If best-selling author James Patterson were to write your story, what would the title be?
Until recently I’d never spent a minute on this question, but one of Don Miller’s online courses challenged me to take some time and give some thought to this.
Initially, I didn’t think it worth the time or effort and skipped on to the next video. But I couldn’t shake the question: What’s the title of your story?
Listen here.
Reading: 2 Timothy 4:7-8
Our life stories have a title, a title that God has written. If we can discover it, we’ll then be able to make sense of the various chapters. We’ll see a thread, a theme, a purpose, and a direction, that will capture attention, arouse interest, summarize the contents, stick in our minds, and simplify what often looks like a confusing mess.
Listen here.
Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:10
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Psychological self-harm?” Neither had I until I heard Jo use it in this podcast. I was a bit shocked by it, but as I thought about it, I realized that although I’ve never even thought about physical self-harm, I’ve definitely practiced psychological self-harm. This helped me not only see old scars, but even fresh wounds, and charted a path of healing. I hope you will find it as helpful as I did.
Listen here.
Reading: Job 39:13-18
Jo De Blois is Chief of Staff at Puritan Reformed Seminary
INTRODUCTION
What’s the best way to evangelize? What’s the most effective evangelism?
It’s the Christ-like lives of Christians. We can learn apologetics (and we should). We can learn how to have conversations about Christianity (and we should). We can put together a great website, welcome team, and musical program (and we should). We can share sermons and podcasts, leave tracts and books with people (and we should). We can improve our education program (and we should).
But the most effective evangelism, the most effective apologetics, the most effective marketing, the most effective organization, the most effective publishing and podcasting don’t compare with the evangelistic impact of a Christ-like life. Nothing commends the Gospel like consistent Christian character, conduct, and conversation. That’s Paul’s argument in 2 Corinthians 3:1-4.
BACKGROUND
Paul was being attacked and undermined by Judaizing false teachers in the church of Corinth. One of their tactics was to being letters of recommendation from important religious figures in Jerusalem, references which would vouch for their religious status and credentials.
Paul’s been defending his ministry, but knows that his enemies’ next tactic will be to accuse him of self-promotion. “See, Paul’s always boasting and blowing his own trumpet.”
For these two reasons, Paul begins this chapter with two rhetorical questions, expecting the answer “No.” Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? (1). No, I’m not commending myself or promoting myself, and, no, I don’t need religious references from the religious elite as some others do (2:17). Rather, you, yourselves are our letter of recommendation (2).
Paul was saying, “You are my reference. Corinthians, you are the test, evidence, and confirmation of my ministry. If you want proof that I am truly sent from God, then look at God’s work in your lives. I don’t need to recommend myself and I don’t need religious rulers to recommend me, because you yourselves are my best recommendation.”
If Christians are a letter, who’s the author?
1. CHRIST IS THE AUTHOR (3)
And you show that you are a letter from Christ (3)
Like you, I receive thousands of emails and texts a year and probably forget them all within an hour of reading and replying. But, I have a friend who writes me a letter every year or two. Yes, a handwritten letter. I think I can remember every one he’s written because it leaves a deep impression on me that he took the time to buy luxury paper and fountain pen, sit down, write a letter, put it in an envelope, get a stamp, and post it. Unlike texts and emails which have little impact and leave little lasting effects, I carefully read and re-read his written letters, think about them, and treasure them. His unique handwriting also expresses his careful and caring character. The letter shows who he is.
Christians show by their lives that they are letters from Christ. Christ’s character is seen in them and through them. Christ’s name is at the top and bottom of this letter and his fingerprints are all over it. Just as a handwriting expert can tell who wrote something, readers of this letter can tell who wrote it.
What does this author write with?
2. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE INK (3)
…written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God (3).
The durability of a letter depends on the quality of the ink. I have personal letters from 35 years ago and the writing is getting harder and harder to read. It’s blurring, fading, and becoming indecipherable. Probably the result of using cheap pens filled with cheap ink.
But the letters Paul wants us to read are not written with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God. Christ’s character has been etched on the souls of Christians by the power of the Holy Spirit, an ink that is actually living in the Christian, and therefore not only maintaining what’s been written but deepening it and developing it further. Each year more lines are added, the character of the author becomes clearer and brighter. This is indelible ink, permanent marker. This makes these letters far superior to any in the Old Covenant which the Jewish false teachers were calling back to.
