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Focusing on the Cross.
March 04, 2005
This Sunday, I get the privilege of preaching about boasting only in the cross - making the saving work of Jesus Christ the central focus of our lives. I'm preaching from Galatians 6.11-15, with verse 14 being a key verse:
But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.Now, it is very easy to preach this. The text is great - it practically outlines itself. Here's my struggle - how do we reallylive it out? I mean, it is one thing to say that Christ is the focus of our church, but so often we boast in hundreds of other things before we even remember to mention Christ.
As I've been studying, I've been convicted of the state of the Church at large, especially here in America. We boast in our numbers, in our budgets, in our staffs, in our worship services, in our technology, in our discipleship... in countless things. But do we boast about Christ above all... no, make that instead of all else.
You know what my prayer is? That when people in Houston here the name "Kaleo", they don't think - "Oh, that's that cool church. That's the young church. They meet in a movie theater. They have a great band. The guy who preaches is really a great speaker - and SO good looking too!" (Okay, that last one is a stretch). I hope they say something like this:
"Kaleo? I've heard of them. They're that church that talks about Jesus all the time. That's all they talk about - Jesus. No matter what you go to - whether it's a worship gathering or just out to lunch with a few of them, they just keep talking about Jesus."
Whether God gives us 100 people or 100,000 - may he give us the grace to say along with Paul, "I knew nothing while was among you except for Jesus Christ and him crucified."
Random question for the comments section: What do you think most churches or Christians boast in rather than the cross?
Comments
Bill, I have linked this post to mine.
GBYAY
John
Posted by: Rev John Telfer Brown at March 4, 2005 10:53 PM
Bill,
There may be many blessing by the hand of God. We can boast of his goodness. The world looks at the temperal as a guide to the blessing of God. The spiritual man looks at the cross as the focal point of the love, and the redeemption of his soul. The boast of the provision of life eternal, and the joining to the Father. The benifits to usward who believe. The bread of freedom, and the cup of victory. These as a spiritual man are the anchor of all the Fathers dealing with His family.
Be Blessed, Pete
Posted by: Pete Porter at March 5, 2005 04:29 AM
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Great post Bill, I have been encouraged lately to do more study on the cross. Mr. Standfast recommended "The Cross of Christ" by John Stott, the copy I am buying includes a study guide.
As for the Question, IMHO...
Numbers,Music,Ministry, to name a few!
God bless you and yours,
John
Posted by: Rev John Telfer Brown at March 4, 2005 10:31 PM