JURONG OUTREACH - July 08

BE AN EXAMPLE...IN WORDS
6th July 08 

To help us see how young people can be “examples of the believers” in word, conversation, charity, spirit, faith and purity, we’ll see how the prophet Samuel behaved as a boy. 

In 1 Samuel 3, God called the young Samuel, who was a servant of Eli the High Priest in the tabernacle. It was during the night that Samuel heard God’s voice, and Samuel thought it was Eli that called him, so Samuel went to Eli and asked Eli, “Here I am, for you called me.” After Eli told Samuel to go back to bed, God called again. Once again, Samuel asked Eli what he wanted, and again Eli sent Samuel back to bed. After the third time God called and Samuel went to Eli, Eli figured out that it must have been God calling the boy. Eli told Samuel that if God called again, Samuel should answer “speak Lord, for thy servant heareth.” 

Samuel did just that. When God spoke to Samuel the fourth time, Samuel said, “speak Lord, for thy servant heareth.” God told Samuel some very important news. We’ll focus on God’s message to Samuel in a later article in this series. For now, let’s think about the way Samuel spoke to Eli and God. 

Samuel used very humble and respectful terms when he spoke to Eli and to God. Samuel loved Eli and honored Eli’s position as High Priest of Israel. Samuel loved God and never spoke disrespectfully to God. Instead, he showed reverence and humility to God. Samuel was an example in word. 

Have you noticed that people who use humble and respectful words when they talk to God and to humans in authority generally have little trouble controlling their tongue at all times? Colossians 4:6 says that our speech is to be “seasoned with salt” (sweet), “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” and James 3:2 tells us that we are to control our speech at all times.”For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body”. If God spoke about how you talk to Him, could He say that your speech is sweet? 

Don’t ever say ugly things about the elders. 1 Peter 5:5 says that we are to submit ourselves to the elders, so speak kindly about them. Show respect for the fact that they are the church’s shepherds. “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” 

You’ve probably also observed that people who have a hard time controlling the way they talk about God (sometimes people speak loosely or joke about God) or about the elders (some people can’t seem to say anything nice about elders) also have a hard time making sure their speech is “sweet” at other times. If we’re going to be examples of the believers, we’ll need to follow Samuel’s example in word.

Little Things

It’s not the great things in this world
that make our lives worthwhile,
It’s the little things like a tiny flower,
or perhaps a baby’s

little word, sincerely spoken,
can lift our spirits high;
Like a tiny bird perched on a limb
sends his message to the sky.

A little dewdrop on a rose
and tiny blades of grass,
All sparkle in the sunlight,
to cheer us as we pass.

The lovely johnny jumpups,
the smallest flower that grows,
Delight the heart of youngsters,
peeping up around their toes.

friendly gesture or a smile
mean more to me than gold.
They help us feel that someone cares
when we are growing old.

Money cannot buy the things
that mean so much to me.
They are part of God’s creation,
and all of them are free.  

—Laina Owen— 

For who hath despised the day of small things?” —Zechariah 4:10 

SIN'S FISH STORY
13th July 08
 

This one is true. True, but sad.

The prodigal boy’s itinerary listed “far country” and maybe under that, “beaches, bars, and brothels.” He probably never read the very fine print that had “pig farm” (Luke 15:11-32). His “summer trip” took him farther than he intended to go. Once you board sin’s boat, it can be awfully hard to disembark. 

Ask Jonah. God told Jonah to go east to preach in Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire (Jonah 1:1-2). Jonah went west to hide in Tarshish, a city in southwestern Spain (1:3). When he got on that boat, he had no idea how far sin was going to take him. God sent a storm and nearly sank the ship. The mariners discovered that Jonah was running from God and threw him overboard. Stop and think. What was that like? Jonah described it, “For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me” (2:3). Drowning is a horrible way to die; to nearly drown is one of the most frightening experiences one can have. Why is Jonah in the water? Sin is taking him farther than he wanted to go. 

