We are finally moving into our new facility! Just this week we moved over three trailers full of furniture, totes, and more into our new building. Everything is becoming even more real, especially while carrying an extremely heavy desk into my office. As we move stuff in, walk around our beautiful new facility, and dream about ministry in this new building there is a lot to process and take in. Even as I found myself dreaming, and at times worrying about all that needs to be done I also was reminded of God’s faithfulness and promises from his Word. Here are three quick reflections for us as we move in and prepare to use our new facility:

1. Moving into a brand-new facility is so fun. There is so much joy and excitement. There is also so much potential. What will happen here? How will God use us in this space? I don’t know about you, but it makes me excited and energized to even have the potential to be used by God. At the end of the day, this facility is just a facility, but it is also a testament to God’s faithfulness and a promise of the work he has for us to do! This brand-new building is a physical reminder of what happens in our spiritual lives as believers. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Christian, you don’t need a new building to experience the excitement of something new. You don’t need to move into a new facility to experience joy. In Christ you are new. Each day is a day full of exciting potential and joy to be used by God. In Christ we are new, brand new from the day we are saved through eternity. Let the excitement of this new building be a reminder of the excitement and potential we have access to as we live in and for Christ each day!

2. Each night as I get home, I am reminded at how hard it is to move. My back is tight, my muscles are sore, and I am exhausted. Moving is not easy. New potential is exciting but is not easy either. This is as true for a new facility as it is for the new life we have in Christ. Following Christ is free, but it costs you your life. Jesus’ burden is light, but do not mistake that for easy. Again, we find a reminder from Paul in Philippians 2:12, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” Christian, just because we are a new creation does not mean there is not work to do to grow in Christ. The salvation is complete, but the sanctification is still to be done. That is the becoming more like Christ. In Christ you are new, and able to be used by God, but you must be willing to commit to the work. Moving into a new building is also a great illustration of this truth as the building that is new, and exciting was not build by us, but that does not mean there is not work to be done. Are you willing to commit to the work of becoming more like Christ?

3. Finally, as I walk around this brand-new building I am in awe. It is so big and beautiful. I am wowed every time I spend time in it, but even still I know it will get old. A kid or student will dent the wall. Accidents and spills will happen. Things will deteriorate. This is life in a fallen world. The building won’t stay new forever, especially as we use it for God’s purposes and unleash its potential for ministry. This is true of all things in life except for one. That is Jesus. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that only, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Christian, do not put your hope in this building or anything on this earth. Remember that Jesus is the only thing that lasts forever. Build your life accordingly. Let the new building and its deterioration (even though we don’t want to think about it), remind us of the eternalness of our perfect savior and the life we live in him.

Church, I hope you are as excited as I am to move into and begin ministry in our new facility. Continue to pray for the transition, the ministry potential, and for God to be glorified. Also remember these truths from God’s word and allow the new building to be a reminder of the joy, excitement, potential, work, and eternal nature of our lives in Christ! To God be the glory!

December is one of my favorite months of the year. Often, when I reflect on what makes December feel Christmasy, part of it has to do with the lights at night. I see them everywhere, at shopping centers or all the houses that go all out for Christmas. (By the way, the shops at the university crossing on Nevada and Austin Bluffs look amazing right now.) part of it is the cold weather with a chance of snow. But what makes December the most Christmasy has to be the music. The beautiful melodies, borrowed chords, and minor notes make Christmas sound unique. Even though there are 10,000 different versions of the same song, it is still fun to listen to most of them. Christmas music is so much fun and can be so powerful. But the most powerful Christmas songs remind us of Jesus.

There are so many layers to Jesus’ birth. To think that Jesus was born of a virgin and dwelled among us blows me away. The fact that he left his throne in heaven and became our Emmanuel. (God with us) Jesus, being fully God, became one of us. He was in a perfect place without sin, basking in the glory of His Father, and yet he obeyed His Father’s plan to redeem humanity from the plague of sin. Jesus came down and dwelt in the same king of flesh and bones that we do. And though he was fully God, he was born in the most humbling places. A stable. What kind of innkeeper turns away a pregnant woman? Was he like, hey Joesph, I know that this King Herod guy made you walk a long way to be registered, and it looks like your wife is Super Pregnant and all, but y’all can stay in my barn because I'm not going to see if anyone is okay to share a room for a night. And I am definitely not giving you my room. How was there no courtesy for them? But still, Jesus was born in a manger. The world did not have room for the one who came to save it.

