tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323466772024-03-05T08:29:33.683-08:00TFB AcademyDigging Deeper into the Truth About GodLaura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-31902581934143108202024-03-03T08:00:00.000-08:002024-03-03T08:00:00.240-08:00Equipped to Live as Servants<div>By Laura Springer with Jeff Barnhart</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key Passage</b>: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12%3A12-30%3B+Ephesians+4%3A11-16&version=LEB" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 12:12-30; Ephesians 4:11-16</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key Idea</b>: Opportunities, knowledge, and skills given and arranged by God for all his children equip all believers to help each other follow Jesus, love others well, and serve on a mission to glorify Jesus, all serving as a church and a few serving within the church. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>God’s free gift of abundant grace compels us to serve, but sometimes we get stuck. We wonder what we have to offer or where he wants us to minister. We focus so much on serving one another that we forget to look outside the walls. We assume the professional ministers have everything handled. But God expects each believer to serve him by loving others well and has already given us everything we need to start right now. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>God gives and arranges opportunities, knowledge, and skills so that all his children can serve</b>. Every encounter, everything we know, and everything we can do comes from God, and he brings all of this together to create ministry assignments for his children. There is no need to fill out gift inventories or wait for God to deliver our spiritual gifts, for he is already at work. Instead, we must keep identifying and sharpening what he has already given so that we are ready to meet the needs before us. As a church, let us consider every member’s knowledge and skills and spend time with one another in homes and the community, even as we continue life groups and worship service. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Equipped believers help one another follow Jesus and love others well</b>. God gives the gifts of opportunities, knowledge, and skills so the church might build herself up in love toward Christlikeness. As we minister to and alongside one another, we become better at trusting and obeying Jesus and learn how to share our hearts, time, and resources with others. As a church, let us infuse the expectation that being a Christian means following Jesus and serving others. All members are ministers, called and equipped by God to serve. He has called a few whose primary ministry is within the church, but all serve as the church. Let us make following Jesus and loving others simple to begin and rigorous enough to strive for. Let us commit to coming alongside one another so that, individually and communally, we learn to follow Jesus and love others well. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Equipped believers are on a mission to glorify Jesus</b>. Service must point outward, for Jesus commanded us to make more and better disciples. We do this by serving Jesus in the mission field of daily life, and everything we do in our gatherings must prepare us for our dispersings. Let us work to know one another and our neighbors well enough to understand real needs and allow those needs to focus our ministry. Let us help one another open our eyes and hearts to those around us, for as we serve others, both within the church and out in the world, we glorify Jesus. </div><div><br /></div><div>Since God has given us everything we need to serve him well, let us help one another discover God’s supply of opportunities, knowledge, and skills to love him and others through our resources and reflect Jesus in our work and play. Let us help one another better recognize Jesus’s guidance so that our love for him grows and becomes apparent to others, whether we are gathered as a family or dispersed into the mission field of daily life. Let us learn from the men and women God has given as shepherd-teachers so that together, we grow as the lived image of our Lord Jesus. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Who writes Academy? Laura has an MDiv in Christian Education, a ThM in Systematic Theology, and a PhD in Educational Studies. She also serves TFB as a guitarist (primarily) and singer in TFB's worship band. Jeff has a Certificate in Biblical and Theological Studies and is currently working on an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. He also serves as kitchen lead for TFB's Family Dinner and as TFB’s bookkeeper. </span></div><div><br /></div>Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-61526799308684090932024-02-04T13:18:00.000-08:002024-02-13T13:20:45.314-08:00Expected to Live as ServantsBy Laura Springer with Jeff Barnhart<br /><br /><b>Key Passages</b>: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A9-13%3B+Ephesians+6%3A1-9%3B+1+Peter+4%3A7-11&version=LEB" target="_blank">Romans 12:9-13; Ephesians 6:1-9; 1 Peter 4:7-11</a><br /><br /><b>Key Idea</b>. God expects all his children, regardless of age or status, to live a life of service. He generously provides divine grace that compels all believers to offer presence and practical action to one another, fueled by overflowing divine love and leading to ongoing, others-focused sacrificial service. <br /><br /><br />Needs surround us. Sometimes, these needs escape our awareness. Other times, we hesitate or blatantly ignore the needs we see. We may assume that ministry professionals are taking care of the problem. The situation feels too complicated, or we presume everything requires special skills or knowledge. But what if these assumptions are all wrong? What if most ministry opportunities are the everyday acts of love God expects of all his children? <br /><br /><b>God expects all his children, regardless of age or status, to live lives of service using the knowledge and skills they already have</b>. God places Christians in specific locations and churches, and it is every believer’s duty and honor to move through life and toward Jesus in ways that show his love and grace to those we meet. He has placed us in this village of Torrance and in this local congregation called Torrance First Baptist to carry out specific acts of service. Being service-minded is insufficient because serving is actively loving the person before us or the community surrounding us. Serving combines our know-how as a family of God’s people in this place such that needs are met, disciples are made, and God is glorified. Every believer must open their eyes and hearts to people and events, direct attention to Jesus, and show his love through practical action. It is our honor to love the children of God and followers of Jesus and consider one another more important than ourselves, all for God’s glory.<br /><b><br />God's generous provision of divine grace compels believers to offer presence and practical action to one another</b>. Just as God graciously gives us his presence, so are we to bind ourselves to one another, working together as individuals and a church family to serve God where we are by actively loving the people we are with. God’s gift of grace moves us toward one another in Christ-centered mutuality, loving one another as he loves us. God's generous provision of divine grace also compels us to offer practical action. Coming alongside one another is the necessary starting place. Acts of love must follow: we must use the knowledge and skills God has given us to love one another as God has loved us. <br /><br /><b>God's overflow of divine love fuels ongoing, others-focused sacrificial service</b>. God, who is love, has given us his eternal love, which naturally flows out toward others. We can choose to stop the flow, but God’s love presses upon us and will either break through or break us. Sometimes, we may think that feelings of care are sufficient, but feelings are add-ons. Love is action that works for the good of others, whether we like them, are annoyed by them, or even hate them. It does not put up a false front or display insincere behavior. Love reaches across differences and gives of itself to point others to Jesus. Those who choose to love receive others with affection and invite them in to share life. <br /><br />God's expectation, provision, and love compel us to serve him by serving others with his resources and in his ways. Ministry is the act of loving others, and God commands each Christian to love. This love is most often the stuff of ordinary life, housed in the mundane and small. Since all those who trust Jesus have been commanded to love others, they have also been called to ministry and are expected to live out that ministry in loving service. <br /><br />In March, we will look at some of the ways God has equipped his people to follow and love well. <br /><br />Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-90722194457292950172024-01-07T20:55:00.000-08:002024-01-19T21:04:00.497-08:00Every Member Ministry: One Church, Serving <div>By Laura Springer</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Key Passages</b>: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+6.1-6%3B+Romans+1%3A11-12%3B+12%3A4-8%3B+1+Corinthians+1%3A4-9%3B+7%3A7-11%3B+12%3A4%E2%80%AD-%E2%80%AC7%2C+12%3A27-30%3B+2+Corinthians+5%3A17-%E2%80%AC21%3B+Ephesians+4%3A7-%E2%80%AC16%3B+1+Timothy+4%3A14%3B+2+Timothy+1%3A3%E2%80%AD-%E2%80%AC7%3B+1+Peter+4%3A7-%E2%80%AC11&version=LEB" target="_blank">Acts 6.1-6; Romans 1:11-12; 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 1:4-9; 7:7-11; 12:4-7, 12:27-30; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 4:7-16; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:3-7; 1 Peter 4:7-11</a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Key Idea</b>: Every-member ministry is the practice of serving God and loving one another using God-given spiritual gifts, which we sharpen and deepen through discipleship, in order to form the church as a community and culture that images Jesus.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In the church, ministry is part of the deal, but what is ministry? Who ministers? How are ministers equipped? What is ministry for? During 2024, we will consider what ministry is, who should minister, how believers might be prepared for ministry, and why every-member ministry is important.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Ministry is the practice of loving one another by serving with the gifts God has already given</b>. God has given each Christian opportunities, knowledge, and skills that fit them and their community, and these gifts are most often recognized in the moments when our skills meet a need. These gifts are the overflow of the Father's generosity toward his children, given so they might serve him well. Through these grace-gifted ministry assignments, every believer ministers.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Every believer has been equipped by God for every-member ministry</b>. As Christians in a congregation focus on Jesus, they learn to love one another better through words, actions, and intentions. Love commits to coming alongside others within our diversity and across barriers. Love dwells in unity, with hearts leaning toward one another's good. Love serves from personal uniqueness and through mutual generosity. Love thrives in a church that supports Christ-focused differences through which believers' generous giving of self, resources, and time can be seen in speech, actions, and plans.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Believers are prepared for ministry through an all-church discipleship culture that teaches from Scripture and Creation</b>. Along with spiritual gifts, God gives believers the responsibility to learn to serve Jesus better. We learn first by soaking in Scripture, for it teaches us what Creation cannot: that our mighty God is Creator, Lord, and Savior, and his truth is everywhere. Second, we improve our knowledge and skills by studying his Creation, which not only testifies to God's divinity and power but also teaches us knowledge and skills for wise, practical living. Both of God’s books, Scripture and Creation, train us to love well in ways that fit the needs around us. His two books teach us that loving one another as a family is hardwired into our needs and only complete in our relationship with Jesus. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Serving God by actively loving one another creates a culture of unity, towardness, diversity, and generosity that images Jesus</b>. Loving one another as Jesus loves us puts first what Scripture puts first: love God, love people, and teach others to do the same. By loving one another, we become a family in which every member serves, and every member gives and welcomes honest evaluation. In this way, we become a congregation that supports particular people serving Jesus in particular ways as siblings in God's one family. We become a community serving those around us in ways that fit our lives, locale, and limits.