The Bible As Our Family Album?

Have you ever thought about Abraham of the bible being related to you or Ruth? I mean ever REALLY thought about it. I kind of knew it but it didn't mean as much to me as say being related to my Grandma Mary that I have real memories with. But reading books like Adopted for Life by Russell Moore and now thinking about Scripture as Our Personal History-a section in Instructing a Child's Heart by Tedd & Margie Tripp...I'm starting to see it, love it and cherish it...

Russell Moore originally got me thinking when he was talking about how he was counseled NOT to change the name of the boys he was going to adopt because it'd give them identity issues and how he was counseled to be sure to give them their Russian History. He had a different idea (I think more biblical) he was going to change their names and give them the Moore family history-because that's what they were becoming-and he went on to say that not only were they going to hear the Moore family history but also the stories of the Bible-that of course he hoped he'd claim as their own. I love that.

Personally, I know the stories of my auntie Mags pulling out my uncle Henry's hair and how my great grandpa served chorizo and eggs to movie stars in L.A. I love knowing how my Grandpa Joe sold huaraches with his mom on Olvera St in L.A. but since Jesus saved and adopted me into HIS family I have another family history. A history that tells of a Creator and the sinful people he used to point to their need for a Savior, and how the long awaited Savior actually came to save the sinful people and make a way for them to be with the Father-my Father :) I love that. Isn't it sweet?!

Well let me leave you with some quotes from the book I'm currently reading on the same topic:

"God has revealed himself to us in the Scriptures, telling us who we are and why we were created. Scripture is our history. Creation, Fall, and Redemption are the context for understanding life. Our children cannot understand why they are in this world, how sin has affected them, and how redemption restores what sin has destroyed, apart from their spiritual history."

"Scripture is history that tells us about ourselves."

"Scripture is not only about God's people of old-it's about us and our children. The Bible is our family album."

Looking for a church?

I’ve been wanting to write a post on some things to look out for when looking for a church. It can be difficult and I know a lot of people in transition (getting married/moving/etc.) and it’s hard to know what to look for and easy to keep bouncing from church to church. I think Shai Linne makes it real clear what the 1^st mark of a healthy church is in his song “Expositional preaching.” So click play and follow along with the lyrics below!

(There’s a lot of confusion about what makes up a healthy church. So we’ll look at the 1^st mark. Because without this one, you’re in bad shape)

With our raps we adore our Master and Lord/

Jesus Christ who deserves all our claps and applause/

For the wrath that he bore, at the cross for our blasts, acts of a whore/

He gave up his life with a passionate roar/

Was raised up to heights where he sat at before/

After this all, he gave pastors the call/

To ministry found in second Timothy chapter four/

Verse 1 and 2, what I first wanna’ do is come to you/

The church, to reverse a funny view/

So let me ask a question: “What’s most essential?/

What is that gives the local church it’s credential?”/

Some would say music, some would say deacons/

Others say preaching the lost and soul-seekin’/

But if  we wanna’ give God the glory in our meetin’s/

The most important things is Expository Preachin’/

Where are the Whitfields? Where are the the Spurgeons?/

Preach the Word, preach the Word/

We need sound theology to deal with reality/

Preach the Word! Preach the Word!/

We got enough rappers, we need more pastors/

Preach the Word! Preach the Word!/

We need  and deep application/

Preach the Word! Preach the Word!/

(This verse is for the congregation, this is what you need to be listening for:)

Let me explain what I mean, it’s not too complex/

It’s preaching God’s word in its proper context/

As you listen, be discerning /

What you have to determine:/

Was the point of the passage, the point of the sermon?/

If not, then this problem must be confronted today/

Because he just used the Bible to say what he wanted to say/

And even if it’s delivered with fire and intelligence/

That’s basically making what God has inspired irrelevant/

Instead of applying the Word’s realities/

A lot of pastors relying on personality/

But give self-communication could never be a true replacement/

For the Holy Spirit’s illumination/

Without exposition you’ll lack major profit/

All you’ll get is tradition and your pastor’s favorite topics/

And that can be a slippery slope/

The word should be givin’ you hope/

This dude is just givin’ you jokes/

That won’t help you love Christ. It won’t help your obedience/

We need more expositors not more comedians/

Labor in the text, then faithfully connect/

You to the Savior, then wait for it’s effects/

God gives the increase; holiness, love, unity/

The Word faithfully preached builds up the whole community/

If not, your Sunday meal will not last/

And you’ll have to supplement it with a podcast/

No entertainers! That won’t sustain us/

Preach the Word! Preach the Word!/

Careful instruction-not a big production/

Preach the Word! Preach the Word!/

We don’t need theatrics and man-centered tactics/

Preach the Word! Preach the Word!/

We’re on the brink of eternity, please speak earnestly/

Preach the Word! Preach the Word!/

(This verse is for the Pastors):

