No More Condemnation!

Guilt. Condemnation. Self-loathing. Insecurity. So many people in our culture live under a burden that crushes. The result? Depression, self-medicating with alcohol or drugs, pushing those who love us away, even suicide. But it doesn't have to be that way!

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1-2)

NO CONDEMNATION! Not based on our worthiness or goodness, but based on being "in Christ Jesus." Jesus death fully paid for every sin, and when a person surrenders to Jesus through faith, they are placed in Christ and become a new creation! "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Cor 5:17)

Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." (John 3:18)

Are you in Christ by believing in him? Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ by believing what he said is true about you and rejecting the deceptions of the evil one, who only wants to discourage you and tear you down. Walk in the new life he has given you and reject guilt & condemnation!

What kind of fragrance are you spreading?

Have you ever thought of the aroma that you spread to those around you? Not your aftershave or perfume, but the fragrance of Christ that you carry with you!

In 2 Corinthians 2, Paul paints a picture of a Roman triumphal procession, where Jesus is the conquering General being honored as he leads a parade of conquered slaves, of whom Paul says we are a part!

"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere." (v14)

It's the paradox of being a conquered slave, but at the same time being an emissary of God himself! Then in the next verse, he describes another paradox, that to those who are being saved, we are the aroma of life, but to those who are perishing, we are the aroma of death. The same gospel has opposite effects on people - a beautiful fragrance of life or a pungent, offensive odor of death.

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul describes why some people can't understand the amazing gift of salvation that God is offering to them:  

"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (v 3-4)  

A few years ago, I was at a conference and one of the speakers said that we have three options of how we relate to the world:

1. Fortress – we can pull away from the world and protect ourselves and our children from all the bad that is out there
2. Force – we can choose activism to try to force change through legislation and political action
3. Fragrance – we can live in the world in such a way that others see Christ’s love through us

There is a spiritual battle being waged for the souls of humanity, and our job is to (1) take the gospel - the beautiful fragrance of Christ - with us everywhere we go, and (2) pray for the illumination of the hearts and minds of unbelievers around us.

What kind of fragrance are you spreading?

You are Shepherds!

At the end of his third missionary journey, Paul was on his way to Jerusalem and stopped at Miletus to meet with the elders of the church at Ephesus. Considering the way the church was structured in those days, each elder was probably responsible for a group of people that met in a home. In Acts 20:20, Paul tells the elders that he taught them “publically and from house to house,” a pattern which characterized the early church.

Our weekend services are the times when we gather publically, worship together, hear the word taught, and are challenged to pursue a shared vision of Pervasive Hope. Then when we meet in homes, we encourage each other in a personal way, growing in Christ-likeness and Kingdom-mindedness. But it’s not just about relationships and growth, it’s also about engaging our community in a way that meets their needs and introduces them to Jesus too: Pervasive Hope to every street & every person!

In some ways, Community Group leaders are in a similar role as those Ephesian elders, as you shepherd a group of people that meets in a home or coffee shop during the week. And the challenge that Paul extended to them could be applied to your life and ministry as well:

“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28)

Take these observations to heart:

1.     Keep watch over yourselves – before we can shepherd others, we need to shepherd ourselves! At a most foundational level, this includes developing a consistent and passionate pursuit of intimacy with Christ through prayer, the Word, and other spiritual disciplines. It also includes walking in obedience to Christ, allowing His Spirit to develop godliness and character.

2.     Keep watch over each other – this is the second part of “yourselves,” meaning the other shepherds of the church! We can’t be lone rangers in our ministries, or think that I don’t have to answer to anyone because it’s “my Community Group.”  That’s one reason that we have periodic huddles, training times, and reports for Community Group leaders – we want to stay connected to each other for accountability, encouragement, and alignment of our direction to fulfill God’s mission for his church.

3.     Keep watch over those in your group – I believe that every Christian needs someone shepherding them. This is especially true for young believers who need to become grounded in the faith and truth. There will be times when you as a shepherd will need to lovingly confront someone in your group who is going astray, calling them to reconciliation with Jesus and to walk in obedience to him.

4.     Remember who called you! The Holy Spirit is the one who calls us to ministry, and he also gifts and empowers us to fulfill that calling (1 Corinthians 12:4-7).

5.     Remember who your group belongs to! Paul calls it the “church of God,” not “my church” or “your church.” Our commission to “be shepherds” really places us as under-shepherds of Jesus, the “great Shepherd of the sheep” (Hebrews 13:20). Seek his wisdom and direction for leading, feeding and growing a healthy Community Group!

Let’s work together to shepherd and disciple the people that God is bringing into his family, the church! Let’s lead them to become more like Jesus and to engage in a lifestyle of expanding his Kingdom through ministry and evangelism in your neighborhood.

Discussion: Which area do you need to bring a greater emphasis into your Community Group this year?

1.     Biblical Community – authentic relationships that encourage and stimulate each other “toward love and good deeds”

2.     Discipleship –engagement of God’s word and other spiritual disciplines, leading toward life transformation into Christ-likeness and Kingdom-mindedness

3.     Outreach – bringing Pervasive Hope to your neighborhood through meeting practical needs and sharing the gospel