The main piece of the Christmas Story that will inevitably make me cry at some point is to think about the end of Jesus’ story. Jesus was born to die. That was his mission. Jesus didn’t come to Earth and dwell among us for a nice vacation. His purpose was to live the perfect life that we couldn’t. Every single person sins at some point in their early life and continues to. We have no hope to live perfectly or good enough because one little sin still separates us from God, and we are responsible for paying the price of that sin. And each person is full of sinful moments. And as Romans 6:23a reminds us, “The wages of sin is death.” We earn death by sinning. We deserve to die and to be separated from God. But God was born to die in our place. So that he could offer us a gift. The second part of Romans 6:23b is a beautiful promise. It says, “But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This was the purpose of Jesus coming. He was to taste death for sinners so that we don’t have to. Hebrews 2:9-10 says, “But was see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.”

The power of Christmas is to realize that this baby we focus on grows up to become our savior. He would die in our sinful place but beat death by coming back to life. Jesus did all this so that we can have salvation, forgiveness, and freedom from sin. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

One of my all-time favorite Christmas songs is called, “I Celebrate The Day” By Relient K. The song reminds me of the theme that Jesus was born to die. The chorus lyrics are:

And the first time that You opened Your eyes

Did You realize that You would be my Savior

And the first breath that left Your lips

Did You know that it would change this world forever

The ending lyrics are:

And I

I celebrate the day

That You were born to die

So I could one day pray for You to save my life

Those are some wonderful lyrics to sing each year because it helps me think about this sweet baby who was born to become the perfect, sinless Savior. He grew up to change the world by offering freedom from sin so that you might be saved. So I can celebrate the day that I did pray for Jesus to save my life. Have you received the Free Gift of Salvation? If so, then this Christmas, celebrate his birth with thankfulness for your salvation.

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, but it isn’t always easy for those who are suffering or suffering the loss of a loved one. I remember my first Christmas after my dad passed away. Actually, I remember my first several Christmases without him. I was bitter, lonely, and sad because things were different. The meaning of Christmas was still there. The joy of Christ coming to take my place on the cross was there. But when it came to celebrating with family, the Christmas season felt empty. Something was missing. Sadly, I know I am not alone in this feeling. So, how do we fight back against suffering and loss? How do we move forward with the joy and hope God promises in his word? These are questions Christians must deal with, not only at Christmas, but all the time. Jesus himself promised in John 16:33, “In the world you will have tribulation.” His younger brother James banks on this promise as he instructs believers in James 1:2 to “Count it all joy… when you meet trials of various kinds.” I don’t pretend to have the secret answer or the solution, but as a fellow sufferer I hope my words from experience can provide some hope and a light that reflects our ultimate hope and light in Jesus.

1. You need to make a choice.

Nothing in life is neutral. You are either being moved towards or away from God. This is true of hobbies, habits, food and drink, the things we watch, and on and on and on. But I have found this is especially true when it comes to suffering. Anytime someone faces suffering of any kind they must answer the question: Is this suffering going to lead me closer to or further from God? You have a choice, to lean in towards God and his goodness, or listen to the enemy and doubt God’s goodness. I have seen people’s faith wrecked by suffering and tragedy, but I have also experienced my own faith being formed in suffering. In fact, the Bible promises that if we run toward God, instead of away from him in suffering it will be for our benefit. Just look at the promise of James 1:3-4 in reference to the various trials we will face: “for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Your suffering and struggle can have great fruit in your walk with the Lord, but only if you run toward him with it rather than away. Now, I am not saying you might not have questions, or wrestle with God in the pain as you seek to understand his uncomprehensible plans with your finite mind, but you must guard against bitterness and anger towards God. Make sure that you lean into him, his word, and his church during difficult times. Make sure that you make the decision from the very beginning to move towards him rather than away. Make sure that through it all you sing with Job, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” This choice and the reliance on God have been one of the most important things for me as I walk through my own suffering.

