jeff warren Posts

What’s the Gospel?

13 Aug , 2011 1 Comment

At the core of our Message, our ministries, our lives, our hope, and life is the Gospel.  The longer I preach the more convinced I am that I (we) have but one message: the Gospel of Grace found only in Christ. Surely all of Scripture is inspired by God and all of the Bible is profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness- but it is the Gospel that is central. I’ve heard Christians through the years express a desire to go “deeper” in the Word. Sometimes this is a true desire to get beyond the surface preaching that seems to come from many of our pulpits. But most of the time this is a desire for more knowledge (and not a desire nor evidence of obedience to what is already known- i.e. kindness, compassion, care for the poor, the marginalized, a lack of grace and purity, etc..).

I ask, “What’s deeper than the Gospel?” How can we ever tire of studying, scrutinizing, exploring, and- indeed- applying the Gospel to every aspect of life. The Gospel is the well that never runs dry. Jesus is eternal and the exploration of His majesty is never-ending. Let’s preach, teach, and apply the Gospel. It is (HE is) the Only hope of salvation for those who believe.

Here Tim Keller (who is always Gospel-centered) answers the question: “What is the Gospel?”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0g-s4Qhtyk&feature=youtu.be]

Thy Kingdom Come.

04 Aug , 2011 No Comments

A Thousand Questions

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiNBmNl88Pk]

“Is there a God?”

05 Jul , 2011 No Comments

Most people claim to believe in “God” but how can we even know He exists?  According to a survey last month (June 8, 2011) 92% of Americans believe in God- a number that has not changed much at all since 1940- when Gallop Polls started tracking this. As you look over “8 evidences” for God’s existence, I challenge you to pick your top three (in order) and be able to explain why you think those arguments are the strongest.

The definitive word in the Bible regarding atheism is this: “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Psalm 14:1.  In Romans 1 we see that God has revealed Himself clearly to us through creation and has made Himself “evident” to us so that we are “without excuse” (1:20).  In fact, He’s made His presence known “within” us (1:19).   

This is why I believe that every atheist is constantly trying to push the thought of God out of his mind.  I liken him to the man who went out and bought himself a new boomerang and he almost killed himself trying to throw away his old one.  Rick Warren recently tweeted, “I don’t believe in atheists. Therefore, there is zero possibility they exist.”

Before we begin our study of theism you must remember that you can’t prove God scientifically- science says that in order for something to be proven it must be repeatable.  Even history, by its nature can’t be repeatable. You can’t prove a lot of things by science.  BUT there is a lot of evidence that points to the clear existence of God.

8 Evidences for the Existence of God

1. The search for something more  There is something within all of us that sense there is something or Someone beyond us.“There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.” – Blaise Pascal

2. Cause and effect  There can be no effect without a cause. Every effect must have a cause.  All of us (and all of the Universe) are effects and God is the Cause.  Eventually you come to an “Uncaused Cause”- GOD.  Think about it: Can a computer suddenly come out of nowhere? Can matter suddenly exist from non-matter? Can life appear from non-life?  Can something come from nothing?  It is scientifically impossible.

3. Order and design  We see order and intelligent design throughout our world and the Universe.  I could choose a million examples but I’ll offer one.  Did you know that because water has a high specific heat your body is able to remain at a constant temperature?  As a result you r body can better absorb heat.  If water had a low specific heat you would “boil over” with the least amount of activity. 71% of the earth’s surface is covered with water.  The oceans serve as the earth’s thermostat and keeps the planet cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.  The distance of the earth from the sun, the tilt of it’s axis, the speed of it’s orbit, all make life possible on our planet.  The slightest degree of change in any aspect of the position in space would kill us all in no time.

4. Meaning and purpose  All of us are seeking meaning and purpose in life.  Where does this come from?  Consider a few famous people who wrestled with the meaning of life:

“What is life for? To die? To kill myself? To wait till death comes? I fear that even more. Then I must live. But what for? To die? And I could not escape that circle.” Leo Tolstoy

“Life is a dirty trick, a short journey from nothingness to nothingness.” Ernest Hemingway

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” –Solomon, Ecclesiastes 1:2

It was C. S. Lewis who said, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”  It seems that God Himself has created us with a kind of “homing devise” and our hearts will not rest until we find our rest in Him.

5. The moral argument  If there is no God, where does our sense of right and wrong from?  Is that just an evolved state of consciousness?  Without an ultimate source of morality how do you explain a basic universal sense of right and wrong?

6. Love and emotion  If God does not exist how do explain love?  If it is not from God (the Author of love) then what are your options?  Is love an animal instinct?  Is it an evolved emotion or a chemical reaction?  How can you explain great acts of love, mercy, and compassion apart from a love God?

7. Jesus Christ  Of course the greatest proof of God’s existence is the fact that He actually came here and told us that He exists.  Jesus said that if we have seen Him, we’ve seen God. He said that He and God are One.  To see Him was to see God. To believe in Him was to believe in God and to reject Him was to reject God. Jesus revealed, not only that God exists, but He also showed us Who God is and what He is like.  Read these verses:

  • Hebrews 1:1-3
  • John 1:1-4, 14

8. Changed lives  Billions of lives have been changed by the power of God (including mine).  God has proven His existence by revealing Himself.  He desires to prove His existence and His love for you as well if only you will come to Him by faith.  Believe and then you will receive greater and greater understanding.  Which of the three evidences do you think are the most powerful?  Which one would you choose above the others?  If “changed lives” were used as proof of God’s existence and if you were brought to trial as evidence, would you be found guilty?