Instead of drowning, though, the LORD sent a great fish to eat Jonah (1:17). Imagine what it felt like to be eaten by a fish! Why are you in the fish, Jonah? Sin. Down he went to the sea bottom. Why are you there, Jonah? Sin. For seventy-two hours Jonah was in a fish’s digestive system! What did it feel like? What did it smell like? “The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head” (2:5) 

Finally God decided class was over and had the fish vomit (God’s word, 2:10) Jonah out onto land. What did it feel like to be human vomit? What made Jonah the only person ever to find out? Sin. What did Jonah learn? Sin will take you farther than you want to go. 

What does Jonah teach us about taking a trip into sin? First, it’s easy to book passage. Jonah didn’t have to wait for a ship going to Tarshish—the devil had it ready for him (1:3). Satan keeps “boats at the dock” for anybody wanting to sail to “Tarshish” (2 Cor 2:11; 1 Peter 5:8). Sin always lies “at the door” (Genesis 4:7). It is a wide gate that leads to the broad road (Matthew 7:13). If you remain true to God, it won’t be because you lacked opportunities to sin; it will be because you had the backbone to say “no” to sin and had faith to say “yes” to God—frequently.

What “boats” does Satan keep ready? 

~Teens heading to “Tarshish” find that being underage is no real hindrance to buying beer or cigarettes—an older friend will get these items for them or an unscrupulous business man will sell them “under the table” (Proverbs 1:19) 

~If they want to tell dirty jokes, there are plenty of people who will laugh (Romans 1:32) 

~If they want to go places and do things their parents forbid, they find that friends will lie to their parents for them ( Ephesians 6:4;)  

~If they want to tell dirty jokes, there are plenty of people who will laugh (Romans 1:32) 

If teens want to start a sexual relationship, most don’t have to look far to find a willing partner (Proverbs 9:14-16) 

Second, sin is progressive. It’s a slide down a slippery slope that goes down, down, down. We are told to “live it up”—that’s a lie. The road into the “far country” is always downhill. Jonah went “down” to Joppa, “down” into the ship (1:3) “down” into the sea, “down” into the fish’s mouth, and “down” to the sea bottom. Think of sin’s downward progression. 

~Walking with the ungodly leads to standing with sinners; standing with sinners leads to sitting with the scornful (Psalm 1:1; Matthew 26:58, 69-75) 

~Anger leads to violence; wrath leads to hatred; hatred leads to murder (Genesis 4:6, 8; Proverbs 27:3; Daniel 2:12; 1 John 3:15) 

~Jealousy and envy lead to cruelty, slander, and vengeance (Proverbs 6:34; 27:4; Song of Solomon 8:6; Judges 19:29-30) 

~Disobedience to parents leads to lying to parents (Romans 1:30; Ephesians 4:15; cf. Genesis 26:7; Colossians 3:9) 

~One lie leads to more lies ( John 8:44) 

~Covetousness leads to stealing and violence (Joshua 7:21; 1 Kings 21:1, 15; Micah 2:1-2; Mark 7:22; Eph 4:28; 2 Peter 2:3) 

~Immodest dress and behavior lead to lust which leads to fornication (Matthew 5:28; 1 Timothy 6:18); dancing and petting lead to sexual sins (cf. Galatians 5:19-21) 

Third, a sinful life is a turbulent life. Jonah found himself in a storm. It usually doesn’t take long for teens who forsake Christ to find turmoil (Proverbs 4:19; 15:10; Jeremiah 2:19; Romans 6:21) 

The Bible’s fish story is true—just as true now as it was twenty-seven centuries ago.

THE PARABLE OF THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
20th July 08

Matthew 13:45-46

Introduction

This parable, only two verses, is variously interpreted.  Commentators assign sundry meanings to such words as “merchant man” and “pearl of great price.”  A view of The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price that is conservative, simple and largely parallel to The Parable of the Hidden Treasure seems the most useful.  

