Fighter Verse to be led by the Spirit

Week 21 - Matthew 5:47-48 - To recite May 30

”And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

To see the list of all fighter verses for 2010, click here - http://hopeingod.org/sites/default/files/documents/Fighter%20Verse%20Set%20E_1.pdf

What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit - Jensen and Piper disagree, and my middle way

We'll be thinking about this issue in part on Sunday at our Sunday gathering. Here's one view that I think is right:

Ask Phillip - What does 'baptised by the Spirit' mean? from Audio Advice on Vimeo.

John Piper has another view which is basically,

I have said that I do NOT think the essence is new birth or conversion or being united to the body of Christ. What then is it? And why do I not think it is the same as what Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 12:13?

I think the essence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit is when a person, who is already a believer, receives extraordinary spiritual power for Christ-exalting ministry.

I try to see Piper's point and I can agree that being baptized with the Holy Spirit by Jesus (Acts 1.5; 11.16) is different than being baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ's body (1 Cor 12.13). Here's how I try to put it together when wrestling with what Piper was saying:

My initial thoughts to Piper’s take is that he’s going between “essence” of Spirit baptism, or the “heart” of Spirit baptism, and he confuses that with “all” that Spirit baptism is. He argues that the “essence” and “heart” of Spirit baptism is receiving extraordinary power for ministry. He writes, “the essence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit is when a person, who is already a believer, receives extraordinary spiritual power for Christ-exalting ministry.” I think I can agree with that. My problem was with another statement he makes which he thinks is a necessary corollary, where I don’t. He states, “I used to just assume… that the baptism by the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:13 and the baptism with the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 were the same.” So Piper is saying they are not the same. I want to argue that they are the same yet Paul is emphasizing one aspect of the gift package and Luke is emphasizing a different aspect of the same gift package.

So the gift is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ (1 Cor 12.13). And Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit for power to be his witnesses (Acts 1.4-8). Now I see this as the same gift in a way that Piper does not. Piper sees the core of baptism with the Spirit (in Acts) as the bestowing of extraordinary power for Christ-exalting ministry. He sees the core of baptism by the Spirit as conversion, union with Christ, and regeneration. I think that they are united and inseparable in the experience of New Covenant believers after Acts 19.6. I think Piper fails to take into account the transition from Old Covenant to New Covenant in the life and experience of the apostles (Acts 1-2), Samaritans (Acts 8), Gentiles (Acts 10), and disciples of John (Acts 19). So I’d see that when one is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body (1 Cor 12.13), which entails regeneration, conversion, and union with Christ, they are at the same time baptized by Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit who now indwells and empowers them with extraordinary power for Christ-exalting ministry. So I could agree with Piper’s distinction between the two. I disagree that they are separate as the normal pattern in the lives of new covenant believers ever since the incident in Acts 19.6.

The implication for today is that Christians are not only regenerated, united to Christ, converted, and part of the people of God. From Acts the emphasis for today is that Christians have power, extraordinary power for Christ-exalting ministry and this power can be honed and increased by growth in following the Spirit (Romans 8.14; Galatians 5.18, 25), submitting to the Spirit (Galatians 5.17), being filled by the Spirit (Ephesians 5.18), and setting one's mind on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8.5). So I'd say, yes, Christians have received extraordinary power and need to grow in receiving, channeling, and wielding that great force for the purpose God gave it, namely to be Christ's witnesses in the world.

When is it right to leave a church?

Phillip Jensen asks Mark Dever - When is it ever right to leave a church? from Audio Advice on Vimeo.

Reflection/Application Questions for Mark 9.30-50

These questions are provided for your further study and meditation of today’s message. Thoughtfully writing out answers to these questions will help you to reflect on the point of today’s message. It is also helpful to discuss your answers with others. This can take place with friends, your family, accountability partners, or mission small groups (MSGs) of CrossView Church. For MSG meetings ask someone about it at lunch. You can also email info@crossviewchurchla.org or call 213-908-5173.

1. What struck you from Jesus’ words in Mark 9.30-50? Why do those words strike you?

2. What’s wrong with wanting to be the greatest? What’s right about wanting to be great and first?

3. What does being first really look like according to Jesus? How is true greatness expressed? (see vv. 35-37)

4. What opportunities do you have in your neighborhood, at work, school, or with the church to grow in greatness the way Jesus defines it? Be specific. And then write out how you plan on seizing one or two of those opportunities.

5. Who are our allies as followers of Jesus Christ? What is the standard to judge who is on your side (vv. 40-41)? How can you express this week your partnership with other allies that you haven’t expressed in a while.

6. What are two reasons to take drastic action in your life (see vv. 42 and 43, 45, 47)? What does Jesus tell you to do if these things happen?

7. What are some sins in your life, the church’s life, or ways we cause others to sin that we need to battle against and destroy? Be specific here and fight vagueness or rushing.