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are commanded to love one another, and we can all love others by filling the needs we see. God expects us to strengthen and encourage one another toward Christlikeness, and we can all help one another know Jesus and his creation better. God expects us to serve one another, and every believer, from youngest to oldest, newest to most mature in Christ, can actively love their siblings in Christ. God expects us to be a ministering community. </div><div><br /></div>Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-70724308656078910112023-12-03T20:07:00.000-08:002023-12-13T20:10:34.529-08:00One Church, Serving <span id="docs-internal-guid-fe8d7282-7fff-b0ec-d5d5-3929286a5849"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">By Laura Springer with Jeff Barnhart</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Key Passages</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A1-6%2C+and+Romans+12.4-8%3B+1+Corinthians+12%3A4%E2%80%AD-%E2%80%AC7%3B+12.27-30%3B+1+Peter+4%3A7-%E2%80%AC11&version=LEB" target="_blank">Ephesians 4:1-6, and Romans 12.4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; 12.27-30; 1 Peter 4:7-11</a></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Key Idea</span><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">: Our service to the one God as his one church is resourced by investments of grace given by Christ through the Spirit. These investments of grace line up with who we are and when and where we live; they are designed to meet the needs of those we serve so that the church may develop as the one family of God.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Amid cultural division and a widespread entitlement mentality, the church must stand as God's one church, a community of servants and a family of siblings who love God and people. What can TFB do to be God's one church in this place right now?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Christ invests his grace in his one church through opportunities and supplies to particular persons in specific places</span><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. While the church includes all who trust Christ across time and culture, the church manifests as local congregations. Just as the global, timeless church is one, so is each congregation united. Christ invests his grace in local congregations through opportunities and supplies that fit the locations and methods of individuals within each local culture and circumstance. His investments of grace help us serve him and one another in ways that mature this congregation as the one body of Christ, filled with portrayers and embodiers of him.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Christ's investment grace lines up with who we are, when and where we live, and those we serve</span><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. While Christ's investment of grace always aligns with his intention and will, he also conforms these investments of grace--these spiritual gifts--to our relationships, life settings, and places of service. He matches his gifts to how his people minister in their communities and cultures so believers can do his will. He equips all Christians so that everyone can minister. In addition, the local body partners with Christ, educating all as ministers and instructing all concerning God's truth revealed in Scripture and Creation. By this, the people of God deepen their unity and better worship their Savior. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Christ's investment of grace enables us to develop as the one family of God</span><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. As every member ministers, the local congregation can better live as one family toward Christ, the Lord of Heaven and Earth and Head of the Body. Serving as one church and serving one another deepen our life together as siblings who are the children of one Father and the servants of Jesus. As ministry together moves toward Jesus, the source and measure of the church and the one who directs her life, we come closer to one another. These spiritual gifts, or ministry assignments, are tools by which the church grows in size and matures as the family of God in Christ. Ministering as one church lives out our unity in Christ, centers us on truth, and maintains our affection for God and one another. As we share ourselves as a community, we mature as a church characterized by unity, mutuality, diversity, and generosity. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Being God's one church requires learning his ways so we might love one another well through service and live wisely as the one family of God. (1) The more we know about Jesus and his investments of grace in us, the better we can serve one another as his ministers. We must use our time in gatherings like life groups and worship services to teach one another God's ways. (2) The more we serve God together, the more we grow as a family of loving siblings. We must use our participation in service events and ministry teams to care for one another from hearts of affection. (3) The more we serve others using God's resources, the more we can minister in, for, and as a family. We must actively love one another as we eat, play, and work together, using our gifts to serve others and strengthen family unity. Let us decide now to be God’s church: </span><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">a </span><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">community of servants and a family of siblings who love God and people and teach others to do the same. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Who writes Academy? </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Laura</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> has an MDiv in Christian Education, a ThM in Systematic Theology, and a PhD in Educational Studies. She also serves TFB as a guitarist (primarily) and singer in TFB's worship band. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jeff</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> has a Certificate in Biblical and Theological Studies and is currently working on an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. He also serves as kitchen lead for TFB's Family Dinner and as TFB’s bookkeeper. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-70106760473925583262023-11-01T20:03:00.000-07:002023-12-13T20:06:17.513-08:00Being the One Church of the One God<span id="docs-internal-guid-1457e87d-7fff-afe3-0c1b-4bdb09e9f4a9"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">By Laura Springer with Jeff Barnhart</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Key Passages:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+6%3A7%3B+Deuteronomy+6%3A4-9%3B+Micah+6%3A8%3B+Matthew+5%3A16%3B+12%3A46-50%3B+19%3A29%3B+John+1%3A12-13%3B+13%3A34-35%3B+Romans+8%3A26-30%3B+1+Corinthians+3%3A16-17%3B+8%3A5-6%3B+12%3A12-30%3B+Galatians+3%3A23-29%3B+4%3A4-7%3B+5%3A13%3B+Ephesians+1%3A5%3B+2%3A19-22%3B+4%3A1-6%3B+4%3A32%3B+5%3A15-21%3B+2+Timothy+1%3A13-14%3B+Hebrews+10%3A19-25%3B+12%3A1-4%3B+13%3A1-6%3B+James+5%3A16%3B+1+Peter+4%3A9%3B+Revelation+21%3A3&version=LEB" target="_blank">Exodus 6:7; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:16; 12:46-50; 19:29; John 1:12-13; 13:34-35; Romans 8:26-30; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 8:5-6; 12:12-30; Galatians 3:23-29; 4:4-7; 5:13; Ephesians 1:5; 2:19-22; 4:1-6; 4:32; 5:15-21; 2 Timothy 1:13-14; Hebrews 10:19-25; 12:1-4; 13:1-6; James 5:16; 1 Peter 4:9; Revelation 21:3</a></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Key Idea</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">: The one church of the one God lives out an identity grounded in Jesus and practices an eternal unity centered on him.</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When TFB's neighbors see us gathered on the church campus or dispersed into the community, what do they see? How would they describe our relationships with one another? What would they list as our priorities? What would they think about Jesus? What would they think about how we treat those who are different?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The one God has given his one church an identity grounded in Jesus</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. He has equipped us to live out this eternal identity by revealing himself and his truth in Scripture and Creation. Through Scripture, he teaches us the eternal truth about Jesus, and through Creation, he teaches us knowledge and skills to live as his people in our communities and cultures. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Creation and the Word resource us to live as God’s one church, composed of all who trust Christ and are chosen by his sovereignty. We have been chosen to live as God’s people and Christ’s body, showing the world who Jesus is: the sovereign and holy Savior and Lord. We have been chosen to form the dwelling place of God in the world; whether gathered for worship, service, and learning or dispersed into our daily lives, we reflect and proclaim him. Everywhere we are, every moment of every day, we are the temple of God, the place where God's glory is exalted.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The one God has made his one church to live in unity</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. Our unity is expressed as we love God and others and live as his family. Centering our minds and practices on God's truth and dwelling in his presence work together to strengthen our unity and make the family of God increasingly important to us. Indeed, our eternal unity in Christ means that our eternal family should come before everything else on earth. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We center our shared life on truth by basking in Jesus and his Word to develop our family resemblance, sharpen our ability to perceive God's work, and deepen our affection for one another. By loving one another, we show ourselves to be God's children and the family of siblings making up his house. We commit ourselves to maintaining deep affection for God and one another, thereby proving our unity. We channel our love for the ever-present, sovereign, and holy God to our siblings and learn to live in the world as his dwelling place. We put our eternal relationships first by maintaining deep loyalty to God and one another.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When TFB's neighbors see us gathered on the church campus or dispersed into the community, they should see a unified church that considers all who trust Christ to be brothers and sisters. They should describe us as siblings of one another, different from each other yet the children of one Father, tending our hearts toward feeling at home, being responsible, and acting with compassion. They should understand that we trust the one God, the Creator and Lord of all, worship him alone and align ourselves to his standards. They should look at us and see Jesus as the ultimately trustworthy and only Savior of all those and only those who trust him. They should see him as the one head of the church and the unique Son in God's family. They should look at how we treat those different from us and see a community with a profound unity in Jesus, loving others as he does and living as a family with Christ as our center. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So, let us bask in Jesus and his Word to learn who we are and strive together to live out that identity, tending our hearts toward feeling confident, centered, and connected in him. Let us trust Jesus, understanding unity and diversity from his perspective, striving together to maintain oneness, and tending our hearts toward sibling love, purposeful motivation, and sacrificial generosity.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Who writes Academy? </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Laura</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> has an MDiv in Christian Education, a ThM in Systematic Theology, and a PhD in Educational Studies. She also serves TFB as a guitarist (primarily) and singer in TFB's worship band. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jeff</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> has a Certificate in Biblical and Theological Studies and is currently working on an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. He also serves as kitchen lead for TFB's Family Dinner and as TFB’s bookkeeper. