New Work Fellowship Podcast

Coming Out of the Shadows (3/12/2023)

Jesus and His Final Words: Lived Out - Come Out of the Shadows (Mark 15:33-36, Psalm 22)

There are two challenges to consider with this statement of Christ. First, we are most uncomfortable with the idea that God really abandoned Jesus. How is that possible? The Father and the Son are one. The Trinity is one. The great ancient declaration is that our God is One! Let us not move from this too quickly. In Jesus, upon Jesus, or Jesus himself became our sin. God is separate from sin, is He not? Is not the context of darkness (v33), an indicator that He who is the Light - is now experiencing something new, afresh? Something, uniquely dark. The bystanders are watching for something spectacular to happen.

The other challenge is that we too quickly recognize that Jesus was quoting Psalm 22. The way in which Hebrews referenced scripture was to quote the first line. Everyone then knew the total passage. Psalm 22 begins with the heaviness of abandonment, but it quickly turns to confidence in God's deliverance and praise to the Glory of God. Like believers who move too quickly from the darkness of Good Friday to shout the praise of Easter morning - so too we shouldn't just dismiss this as a scripture quote, as if Jesus was saying, "It's all good."

The truth lies somewhere in the middle. What Jesus is feeling here, is not unlike what he felt when he stood at the tomb of his beloved friend, Lazarus. John 11:33-40. There, in Jesus, we too feel what he felt. He felt grief, anger, troubled. The feelings were right. But he doesn't just act on feelings - he steps into faith. "Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?" Isn't that what the bystanders wanted to see?

In our own brokenness, grief, sorrow, pain, and anger - at the condition of this world/or the reality of our lives - the feelings are right. But step into faith. Jesus invites us that wherever we find ourselves; to step into the life and promise of what he has done. He does not leave us abandoned as orphans - he invites us to step out of the shadows. By faith, we truly can experience something glorious - even in this dark moment - especially in this dark moment.

All About Family (3/5/2023)

Jesus and His Final Words: Lived Out - All About Family (John 19:25-27 & Matthew 12:46-50)

Of all the sayings on the cross, this is the one that feels most remote to us. Sure, we get that Jesus is taking care of his Mom. That was the duty of the oldest son. He was a good son. But this is so much more than housekeeping instructions. Jesus has radically redefined family.  The family journey with Jesus had its bumps in the road. Remember when his mother and brothers all thought Jesus was out of his mind, and they came to get him? Matthew 12:46-50. Mark tells it a little differently - in the preceding verse, just before telling that story about Jesus, in Mark 3:30, there were some who were... "saying 'He's possessed by an evil spirit." In other words, Jesus, you've lost your mind. Jesus uses that moment to redefine family. He broadened the definition of mother and brother - to include you and me. He opened the door of family and invited us in. No matter the journey you have been on - no matter how family may have stung you - no matter the depth of disappointment or wound - there is a family that awaits you. Jesus invites you to the family.

Choose Paradise (2/26/2023)

Jesus and His Final Words: Lived Out - Choose Paradise (Luke 23:39-43, Luke 16:19-31, John 14:1-6)

The cross is the great divide of all humanity. The two criminals on the cross clearly outline the only two options for eternity. The clear message is Choose Paradise! You have to choose. You get to decide. Are you ready? It is important that you make the right decision at the right time.

This same great decision divide is evident in the teaching of Jesus in Luke 16 - the parable of two men who die. The parable tells us at the end, that there are those who will not believe, even if someone rises from the dead. In other words, the Rich Man and His Five Brothers are sorely unprepared for the choice that awaits them. Now is the time of preparation. Even Jesus taught us that his work in the paradise of His Father's House - is to prepare for us. Jesus prepared. Are you prepared? All through the Bible God urges us to choose life. Have you made your choice? The day is coming when Jesus himself will come to get us, are you ready? Choose Paradise. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He is the only way to the Father. Are you ready? Choose Paradise.