2. You don’t have to be okay.

I remember when my dad died, I did not want anyone to see me cry. I would hold it in and pretend I was fine, only to sob uncontrollably in private. I thought I had to pretend to be okay. If I truly trusted God I thought, then I had to show it. I thought this is what it meant to suffer as a godly young man, but now looking back, I have learned a valuable lesson: It is okay to not be okay. This world isn’t how God originally designed it. It is broken. It is painful. It is full of hurt we as God’s children were not meant to bear. Therefore, when we go through a difficult time or suffer, there is nothing wrong with acknowledging that we are not okay. Now we can’t stay in that place forever, but we cannot pretend that it is not real.

Look at Jesus himself weeping over the death of his friend Lazarus in John 11:35. We love to quote this verse because it is the shortest verse in the Bible but think about the weight and the depth of it! Jesus, God in the flesh, wept! Knowing his own plans for the world, he knew that this was not how life was to be, especially for his dear friend! He wept and it frees us to weep and acknowledge that we are not okay in suffering. Jesus then shows us why we do not have to stay in that state of not being okay because he then demonstrated his power and the resurrection, we can all look forward to one day, but don’t miss the moment of grief. Do not deny yourself the appropriate time to mourn and acknowledge you are not okay. Remember Paul’s admonition in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Mourning and grief are not sinful. They are a part of living in a broken world.

3. You need God’s word.

This advice might sound like typical pastor advice. Of course, pastor Austin is guilting me to read and memorize God’s word. I hear you but let me tell you about how God’s word has held me and gotten me through hard times. There are several examples of this, but just this Thanksgiving I was taking an emergency trip to see my nephew who was in the ICU at Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. My second day there I stopped at a coffee shop before went to see him. I just happened to look up verses on God’s comfort and found Psalm 55:22, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” I dwelt on this verse and prayed it over my nephew and my situation.

That afternoon, during an attempt to remove his breathing tube, my nephew would crash. I found myself in my biggest nightmare scenario as stood there hugging my crying mom watching a big team of doctor’s rush in to work to keep my nephew alive. I was terrified. I wanted to be sick. I wanted to run away, but I knew I couldn’t. In that moment of suffering and crisis the scripture I dwelt on that morning came to my mind. I said the verse repeatedly in my mind. God comforted me in this hard and terrifying moment with his word. He, through his word got me through the suffering in its hardest moments. My nephew would end up being okay, but even if he hadn’t been, God was comforting me with his word. I was reminded of the importance of God’s word in suffering and hard times. Suffering will come, Jesus promised it would. So, begin, even now, to build yourself up in his word so that he can use it to comfort your soul, even in the hardest moments of your life.

4. You don’t need to do it alone.

The final thing I want to encourage you with, though there are certainly more, is to make sure you don’t walk through suffering alone. This is a biblical command as I already mentioned referencing Romans 12:1. Still again Paul points to this again in 1 Corinthians 12:26. In this verse describing how the church should interact with one another Paul says, “So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it.” Fellow sufferer you were never meant to carry it alone. Humanity is made for community in the good and the bad of life. From experience I would add, especially in the bad of life. When I have suffered, I know that having someone by my side was a huge deal. The way my church stepped up for me and my family during my Father’s sickness and death was quite literally life changing.

This is one of the reasons why church attendance and engagement are a huge deal! Church attendance matters because in it we are sharing life, building relationships, and are there for each other no matter what. There is great difficulty in being there for someone you don’t know, and you can’t know someone if you aren’t regularly with them! This is one of the many reasons why the author of Hebrews says in Hebrews 10:25, “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” You see, pastors do not ask you to attend church to pad their numbers or egos, but because it is good for you and provides you with people to walk alongside you when life gets hard. Whether you are suffering now, or will one day, make sure you are serious about doing life and walking alongside your brothers and sisters in the context of a local church. This is one of the reasons the church exists! Do not try and walk through suffering without your church family.

