Monday Morning Lookback
Yesterday, Ben talked with us about Relationship and Responsibility. Paul explains these two things at 2 Cor 5:18-21
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
God made every effort to restore the relationship that he shared with us in the Garden through his son, Jesus Christ. In doing this, he gave us the ministry of reconciliation in which he works through us to restore that relationship with the rest of his creation.
God is just and that means that he always does what is right. He gave us the law to reveal his righteousness to us. However, when we disobey the law, punishment is required. Because God is just, he has to punish sinners. Once we sin, our relationship is shattered. He is no longer our loving Father, but he must become our executioner.
However, God is not only just, he is also love. Because of his love, he provided a new way. He sent his own Son to take the punishment that we deserved because of our unrighteousness. He became the executioner of Jesus and in doing so, our relationship with him was restored. He once again became our loving Father.
The reality of the situation is that God is both just and love simultaneously. In each individual person’s life, he offers both justice and love, law and grace. He cannot choose to act justly to one sinner, but lovingly toward another. To the one, he is righteous, but unloving and to the other he is loving, but unjust. So he leaves the choice up to us. We have the option to appealing to God for salvation through the law (his justice) or appealing to God through grace (his love). The work of grace has been accomplished, but whether that grace is applied to the individual person is still up in the air.
So if you are a believer in Christ Jesus, and have accepted him as your Savior, grace has been applied to you. Your relationship has been restored. However, you have also been commissioned with a responsibility to work to restore the relationship between God and unbelievers. You have been reconciled to God through Christ and you have been given the ministry of reconciliation to reconcile the world to God.
This week, know that your relationship with God is restored back to the perfect harmonious relationship that man and God shared in the Garden. But also remember that it is your responsibility to work to restore the relationship between God and your unbelieving friends, coworkers, family members, and people you meet everyday. What are some practical steps that you can take today to be a mediator with someone whose relationship with God is shattered?
Monday Morning Lookback
At Mark 10:46-52, Jesus is in the town of Jericho, just northeast of Jerusalem. As him and his disciples were leaving the city gates, a large crowd was following him. This crowd was so vast that Zacchaeus was forced to climb a tree to simply gain a glimpse of him (Lk 19:1-4). This crowd gathered for two reasons. They wanted to hear Christ’s teaching and they wanted to see a miracle. Many people gathered because they needed physical healing; they were blind, deaf, or crippled. Some gathered because they needed emotional healing; they were dealing with tough life problems and needed Jesus’ teaching.
There were many that most likely felt entitled to Christ’s healing. They thought that because they were rich, they should be the one that Christ healed. They thought that they could buy Christ’s healing. Some in the crowd may have been government officials that offered Christ government incentives for his healing. Some may have been local celebrities that offered Christ a bit of their fame for his healing. Some may have thought their good deeds entitled them to Christ’s healing.
But a beggar named Bartimaeus, sitting by the town gates, asking rich travelers for a few coins or a few scraps of food, recognized Jesus, most likely hearing bits of gossip from those travelers about Jesus’ miracles and he yelled, “Son of David! Have mercy on me!” The Hebrew word Bar means “son” and so his name was simply “Son of Timaeus.” This beggar was not even worthy of his own name, but was simply referred to as the son of his father. He had no value in society whatsoever and so when he yelled, people in the crowd tried to shut him up. They were most likely thinking that this beggar has no right to seek healing when there are so many others in the crowd that are more worthy of Christ’s attention.
But Bartimaeus just yelled louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” The term Son of David is a messianic name. At that time, many rabbis taught that the Messiah would be from the line of David as prophesied at 2 Samuel 7:14-16. This was the first public proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah and only the second time ever, after Peter’s private confession at Mark 8:27-30. In calling Jesus, the “Son of David,” Bartimeaus was proclaiming his faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Savior and because of his faith he was healed.
This week Ben told us that the church’s mission is to blur the lines between heaven and earth. This happens in the triangle that Ben described to us. In our Up relationship with Christ, there are times when the lines between heaven and earth are blurred. The lines are blurred when we make the decision to become a follower of Christ and the Holy Spirit indwells in our heart. The lines are blurred when a piece of divine wisdom is imparted to us in our quiet time. The lines are blurred when Christ brings us the peace that passes all understanding during a time of crisis.