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-21341134253018696382023-10-01T19:59:00.000-07:002023-12-13T20:01:51.769-08:00Living as a Worshiping Family<span id="docs-internal-guid-9a63df92-7fff-e779-c0c6-6ffc001da53b"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Jeff Barnhart with Laura Springer</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key Verses</b>: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A4-5%2C+Luke+11%3A28%2C+Luke+9%3A34-35%3B+Eph+1%3A3-14%2C+4%3A2%2C+4%3A32%3B+Jn+13%3A34%3B+1+Cor+12%3A25%3B+Gal+5%3A13%3B+1+Pet+4%3A9%3B+Jam+5%3A16&version=LEB" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Luke 11:28, Luke 9:34-35; Eph 1:3-14, 4:2, 4:32; Jn 13:34; 1 Cor 12:25; Gal 5:13; 1 Pet 4:9; Jam 5:16</a></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Key Idea</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">: Christians who know they are family live in community as they worship and serve together. They hear and obey their Father and actively participate in life with their siblings by doing the one anothers and sharing God’s love with the world.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-indent: 1pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We live as family by listening and obeying the Father and imitating our head brother and redeemer, Jesus, in words and deeds</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. We train every time we are gathered together as a spiritual family. Here, we sharpen each other to become more like Christ before we disperse to our various mission fields: at work, home, hanging with friends, gathering at a local restaurant or pub, or in the rhythms of everyday life. While dispersed, we proclaim the excellent news of redemption and restoration to our Father and declare the great mercies, blessings, and grace he has bestowed upon his children through His Son, Jesus Christ. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-indent: 1pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We love God as a worshiping family by listening and obeying our Father.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Both the Old and New Testaments see obeying God as hearing Him and walking in his ways. In biblical times, genuinely hearing God's Word implied obedience and action instead of simply acquiring additional head knowledge. Today, we must listen by making time with God throughout our busy day by spending time in the Word and continually conversing with the one who has chosen us. We must desire and do everything with God, even in our dark places and messiness. Since God has told us to listen to Jesus, we must obey and do what he has commanded: love God, love people, and teach others to do the same.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We love our siblings as a worshiping family by imitating Jesus.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Like Jesus, we must put the needs of our spiritual siblings before our own. What would it look like if everyone put one another's needs before their own? We would love, care for, offer grace and hospitality, and encourage and remind each other of our true identity in Christ. We would not hold grudges but would forgive each other and confess to one another when we have done wrong. Unify God's family! The New Testament commands us to do the one anothers 59 times. That’s a lot. All of these were modeled by Jesus. As we listen to and imitate Jesus, we dare not pick and choose the things we want to obey. All his commands are critical for us to work out our salvation and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, transform us to be more like Him, thereby being the light and showing Christ to those on our mission field. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-indent: 1pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We share Jesus's love with the world by loving our neighbors in Word and deed.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> We love those in our mission field by listening to and meeting them where they are as well as providing for their physical needs. We must not forget that we were once enemies of God, and only by his grace did he save us from our sins. From this position of grace, we speak God's truth with love by recognizing that everything stems from Him and explaining why He is our ultimate love.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Who writes Academy? Laura has an MDiv in Christian Education, a ThM in Systematic Theology, and a PhD in Educational Studies. She also serves TFB as a guitarist (primarily) and singer in TFB's worship band. Jeff has a Certificate in Biblical and Theological Studies and a Certificate in Spiritual Formation and is currently working on an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. He also serves as kitchen lead for TFB's Family Dinner and as TFB’s bookkeeper.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="display: inline-block; position: relative; width: 100px;"></span></span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-73975460011012085972023-09-03T19:51:00.000-07:002023-12-13T19:58:55.984-08:00Living as Worshiping Priests<div><span><div><span style="font-size: 12.48px;">By Laura Springer with Jeff Barnhart</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12.48px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key Passages</b>: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+28%3B+Luke+10%3A11&version=LEB" target="_blank">Exodus 28; Luke 10:11</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key Idea</b>: Praising and praying together as God's priests requires aligning ourselves with Scripture and sharpening our Spirit-supplied abilities to glorify him better in and as his church. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12.48px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12.48px;"><br /></span></div><div>We have received from God more blessings than we could ever imagine, yet sometimes, our worship response is a bit flat. Our beliefs may line up perfectly with Scripture. Our practices may show the world what Jesus is like. Proper beliefs and practices are necessary but insufficient, for we are commanded to be a people overflowing with love for God and one another. Our lives ought to be filled with uncontainable gratitude, but something holds us back. God has given us all we need to be priests who shine with his glory, yet sometimes, our light is under a bushel.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Christians serve God as priests whenever we use our abilities to bring him glory</b>. Whether setting up tables together or sitting with a brother or sister in distress, we act as God's priests by bringing his love to others. We act as his priests when we lean in with compassion rather than standing back with critique. We act as his priests when we give ourselves to others generously rather than holding back to keep ourselves safe. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>The priestly activities of praise and prayer are essential elements of every Spirit-supplied ability</b>. Serving as priests is hard, for we are messy people who serve messy people. We can only carry out God's command to serve by praising him always and remaining in constant prayer. As we pray and praise together, we help one another love Jesus and bear with one another even when that is hard. Infusing everything with praise keeps our hearts on God rather than on our messy selves. It fills life with gratitude even when gratitude is hard. Soaking everything with prayer reminds us that we cannot serve without the Spirit, who is here among us. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Training our perspectives to align with Scripture develops us as praising and praying priests</b>. Priestly ministry is from God and for God. Since our view of things is always skewed, we must let his Word determine the right goals and proper means for our priestly work. His Word measures correct belief, so we must study and rely upon Scripture. His view of reality is accurate, so we must submit our filters and lenses to him for correction. Maturing our understanding of Scripture and calibrating our discernment occurs as we minister together as a community of priests. As we learn the Word and speak the truth to one another, we come to know God and his priorities more accurately, allowing us to align ministry to his will rather than our preferences. But aligning with Scripture is only step one. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Sharpening our Spirit-supplied abilities helps us better glorify Jesus as his Body and in our communities</b>. Aligning our perspectives with Scripture is necessary, but we must not stop there. Our Spirit-equipped human abilities need sharpening as well. If you bake, become a better baker. If you preach, become a better preacher. If you listen, become a better listener. You get the idea. Sharpen what God has given rather than envying or waiting for what he has not. Glorify God to the best of your ability, and keep raising the bar.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, let us know the Scripture more deeply. Let us pray more bluntly. Let us praise more descriptively. Let us learn to do all of this with overflowing, extravagant gratitude. It will not be easy, and we will fail. But the Spirit is right here. Our siblings in Christ are right here. Let us remind one another of God's amazing grace. Let us minister to one another with that same grace. Let us live as priests.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: 12.48px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Who writes Academy? Laura has an MDiv in Christian Education, a ThM in Systematic Theology, and a PhD in Educational Studies. She also serves TFB as a guitarist (primarily) and singer in TFB's worship band. Jeff has a Certificate in Biblical and Theological Studies and a Certificate in Spiritual Formation and is currently working on an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. He also serves as kitchen lead for TFB's Family Dinner and as TFB’s bookkeeper</span></div><div style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></div></span></div>Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-30614532046376079702023-07-31T08:00:00.002-07:002023-07-31T08:00:00.142-07:00Living as Worshiping Disciples<br />By Laura Springer and Jeff Barnhart<br /><b><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Key Passages</span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;">:<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=+Psalm+27%3B+Matthew+18%3B+Ephesians+5%3A15-21%3B+2+Timothy1%3A13-14%3B+Revelation+5%3A10%E2%80%9312&version=LEB" target="_blank"> Psalm 27; Matthew 18; Ephesians 5:15-21; 2 Timothy1:13-14; Revelation 5:10–12</a></span><br /><br /><b>Key Idea</b>: The church is God's community of worshiping disciples who live the whole of life learning and loving together as they serve Christ by filling their gatherings and daily lives with his truth and presence.<br /><br /><br />Worship is much more than a meeting on the church calendar. Worship is how we live in the world as followers of Jesus, and living as disciples is one way to look at worship.<br /><br /><i>As God's community of worshiping disciples, Christians learn together as we love one another</i>. We are follower-learners who live alongside one another in God's presence, knowing he is always with us, no matter the situation. We know he loves us, and we are safe in him, so we help one another follow Jesus. We help one another come to him just as we are, trusting him to transform us. We know that his kindness and overabundant supply of grace will continue to transform us into the image of Christ.<br /><br /><i>Christians act as worshiping disciples when we fill our gatherings with God's truth and presence</i>. Together, we learn the Word and practice God’s ways, training our minds, wills, and emotions to recognize and carry out his grace. We learn to value what God values through honest conversations in life groups and patio time. We learn to respect one another by bearing with one another, speaking honestly, and acting for one another's good. Let us submit our preferences and priorities to God's call to unity, dedicating ourselves to kindness and respect. As a church community, let us support discipleship by creating events and programs that connect intellect, emotions, and daily life. Let us design physical spaces that invite person-to-person connection. Above all, let us focus ourselves, programs, and events on Christ. <br /><br /><i>Christians act as worshiping disciples when we fill our days with service that puts God's values into practice</i>. Each day, we can take what we have learned about God and his ways and figure out how that works in daily life. Let us put knowledge, skills, and passions to work in the everyday stuff of life: home, work, school, and play. When we meet people along the way, let us choose to connect, whether with a simple nod of greeting or a good word. As a community of worshiping disciples, let us point others to Jesus by loving one another in public and proclaiming the one who made such love possible.<br /><br />Brothers and sisters, let us commit ourselves to live as worshiping disciples by filling life with God's truth and presence, following him as our center, and living every moment for his glory. Let us help one another pause in his presence, whether gathered together or dispersed into our days. Let us live our moments for the glory of Jesus and then recount his glory and grace when we gather together. Everything we know and can do has been given to us by God, so let’s give ourselves back to him in worship that fills our days.