…delivered by us…(3).
What is it that’s delivered? There are two possibilities. Either the letters are delivered by Paul or the ink is delivered by Paul. Either way, Paul is seeing himself not as the author of the letters or the source of the ink, but merely the postman of the letters or the pen through which the ink passes. He’s only the author’s messenger or the author’s pen. He’s not the author or the ink.
What does he write on?
3. OUR HEARTS ARE THE PAPER (3)
…written..not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts (3)
The writing of the ten commandments on tables of stone by the finger of God was a divine work that proved Moses was God’s minister. In the New Covenant, the same law is engraved on the heart (Jer. 31:33; Ezek. 11:9; 36:26). This is an even greater miracle than writing the law on tablets of stone. Tablets of stone are neutral, whereas our hearts are resistant and rebellious, hard and brittle.
In regeneration, God tenderizes our hearts so that his law is imprinted on them. It’s not a mere outward obedience but a deep, inner, change of heart. People are Paul’s credentials, not paper.
Who are the readers?
4. OUR READERS ARE EVERYBODY (2)
…to be known and read by all (2)
There are private letters between individuals and there are public letters, or open letters which everyone is invited to read. Christians are public letters, we are constantly being read and understood whenever anyone sees us. They are reading a work authored by Jesus and wondering what the author is like as they do so. We want people to read us and we also want them to ask, “How can I become a letter of Jesus too?” Nothing gives us greater joy than this.
That’s why Paul said that they were also written in his heart (2). They were like his private collection of love letters which he held close to his heart and treasured.
CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GOD’S STORY
Christ is the only perfect letter. We worship him as the only one who did this perfectly. He could say, “He who has seen me has seen the Father. We love Jesus as God’s perfect letter to us.
Christ uses imperfect letters. We can’t wait until we’ve got every page, paragraph, sentence, word, and letter right. We are being read as soon as we say we are Christians.
We want to be an easy and enjoyable read. We want to show the character, conduct, and conversation of Christ in an attractive way as possible. Your life is the front-line of evangelism.
Who is writing your letter? Who is the author of your life? If it’s not Christ, why not ask him to start writing it today.
CONCLUSION
PRAYER
Letter-writer, write your story clearly in my heart so that everyone can read about Jesus in me and through me.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What have you found to be the most effective evangelism?
2. How will this sermon help you evangelize?
3. How does being a letter of recommendation for Christ change your life?
4. Who can you help read about Christ through your life?
5. What can make it difficult for people to read Christ’s letter in you?
6. Who did God use as a letter of Christ in your own life? How?
INTRODUCTION
COVID-10 plus lockdowns plus vaccine mandates plus government handouts are adding up to shortages in many areas of life. Builders are short of materials, employers are short of staff, stores are short of goods, and many businesses and families are short on dollars. The supply-chain is broken in many parts of the world causing fears of even greater shortages in the months to come. How do we cope with shortage and lack?
Some are replying with panic buying and hoarding. But how should Christians respond? John 6:1-15 points us to Jesus the multiplier when all we see is a is a big negative sign.
BACKGROUND
Disappointed about the Jews’ unbelief, despite all the Old Testament being about him, Jesus withdrew to a quieter place (1). The crowd followed him, though, mainly because they wanted more sickness healed (2). Despite his disappointment about their unbelief, and despite their selfish motivation, Jesus’ sat down on a mountain to welcome the people once again (3). Knowing that it was Passover time (4), he used the occasion to point them from bread to himself. The Passover pointed to God’s provision for his people, but here they are still hungry.
Of all Christ’s miracles, this was the most public, impacted the most people, and was the most reported (all four Gospels). It’s therefore perhaps the most important and significant of all the miracles.
Given the people’s conclusion from the miracle that Jesus was THE prophet, like Moses but better than Moses, the parallels with Moses in the beginning verses are important: (1) Jesus was leading a crowd like Moses did; (2) The crowd is following Jesus because of his signs, like Israel did with Moses; (3) The crowd saw signs and wonders on this mountain, just like the Israelites did at Sinai; (4) The events took place at the Passover.
What do we usually do when we’re in need?
1. WE’RE GOOD AT SUBTRACTION (5-9)
A Testing Question
Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do (5-6).