The Power of Forgiveness (2/19/2023)

Jesus and His Final Words: Lived Out - The Power of Forgiveness (Luke 23:32-39, Matthew 18:15-35)

Jesus embodies forgiveness. Before he spoke it, he lived it. He taught it. He demonstrated it. It was more than words. And we are to live out that reality in our lives as well. As shocking as these words of Jesus may be at the very start of his crucifixion - his forgiveness quotient and forgiveness expectation - is always shocking. The teaching from Matthew 18 left the disciples with gapping mouths. Peter attempts a reasonable clarification of the forgiveness expectation. I can almost hear him, "say what???!!!" The kind of forgiveness that we need and the kind of forgiveness that Jesus calls us to - is beyond anything reasonable - it is rooted in Grace. When you fully realize that the debt was paid that you could never pay, in order to secure your forgiveness - then you too will show grace and forgive.

Purposefully Missional (2/12/2023)

Jesus in You: Purposefully Missional (Acts 1:8, Acts 14:14, Acts 15, Acts 28:41)

We do not get to choose our purpose. We do not get to create our mission. Jesus, who indwells us by the power of His Holy Spirit - tells us what we are to do. And lest there is any confusion - he makes it abundantly clear in the simplest and most succinct mission statement: Acts 1:8. This mission will not fail. It will go on by the living power of the Holy Spirit alive in his church. You see this mission in the Spirit compelled travels of Paul: Acts 13:4-6, 13-14a, 46-49 (note in v49, it was the Lord's message), 52 (believers filled with JOY and the Holy Spirit), 14:1, 21-28 (note: in 14:27 they call what happened, "everything that God had done.") This is still our mission. It is unending. In fact, the very last word in the book of Acts is "Unhindered." When you get to the end of the book, it appears that the church may be in trouble. The great apostle Paul is in chains. He is in Rome. He will soon be executed by the word of Caesar. But Luke tells us that the work of the church is alive and well. It will go unhindered.

But having made that pronouncement at the end of Acts - (like the book end to the mission) - in the middle of the book there are two warnings to the church. There were and are, two things which threaten the missional purpose of the church: Pride and Division. These are the two great enemies of every church. In Acts 14:14, Paul and Barnabas go to great lengths to combat the temptation of Pride. They fight pride with humility of spirit. They go to war agains pride. (They could barely constrain the people). And in Acts 15 they likewise go to war for Unity in the body. In John 17:9-26, Jesus prays for the disciples then and now. And his prayer is all about unity - unity with one another, in Christ - a unity that first exists between Father and Son, Son and Spirit, Spirit and Father. The church is to be the community of believers who reflect the very unity of God that has existed from the very beginning: "Let us make humankind in our image, to be like us."

Intentionally Diverse (2/5/2023)

Jesus in You: Intentionally Diverse (Acts 10:1-48)

From the beginning of the Spirit work of Jesus in the church - it is clear that the saving message of Jesus Christ is for all people. Acts 1:8. It is not just for you and me. It is to go out from us to all people. One of the first things the spirit does is break down the walls of separation of the people in Jerusalem (Acts 2:5 - every nation). The work of Jesus is to break down the dividing walls of hostility. It has been that way from the very beginning. Even the promise of God to Abraham was that he would be the means of blessing all people through him (well, not him, but the one to come from him - Jesus!). The diversity of the church is like unto the harmony that runs throughout the melody of the story of Acts. It's always happening...subtly, but certainly. Acts 8:1-2, even in their pain, the message goes to all people. Next, Phillip goes to Samaria, and then an Ethiopian. An then in Acts 10, the Spirit ambushes Peter and takes him to a Roman Centurian - and his whole house is saved. By the end of this, "gentiles" receive the same outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The church in Antioch is a church rich in diversity (Acts 13:1-3). Jesus people understand; if Jesus is for all people - then all people are to be reached for Jesus. This is why we say, "We exist so that every man, woman, and child has the opportunity to know Christ..." It is our calling. Just like the church in Acts reflected the world around her, so to may New Work Fellowship look more and more like the community around us.