Have you taken the Bible for granted?

28 Jun , 2011 No Comments

How much do you love God’s Word?  Do you cherish it? Do you read it? Do you know what a gift it is to your life?

Please take the time to watch this inspiring story. Let it challenge you to NEVER take God’s Word for granted.  Study it. Love it. Obey it.

Let it draw you to Jesus.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9dpmp_-TY0]

REAL MEN DO.

16 Jun , 2011 1 Comment

What we have in our culture today is the tragic absence of real men living dangerously for Christ.  Real men are faithful, courageous, humble, and pure. Real men do what God has commanded.

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.”  Proverbs 11:3 

A contrast between two men

  • David- (2 Samuel 11)  A quick snap shot (vs. 1-5) of David’s life shows how one decision can lead to a series of consequences- for which he would pay the rest of his life. 
  • Joseph- (Genesis 39)  A quick snap shot from Joseph’s life reveals what happens when a man determines ahead of time that he will live a life of purity and practice a “no-tolerance” rule when it comes to sin. (vs. 6-10)

1.  Real men don’t run from their fears.  David had not yet determined that he would live a life of purity.  He had not yet found that his worth, his identity and value, is found in God and in Him alone.  He was afraid and sought to find his identity where many men think it is found- through the attraction of a woman.

Real men face the truth about who they are.  The secret fear of men is that they don’t have what it takes.  “I’m fearful; I feel weak. I don’t think I have what it takes.”  And because men tend to define their worth through their performance- a man’s greatest fear is the fear of failure.  Some of men live with a private life of sin and are afraid to ask others into their struggles to help them.

What are you running from?  Real men confront the truth about their sin before it destroys them. Be honest; be open. You’re only as sick as your secrets.

2.  Real men don’t let lust consume them.  Sexual sin and lust is the greatest area of temptation for men.  Men take their souls’ search for validation in all kinds of directions but the most common is in the sexual direction.  This is why pornography is such a problem among men.  Men are more visually stimulated than women but the driving force behind pornography is the fear of not measuring up as a man. They seek validation and as sexual beings many men fanaticize about being desirable- because deep down they do not feel accepted, validated, and loved.

Real men fight to live lives of purity.  And it is a fight- it is every man’s battle.  And men, you are either winning the battle, or you are losing the battle. 

Where/when are you most vulnerable?  Like David, it’s probably when you’re not where you ought to be.  You must remain accountable at all times.  And like Joseph, you must learn to RUN from temptation.  Here’s a verse I memorized when I was a young person-

2 Timothy 2:22 –“Flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

3.  Real men don’t cheat on their wives.  This is for the men: Punks cheat on their wives. Spineless, weak men cheat on their wives.  “Spineless” because these men are not willing to face their fears- what’s really driving them- their struggle for validation.  Conquering women is not for the strong, but weak men.  Because…

Real men stay committed for life.  Real men who are not married, live lives of purity.  Real men who are married have eyes for one woman.  Here’s a word for all married men- your wife is your main accountability partner.  Talk to her about your struggles.  Key question (answered only by courageous, godly men).

What does she need to know about you?

4.  Real men don’t abdicate their leadership in the home.  Many men struggle with this one because, whereas work is task-focused, the family is relationship-focused.  Work is about doing; family is about being.  Men: You DO your job; you LOVE your family.  It is when we reverse the order that the tension escalates and the tug of war begins.

Real men accept the God-given responsibility to be leaders in the home.  Dad- you have a moral responsibility to be the leader in your home.  This is why I remind my church family over and over again- I’m a husband first, a dad second, a pastor third.  This church has many ministers (every member is a minister).  Stacy has one husband and my children have one father.  The pastor’s role is to always point others to Jesus.  Here’s the question for every married man: 

What if you brought the same intensity you bring to your work to your family? Who’s raising your kids?  (Is it your wife?  Your kids’ friends?  The television or internet?)

5.  Real men don’t neglect their children’s needs.

Real men are very present and attentive to their children’s needs.  I like the way Andy Stanley puts it, in his book “Choosing to Cheat”.  He says all men must “choose to cheat”- you will cheat your family or you will “cheat” your work.  It’s a matter of whom you choose to cheat.  Someone will be your priority.

When family and work collide, who wins?  Let me be bold with you men: At work you are expendable.  Someday someone else will have your job.  Someone else will be sitting at your desk.  But at home you play a unique role.  You are the only father your children will ever have- and only for a short season.

6.  Real men don’t find their ultimate worth in their work.

Real men find their worth in Christ alone.  Another key question:

Where do you find your worth? Real men constantly run to Jesus for their worth and significance in life.  He lone can provide a man with ultimate value and worth.

7.  Real men don’t watch others lead in the church.  I praise God for the men and women who give their time, energy, and their gifts to the Lord’s work through our church.  I think we all know that without the leadership of women, the church would have to close shop tomorrow.  But…

Real men seek to be servant leaders in the church.  They want to be an example of one who serves the Lord- for their wives, their children, and the community.  Real men devote their time to the work of God by using their God-given gifts to serve Him.  Only then will a man find true fulfillment in life- by fulfilling God’s purposes.  God has called you to be a man of influence.

What is your ministry of influence?

Will you be a REAL MAN?