<br /><br />Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-19801435389660340852023-07-03T08:00:00.004-07:002023-07-03T08:00:00.137-07:00One People Living as Worshipers <p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">By Laura Springer with Jeff Barnhart </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key Idea</b>: In Christ, Christians are disciples, priests, and family, and these identities form our communal life of worship, lived toward God, alongside one another, and before the world.<br /><br /><b>Key Verses</b>: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5.16%3B+28.16-20%3B+John+13.34-35%3B+1+Corinthians+12.12-30&version=LEB" target="_blank">Matthew 5.16; 28.16-20; John 13.34-35; 1 Corinthians 12.12-30</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Worship is not a meeting on the church calendar. It’s not even gathering for praise and preaching on Sunday morning. These are too small. Worship is living in a way that makes God’s worth evident. It is life as his family, his priesthood, and his disciples, no matter where we are.<br /><br /><b>The Church is the community of God's disciples</b>. Disciples bring their reason, emotions, and actions to their service to Jesus. They center cultural differences on Christ so that these differences work together to reflect God's beauty and grace. They share life, learning and teaching God's Word and Ways, working out their salvation in community, and declaring Jesus to all who will listen, both inside the church and out in the world. As disciples of Jesus at TFB, let us join together in conversation centered on truth and serve alongside one another to build each other up in Christ.<br /><br /><b>The Church is the one priesthood of God</b>. Believer-Priests display God’s many-splendored glory, a glory that disperses through the amazing variety of God’s people like white light traveling through a prism disperses into a rainbow of color. They proclaim God’s grace to everyone and stand before God in confession and consultation for themselves, one another, and the world. Christians live together as priests by gathering to hear and speak the truth. They carry one another before the throne of God and point one another toward Jesus. They live as those who know the truth about human brokenness and divine grace. As priests of God at TFB, let us acknowledge and confess our brokenness to one another and bring each others’ needs before God. As we sing together, let us sing the lyrics as prayer and proclamation. As we serve together, let us look for and come alongside any in need.<br /><br /><b>The Church is the one family of God</b>. Christians are children of God and siblings of one another. Family relationship is foundational. They live together as a family, prioritizing their communal life above all else and carrying their family resemblance into all the moments of their days. They choose to be for one another in head, heart, and hands, whether gathered as a community or dispersed into the world. They live in a way that makes it clear to all that they are the children of God and siblings of one another by displaying love for one another and glory to their Father in heaven (Matthew 5.16; John 13.34-35). As siblings in Christ and the children of one Father at TFB, let us show up and be present for each other in our gatherings and welcome those we do not yet know. <br /><br />As we meet together for praise and prayer or learning and service, whether in large or small gatherings, let us worship by living alongside one another as siblings, priests, and disciples. As we disperse to our God-given mission fields of work, school, home, or play, let us worship in the dailies by proclaiming our Lord Jesus Christ in actions and words. Let us worship our worthy God wherever we are, whomever we’re with, and whatever we are doing.</span><br /></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-7c238216-7fff-6002-3b87-ac17075d6b18" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who writes Academy? Laura has an MDiv in Christian Education, a ThM in Systematic Theology, and a PhD in Educational Studies. She also serves TFB as a guitarist (primarily) and singer in TFB's worship band. Jeff has a Certificate in Biblical and Theological Studies, a Certificate in Spiritual Formation, and is currently working on an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. He also serves as kitchen lead for TFB's Family Dinner, co-lead in the Young Adult Ministry, and as TFB’s bookkeeper. </span></span></p><p>
</p>Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-60623755147130012232023-06-04T08:00:00.001-07:002023-06-04T08:00:00.132-07:00Church is the One Family of GodBy Jeff Barnhart with Laura Springer<br /><br /><b>Key Verses</b>: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12%3A46%E2%80%9350%3B+Mark+3%3A31%E2%80%9335%3B+Luke+8%3A19%E2%80%9321%3B+Matthew+19%3A29%3B+2+Corinthians+6%3A18%3B+Ephesians+1%3A5%3B+Galatians+4%3A4-7%3B+Romans+8%3A29&version=LEB" target="_blank">Matthew 12:46–50; Mark 3:31–35; Luke 8:19–21; Matthew 19:29; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Ephesians 1:5; Galatians 4:4-7; Romans 8:29</a><br /><br /><b>Key Idea</b>: Christ's intention that Christians put spiritual family first requires them to carry out God's mission as a committed family and live alongside one another as siblings who put one another before self and make space for relationship. <br /><br />God is a relational being and has created humanity to be in a relationship with Him and each other. Out of all the social structures, the family is an essential and critical aspect of God's plan. Though the Western church elevates the nuclear family and the marital bond, God's design before the foundation of the world was to unite all believers into His family—the church. Thus, He elevated the spiritual sibling bond. As Scripture says, God has predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will. <br /><br />Jesus states that those who follow the will of God are His family. But what does it mean to do the will of God? The will of God is the incredible plan God has implemented through Jesus' death and resurrection, in which one is called upon to participate in an ultimate denial of self and an altering of one's life to God's will. What is God's supreme will? It is to love God, love others, and teach others to do the same.<br /><br />When we are adopted into the family of God and made siblings to Christ and one another, we are called/commanded to keep denying ourselves and aligning ourselves with Christ. And because we are sons and daughters, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts allowing us to cry, "Abba, Father!" We must remember we are no longer slaves but children and heirs through God. As heirs, we are promised an inheritance and a multitude of siblings. Jesus spoke of this when he told Peter that those that leave everything behind to follow Him would receive a hundred-fold of brothers, sisters, and mothers.<br /><br />Jesus intended for His followers to exchange all their loyalties, including their devotion to their family, for His family, the church. What does that look like? First, it is not neglecting our biological family but being loyal to and prioritizing those of the family of God. We must reclaim this truth that our relationships with our siblings in Christ should take precedence over our biological families. Second, a conscious decision needs to be made to commit to a local church and do the one anothers of Scripture to help each other and ourselves to become more like Christ. Therefore, we need to make time in our schedules for each other to allow time for spiritual family.<br /><br />We must strive for unity and love within the family. As siblings, we must choose to live with all our brothers and sisters regardless of our differences, such as age, gender, social or marital status, denomination, or our views on secondary and tertiary issues. We need to celebrate the diversity of the family while having our gaze remain focused on God and Christ. This is the only way we can radiate God's love to each other. When this is accomplished, it will attract non-believers because the love of God, which permeates throughout us, will be irresistible to them and bring ultimate glory to God our Father.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Who writes Academy? Laura has an MDiv in Christian Education, a ThM in Systematic Theology, and a PhD in Educational Studies. She also serves TFB as a guitarist (primarily) and singer in TFB's worship band. Jeff has a Certificate in Biblical and Theological Studies, a Certificate in Spiritual Formation, and is currently working on an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. He also serves as kitchen lead for TFB's Family Dinner, co-lead in the Young Adult Ministry, and as TFB’s bookkeeper. </span><br />Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-46115363520559560212023-04-30T07:00:00.002-07:002023-04-30T07:00:00.136-07:00Church is the One Temple of God<p><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Key Passages</b>: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+3%3A16-17%3B+Ephesians+2%3A19-22&version=LEB" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:19-22</a><br /><br /><b>Key Idea:</b> The church is the one Temple of God, formed by his presence to be his eternal dwelling and the place in which his people love him, love people, and teach others to do the same.</i></span><br /><br />We live in a world of distractions, some good and some bad, which can capture our attention and turn our faces away from God. Individualism is prioritized, and community is too often neglected. Consumerism tempts us to look at everything and everyone as a resource for our own gain. Siblings, it ought not to be so among us, for we are the people of God.<br /><br /><b>God is with and among his people forever</b>, uniting them as one people who live together in God's presence toward one shared purpose: love. God calls and forms his singular and unique church into a temple comprising all who trust Christ and only those who trust Christ. He alone chooses, protects, and disciplines this global and local, timely and timeless church. He alone is God-with-us, the source and center of our life.<br /><br /><b>As the temple of God, the church is the dwelling place of the Spirit</b>, making division both impossible and despicable. Indeed, God the Spirit will bring destructive consequences on any who divide his church and profane God's temple. God gives every Christian a ministry assignment that builds up the Body of Christ, so we may serve alongside our siblings to maintain the church's unity, live worshipfully, and carry out our duties as priests.<br /><br />The people of God form the temple where God dwells, and his people lead others in worship. Christians are valued structure set aside to bring God glory. Neither the physical building nor the gatherings form this structure. We do. Christians across time and space, generation and language, denomination and tradition, are one temple with a unity that never ends and never fails. This temple is secure in Christ, for we are his building, his temple, and he is our foundation and cornerstone. He holds us together forever and builds us up to be like him.<br /><br />Since we together form the very temple of God, how should we live in this world? Our love for God and identity as his temple demand that we prioritize and practice Christ-centered worship and make time to be present with our siblings. (1) This love stands against the consumerism that tries to infect the church with works righteousness and the judgmentalism of personal preferences. We live by grace, so we treat one another with grace: the preferences of others and the needs of the Body come before ours. (2) This love stands against cultural individualism that tries to attack the mutual care and unity of the church. As God's one temple, the church remains a community of priests and siblings who choose to love one another. While individualism may try to turn us inward and trap us in silos, we choose to share our diversity as fellow priests of God, united as one in Christ. In him, we live as one building, one dwelling of God, one temple, declaring his glory everywhere. (3) This love stands against the distractions that can turn our faces and turns them into prayers to our Father, ways to worship him together wherever we are, and new ideas for ministry in the world. The sum of it all is this: as his temple, we reflect God's splendor and weightiness by pointing to him, not ourselves.