8. What drastic actions do you think Jesus is calling you to do with fighting these things? Who will you partner with and share so that you drastically fight sin in your life and in our church? When will you tell them?

Reflection/Application Questions on Mark 9.14-29

These questions are provided for your further study and meditation of today’s message. Thoughtfully writing out answers to these questions will help you to reflect on the point of today’s message. It is also helpful to discuss your answers with others. This can take place with friends, your family, accountability partners, or mission small groups (MSGs) of CrossView Church. For MSG meetings ask someone about it at lunch. You can also email info@crossviewchurchla.org or call 213-908-5173.

1. What did you learn about Jesus from this text? What are some reasons to love him afresh and love him more this week from this passage?

2. If Jesus’ words are that powerful, what should you do with the Bible? What’s one possible change that will help you benefit from the Bible more in your life?

3. What is the faith-growth spiral? How can you grow in faith according to this passage?

4. What are some things you’ve heard from God that you should be trusting right now in the situations you’re currently in?

5. What should you be praying for? How will you know when God answers? Share your prayer requests with another church member so that you both can be strengthened by God’s answer to prayer.

6. What prayers have God answered lately that should have strengthened your faith? Share that with another church member through conversation or email this week to bless them.

7. Are you scared to admit your spiritual weakness and lack of faith? How does this story encourage us who are little in faith and spiritually weak?

To see PJ's reflections and applications go here.

Check for the audio/video recording of the message and the sermon summary at our church website and/or blog or email pj@crossviewchurchla.org.

Hip Hop album with Marky Mark Dever and 9Marks ministry...

The Church // Promo 1 from The Lamp Lounge on Vimeo.

I learned so much about the church from these brothers and my former pastor. If Marky Mark Dever spits a verse on a track I'm buying the album for each church member.

Mark 9.2-13 Full Sermon Video

Mark 9.2-13 Sermon at CrossView Church 5/2/10 from CrossView Church on Vimeo.

Main points from the story of how to continually respond to Jesus' glory revealed:

1. Jesus reveals his glory so see his glory (vv. 2-6)
2. Jesus speaks for God so listen to Jesus (vv. 7-8)
3. Jesus demands silence and speaking so understand who he is then speak carefully and assertively about him (v. 9)
4. Jesus fulfills the Hebrew prophecies concerning the Messiah so trust him that he is the Messiah of God (vv. 10-13)

Related resources:
- the text of Mark 9.2-13 (ESV) (you can read or hear it here)
- Sermon story and summary video
- Sermon meditation questions
- Sermon audio (to be posted soon)

Mark 9.2-13 Meditation Questions

These questions are provided for your further study and meditation of today’s message. Thoughtfully writing out answers to these questions will help you to reflect on the point of today’s message. It is also helpful to discuss your answers with others. This can take place with friends, your family, accountability partners, or mission small groups(MSGs) of CrossView Church. For MSG meetings ask someone about it at lunch. You can also email info@crossviewchurchla.org or call 213-908-5173.

1. What makes Jesus so special? Who is Jesus according to the clues given in his transformation and this story?

2. When seeing Jesus’ glory, what’s the main thing God wants people to do according to verse 7? Why do you think that’s the main response God wants from us (the more reasons you think of or reflect on, the deeper you’ll understand the nature of Christian growth and communion with God)?

3. What are some ways we listen to Jesus today? What ways do you take advantage of daily?

4. What are some ways you could and should listen to Jesus with others? How are you listening to Jesus with others and not just by yourself?

5. What advantage is there in listening to Jesus with others as opposed to by yourself?

6. Read some verses from Psalm 119 and reflect on how important the Bible is in a believer’s life.

7. What are some ways you can maximize your listening to preaching?

8. Why should you understand Jesus’ death and resurrection, and what that means (vv. 9-10), before speaking about Jesus? Who can you start asking God to give you a chance to explain Jesus’ death and resurrection to? Share it with a fellow church member so more people are asking God to give you opportunities.

9. How does this passage help you pray better of fellow church members, other Christians, and other local churches?

Click the following for:
- the text of Mark 9.2-13 (ESV) (you can read or hear it here)
- Sermon story and summary video
- Sermon video
- Sermon audio (to be posted soon)

Mark 9.2-13 story and summary

Mark 9.2-13 Story and Summary from CrossView Church on Vimeo.

Main points from the story of how to continually respond to Jesus' glory revealed:

1. Jesus reveals his glory so see his glory (vv. 2-6)
2. Jesus speaks for God so listen to Jesus (vv. 7-8)
3. Jesus demands silence and speaking so understand who he is then speak carefully and assertively about him (v. 9)
4. Jesus fulfills the Hebrew prophecies concerning the Messiah so trust him that he is the Messiah of God (vv. 10-13)