Biblically Generous (1/29/2023)

Jesus in You: Radically Generous (Acts 2:42-47)

The generosity of the church isn't just seen in Jerusalem, but it goes on. Therefore, the teaching of Paul in 2 Corinthians is so relevant. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 and 2 Corinthians 9:7-8, Paul begins by calling the generosity of the church in Macedonia, "what God has done." When we are generous, we are joining God in His work. Where the Spirit of God is at work in the people of God, living in the indwelling presence of Jesus - the result is radical generosity. And why not? Our God is incredibly generous! Generosity is not always easy. There are dangerous "generosity killers" that the church must wisely confront: greed and inequity. The story of Ananias and Sapphira is all about greed.  Verse 11 is a warning to all the greedy in the house of God, "Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else..." Well, for good reason! Greed has no place among Jesus' people. And the next crisis for the church comes in Acts 6. This time, there are those in need who are not being cared for. There is inequity. What ever happened to the "no need among them" of Acts 3:34-35? The church is to steward well the resources of God. When you choose to be generous, by the prompting of the spirit of God - Jesus alive in you and through you becomes evident.

Biblically Serious (1/22/2023)

Jesus in You: Biblically Serious Acts 2:14-41

When the Holy Spirit comes - the first thing (priority) that happens is that God's Word is made clear. A lot of time, we get all entangled in the debate about how the disciples spoke in these languages. And be sure, it is clear, they were speaking known languages here (not unknown tongue). But the purpose and the reason and the result of their speaking was to make the Word of God known. To all people. God's Word is the serious work of the people of God. This is why you need to be in chairtime - every year, every day . This is why you need to be in small groups with other believers breaking open the Word of God - every week with consistency and commitment. Knowing the Word of God, making know the Word of God is the central work of the church.

Spiritually Alive (1/15/2023)

Spiritually Alive - Acts 2:1-13 & John 16:5-15

When the promised Holy Spirit fully arrives in power and presence on the day of Pentecost—we are told that EVERYONE present was filled with the Holy Spirit. And the result of that was throughout the city, there was amazement and wonder. In fact, they ask, “What can this mean?” There was something fresh and new here. NOTHING like this had ever happened before! But in fact, there was something very familiar in all of this. Acts 2 should be read in concert with Exodus 19. The similarities are overwhelming. This is the new “coming down” of God. And just like when God came down at Sinai with his ten WORDS, so too, this time, through the Holy Spirit we learn from God about life with Him. 

Alive and In You! (1/8/2023)

Alive and In You! (Acts 1:1-11)

When Luke wrote his first letter (Luke), he told us all about the things that “Jesus began to do and teach.” In Luke’s second letter (Acts), he tells us about everything Jesus does in and through the Spirit of God, present in His church. Luke calls it “instructions through the Holy Spirit”. It is clear in the Greek, that this was how Jesus taught the church after his ascension. Jesus is still alive and active through the indwelling of the Spirit of God, in you—and He is at work through His Church. The Holy Spirit is God’s good gift to us. Jesus taught the disciples about the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-30). The Holy Spirit indwells us and never leaves us (v16). The Holy Spirit leads us to truth (v17), He teaches us and reminds us (v26). He continues his teaching about the Holy Spirit in the “abide” chapter, John 15:26-27.  The Holy Spirit teaches us about Jesus. The teaching continues in John 16:5-15. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin. He guides you. He brings glory to Jesus. In Acts, we read that the Holy Spirit empowers the church. Have you believed in Jesus? Are you walking with him? When you believe, the Holy Spirit indwells you. The very waters of baptism are the picture of being wrapped up in the Holy Spirit. Jesus is in you! The Spirit is in you. God calls you to come alive!