As I conclude this blog, I want to remind us of the verse I quoted at the beginning. I quoted a very small part of John 16:33, but we cannot forget the complete verse, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” We can endure suffering because our God has overcome the world! This is the greatest hope and source of life we can find in the good and bad moments. With all of this in mind, whether you have suffered, are suffering, or will suffer one day, I hope this article provides you some practical help from the Word of God, and the experience of a brother in Christ who loves you. If you need prayer, counsel, or someone to talk to be sure to reach out to your pastoral staff here at Redemption Hill Church. And finally, I want to leave you with this quote from John Piper, “Hurting and joy are not opposites; they’re not contrary. They can exist at the same time.”

Growing up, the churches that I attended never really celebrated Advent. I always perceived it as a “Catholic” thing. It wasn’t until around 2010 that I realized that Advent was celebrated not only by other denominations but also by many Southern Baptists. Celebrating Advent represents a warm illustration of rich and valued tradition. Quite simply, “Advent” is a Latin expression meaning “arrival” and its purpose is to ask Followers of Jesus to take time to remember why Jesus came to earth 2000 years ago:

“…in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.” - Luke 2:8-18

In terms of tradition, celebrating the birth of Jesus through Advent manifest itself in many unique ways. As a church, we have embraced both the Advent wreath and the lighting of candles. These articles allow us to provide a beautifully symbolic tradition leading to the arrival of Christmas Day. We have also chosen to involve families, allowing them to help all of us remember the “why” behind our corporate celebration of Christmas.

Being a history nut, the past plays a huge part in why I believe Advent is an important part of celebrating the Christmas season in our day. Today, many might recognize Advent as a time of anticipation and expectation of the birth of Christ. Historically, the very first mention of Advent occurred in the 300’s A.D at a meeting of church leaders called the Council of Sargossa. Extending from this meeting, by the 4th and 5th centuries Advent began to be celebrated as a time of holy and somber remembrance, specifically upon Christmas Day. Gradually, Advent developed into a seasonal celebration and recognition that stretched across the month of December. Today, for most churches Advent lasts around four Sundays and it not only symbolizes the waiting for Christ's birth but also, for his ultimate return:

“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of Lords.” - Revelation 19:11-16

With the culmination of the first Advent of Jesus, joy was accompanied by extreme sorrow. The King reigns today from heaven, as well as in the hearts of His Believers, but for a time His closest followers were not quite sure what the outcome might be. The second coming of Jesus Christ should be the hope of all believers that God is in control of all circumstances and is absolutely faithful to the promises, as well as the prophecies, described in His Word. With His first Advent, Jesus Christ came to earth as a baby born in a manger in the relatively insignificant town of Bethlehem. Through His life, Jesus fulfilled most of the prophecies of the coming Messiah during His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection. However, there are a few prophecies regarding the Messiah that Jesus has not yet fulfilled. The second Advent of Jesus will be the return of Christ to fulfill these remaining prophecies.

In His first Advent, Jesus was the “suffering Servant”.

In His second Advent, Jesus will be the conquering King.

In His first Advent, Jesus arrived under the most humble of circumstances.

In His second Advent, Jesus will arrive with the armies of heaven at His side.

Church Family, no matter how we choose to celebrate the first Advent of Jesus, may we all be reminded of the beauty and grace of Jesus through it. He arrived in our dark, broken world on the first Christmas so very long ago to restore light, peace and life that had been lost. He is working even now to restore light, peace, and life to its final conclusion and restoration. Advent to Advent…arrival to arrival…may your family find rich blessing and hope in remembering the Lord who came to earth as well as recognizing that same Lord who will one day return.

May you all be blessed in this special Season through incorporating the spirit of Advent into your celebration of Christmas and may that spirit carry forward into all of the hope-filled promises of 2025.

"Why should we not ... do something that will prove that we are really in earnest in claiming to be followers of him who, though he was rich, for our sake became poor?"

- Lottie Moon, Sept. 15, 1887, Tengchow, China

Lottie Moon — the namesake of Southern Baptists’ international missions offering — has become a legend. But in her time, Lottie was anything but an untouchable hero. In fact, she was like today's missionaries. She labored tirelessly so her people group could know Jesus.