In our In relationships, there are times when the lines between heaven and earth are blurred. They are blurred when the family of God cares for one another, serves one another, and disciples one another. In our Out relationships, there are times when the lines between heaven and earth are blurred. They are blurred when we see someone who society says does not deserve the love of Christ, someone who is marginalized, oppressed, degraded, or persecuted by society and we treat them the way Christ treated Bartimaeus.
In those times, we bring a little piece of heaven into their lives. We help them know the love of God. We help to realize that in Christ’s eyes, they are worth it, they have value, and they have the opportunity to enter into the family of God. Family the way that family is supposed to be, a family of love and support, where they no longer have to feel marginalized and worthless, but where they can be the child of the Most High God.
How is God calling you to blur the lines between heaven and earth this week? Who has he placed in your life that he might desire for you to show his love to? It can be someone who is in your In relationship, but it can also be someone in your Out relationship. This week be searching for someone who you know feels marginalized or worthless and help them to know their value in Christ. Search for your own Bartimaeus and blur the lines in their own life.
On the Road
As a community of faith we are talking through the road to following Christ. We are studying what Jesus said, then how the early church lived out that teaching & then asking ourselves are we on the same road? Are we traveling the same direction? Are we moving on the same path?
Last week, we talked about Covenant Gospel Partnership, we looked at the life of Jesus with his disciples in John 15:15-17 then we looked at Paul’s relationships in Phillipi in Phil 1 & with Timothy, Luke and John Mark in 2Tim 4.
After the service over 30 people joined the Avenue not as members but as Covenant partners. It was a very exciting day!
Here’s why we do covenant partnership & not membership.
Membership sounds entitled, in our culture it denotes receiving benefits, as the American Express commercial says, membership “has its privileges.” It leads people to say that’s my seat on Sunday, that’s my ministry to run, and don’t you dare disrupt my world!
Covenant has always defined relationship. From Abraham to God, from Jonathan and David to every marriage I perform as a pastor, even now as we are in relationship with a covenant God. Covenants define relationship!
First, we are people of Covenant. Covenant represents a commitment to do whatever it takes to see a relationship work. It represents a willingness to commit to responsibilities, duties, or obligations in exchange for specific relational connectedness. Covenant people are loyal people. Dedicated people. Responsible people. As Christians, our covenant faithfulness is a reflection of the nature and character of God – the same faithful God who keeps covenant – in our lives!
Second, we are Partners. Partners with Christ in the cause of the Gospel; and, subsequently, partners with one another. Partnership implies active participation and involvement. Partnership means sharing together common goals, common challenges, common experiences, common resources and common achievements. Partnership reminds us of the significance of our “togetherness” with one another in a world that is dominated by individuality.
We believe the church is a FAMILY on MISSION together.
“The heart of true fellowship is self-sacrificing conformity to a shared vision.”
The way this fleshes out is this simple equation -
Common Mission + Shared Sacrifice + Gospel Partnership = Brotherhood (Community)
Alan Hirsch calls this COMMUNITAS.
He would say that we don’t find community in proximity, or in common interests or goals. Community doesn’t just happen because we hang out together & watch football, listen to the same bands or like the same activities.
Community happens when we have……….
a common mission (for us that’s to be a Community living like Jesus, Changed by Him & Changing the city for His glory)
A shared sacrifice towards that mission – Sacrificing time, treasures & our hearts for the mission & for each other
A gospel partnership in the midst of that mission (living like a family is supposed to live) – Phil 1 – “I have you in my heart”
Are you involved in real gospel partnership?
Are you sharing in a common mission?
Are you sacrificing with others to make that mission happen?
If not why? If not you are missing out on the most life giving relationships we can have on this earth!
If you are interested in any way in joining us on our mission & being a part of a covenant gospel partnership with us email us @ info@avechurch.com & we would love to grab coffee or lunch & talk through the specifics. Also we will be having a partnership class on Jan 22nd following both services just comment below if you would like to come!