</p><p><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Who writes Academy? Laura has an MDiv in Christian Education, a ThM in Systematic Theology, and a PhD in Educational Studies. She also serves TFB as a guitarist (primarily) and singer in TFB's worship band. Jeff has a Certificate in Biblical and Theological Studies and is currently working on an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. He also serves as kitchen lead for TFB's Family Dinner, co-lead in the Young Adult Ministry, and as TFB’s bookkeeper. </span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">For additional discussion see the following <a href="https://www.whointheworldarewe.com/category/musings/" target="_blank">Musings</a> by Laura:</span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.whointheworldarewe.com/2023/04/22/made-one-to-glorify/" target="_blank">Made One to Glorify</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.whointheworldarewe.com/2023/04/22/temple-and-family/" target="_blank">Temple and Family</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.whointheworldarewe.com/2023/04/22/being-one-temple/" target="_blank">Being One Temple</a></span><br /></li></ul>Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-85304608613003739792023-04-08T16:46:00.001-07:002023-04-08T16:47:55.785-07:00Present God, Our God<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">by Laura Springer</span><span style="font-size: small;"><b> <br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Key Passages:</b> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6.4-%E2%80%AC9%3B+Haggai+2.5-9%3B+1+Corinthians+6%3A+19-20+2+Corinthians+5.1-5%5D%3B+Ephesians+1.3-14%3B+2%3A19-22%3B+Philippians+4.6-7&version=LEB" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 6.4-9; Haggai 2.5-9; 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 2 Corinthians 5.1-5]; Ephesians 1.3-14; 2:19-22; Philippians 4.6-7</a></span><br /><br /><i><b></b></i></p><blockquote><i><b>Key Idea:</b> Because God is present with and for his people, starting now as the indwelling Spirit and continuing eternally in our face-to-face presence with Father, Son, and Spirit, those who trust him can live with courage and generosity.</i></blockquote><b>God is present with his people</b>, for God the Spirit lives in each and all who trust Jesus. He is with us now and through eternity. Because he is in us, our bodies are temples where God is worshiped. Because God is among us, we together are God's building. <br /><br /><b>God is present for his people</b> as our strong protector and capable carer. He gives us the courage to come to him and rest and forms us from the inside out to dwell in his presence forever. He has covenanted to be our one God and make us his one people. Therefore, he blesses us beyond measure and comforts us beyond understanding. His affection for us spills out in our affection for one another and our care for the world.<br /><br /><b>God is present with and for us right now</b>. He abides in us, so we need not wait to abide in God. He is right here to comfort and correct, to guide and restore. We can do whatever ministry assignments he has given us, for he equips us with capacity and opportunity. We can become the people he has called us to be, for he will bring salvation to its glorious end.<br /><br />Best of all, <b>the presence of God that starts now continues forever and gets better</b>, for all who trust God will live face-to-face with Father, Son, and Spirit forever. No matter what is happening in our moments, our end is sure, and that end is a life of love and service in God's direct presence. <br /><br />So, let us come to him and rest in him as stained imagers bringing blunt mutterings and messy whole-self abiding. We need not and cannot clean ourselves up. We come just as we are, deciding day by day, and sometimes moment by moment, to live in his direction. So, let us keep choosing to direct our minds, will, and emotions toward his glory and by his grace. Let us rest in his ability and do our work without fear. Let us give of ourselves generously; his presence supplies everything we need.<p></p><p></p><p><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Who writes Academy? Laura has an MDiv in Christian Education, a ThM in Systematic Theology, and a PhD in Educational Studies. She also serves TFB as a guitarist (primarily) and singer in TFB's worship band.</span></p>Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-6786366433341595432023-03-05T08:12:00.001-08:002023-03-05T08:12:00.204-08:00One God, Our God<p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> By Laura Springer with Jeff Barnhart</span><br /><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key Passages:</b> Deuteronomy 4:35; 6:4-9; Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 8:26-30; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6; Ephesians 4:1-6</span><br /><br /></p><blockquote><i><b>Key Idea:</b> God is one God, and he has made us one people. Therefore, the unity of the church is both necessary and beautiful.</i></blockquote><br />Silos and division are everywhere. So many things drift in, separating us from one another: age gaps, political differences, social and cultural distance, marital status, and much more. Society should not have such divisions, much less in the family of God's people.<p></p><p><b><br />God is one</b>. Scripture teaches that there is only one God (Deuteronomy 4:35). No matter how many spiritual powers may exist, God is unique (1 Corinthians 8:5-6). His singular glory shines through all creation (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm 19:1-6).</p><p><br /><b>God has made his church one people. </b>The church belongs to God, and we bear his image in the world. Since God is one, unity is essential to our being, for our unity rests in God, and he is our perfect example. Just as God is one God, the church is one church. Culture, language, preference, and denomination must not divide us. Instead, we must love one another just as Father, Son, and Spirit love one another. We must be of one mind just as Father, Son, and Spirit are of one mind. When disagreements arise, we must work together to reach an agreement that aligns with God’s will. Unity is not optional but necessary.</p><p><br /><b>God calls his church to live as one people.</b> God has given his people the capacity to be one, for he has saved us, indwells us, and will make us like himself. He has delivered us from sin and the death, destruction, and division it brings. He lives within and among us, forming us as one in Christ. He works within us to conform us to the image of Christ. He calls and equips us to live as one people, a family of Sibling-Priests who share life and work together toward God’s good ends. He calls us to love one another as siblings, to carry out loving justice, and to wait on him as a community.</p><p><br /><b>Let us live as one. </b>So, let those of us who know the one true God live as his one people. Knowing that he blesses us with his love, let us love boldly. Knowing that we abide in his presence now and forever, let us dwell together in ways that show the world our great and awesome God. Knowing we have life in his presence forever, let us live toward him now through lives of hopeful, joyful worship.</p><p><br />Despite much division, we see community and connection everywhere in society and God’s church. Friendships form across social and cultural barriers. People team up from across the political spectrum to do good work. Old, young, and those in between labor and play together. Singles and married people form communities and friendships. The church should do no less. So, as much as it depends on us, let’s do our part to live out God-reflecting unity. The one God has made us his one people (Ephesians 4:1-6); let us determine to live like it.</p><p><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Who writes Academy? Laura has an MDiv in Christian Education, a ThM in Systematic Theology, and a PhD in Educational Studies. She also serves TFB as a guitarist (primarily) and singer in TFB's worship band. Jeff has a Certificate in Biblical and Theological Studies and is currently working on an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. He also serves as kitchen lead for TFB's Family Dinner, co-lead in the Young Adult Ministry, and as TFB’s bookkeeper. </span><br /><br /></p>Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-22486969867219292452023-02-04T08:00:00.002-08:002023-04-29T15:44:04.117-07:00Holy God, Our God<p><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">By Laura Springer with Jeff Barnhart</span><br /><b><br />Key Passages</b>: Psalm 46.8-11; Hosea 6.1-10; Amos 4.12-13; Micah 6:8<br /></p><p></p><blockquote><i><b>Key Idea</b>: God, who is holy, sovereign, and powerful, reveals his holiness alongside his hesed, and protects his people and his glory by strictly guarding his holiness. </i></blockquote><i></i><br />We live in a culture where many put much of life on social media, yet talking to one another face-to-face about deep things is rare. When we mess up, we assume we can handle it ourselves. While every person and community has baggage, we too often sweep it under the rug and let it fester. But we cannot follow Jesus alone. We cannot handle our problems alone. We cannot heal our community without confession of God's holiness and our weakness as a community.<br /><b><br />God is holy</b>. He is fiercely passionate about goodness, and he demands a holy people. His requirements are clear: God’s people must contribute to moral righteousness, do and maintain kindness, and humbly live life alongside him. But he does not leave us to do this in our own strength. Instead, he forms us. He gives the grace of blunt and repeated warnings about sinful choices so we might turn back to him. Even more, his blunt warnings are always accompanied by his covenant love: we are safe in his care, for he is our God, and we are his people. <br /><br /><b>God is our God</b>. He has made an eternal covenant in Christ that we will be his people, and he will be our God, the one who has united us and made us family. He promises to be with us always and draw us to himself to dwell in his presence for eternity. These promises are certain. When we have completed our days in time, we will live in his holy and loving presence forever. But his presence is not just assured for eternity. No. He is present among us right now, for God the Spirit has taken up residence in and among us. He is the first installment of life forever with God. He is right here with us.<br /><br />If we’re honest, sometimes God’s presence makes us uncomfortable, especially when we have turned our faces away. When our hearts are toward him, we experience the Spirit as the Lover of our souls. When our hearts are toward ourselves and our desires, we experience him as Judge or distant Sovereign. <br /><br />God will never leave us. But neither will he leave us alone when we’re messing up. Our loving, ever-present God is a holy God who expects a holy people. Without one another, being a Christian is just too hard. Without relying on God, becoming like Christ is impossible. We need one another, and we need him. We must confess and repent and press into him as a church family. We must faithfully walk beside one another with open ears, open hands, and tender hearts. We need to help one another rest in God's unrelenting covenant love. God is always right here with us, and we have no need to fear anything or anyone but the God who loves us most and best.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Who writes Academy? <b>Laura </b>has an MDiv in Christian Education, a ThM in Systematic Theology, and a PhD in Educational Studies. She also serves TFB as a guitarist (primarily) and singer in TFB's worship band. <b>Jeff </b>has a Certificate in Biblical and Theological Studies and is currently working on an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. He also serves as kitchen lead for TFB's Family Dinner, co-lead in the Young Adult Ministry, and as TFB’s bookkeeper. </span><br /><br /><br /><p></p>Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-16514776985752338172023-01-08T19:16:00.003-08:002023-01-28T19:18:44.831-08:00Being the One People of the One GodBy Laura Springer<br /><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key Idea</b>: God declares to those he has chosen, You will be my people, and I will be your God. Our God makes us the one people of God in Christ. Therefore, we who trust Christ are the one people of the one God, called and commanded to think and behave in ways that live out that identity.</span></i><br /><br /><br />We live in a culture where differences are too often magnified. Sometimes the differences are small; sometimes, they are big. Brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so for God's people. We are the people of the one God, Father, Son, and Spirit. We, who are many, are one Church in Christ. We are his people, and he is our God.