Jesus saw a huge crowd of people coming towards him and his first thought is, “They’re hungry, how can we feed them?” He saw their physical needs, was touched by their hunger, and wanted to provide for them (Matt. 14:14).
But instead of immediately proceeding to a miracle of provision, Jesus decided to use this physical lack to increase his disciples’ spiritual resources. He asks them about where they could buy bread to feed the hungry crowd. Although he knew the answer and had already decided how he would provide, he sets this huge hole before his disciples and tests their faith in him to fill it.
Two Failed Answers
Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little” (7).
The first wrong answer comes from Philip. He reckons they’ve got about 200 denarii (daily labor rate was 1 denarius) to buy bread but even that would only get everyone a few crumbs each. Without Christ in the equation, all Philip saw were negatives.
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” (8-9).
Instead of outright dismissal, at least Andrew raises a question. However, it’s a question that reveals his underlying answer: it’s hopeless. Five loaves and two fish are nothing for so many people. Without Christ in the equation, all Andrew saw were negatives.
CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GOD’S STORY
Jesus cares. Jesus cares about our bodily needs. He sees when we are hungry, thirsty, tired, stressed, sick, and so on. He doesn’t only see them, he cares about our deficits and their impact on us. He’s thinking about them and even prompting others to think about them.
Jesus tests. Jesus brings lack, need, dearth, loss into our lives to test our faith in his provision. What answer are we coming up with. Negatives? We’re negative about our situation and Jesus’s compassion and care for us. We’re negative about getting out of this hole. If all we see are negatives for ourselves and others, we’re failing the test. We’re coming up with the wrong answer. And all because we’re looking to our own resources rather than Jesus’s.
Subtraction and negatives are the wrong answers. What’s the right answer?
2. JESUS IS GOOD AT MULTIPLICATION (10-15)
Although the disciples failed the test, Jesus did not give up on them, but made the crowd of 10,000+ sit down to watch him provide the right answer (10).
Jesus Multiplies Food
Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten (11-13).
Three phrases stand out in this report: ‘as much as they wanted’ (11), ‘they had eaten their fill’ (12), and ‘filled twelve baskets with [leftover] fragments’ (13). These three lines underline the massive miraculous multiplication. It wasn’t just enough but more than enough. Little x Jesus = Plenty.
Notice also, Jesus’s care not to waste the leftovers. He didn’t want anything to be lost (12). Jesus wanted every crumb to have a purpose.
Jesus Multiplies Faith
When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” (14).
Jesus not only multiplied the food, but also the faith of the crowd. Knowing Moses’ prophecy of THE prophet who would be the Messiah, they were sure he was standing in front of them (Deut. 18:15). The multiplication of food multiplied their faith.
Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself (15).
Jesus had multiplied their faith but had not yet matured their faith. Mature faith is focused on spiritual power, not earthly power. He wanted to be a spiritual king not a political king. To do that there needed to be a cross before a crown.
CHANGING OUR STORIES WITH GOD’S STORY
Jesus is our Multiplier. We bring minus signs to the table but Jesus brings multiply signs. We are needy negatives, he is a generous supplier. How many times Jesus has replaced our minus with his multiply. Let’s take our negatives to him and watch him do heavenly math.
Jesus is our Messiah. Jesus sees our greatest need is not physical or material but spiritual and eternal. He can feed our souls and satisfy all our spiritual longings. Sometimes he brings us into need so that we see him as the only answer. He is the satisfier of our deepest needs (Ps. 132:15). Every time we give thanks and break bread, we’re reminded of his broken body and give thanks.
CONCLUSION
PRAYER
Multiplying Messiah, I’ve brought a lot of negatives into my life. Be the super-supplier of my greatest needs.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What lacks or needs have you had in the past? What needs do you have right now?
2. How have you responded to need in the past? And in the present?
3. How has Jesus provided for your needs in the past? How does that help you today?
4. What kind of prophet did Moses teach Israel to expect (Deuteronomy 18:15-22). What similarities does Jesus share with Moses?
5. What’s a mark of mature faith compared with baby faith?
6. How will you share this encouraging message with a needy person you know?
If we to change our story we need to change the stories we’re reading, listening to, and watching. If we let bad stories into our lives, our life story will be bad.
In this podcast we develop a better SPAM filter so that we keep the bad out and let the good in.
Listen here.
Reading: Philippians 4:8-9