Well over 100 years ago, a single missionary named Lottie Moon, while serving in China, began writing letters challenging the American church to send and support more workers to go there. After her death on the field, her challenge was heeded in the formalization of an offering in her name. Even if you’re not a Southern Baptist who has given to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, her life is a reminder of why we must give to send and support missionaries serving among unreached peoples in unreached places.

Born Charlotte Digges Moon, December 12, 1840, in Albemarle County, Virginia. Lottie rebelled against Christianity until she was in college. In December 1858, she dedicated her life to Christ and was baptized at First Baptist Church, Charlottesville, Virginia. Lottie attended Albemarle Female Institute, female counterpart to the University of Virginia. In 1861, she was one of the first women in the South to receive a master’s degree. She stayed close to home during the Civil War but eventually taught school in Kentucky, Georgia and Virginia.

Edmonia Moon, Lottie’s sister, was appointed to Tengchow, China, in 1872. The following year, Lottie was appointed and joined her sister there. Lottie served 39 years as a missionary, mostly in China’s Shantung province. She taught in a girls’ school and often made trips into China’s interior to share the good news with women and girls. Lottie Moon was passionate about people knowing Christ. She didn’t hesitate to speak her mind.

Today’s China is a world of rapid change. It’s home to 1.4 billion individuals – one-fifth of the world’s population. Village dwellers flock to trendy megacities with exploding populations. And China holds its own in the world’s economy. It’s very different from the vast farmland Lottie Moon entered in the 1800s. But one thing hasn’t changed: China’s need for a Savior.

When she set sail for China, Lottie was 32 years old. She had turned down a marriage proposal and left her job, home and family to follow God’s lead. Her path wasn’t typical for an educated woman from a wealthy Southern family. God had gripped her with the Chinese peoples’ need for a Savior.

For 39 years Lottie labored, chiefly in Tengchow and P’ingtu. People feared and rejected her, but she refused to leave. The aroma of fresh-baked cookies drew people to her house. She adopted traditional Chinese dress, and she learned China’s language and customs. Lottie didn’t just serve the people of China; she identified with them. Many eventually accepted her. And some accepted her Savior.

Lottie wrote letters home detailing China’s hunger for truth and the struggle of so few missionaries taking the gospel to the 472 million Chinese in her day. She also shared the urgent need for more workers and for Southern Baptists to support them through prayer and giving.

She once wrote home to the Foreign Mission Board, “Please say to the [new] missionaries they are coming to a life of hardship, responsibility and constant self-denial.” Disease, turmoil and lack of co-workers threatened to undo Lottie’s work. But she gave herself completely to God, helping lay the foundation of what would become the modern Chinese church, one of the fastest-growing Christian movements in the world. Lottie Moon died at 72 — ill and in declining health after decades ministering to her beloved Chinese. But her legacy lives on. And today, when gifts aren’t growing as quickly as the number of workers God is calling to the field, her call for sacrificial giving rings with more urgency than ever.

Lottie often sent letters back home detailing Chinese culture, missionary life and the physical and spiritual needs of the Chinese people. Additionally, she challenged Southern Baptists to go to China or give so that others could go. By 1888, Southern Baptist women had organized and helped collect $3,315 to send workers needed in China.

In 1918, Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) named the annual Christmas offering for international missions after the woman who had urged them to start it. Redemption Hill Church will soon begin its participation in this annual offering. Let’s listen carefully to the videos and announcements describing this offering and its call for participation. Lottie Moon Christmas offering gifts send missionaries to places around the world where the name of Jesus is not known and where the gospel is not preached. Missionaries will go if only we do our part.

I became a Christian the summer of my 6th grade year back in 1991 in Shreveport, Louisiana. My Sunday school teacher, Marshal Graham, presented the Gospel to me, and I knew that I was sinner in need of the forgiveness afforded to us through the sacrifice of Christ. It was at that time that I began to get involved in the student ministry of my church. One of the ways that God grew me in my devotion to him was through music.

There is something about music and how it communicates through the lyrics, melodies and harmonies that can stir us to a deep spiritual and emotional connection with God. One of the songs that I remember worshipping to as an older teenager was “The Heart of Worship” by Matt Redman.