You Don’t Want to Miss This Next Week
Starting this Sunday and going all week there are several things happening that you won’t want to miss. Great opportunities to get connected and opportunities to celebrate!
Sunday – Leadership Community
Our next leadership community will be October 2nd at 1pm in the Avenue Room. Leadership Community is a gathering of everyone who serves on one of the teams at the Avenue. In leadership community we celebrate what God has done as well as plan for the future. If you aren’t yet serving on one of the teams, sign up here.
Monday & Thursday – MC Connection Nights
If you are looking to connect at the Avenue, one of the best ways is to be in a missional community (MC). Each missional community is made up of people who focus on living like Jesus to a particular place or group of people. On October 3 and again on October 6 from 6:30-8:00 pm in the Avenue room we are going to have all of the MC’s represented. You can come and learn about each MC, meet the people in them, and join the MC that is right for you. No registration required. Simply show up either night anytime between 6:30-8:00, enjoy some snacks and drinks, and find the Missional Community you belong in.
Friday – Mike Mains Concert
The next concert in the Avenue Concert Series will be October 7. Mike Mains and the Branches will be in concert. This a great opportunity to connect to people or bring a friend. To purchase tickets click here. Below is a sample of their music.
Sunday – 1 Year Anniversary
On Sunday October 9 we will be celebrating our 1 year anniversary of launching the church! On this Sunday we want to get together in one big celebration service! So that Sunday we are going to combine the 1st & 2nd services. We’ll have one big celebration service at 11:15 am. That means some of you get to sleep in and the rest of you get to be here at your normal time. Mark this Sunday on your calendar though as we celebrate all God has done in the past year.
Baby Shower for the Avenue
The Avenue is registered on Target’s Baby Registry. All items purchased up to this point will be on display at the Shower. Additional items are still needed, please see the registry at the following link if interested in purchasing a gift:
http://www.target.com/registry/baby/37T7TCZZM8IEC
First Name: Avenue
Last Name: Church
Some immediate needs items are as follows: Lysol Wipes, Hand Sanitizer, Washable Markers, Crayons, Colored Pencils.
Snacks, cake, and punch will be provided.
Children are welcome! (However, no child care will be provided.)
Please join us on Aug 11 at 7pm, and celebrate with us what God is doing in and through The Avenue!
Galatians 3:15-18 A Legal Case
15 Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. Galatians 3:15-18
What Paul is saying in this passage is pretty straightforward because the example still works and makes sense in today’s world. He is saying that in human contracts and covenants the terms can’t be changed after the deal has been made. One person can’t simply decide to add or subtract something later on. When they do they get sued like crazy. In the same way, the promises given to Abraham concerning justification by faith were what established the original covenant between God and man. It wasn’t until over 400 years later that the law was introduced to Moses and the nation of Israel. So the law cannot replace faith because it comes after the original covenant had been established.
Basically the Galatians are trying to change the terms of the contract. The original covenant stated that faith (trusting that God is who he says he is and will do what he says he will do) is the pathway to God. You have faith – you become right with God. (Genesis 15:6) This is a pretty sweet covenant because all of the work is on God’s part. The Galatians are trying to replace a contract where God does all the work with a contract where the burden of responsibility is now on them. They must do all the work and keep all the laws. Which when one thinks about it is incredibly naive, stupid, and impossible. The Galatians are trying to put themselves in the role of God. They are trying to switch the terms of the covenant, the only problem is that they have no way of fulfilling their end of the bargain. This would be like winning the lottery and then turning it down and saying I’d rather work for it while getting paid minimum wage. There is no possible way you’ll ever earn enough to equal what you just turned down. Furthermore, why would you even want to? No wonder Paul uses such strong language and tone.
Secondarily, If you take the position that the Galatians were taking, which is that one must live by the law, then it undermines the promise made to Abraham that all people would be blessed through his offspring. Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise. If the law were enough then God lied to Abraham. If the law were enough then God made an empty promise to Abraham.
But since the law isn’t enough, and since we believe God to not be a liar, and to keep his promises, then logical deduction rules out the use of the law as a means to salvation. It cannot do what the Galatians believe it to do. Laws by themselves cannot change the inner condition. They are expecting the law to do things that God never intended it to do. The law points out sin but does not save us from that sin. Faith in Jesus is the only thing that does.