<br /><br /><b>God declares to those he has chosen, You will be my people, and I will be your God (Exodus 6:7; Revelation 21:3)</b>. From the beginning of the story, when God chose the children of Abraham, to the end of the story when God declares he will live forever with all who are his, he is our God, and we are his people. He was present with Israel in the tabernacle. He was present when the Son lived (tabernacled: John 1:14) as a human among us. He is present now, as the Spirit lives within and among us, transforming our time-bound bodies into eternal tabernacles ready for eternity in God's presence (2 Corinthians 5:1-5). Finally, the Father awaits our eternal presence in his house, where he will forever tabernacle with his people (Revelation 21:3). <br /><br /><b>The church is the one people of God in Christ (Galatians 3:23-29)</b>. Across time, geography, culture, and language, the church is one family, the children of the one Father (John 1:12-13). She is one freed people in the Son, who bought us with his blood (1 Peter 1:17-21). She is one through the indwelling Spirit, who forms bonds among believers and between believers and Christ (Ephesians 4:1-6). Being present with God and one another is part of who we are, and we have a holy obligation to keep our bonds in good repair. All believers have this duty, whether they are pastors, deacons, or members. <br /><br /><br /><b>We who trust Christ are the one people of the one God, called and commanded to think and behave in ways that live out that identity</b>. Pastors and other spiritual leaders live out this identity by leading others into God's presence in ways that tend toward oneness in Christ. Ministry leaders and other decision-makers live out this identity by working with their teams to create spaces, events, and standards that encourage people to be present with God and one another. All believers live out this identity by taking responsibility for making others welcome whenever the church gathers by choosing to connect with those outside their core group. All have the responsibility to maintain the unity formed by God.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Who writes Academy? Laura has an MDiv in Christian Education, a ThM in Systematic Theology, and a PhD in Educational Studies. She also serves TFB as a guitarist (primarily) and singer in TFB's worship band. </span><br /><br />Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-69258783552145526842022-12-04T19:08:00.005-08:002023-01-28T19:13:30.493-08:00Imparter Embodied<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Laura Springer with Jeff Barnhart</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Passages: Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:14-15; 4:14-16; 10:19-25; 12:1-4; 13:1-6; 1 Peter 2:7-10</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Key Idea</b>: Jesus, the Imparter of grace and glory, God of very God, made himself human to embody God clearly in ways we could understand. He lived among us, gave his life for us, and rose from death to deliver every human who trusts him from slavery to sin and to eternal connection with himself. So likewise, we who trust Jesus embody this Imparter, transmitting the whole of his message and portraying him clearly through sacrificial kindness and generous care that others can understand. </i></span></p><p>~~~~~~<br /><br />Veiled in flesh, he came:<br />Jesus, God and Human, <br />Revealing shrouded Glory, <br />Offering eternal Grace.<br /><br />Creator and Sovereign,<br />He became one of us,<br />Taking our flesh and our bones, <br />Shedding his human blood,<br />To bring us into God's heart.<br /><br />So we, knowing our utter inability,<br />Fall on his grace. <br />And he, sharing his glory,<br />Makes us his body.<br /><br />This One who became Son of Man<br />Makes us children of God,<br />Eternally joined by love: <br />One family and one priesthood. <br /><br />Yet here in dust and under the sun<br />We sojourn, <br />Carrying his glory and grace<br />In stories, <br />In logic,<br />In care.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Who writes Academy? Laura has an MDiv in Christian Education, a ThM in Systematic Theology, and a PhD in Educational Studies. She also serves TFB as a guitarist (primarily) and singer in TFB's worship band. Jeff has a Certificate in Biblical and Theological Studies and is currently working on an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. He also serves as kitchen lead for TFB's Family Dinner, co-lead in the Young Adult Ministry, and as TFB’s bookkeeper.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-12541725221183083152022-06-05T08:00:00.001-07:002022-06-05T08:00:00.201-07:00The Priestly Duty of Proclamation
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<![endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">by Laura Springer, M.Div.,
Th.M., Ph.D. </span> </span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Key
Verses</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A13-16%3B+Luke+10%3A11%3B+Romans+1%3A16-17%3B+Colossians+4%3A2-6%3B+1+Peter+3%3A14b-17&version=LEB" target="_blank">Matthew 5:13-</a></span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A13-16%3B+Luke+10%3A11%3B+Romans+1%3A16-17%3B+Colossians+4%3A2-6%3B+1+Peter+3%3A14b-17&version=LEB" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">16; Luke 10:11; Romans 1:16-</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">17;
Colossians 4:2-</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6; 1 Peter 3:14b-</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">17</span></a></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 1.0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 1in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Key Idea</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: The priestly duty of proclamation accurately and clearly
declares Jesus as the one crucial message in a world filled with polarizing
passions.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We live in a world of
polarizing and passionate causes. There are many good things to say. But there
is only one necessary thing to say: Jesus is Lord, and only Jesus saves. Every
official word we speak must center on this good news, and this good news must
be the measure of all we declare. Unless the good news of Jesus is our primary
concern and message, everything else about church is meaningless.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Make sure the message is
accurate and clear</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. Eternity is on the line, and eternity gives meaning to life.
Therefore, our message about Jesus must be accurate and clear. Our proclamation
is accurate when it flows from our immersion in Scripture. The message is clear
when spoken in the languages and cultures surrounding us. But accuracy and
clarity are still not enough. We must proclaim Jesus with gentleness and grace
to respect the hearers without ever compromising the truth about Jesus.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Focus on Christ in all
things</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.
Everything about us is all about Christ, or it should be. We learn to focus on
Jesus by reflecting on his glory in straightforward, correct ways and sharing
what we know with others. When everything around us prioritizes human concerns,
we proclaim Jesus. When those around us speak against us, we proclaim Jesus.
Therefore, let us focus on Christ and choose to be ready with his truth no
matter the surrounding circumstances.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Live</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>Christ in every
direction</b>. Worship is life; it is not merely a gathering on Sunday morning.
Our everyday actions and regular words shine the love and glory of Jesus in
ways that others will understand. Whole-life worship speaks through the
cultures and languages surrounding us and tells the truth about Jesus clearly
and accurately. As whole-life worshipers, we immerse ourselves in his
Word in the company of our brothers and sisters so our lives and words might
proclaim and portray Jesus wherever we are. We help one another become whole-life
reflections of Jesus so we may influence others toward Jesus’s Kingdom,
proclaiming and portraying him at every favorable moment. We hold one another
as friends and siblings, knowing each other well enough to help one another be
better proclaimers. As priests of God, we proclaim the good news without
hesitation through every aspect of life, work, and speech to make known God’s
gift of life in Christ.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The good news of Jesus is
eternally weighty, and our proclamation of that good news ought to be driven by
that weight, moved forward by God’s intention, and focused on Jesus. Jesus, our
Great High Priest, Savior, and Lord, is our primary message and the perspective
through which we understand the polarizing passions that fill our culture.
Therefore, let us take every favorable moment to proclaim and portray him. Let
us place his Kingdom above all other concerns, evaluating all we do as priests
by his measure. Let us center our declarations on Jesus, align our lives with
Jesus, and measure our success by Jesus. Let us be a community of passionate,
worshiping priests who proclaim him out of our deepening knowledge of him and
toward his glory.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
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<![endif]-->Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-72636908397652385932022-05-01T17:28:00.007-07:002022-06-03T17:36:23.471-07:00The Priestly Duty of Praise<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<style>
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table.MsoNormalTable
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">by Laura
Springer, M.Div., Th.M., Ph.D. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Key
Passages</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A4-9%3B+2+Samuel+7%3A22%3B+Psalm+40%3A5%3B+150%3A1-6%3B+Malachi+11%3A10%3B+Colossians+3%3A16-17%3B+Revelation+5%3A6-10&version=LEB" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 2 Samuel 7:22; Psalm 40:5; 150:1-</a></span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A4-9%3B+2+Samuel+7%3A22%3B+Psalm+40%3A5%3B+150%3A1-6%3B+Malachi+11%3A10%3B+Colossians+3%3A16-17%3B+Revelation+5%3A6-10&version=LEB" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6;
Malachi 11:10; Colossians 3:16-</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">17; Revelation 5:6-10</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Key Idea</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: Praise
is our description of God proclaimed for his glory in ways that build up fellow
believers and point outsiders to him.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Musical
praise is great, but it is not enough. Bands and choirs, drums and organs are
some of the tools we use to praise God together. But if we make any one of them
a requirement, we are missing the most important thing about praise. Praise is
declaring and displaying the truth about God so that others might see his glory
and praise him now and forever. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We praise
God to bring him glory</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. Praise describes God to God for his glory. It
is an intimate and awe-filled proclamation of our love and respect for him,
sometimes in words and always in action. Praise is our duty as priests, for his
greatness and love compel us. It is our joy because God has given us more than
we can describe. Because we take praise seriously, we spend time in his
presence, enjoying his Word and talking with him about life. We praise him when
we are gathered and when we are alone. We praise him when we are going about
our daily lives and when we are learning about him as we study his Word
together. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We praise
God to build up fellow believers</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. Praise describes God
before our fellow believers so all might grow to love and serve him better. It
declares what we know to be true about God from our study of Scripture. It
models love for God across generations and cultures, across styles and
preferences. It shapes how we see and treat one another. It helps bind us
together as God’s family, sisters and brothers working together to carry out
our priestly sacrifices of praise.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We praise
God to point outsiders to Jesus</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. Praise displays God's
grace and goodness before outsiders so they might give him glory. It declares
the truth about God in regular words and displays God’s greatness in regular
actions. Praise uses character, emotion, and action to form a setting in which
outsiders might turn toward God and hear the good news of Jesus.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Praise
does not need a band, though bands are great. It does not need a choir, though
choirs are great. Praise has one basic ingredient: our love for God. Our love
for him is our response to his love for us, and praise is our decision to show
that love through trust and obedience. It is our ongoing decision to be his