Redman recounts that the genesis of this song came from a call by his pastor to move from being consumers of worship to producers. As Redman contemplated his own worship he penned the words to the song. “The Heart of Worship” describes the journey they experienced.

When the music fades, all is stripped away, and I simply come / Longing just to bring something that’s of worth that will bless your heart… / I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about You, Jesus.

This song reminds and challenges us to think about our “heart of worship”. Who or what is the aim of our worship? Now, for sure, our worship of God is more than just the songs we sing and how we feel when we sing them. Worship of God is an all-encompassing offering of our lives to the creator, sustainer and Savior of this world.

Romans 12:1 says,

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

The true requirement of our worship of God is to present everything that we are to Him. The whole of our lives. This is the only proper way to worship Christ, who gave us all of Himself so that we might be reconciled back to God. He gave His all so we must give our all.

In H.B. Charles Jr’s book On Worship, he draws the reader’s attention to the fact that “God is the target audience of worship”. It should be our aim to please God with the worship that we present and offer to him. This worship is pleasing and acceptable to him if it comes from a place of making our worship, not about us, but about God.

Hebrews 13:15-16 issues this call to worship:

“Through him (Christ) then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

So, what is the state of your “heart of worship”? Does the worship of your life look more like self-worship or worship of the one true God? Are we striving to make every aspect of our lives a pleasing offering to the Lord?

Again, hearing from H.B. Charles Jr., I want to challenge you, as well as myself, with these reminders:

Make sure the Lord is pleased with your life.

Make sure the Lord is pleased with your offering.

Make sure the Lord is pleased with your motives.

Make sure the Lord is pleased with your attitude.

Make sure the Lord is pleased with your relationships.

Redemption Hill family, I love you and continue to pray that we, as his people, would seek Him first above all things so that our lives would be a living sacrifice for the Gospel and His kingdom. This is our pleasing spiritual worship!

Happy November, Church Family! Thanksgiving is upon us. We will gather around our tables and feast in a couple of weeks. Thanksgiving is such a fun time to eat until you are miserable. It’s almost impossible not to. But at least after the meal you have the opportunity to fall asleep watching football, and then eat some pie for dessert. It’s the holiday tradition. Eat way too much, nap, and eat some more. What a great day and a great way to celebrate family and thank God for all he has done this year in your life.

I have always wanted to write a Thanksgiving-themed paper or sermon on the idea of the King’s Table. Years ago, I was reading The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I have loved the world of Narnia since the first movie came out. I always wanted to walk through a wardrobe and find myself in Narnia. There is a moment in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader when Prince Caspian, Edmond, and Lucy come to an island, and they find Aslan’s Table. It has always struck me that Aslan had his own table, and then I found several places in the Bible that describe God’s table and dining with Him.

Matthew 8:11: “I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”

Luke 13:29: “And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at the table in the kingdom of God.”

Luke 14:15: “When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, ‘Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’”

Revelation 19:7: “And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true words of God.’”

I think it is truly awesome that God has his own table. Luke 14:15 and Revelation 19:7 say that those who are invited and who eat bread are blessed. But also, it is awesome it is that many different types of people from different geographical locations are invited to recline at the table. To recline at the table means to relax and feel secure and safe. Can you imagine relaxing in God’s presence? He is perfect, sinless, and holy, and we are sinners who deserve punishment yet we are invited to take a seat at his table and dine with him. But who can come to this table? How do we get our invitation?

Jesus speaks about this idea of being invited through the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22:1-14, “And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, “Tell those who are invited, ‘See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

This parable is full of tons of imagery. The King represents God the Father. The son represents Jesus. The wedding represents the church being united with Jesus at the end times. So the Father invites all of these people to the wedding feast. Many ignore those servants and don’t bother to show up; some even kill the Father’s servants. Those first invitations went out to God’s people first. The Jews. If you can remember some super religious Jews didn’t like Christians, and in Acts chapter 7, Saul, who would later become the Apostle Paul, would stone Stephen ( a recently chosen to serve the people in chapter 6) to death. So, in the parable, the King decides that the original guest list is unworthy of attendance and would have his servants go and invite who they found on the roads, both good people and bad people so that the wedding hall was full of guests. This is again a reference to the verses already cited in this blog. Many people from all around the world would be invited to recline at the table of the Lord. Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” So the Good and Bad people found on the road represent those who believe in Jesus as their savior but are not Jewish.