Monday Morning Look Back 4/11
Here is a look back from our last week of excitement @ the Avenue & specifically some thoughts from our worship gathering last night:
- I hated jumping out of Galations this week but am excited for our sermon on the blog this week. Each day this week there will be another addition to our thoughts about Galations chapter 3 please follow along
- Loved the songs that we sang last night that greatly spoke into our situation, & our desire to be Gods people in the midst of opposition. This line from Jesus paid it all has stood out to me ever since church ended last night.
I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”
- I am really pumped about Mark Moore’s visit this weekend. Over the entire summer we are talking about the life of Christ and if we want to be a community living like Jesus we must be in touch with who Jesus is. So to sign up for the event Sat from 10-12 cost is only $5 not 15 & that cost includes lunch either email us @ info@avechurch.com or sign up on facebook here. Let us know so we know how many meals to order.
- We had a little over $10,000 worth of fire related damage as well as our need to find a new office space so we need to continue to seek the Lord this week.
Please continue this week to pray for the items we prayed for as a church last night
- Pray for more workers @ the Avenue
- Pray for our pastoral staff & their families as well as the continued protection for the Avenue
- Pray for the Lords provision financially and for a new office space
- Pray for the Avenue family that we would persevere, stand firm & press on in the midst of opposition
Thanks guys Love you
Ben
So there was a little fire
As many of you have heard or seen on the news the building that caught on fire last night was our office building. Here are the facts.
- The building was a three story building.
- The first floor were leasing offices for the Cardinal Towne apartments. The second floor were our offices and some offices belonging to the developer. The third floor was a model unit of the apartments being leased.
- The third floor and the back half of the second floor are a total loss. The front half of the second floor sustained minor damage (this is where our offices were). The first floor sustained a lot of water damage from putting the fire out.
- The firefighters were amazing; they moved a lot of equipment out of harm’s way. The damage could have been much more extensive, but they saved a lot. We owe them a big thanks.
- Our friends at Cardinal Towne sustained much heavier damages. We need to keep them in our prayers. This is a much greater set back for them than for us.
- We don’t have a time line yet for how long it will take to rebuild and move back into the offices.
Now for the plan moving forward. Sometimes we try to spiritualize situations in a way that isn’t actually true. But here are some things that we can say for certain. The fire could have been much worse and destroyed a lot more. For this we need to be thankful to God. We are without offices, but God is not surprised or caught off guard. He will provide. I don’t know whether this was a spiritual attack or not. What I do see in scripture, especially the book of Acts, is that when the church is on the move, there is opposition. But there is never an opposition so strong that it stops God.
So the plan going forward is to continue to radically trust in God and his provision. We will continue to believe that God has called us to the university and Old Louisville. We will continue to pour our hearts into reaching the 30,000 people that don’t know Jesus. We will continue to train, equip, and send out disciples committed to pursuing God and his plan for their life. We will not pull back, slow down, or cower in fear. We will not let opposition of physical, spiritual, or any other type distract us or turn us away.
The God we serve and the hope found through Jesus is too important to allow anything to ever cause us to waver. So I’m asking everyone reading this to continue to pray bold prayers. Keep praying that God would do more than we can imagine. Keep praying that lives would be transformed and communities changed. Let God work in us in such a way that this springs us forward and not holds us back.
Take heart from this verse. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Monday Morning Look Back (March 28th)
Here is a look back from a great weekend @ the Avenue:
- Deconstructing_Defeater_Beliefs_Tim_Keller – It is a terrific read & would be a great resource for anyone who is struggling with doubts or is simply asking questions about their faith.
- We just left the airport where our 1st missionary Valerie Snyder left for Uganda! So proud of her & excited about what God is doing through her & what he has in store for her. We will be getting reports from her often @ the Avenue so stay tuned for updates from her & please commit to praying for her daily.
- Super excited about our month long “Journey to Jerusalem” Prayer exercises that get us prepared for Easter. Pleas follow along here to join us.
- Next week is family meal – Be sure to bring a side item – Fried Chicken is on the menu lots of food after church