Pearls are not mentioned in the Old Testament and were little valued by the Jews.  However, pearls appear several times in the New Testament.  

The Pearl of Great Price and The Hidden Treasure are companion, kingdom parables.  In the previous lesson they were called “twin parables.”  Each parable emphasizes the inestimable value of the kingdom of heaven.  “The parable illustrates the unsurpassed value of the church.” 

The Parable

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matthew 13:45-46).  

In both cases the finder gladly parted with everything he had to acquire the object of the parable.  The chief difference between the two parables is that The Hidden Treasure may have been found accidentally, while discovery of The Pearl of Great Price was the fruit of an ardent search.  

The “merchant man” was a businessman whose profession led him to travel in search of valuable or “goodly pearls.”  The man was not pursuing a mere hobby and neither was his acquisition of the “pearl of great price” a matter of covetousness.  It was a business transaction — the greatest of his career.  The end-user doubtless would have been a king or a queen (e.g., Cleopatra) or some other wealthy person.

The merchant was accustomed to evaluating pearls.  It was his business to know the value of pearls. He is a man with a definite purpose.  He knows exactly what he is looking for. Convinced of the value of that one pearl, he was willing to pay the price.  He entertained no misgivings about this transaction. The merchant is comparable to the man who found treasure in the preceding parable. 

 This man, though, was seeking the kingdom or the church.  This seeker was able to positively identify the kingdom.  Consequently, the parable describes one who was totally committed.  No personal investment was too costly compared to the object of his attention.

The “pearl of great price” is the kingdom or the church.  It is costly or of such immense value because of what it cost God — the blood of Jesus (John 3:16; Acts 20:28).  

Likewise, the truth-seeker in every generation can identify the kingdom or church of the New Testament. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). 

The value of the kingdom is obvious.  He willingly pays the price without reservation.  The truth-seeker is totally committed to the acquisition of the kingdom.  No personal investment is too costly.  

The cost, however, may be steep.  To become a citizen of the kingdom, one will have to abandon the inferior religious kingdoms of men (i.e., denominationalism, Judaism, Islam, etc.).   

This may be difficult considering how entwined religion may be in one’s family history or ethnic background (Galatians 1:13-14).   

One may face the loss of family and social affiliations (Matthew 10:35-39).  It is possible that to attain the kingdom a person may need to change careers, which also can be difficult, for instance if that required resignation from the generations old family craft (Acts 19:19). 

Additionally, seekers must renounce some of the worldly pleasures in which mankind often delights (Hebrews 11:25).

Seekers in the New Testament about whom we can read include Nicodemas (John 3), the eunuch (Acts 8), Cornelius (Acts 10) and the Bereans (Acts 17:11).  The apostles made great sacrifices, including the turning from honorable trades to devote themselves to preaching the Gospel.

“Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.  But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first” (Matthew 19:27-30). Sometimes we must experience the loss of this world’s goods (Mark 10:17-22).  

Conclusion

The kingdom or church is worth more than the greatest possible personal investment any of us could ever make.  Jesus gave himself for the kingdom or church (Ephesians 5:25).  Only through and in Christ can anyone receive the benefit of kingdom citizenship (Ephesians 1:3).

Happily and “[c]ontrary to the to the assertions of Calvinism, it is possible to seek God. . . . Men can know when they find the truth, and know that they know it.”  This quest is worth the effort and it is not beyond our reach.

FAITH, NOT A BLIND LEAP
27th July 08  

The story could be repeated in just about any congregation. A young man grows up in the church. Following his baptism, he takes an active role in leading singing and waiting on the Lord's Table. Everyone that is familiar with this young man says the same thing: "He is a strong Christian." And yet, within months after entering college, this "strong Christian" is on the path to becoming an unbeliever. His decision to leave the church was not sudden. Rather, it occurred over several weeks as this young man wrestled with questions tossed out by his newfound friends. 