priests and to carry our sacrifices of praise into his presence whenever and
wherever. It is seeing the universe and its people as the creation of our
glorious God and living out that glory in every action and word.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-33499602679422778232022-04-05T16:54:00.004-07:002022-04-05T16:56:36.106-07:00The Priestly Duties of Christians: Introduction<span style="font-size: x-small;">Key Passages: Romans 8:26-30; Colossians 3:16-17; 1 Peter 3:14b-17</span><br /><br /><blockquote><b>Key Idea</b>: Since Christians are priests with a duty to declare the truth in worship, testify to the truth in public, and talk with God truthfully about everything, let us immerse ourselves in his Word of truth and serve wherever we are with our eyes fixed on Jesus.</blockquote><br />Our identity is in Christ, our Great High Priest, and our duty is to him. He has called us as priests, and our service is toward him. Each Christian has the responsibility to carry out the priestly duties belonging to this call, beginning with resting our identity in Christ alone and focusing on him. Then we are ready to carry out the primary duties of praise, proclamation, and prayer.<br /><br /><b>Priests have a duty to praise</b>. Praise is God-directed action that glorifies him by declaring the truth about him in the presence of others. Praise often uses words; sometimes the words are set to music. Whether words, music, or actions, worship is always toward God and often for the benefit of others. It is the overflowing that happens when whole lives are filled with God’s Word, and that indwelling Word goes out into the body of Christ, proclaiming Jesus and challenging our siblings to become more like him.<br /><br /><b>Priests have a duty to proclaim</b>. Proclamation is ready testimony before our siblings and the world about what we know to be true about God. For many of us, proclaiming Jesus has some hurdles, for, in addition to our general nervousness, there are real enemies out there. But we need not fear, for in Christ we are secure. When we immerse ourselves in his Word and focus on him, we are able to focus on being Christ’s holy temple and kingdom of priests in the world. We are able to remain ready with his truth when questions or opposition arise. Our job as priests is to follow Christ and proclaim him, being willing to suffer for doing good while maintaining a gracious and gentle demeanor, for our protection is in his capable hands.<br /><br /><b>Priests have a duty to pray</b>. Prayer is simple, honest talk with God about ourselves, others, and the world. Now, having a simple, honest talk with an invisible God can be tough. It can become a mere ritual or slip into neglect. Yet it remains one of our foremost duties as priests of God. We can pray well by relying on the Spirit and immersing ourselves in the Bible. We must rely on the Spirit, for he intercedes on our behalf with groans of concern when we simply do not have the words. Alongside the Spirit's prayer on our behalf, our own immersion in Scripture infuses us with God's truth, which the Spirit uses to reveal the things for which we ought to pray.<br /><br />The first priority of priestly ministry is keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, our Great High Priest, and immersion in his Word is one necessary way to do this. But we must not stop there, for action must follow. As we gather, may the indwelling Word pour forth in praise that glorifies God with the truth and disciples our fellow Christians toward a deepening relationship with Christ. As we disperse into daily life, may the indwelling Word pour forth in behavior and speech that proclaims Jesus and reflects his grace and mercy. In all of this, let us talk with God about everything, for Jesus abides in us, and we abide in him.<br />Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-62357682508511475312022-03-06T16:47:00.002-08:002022-04-05T16:52:44.965-07:00Church as God’s Kingdom of PriestsKey Passages: Exodus 19:5-6; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Revelation 5:9-10<br />Additional Passages: Hebrews 4:14-16; 9:11-12; 12:1-2<br /><br /><blockquote><b>Key Idea</b>: Our identity is from Jesus, our great and sympathetic High Priest, and in him, we are all called to ministry as priests of God.</blockquote>Where does your identity lie? Is it in parenting, having a career, or serving in a position in church ministry or leadership? As believers, our identity is found in Christ alone, and he calls us priests. <br /><br /><br />Jesus is our high priest and the way into the eternal Holy of Holies. He is the one and only author and finisher of our faith and has made us and will make us his kingdom of priests. Indeed, the people of God are a kingdom of priests that began with Israel (Exodus 19:5-6) and continues to the church (1 Peter 2:9-10) and into eternity (Revelation 5:9-10).<br /><br /><b>The people of God are a kingdom of priests that began with Israel (Exodus 19:5-6)</b>. God commanded his people Israel to remember all he had done for them and the way his gracious works shaped their identity. Out of all the nations, all of which belong to God, Israel had the privilege of being God’s personal, loved people, a kingdom made up of priests, and a nation separate and distinct from all other nations. These privileges brought the responsibilities of obeying God’s commands, being his priests, and remaining distinct.<br /><br /><b>The people of God are a kingdom of priests that continues into the church (1 Peter 2:9-10)</b>. In his first letter, Peter applies Exodus 19:5-6 to the church. Christians are a people group selected by God and made up of persons from all nations and races. We are a royal priesthood and a distinct nation whose shared center is Christ. We are those brought into the marvelous light of God’s presence by God himself. He has brought together this ragtag group of strangers and made us a people, and he calls us to live as his priests and proclaim before all the world the excellence of his character.<br /><br /><b>The people of God are a kingdom of priests that continues into eternity (Revelation 5:9-10)</b>. In John’s vision, he saw Jesus standing in the place of triumph and adoration at the throne of God. The believers around the throne praised Jesus as the Lamb who brought about our costly release from slavery to sin and death and made us one people, taken from every race, culture, and language, having Jesus as our only King and High Priest, who redeemed us and made us a kingdom of priests.<br /><br />Identity in Christ is the source of what we do as Christians. As those in Christ, God commands us to hold fast to the truth, to boldly approach his holy of holies, to stir one another toward good works, and gather as a community. As priests of God in Christ, God calls us to carry out three primary ministries: intercession, offering sacrifices of praise, and proclaiming Jesus. These three primary ministries are the responsibility of every Christian and are carried out through the specific ministry assignments given to each by the Spirit. Whether we are gathered as the one body or dispersed into the world in the mission field of daily life, we are priests of God in Christ: a high calling indeed!<br /><br />Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-56617588279117839682022-02-06T16:45:00.001-08:002022-04-05T16:47:43.253-07:00Christ is the Final, Eternal High Priest<span style="font-size: x-small;">Passages: Psalm 110:1, 4; ; Hebrews 2:14-15, 17-18; 4:15; 7:23-25; 9:11-14; 10:12-14, 20-21; 1 Peter 2:5-6</span><br /><br />Sin has stained everything, and its cost is life itself. It is a price we cannot pay and remain alive. Even more, it is an eternal price that we cannot pay no matter how much we give. The blood of another must be shed on our behalf.<br /><br /><b>The cost of sin</b>. In the garden, God covered Adam and Eve with the skins of an animal. In Exodus, God passed over the homes of those with the blood of a lamb painted on the lintel and doorposts. In the Law, God gives his people Israel the sacrificial system to make atonement. These are a shadow of what was to come.<br /><br /><b>The priesthood of Aaron</b>. Aaron the brother of Moses was the first high priest of the Old Testament sacrificial system, but Aaron died and needed to be replaced. Then his replacement died, and the cycle continued over centuries. Not only was the priesthood of Aaron bound by time, but the blood of bulls and goats offered in this sacrificial system could not pay the price for human sin, but only reminded the people of the bearable cost of that sin.<br /><br />All of this is a shadow of the one who would come as the Great High Priest, paying the full price for human sin by carrying his own blood into the Holy of Holies in heaven (Hebrews 9:11-14). This One has come, and his name is Jesus. The shadow is complete, and that which is better has begun.<br /><br /><b>The priesthood of Jesus</b>. Unlike the priesthood of Aaron, in which the high priest dies and is replaced over and over again, offering sacrifices that could never remove sin's stain, Jesus’ priesthood continues for eternity and offers a once for all sacrifice that pays the debt of sin, removes its stain forever, and brings restored life in God.<br /><br />The death of Jesus is the final, eternal sacrifice for sin. He brought his own blood into the eternal holy of holies, offering one eternally sufficient sacrifice and making all who trust him holy forever. He himself is the way into the holy of holies in heaven for all who trust him (Hebrews 10:19-21). He destroyed death by his own death and set free forever all who trust him by his resurrection and glorification. His blood removes the debt of sin, cleanses our consciences, and renews us to an eternal life of loving service to God.<br /><br />He experienced temptation to its end without sin. He understands our weaknesses from the inside and serves as our sympathetic, eternal mediator. He is our merciful and faithful High Priest, who suffered so all who trust him might live and bring God glory.<br /><br />Jesus gave himself on our behalf. He paid our eternal debt so we might have eternal life. Thankful worship is our logical response, and this worship must go well beyond the musical worship of Sunday mornings. We worship by striving to understand like Jesus, seeing the broken through the eyes of redemption and hearing both words and meaning in the words of others. We worship by striving to value like Jesus, seeing both of the needs and the worth of persons as we carry them to his throne in prayer. We worship by striving to behave like Jesus, giving ourselves for others, coming to know them, and interceding for them in prayer. By doing this we serve as priests under the one Great High Priest.<br /><br />Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-2943427398565824972022-01-02T16:26:00.004-08:002022-04-05T16:41:40.992-07:00The Church is a Kingdom of Priests<br /><br />Well, here we are in 2022. God is still on his throne and we are still his people. In 2022, Academy will be looking at being God’s people as his Kingdom of Priests, and we begin the journey by following the topic through Scripture.<br /><br />We saw in the Exodus how God delivered his people Israel from slavery in Egypt to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. <br /><blockquote><i>Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.... (Exodus 19:5–6, ESV).</i></blockquote>From among this kingdom of priests, God set apart Aaron and his sons to serve in the tabernacle to carry out sacrifices for sin and praise, to proclaim God before the people, and to carry the cares of the people before God (Exodus 28). But the priesthood of Aaron and his sons was not the final priesthood, for the Son, Jesus, has been made a priest forever.<br /><blockquote><i>The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4, ESV).</i></blockquote>Jesus, our Great High Priest, offered himself once for all, ending the need for continual sacrifices that never could cleanse from sin. <br /><blockquote><i>And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:11–14, ESV).</i></blockquote> With Jesus as our high priest, God is now forming the church as his kingdom of priests. <br /><blockquote><i>But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9, ESV). <br /></i></blockquote>We who trust Christ are that priesthood of believers, and as we fix our eyes on Jesus, we carry out our mission. <br /><blockquote><i>Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14–16, ESV).</i></blockquote> Indeed, those who trust Christ are a kingdom of priests forever. <br /><blockquote><i>And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10). <br /></i></blockquote>Everyone who trusts Jesus is a priest of God. This much is clear. What might this look like at TFB? That will take some thinking and dreaming. We are excited about the journey.