdf

For the 2009 “Eyewitnesses” service,
click here: eyewitnessesgf091.pdf

For the 2008 “Accomplished” service,
click here: accomplishedgf08.pdf

For the 2007 “Sayings from the Cross” service,
click here: sevensayingsgf07.pdf

Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved.

Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: © Open Door Baptist Church. Raleigh, NC. Websites: http://www.opendoorlife.com and http://www.joshberrus.com.

Class Notes: Rescuing Ambition

James Garriss and I are facilitating discussion and teaching through Dave Harvey’s book, “Rescuing Ambition,” on Sunday evenings. Ambition is the instinctual motivation to aspire to things, to make something happen, to have an impact, to count for something in life. John Adams said every person is strongly actuated by a desire to be seen, heard, talked of, approved, and respected. To rescue is to save something, to prevent it from being discarded or harmed. The purpose of the book is to snatch ambition from the dust heap of failed motivations and put it to work for the glory of God. Join us on this 8-week journey in Feb/March as we consider Christian ambition.

Our main textbook is:
Harvey, Dave. Rescuing Ambition. Wheaton: Crossway, 2010.

Class Notes:

Syllabus & Outline

Intro & Ch 1: Ambition Conceived

Ch 2: Ambition Corrupted (Selfish Ambition)

Ch 3: Ambition Converted
Bonus: Active & Passive Obedience of Christ

Ch 4: Ambition’s Agenda

Ch 5: Ambition’s Confidence (Faith & Doubt)

Ch 7: Ambition’s Contentment

Ch 8: Ambition’s Failure

Ch 9: Ambitious for the Church