The problem was this young man never developed a foundation for his faith. In fact, a great deal of his belief system was built around the beliefs of his parents. And to compound the problem, on occasions when this young man sought out answers on which to solidify his faith, he commonly received the same answer: "Well son, we don't know the answer for everything. Sometimes you just have to believe -- you have to take a blind leap of faith." In other words, this young man "believed" but he did not know why he believed. He was living an "inherited" religion.

So picture an eighteen-year-old who suddenly finds his faith challenged. His friends (and professors) confront him with questions and information that directly conflicts with his belief in the God of the Bible. And sadly, all this young man has to defend himself with is the notion that he had taken a "blind leap."  

Having, therefore, no good reason to keep on believing, when faced with tough questions, this young man falls headlong into the trap set for him by the "roaring lion" -- our adversary, the devil (1 Peter 5:8). Satan was successful in his task because we failed in ours. How many souls have been forfeited as our young people find themselves in a similar situation? They are presented with problems or alleged Bible discrepancies, and due to a lack of sufficient knowledge, they cast their entire belief system aside and begin supporting and defending worldly views. Unfortunately, this young man was not the only one we have told that faith is a "blind leap." Literally thousands have not been trained "in the way he should go" (Proverbs. 22:6), because we did not show them the evidences upon which their faith should have been based.

If we are ever going to break this cycle, then the first thing we must teach our young people is that faith is not a blind leap. We have the evidences around us to support our beliefs. We can prove the existence of God. We can prove the Bible is the inspired Word of God. We can prove Jesus Christ's deity. And we can show the foundation of Christ's church. But it all starts with establishing the fact that the Christian religion is not simply a "close my eyes and hope it's true" belief. Only after we establish that primary principle will we have a foundation strong enough upon which to build.

Peter stated that Christians should be "ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). We are commanded to "contend earnestly for the faith, once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). With an increasing number of people doubting God's existence, Jesus' deity, and the inspiration of the Bible, the Christian will find an increased demand upon him to be able to defend these things. Paul stressed that we should "prove all things," and then having done so, "hold fast to that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). It was Paul's custom to teach the Gospel by presenting the evidences documenting the truthfulness of Christianity (see Acts 17:2-3; 19:8). That is, in fact, how Peter preached the first Gospel sermon -- by presenting the evidence in a defense of Christ's resurrection (Acts 2). 

Through a study of the evidences upon which Christianity is based, Christians can come to see that Christianity is not a "pie in the sky" or an "I hope so by and by" kind of religion. On the contrary, Christianity is grounded in historical fact. Its roots are deep and its precepts are provable. Through a study of Christian evidences, we can show young people that they can: (a) know God exists, (b) know Jesus is God's Son; and (c) know the Bible is God's inspired, inerrant, authoritative Word. In so doing, we can give young people a clear view of their God, his Son, his church, and their future home of heaven.

Truth does not shrink from exhaustive examination, for it has nothing to fear. Rather, truth welcomes the searchlight of the severest scrutiny, unfailingly confident that it cannot be disproved. A religion that discourages logical examination of its claims is tacitly admitting the doubtfulness of its position. Christianity has no fear of submitting its beliefs to the critical examination of skeptics. Nor does Christianity fear to have its proponents study the claims of other religions (or no religion at all). Truth will not bend or break beneath the onslaught. A faith that cannot withstand a terse, critical examination is a faith not worth having in the first place. As young people are shown the manifold evidences that prove God's existence, Jesus' Sonship and the Bible's inspiration -- and as they examine other claims (atheism, agnosticism, skepticism, denominationalism, etc.) under the dissecting microscope of God's Word -- eventually they will come to accept, and be able to defend, the one true religion of the one true God. 

Let us, like Paul, never be ashamed of the Gospel, recognizing that it is the "power of God unto that salvation" (Romans 1:16). Let us study diligently to learn it well, and then in turn teach it to our children from the time we arise in the morning until the time that we lie down to sleep at night (Deuteronomy 11:18-21), so that when the time comes for them to "leap," they will find themselves able to see a firm foundation underfoot.