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Additional Passages: Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:1-3, 11-14, 26-28; 10:19-25; Revelation 20:6</span><br /><br /><br /><br />Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-51584536131571267972021-12-01T16:52:00.018-08:002022-04-05T16:41:58.055-07:00Our Joyful Work<span style="font-size: 78%;">by Laura Springer with Jeff Barnhart</span><br /><p><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /><br />Key Passages: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+105%3B+Matthew+28%3A19-20%3B+Mark+12%3A30-31%3B+1+Corinthians+12%3A1-31%3B+1+Timothy+2%3A1-4%3B+Hebrews+4%3A14-16%3B+10%3A19-25%3B+1+Peter+2%3A9-10&version=NRSV" target="_blank">Psalm 105; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 12:30-31; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Timothy 2:1-4: Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19-25; 1 Peter 2:9-10</a><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Glorifying God is our primary purpose. He expects humanity and his people to live in ways that reflect and declare his glory. <a href="https://www.tfbclife.org/about-us" target="_blank">As TFB</a>, we choose to do this by loving God, loving people, and teaching others to do the same.<br /><br />One body, many members. The church is one in union with Christ. Unity is our nature. The church is many ages, cultures, styles, and giftings. So, diversity is also our nature. We glorify God as one by submitting to him and living toward his purposes. We glorify God as many by ministering to others with the skills the Spirit has given us. Through worship and service, we present ourselves to him as one church and to one another as siblings.<br /><br />Always glorifying. God calls us to proclaim Jesus and carry others before him in prayer. These are our primary responsibilities as followers of Jesus. We glorify him by sharing what we know of his majesty and grace, carrying out Jesus' command to make disciples. We glorify him by praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ and, indeed, for all.<br /><br />Glorify through proclamation. We glorify God by growing in our knowledge of him and his amazing work of salvation. We glorify him by learning together and sharing what we have learned. We glorify him by living out our hope, practicing grace, and proclaiming the good news in the context of daily life. Whether gathered or dispersed, we proclaim Jesus in words and actions.<br /><br />Glorify through prayer. We glorify God by talking with Jesus about the spiritual and physical needs of others. Jesus, who is the one mediator between humanity and God, wants us to partner with him through the ministry of intercession. Through intercession, we support the spiritual growth of our fellow believers. Through intercession, we plead with God on behalf of those who do not yet know him. And when we do not know how to pray, we trust the Spirit himself to pray for us. <br /><br />What might it look like to be a community in which all learn and practice proclamation and prayer? Let’s start by choosing to <a href="https://www.tfbclife.org/service-times" target="_blank">worship together</a>. Let’s choose to fellowship around the table during Sunday patio time, <a href="https://www.tfbclife.org/content.cfm?page_content=calendar_include.cfm&event_id=153&mm=12&dd=8&yy=2021" target="_blank">Wednesday family dinners</a>, or sharing meals in regular life. Let’s choose to pray together at the <a href="https://www.tfbclife.org/content.cfm?id=268" target="_blank">Tuesday Lunchbreak Prayer</a>, share our requests on the<a href="https://www.tfbclife.org/content.cfm?id=268" target="_blank"> prayer request form</a>, or pause during our day to lift one another before God. Let’s choose to join <a href="https://www.tfbclife.org/Life-Groups" target="_blank">Life Groups</a> and participate in TFB’s <a href="https://www.tfbclife.org/calendar" target="_blank">regular and special events</a>. Each person need not do everything, for rest is also important. But every one of us should choose to worship, eat, pray, and live alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ.<br /><br />Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! (Psalm 115:1 ESV).<br /> </span></span></p>Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-36619878106964888462021-07-01T08:00:00.025-07:002021-07-07T13:58:58.596-07:00Glorifying God as his Ministers<div>By Jeff Barnhart and Laura K. Springer, Th.M., Ph.D. </div><div> </div><div>Key Passages: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12%3A+4-11%3B+Ephesians+4%3A11-16+&version=NRSV" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 12: 4-11; Ephesians 4:11-16</a></div><div>Supplementary Passages: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12%3A4-27%3B+Galatians+5%3A22-25%3B+Ephesians+5%3A1%3B+Philippians+2%3A15%3B+Colossians+1%3A17-18%3B+1+Timothy+3%3A1-13%3B+Titus+1%3A5-9&version=NRSV" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 12:4-27; Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 5:1; Philippians 2:15; Colossians 1:17-18; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9</a> </div><div> </div><div>The eternal task of the church is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. As such, relationship with him and one another is crucial. We must live out the fact that we are one community of diverse people bound together in Jesus Christ and gifted for ministry by the Spirit. </div><div> </div><div><b>Every Christian is a minister. </b>Christians are all ministers of God and have been given gifts of service that he expects them to use to grow and mature his church. Since he gives each believer a ministry that he activates, every believer is a minister. Since God gives gifts to all, all believers work together to mature the church by speaking the truth to one another in love and carrying out God’s work the way the Spirit intends. </div><div> </div><div><b>Ministries are from the Spirit. </b>The Spirit alone distributes and activates gifts of service, through which he manifests himself among believers. Each believer is responsible to practice their gift of service alongside fellow believers for the sake of the whole church whether we are dispersed or gathered. While dispersed, we minister to the eight to ten people we interact with every day. While gathered, we minister to each other in order to refocus, recharge, and edify one another in preparation for dispersion into the mission field of daily life. </div><div> </div><div><b>The ministry of leadership.</b> While all believers are ministers, some are set apart for the service of leadership. Within the body, there are two subsets. One subset talked about in the New Testament is Elders (also called Overseers). The other subset is Deacons (a term meaning ‘servants’). Elders/Overseers equip all to carry out their Spirit-supplied gifts of service so that the body of Christ matures and grows herself. Deacons handle earthly tasks that may hinder the Elders and Ministers in their work. Elder and Deacon teams serve Jesus by serving the church. Both Elders/Overseers and Deacons must meet character qualifications, for a godly character is the most important qualification (see 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1). Skillset is a distant second. </div><div> </div><div><b>Qualifications for ministry. </b>Like Elders/Overseers and Deacons, Ministers are commanded to meet biblical qualifications. All are commanded to live by the Spirit and bear the fruit of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). All are commanded to imitate the Father and live in love like the Son. All are commanded to follow God together as brothers and sisters, speaking the truth in love to one another. If these biblical qualifications are not met, no other qualifications matter. </div><div> </div><div></div><blockquote><div><i>“Question 1. What is the chief end of man?
</i></div><div><i>Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever” (Westminster Shorter Catechism).
</i></div></blockquote><div></div><div><b>Resources</b>
</div><div>● <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/When_the_Church_Was_a_Family/aQj4RTUkP3gC?hl=en&gbpv=0" target="_blank"><i>When the Church Was a Family: Recapturing Jesus' Vision for Authentic Christian Community</i></a> (J. Hellerman)
</div><div>● <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Formed_for_the_Glory_of_God/PFjgAk_XxK0C?hl=en&gbpv=0" target="_blank"><i>Formed for the Glory of God: Learning from the Spiritual Practices of Jonathan Edwards</i></a> (K. Strobel)
</div><div>● <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Weight_of_Glory/-buxASKSnUkC?hl=en&gbpv=0" target="_blank"><i>Weight of Glory</i></a> (C. S. Lewis)
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</div>Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32346677.post-9975077057740691492021-06-01T08:00:00.028-07:002021-07-07T13:51:37.820-07:00Glorifying God by Helping One Another<div>By Laura K. Springer, Th.M., Ph.D. </div><div> </div><div>Key Passages: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1%3A12%3B+12%3A10%2C+16%3B+14%3A13%2C+19%3B+15%3A14%3B+1+Corinthians+11%3A33%3B+12%3A25%3B+Galatians+5%3A13%2C+15%2C+26%3B+6%3A2%3B+Ephesians+4%3A2%2C+25%3B+4%3A32%3B+5%3A21%3B+Philippians+2%3A3%3B+Colossians+3%3A9%2C+13%3B+1+Thessalonians+4%3A18%3B+5%3A11%2C+15%3B+Hebrews+10%3A24%3B+James+4%3A11%3B+5%3A9%2C+16%3B+1+Peter+4%3A9%3B+5%3A5&version=NRSV" target="_blank">Romans 1:12; 12:10, 16; 14:13, 19; 15:14; 1 Corinthians 11:33; 12:25; Galatians 5:13, 15, 26; 6:2; Ephesians 4:2, 25; 4:32; 5:21; Philippians 2:3; Colossians 3:9, 13; 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11, 15; Hebrews 10:24; James 4:11; 5:9, 16; 1 Peter 4:9; 5:5</a>
</div><div>Supplemental Passages: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5%3A18-20%3B+Colossians+3%3A16-17+&version=NRSV" target="_blank">Ephesians 5:18-20; Colossians 3:16-17</a> </div><div> </div><div>Jesus loves us. So, if we are to glorify God, loving one another is not optional. What might it look like to love one another in the context of our regular church practices? </div><div> </div><div><b>Church-wide Rituals. </b>Rituals like baptism, communion, and musical worship, have been and continue to be practiced by the church across time and culture. They teach God’s truth in pictures and offer instruction to those who may not yet get it. They help us participate in the life of faith alongside fellow believers who may not be like us. </div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Baptism proclaims trust in Jesus and testifies to his death and resurrection in the company of our fellow believers.
</li><li>The Lord’s Supper proclaims Jesus’ death until he comes again, forming us as one by focusing our hearts on Jesus’ broken body and shed blood.
</li><li>In musical worship, the gathered church declares God’s worth to God under the direction of the Spirit, acting with one mind and one love through an infinitely cross-cultural practice. </li></ul><div> </div><div><b>Congregation-wide Events. </b>In worship gatherings, business meetings, service to the community, and other types of events, we work together in this place, focusing on Jesus and honoring our life together as a work in progress. As one Body made up of different ages, cultures, and perspectives, we practice putting the preferences of others first, valuing participation, and working alongside those who are different.
</div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Worship gatherings focus on God alone under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and declare who God is and who we are in him through clear language and loving action.
</li><li>In business meetings, believers decide how to carry out God’s mission through our shared work.
</li><li>As we serve the community, we become Jesus’s hands by putting care first. </li></ul><div> </div><div><b>Life Group Activities. </b>Conversation, Bible study, prayer, and shared meals help us form relationships of accountability and grace. Here we make ourselves available outside of the designated times on the church calendar and often away from the church campus. We learn to put others first, speak the truth, and patiently accompany one another as we become more like Jesus.
</div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Conversation brings us soul-to-soul as we hear and care for one another.
</li><li>By studying the Bible together, we help one another grow toward right belief, right practice, and right valuing.
</li><li>Praying together aligns our hearts as we hold one another up before God in love.
</li><li>Eating together, we learn what is left unspoken and build relationships in which we are free to call one another out and hold each other up. </li></ul><div> </div><div>In gatherings large and small, Christians practice rituals that have lasted centuries. We come together to worship and work and share life. We talk and cry and laugh and pray and dine. In all this, we glorify God. Beloved, let us love one another.
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</div>Laura Springerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10920102860381840156noreply@blogger.com0