Ya ‘all should be mindful of this devout thesis:/

All of the Bible is about Jesus!/

The Old Testament? Jesus Christ concealed/

The New Testament? Jesus Christ revealed/

This truth of the Lord, Christ boldly conveyed this/

In Luke 24 on the Road to Emmaus/

The lot of prophets and the teaching of apostles/

All of these point back to Jesus and the gospel/

So if the work of Christ is what the Word is about/

Ultimately that should be what the sermons about/

Forget applause, ya gotta let the cross rock ya/

All roads in the bible lead to Golgotha/

Whatever the text, faithfulness demands/

That we should hear the echoes of nails hittin’ his hands/

Don’t try to be original, save the old story/

And watch your people change, as they behold glory/

The Glory of Jesus, we need to see this/

Preach the Word! Preach the Word!/

Make Christ the center, so new life could enter/

Preach the Word! Preach the Word!/

Give us the whole counsel along with the gospel/

Preach the Word! Preach the Word!/

This is your duty, to show us God’s beauty/

Preach the Word! Preach the Word!

Note from Heather: Don’t think that because you are a woman the resources about preaching (that Shai Linne mentioned) are only for men. As women, they help us too. They help us to be discerning about the churches we attend. I read “He is Not Silent” by Albert Mohler. It’s about preaching. I will never be a pastor but that doesn’t mean it’s irrelevant for me. 

Idolatry

The past week I studied the story of Rachel and; Leah with a friend from church. Before reading Idols of the Heart, I never saw this story about idolatry before. Like most women, what I noticed most about this story is Joseph’s love for Rachel to labor for 14 years for her. Though there is a ton to learn from that itself-there is much on the topic of idolatry as well.

What so crazy about the story? Well, not even getting into the idols Rachel initially stole from her father, she was an idolater. But Elyse Fitzpatrick digs deeper by taking a look at Rachel’s desire for children (for Rachel was barren). She points out that we can see Rachel believed that having children would bring her blessing and make her happy because she eventually cries out to Joseph “ Give me children or I die!”

“Wow! Or she dies?” was my immediate reaction. Rachel really thought that that having children is what would bless her-enough that she’d rather die, if she didn’t have them. The ironic thing is, Elyse points out, is that she wasn’t satisfied with just one child, and then when she got her second, she actually did die! Elyse says “It is ironic, isn’t it, that the woman that cried, ‘Give me children or I’ll die!’ died in childbirth?” Yes, Elyse, it is.

Because idols are not filled with the living power of Jesus Christ, they could never satisfy. In fact, they do the opposite as Elyse discusses. Having an idol of praise, a relationship, feeling valued, vanity, etc, will not satisfy. Even good things like desiring a godly relationship, eating healthily, protecting a job, protecting one’s children will all leave us dissatisfied. If they are the source of our joy, the top priority or we feel like we’d sin to get a desired thing or result then it is an idol. Idols leave us dry like Jeremiah 17: 5-6 clearly describes:

Thus says the Lord,

“Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind

And makes flesh his strength,

And whose heart turns away from the Lord.

“For he will be like a bush in the desert,

and will not see when prosperity comes,

But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness

A land of salt without inhabitant”

Cursed, bush in the desert, stony wastes, wilderness, salt, without inhabitant. All those words combined does not make for a soul satisfying situation if you ask me. I’m from the desert-I know.

Like Rachel thought that idols, or children would make her happy, what could be some of my own idols? Do I desire praise from others to make me happy? Do I tell myself that I’ll just be happy & mature if my husband did this and that? Yes and yes. It turns out I have more idols than I’d like to think. I’m not so far off from Rachel’s seemingly ridiculous demand.

As I feel the weight of my sin, I am saddened that I would turn my heart to other things than my Jesus. I am saddened as I step back and look how my idols have affected not just me but the people around me.  It’s disappointing and worth lots of tears that my dear husband has endured.

But as I look at my sin, confess and repent, I can only rely on Christ to change me and this sinful heart of mine. For if I confess my sins he is faithful and just to forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Idols. I guess they are not just in Asian temples or the Old Testament. They are also in our hearts, trying to keep us from Jesus the only Soul Satisfier.