Hey

Been missing writing Midweek Thoughts so i thought i would drop a line. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving yesterday with plenty of food and fun. It was a great day for me with lots of fiance, food, football, scrabble, and mafia (the game)haha. Last Sunday was a great night for us, and hopefully a great night for the other churches that were in attendance with us. I pray that the people that were there were awed by the Gospel.
These next 5 Sunday nights i am going to be preaching/teaching on the Holy Spirit and the fruit/gifts of the Spirit. I have been having a fun and sobering time in study and prayer as I have been preparing. So what is the importance of the Holy Spirit? Why are we in constant need of Him? Well if you look at Luke 24 and Acts 1 we can see that if not for the Holy Spirit, we need to do nothing but sit and wait. Jesus said "Wait! Do not go until you are clothed with power from on high". You see, it is essential to talk about and understand the things of the Spirit. The church has always and will always be dependent upon Him to do anything. We are clothed with power from on high! Its going to be fun!
See ya Sunday.
Jared

Jesus the True and Better (Midweek Thoughts)

Hope you all are having great week.

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.

Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.

Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void not knowing wither he went to create a new people of God.

Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from me,” now we can look at God taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing him and say, “Now we know that you love us because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from us.”

Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.

Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.

Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.

Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.

Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.

Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk leaving an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.

Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.

Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.

The Bible’s really not about you — it’s about him.

Post from last May.

Here is a post from last may. Just thought i would repost it. Next week we will be in Psalms 135. Read ahead and check it out.
Jesus, Community, Demand of the call, Rest

Last Sunday night our Ecclesiastes study lead us to Mark chapter 6. Mark 6 tells us of how Jesus gives authority to the 12 and sends them out without all the things that would typically be needed for a trip. Jesus sends them off but with no resources. If I was one of the 12 the first thing that would have gone through my head after Jesus told us we were being sent, was that I need to go pack my north face as tight as possible with plenty of underwear, socks and money, with maybe a power bar in the front zipper pocket. But Jesus does not tell them to do what I would think would be obvious. He tells them to take no bag, no money and take no extra tunic. What a call, and what a promise that Jesus would send them with nothing but a staff. Well as the chapter unfolds we fine that they were provided for on the journey and returned safely. I can only imagine how tired they must have been after such a long grueling trip. I know that when I get back from vacation all I want to do is hug my pillow for about 16 straight hours. The crazy thing is that the 12 get no relief upon return. They come back to large needy crowds that were so demanding that they could not even eat. They were surrounded like dead meat by vultures. Can you put yourself there. The frustration that they must of felt when Jesus brings up the thought that the 5 thousand deep crowd had grumbling stomachs. The 12 just wanted rest so they suggested that Jesus would send them home to get some food then they could finally wind down from there long trip. Jesus however tells the 12 “You give them something to eat.” The 12 must have been at a loss of words, just wanting some rest. This is when Jesus steps up and provides. Jesus works a miracle with five fish and two loaves and uses the 12 to help distribute.

This has so many implications of the source of true rest. True rest can be experienced in the midst of the needy sucking the life out of us or the busyness of a job and family. The 12 had each other and they had Jesus as there provider. With our faith tuned deeply into the saving grace of God through Jesus we can find rest in Jesus and the community of 12. The twelve saw something incredible that day. We to must see that Jesus is providing.

Acts 29 Quarterly with Jeff Vanderstelt

Had a great day with Andrew yesterday up at the Journey St. Louis. Acts 29 puts on free one day mini conferences for church planters and leaders. This time Jeff Vanderstelt from Soma Communities spoke and it messed Andrew and I up. I tried as much as my ADDness would allow to make a bunch of notes so here ya go. Have fun making sense of these.
-If your staff is the only one making disciples then we are missing it.
-Live your whole life around Jesus
-"If everyone in your church lived like you would your church look any different?"
-How many of you have developed a church where your people don't have to die?
-They wont grow if they don't do
-Learn by doing it
-Plant a church that plants churches
-Just because you say it to your people that does not mean they get it
-Do they know the Gospel?
-Do they believe the Gospel?
-Let kids see the Gospel in action
-The Gospel critiques everything
-God with His people is the attraction
-Mission is not events its lifestyle
-Missionaries don't go in and jump out they go in and stay
-We should be the most rested people
-We should make the party better
-Live a life of the Gospel that demands an explination
Needless to say there was a lot to think about. I have to say i have experienced little frustrations over the last few months over some things that are not happening in our church and communities. Yesterday God pointed some things right at me and He got my attention! Looking forward to sharing more. Love ya.
Jared

Midweek Thoughts

One Day Late.

Caught Singing