The Phil Files

Target Date: 12.06.09 – See CTT Page

The focus this week is on Jesus’ willingness to give His life for us, His sheep. Unlike false shepherds who are only out for their own good and gain, Jesus is willing to lay down His life for us. There are two powerful ways this is true. The faithful shepherd lays down across the opening of the pasture sheep pen to protect the sheep at night and he is willing to give his life to protect the sheep from predators.

The Key Scriptures

• John 10:15, 17
• John 13:37-38
• John 15:13
• Mark 10:45
• 1 John 3:16-18; 4:7-12
  
• 1 Samuel 16:11; 17:34-37

Please share the link to any online pictures, YouTube movies, or video clips of sheep or shepherds or Scripture graphics you think illustrate the main focus of this week’s passages!

Target Date: 11.29.09 – See CTT Page

The focus this week is on how Jesus knows us, inside and out, and calls us by name. This focuses on the Shepherd’s knowledge of His sheep — and His knowledge of me! The Shepherd’s knowledge of us is complete and personal.

The Key Scriptures

• John 10:3
• Proverbs 27:23
• John 20:15-17
• Matthew 10:29-31
• Psalm 139
  

Please share the link to any online pictures, YouTube movies, or video clips of sheep or shepherds or Scripture graphics you think  may help us better understand this principle.

My friend and ministry partner, Vann, suggested I take a look at Ed Stetzer’s blog on the decline of Southern Baptists and the trend stats that suggest this is going to continue. As I read through the post, I was struck by several things that Ed emphasized and the implications for those of us who are committed to Jesus Christ as Son of God and Lord and the authority of Scripture, but who are not Baptists.

First, Ed warned against blaming any one thing or group and scapegoating them. These are bigger and systemic issues as well as cultural challenges that we face in our churches and groups.

Second, the temptation is to “turn left” and soften some theological stances is not the answer. The research suggests that softening doctrinal stances, especially on the authority of Scripture and the unique and singular Lordship of Jesus, only speeds up the decline.

Third, we must recognize we live in a challenging culture, but as Ed says:

Is the culture getting worse? Sure it is. But we should be the ones giving a reason for our hope rather than hoping for a reason [to explain our decline].

His suggestion is a renewal of Great Commission passion and seize this truly bad news as an opportunity for transformational change:

We have been lulled into evangelistic complacency and missional inaction. … I think we need to see this as the bad news it is but also an opportunity to change. … It is an opportunity for discovering a regenerate church membership living on mission.
It is an open door to pray for God’s reviving of the church.

The question Ed leaves all of us with is this — because every careful observer realizes that the influence of a genuine Christian faith has lost significant ground in Western culture and is losing more every day: if change only occurs when we feel enough pain to want to change, then do we feel enough pain? Will we respond, or will we simply look the other way and stay on our current (and declining) course of inaction?

In a time of religious consumerism, what will we do to live for Jesus and help others find their hope in Him?

Vann and I will begin a discussion related to this issue, and others, using the book Unfashionable: Making a Difference in the World by Tullian Tchividjian. Look for the discussion on each of our blogs (click for Vann’s Blog) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Hope you will join the discussion.

Been reading a fascinating book by Euguene Peterson: The Jesus Way: A Conversation on the Ways That Jesus Is the Way. In one chapter, he talks about two powerful metaphors for the failed ways religion has tried to change people: professor and policeman. The first tries to educate people out of our sinful ways and the other tries to enforce the rules or punish people out of our sinful ways.

It occurred to me — just further proof of my warped perspective, maybe — that there is another metaphor that might be helpful here: plumber. A plumber is someone who sees our worst messes and works on the things that are absolutely necessary, but which are usually unseen systems. A plumber works to set those internal systems right so life can function properly. In many ways, that is a more fitting metaphor of what God did for us in Jesus than professor or policeman, but clearly it is not as glamorous. Plus, plumber is a metaphor that reminds us that God was willing to get his hands dirty in the mess of our world.

I know this isn’t earthshakingly theological or significant, but I wonder if it might give us a point of reference to think through Jesus in terms that are not neat and tidy, and put a little more of a “manly” face on Him than the movies and artist renditions do. And before you get all bent out of shape about me comparing Jesus to a plumber, let me just remind you of some of the Lord’s own words:

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked,  “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”

Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?” …

Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into your mouth does not defile you, but what comes out of your mouth, that is what defiles you.”

Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”

He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides.d If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”

“Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these defile you. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile you; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile you.” (Matthew 15:1-2, 10-20 tniv emphasis mine)

Target Date: 11.22.09 – See CTT Page

The focus this week is on how Jesus led people out from where they were – danger, hunger, brokenness, rejection, bondage – to a better place. A good shepherd leads his sheep to still waters and has them rest in green pastures. He restores their souls. Even in difficult times, even during the long dark valley of the shadow of death, the good shepherd stays with his sheep and leads them out to find food and leads them in to find safety. I wonder which is hardest for most real shepherds and most spiritual shepherds, leading them out to pasture or leading them back to safety?

The Key Scriptures

• John 10:3, 9-10
• Psalm 23
• Ezekiel 34
• Luke 9:23-26

Please share the link to any online pictures, YouTube movies, or video clips of sheep or shepherds or Scripture graphics you think illustrate the main focus of this week’s passages! What are the differences between driving cattle and herding sheep? Share your own ideas on how to listen to the Shepherd’s voice! What are some examples of this principle? Please share any video clips or YouTube links that you think may help us better understand this principle.

Target Date: 11.15.09 – See CTT Page

The focus on this message focuses on how sheep listen to their shepherd’s voice. They recognized his voice even in the noise of many voices. The message that we need to hear is that we need to know how to recognize “Jesus’ voice” because we have listened to Him so long that we can tell the words of the evil impostors as well as the misguided shepherds. Like Jesus’ saw through the Devil’s temptations using the Word of God, we know our Shepherd and His words so well, we recognize when they are being misused. In addition, no matter what any other shepherd may say to us — a biblical author or a Spirit equipped church leader — we evaluate and understand what they say based on Jesus’ guidance adn words. In fact, one of the waays Jesus ministered to God’s sheep who were scattered and without a shepherd was through His teaching. So this will be a clear call to know what Jesus has taught! Of course, one of the best biblical examples of this principle is when Mary met the resurrected Jesus and didn’t recognize Him until He called her by name: then, just by the sound of His voice, she knew it was Jesus and cried out, “Rabboni!” Isn’t it interesting that disciples (followers) of Jesus followed Him around to learn from Him for several years, similar to the way sheep follow their shepherd.

The Key Scriptures

• John 10:3-5, 14, 27
• John 20:11-16
• 1 Peter 2:25
• Luke 4:1-12
• Matthew 9:36
• Mark 6:34

Inputs and Ideas

Share your own ideas on how to listen to the Shepherd’s voice! What are some examples of this principle? Please share any video clips or YouTube links that you think may help us better understand this principle. Is there someone you know who has learned to truly hear the “voice” of Jesus among all the competing voices: how did they do it and how can you tell that they know the words of Jesus and have incorporated them into their life? Please also share the link to any online pictures, YouTube movies, or video clips of sheep or shepherds or Scripture graphics you think illustrate the main focus of this week’s passages!