The parable ends with the story of a man who wasn’t wearing a wedding garment at the wedding feast. Now while everyone was welcomed to the feast there was still proper clothing attire that each guest was required to wear. However, since many people came to the party who were from the roads, it is implied that the King could provide the proper garments for each guest to wear. Then a wedding crasher comes not wearing the proper attire and is kicked out is banished to the outer darkness. The moment that we truly believe in Jesus he clothes us in His righteousness. Jesus provides the proper clothing for us to attend and sit at the Father’s table. But many times there are people in the church and outside of the church who think they are all good to enter the kingdom of God and go to heaven but they are not wearing Jesus’s righteousness. There are many who know a ton about God, even believe that Jesus is the son of God, but yet have not made Jesus the Lord of their life. They don’t have an authentic relationship with Christ. This guest who thought he was clear to recline at the table of the Lord was unworthy because he didn’t truly belong. 2nd Peter 1:10 says, “Therefore brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” Peter is pleading with his readers to confirm their relationship with God. Do the same today. If you know for a fact that you have been clothed in the Righteousness of Jesus then you are free to recline at the table and have confidence that you belong, but if you are unsure even at a little bit come and talk to one of the pastors on staff. It’s not enough to have knowledge of Jesus but to personally know him.

Matthew 22:14 says, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” John MacArthur in his Matthew commentary, said, “The invitations to the wedding feast went out to many, representative of everyone to whom the gospel message is sent. But few of those who heard the call were willing to accept it and thereby be among the chosen. The gospel invitation is sent to everyone because it is not the Father’s will that a single person be excluded from His kingdom and perish in the outer darkness of hell. But not everyone wants God, and many who claim to want Him do not want Him on His terms.”

That is a pretty powerful statement. Do you really want a relationship on His terms or yours? If we want God on our terms, we miss the point entirely and are in danger. But how easy it is for those of us who have accepted Christ on His terms can find rest and assurance of His salvation.

So, on November 28th as you gather around your table to eat a wonderful feast, say a quick prayer of thankfulness to Jesus for providing a way to recline at the Father’s table someday soon. I will leave you with the lyrics of one of my favorite songs called, “Carried to the Table,” by a band called Leeland. The song goes:

Wounded and forsaken I was shattered by the fall

Broken and forgotten Feeling lost and all alone

Summoned by the King Into the Master's courts

Lifted by the Savior And cradled in His arms

I was carried to the table

Seated where I don't belong

Carried to the table Swept away by His love

And I don't see my brokenness anymore

When I'm seated at the table of the Lord

I'm carried to the table

The table of the Lord

This morning as I sat down to read Exodus 13, I was eager to get to the next part of the action. God had just passed over the first born of the Hebrews and destroyed the first born of the Egyptians. Pharoah finally tells God’s people to get out of Egypt. The moment we have been waiting for! As Chapter 12 ends they are finally leaving, but there is more to the story! To which we come to the end of chapter 12 and chapter 13, expecting to find thrilling developments. Instead, there is simply instructions for how to celebrate the Passover to commemorate this momentous work of our God. Don’t get me wrong, this is hugely important, but in the middle of the narrative right as it reaches the climax of the story? This must be important then, even if it doesn’t stimulate my desire for action. God must have something for me to see in this chapter that doesn’t usually get that much attention.

Chapter 12 ends with instructions on how to observe the Passover, and Chapter 13 verses 1-16 remind God’s people of why the celebrate the Passover and how it must be passed down to their children (There is rich family discipleship material in the expectation to pass down the faith to their children, and perhaps that is another blog article for the future). But what struck me this morning is that in these 16 verses God repeats four times something like, “Remember this day when you came out of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, for the LORD has brought you out the place of slavery, for the LORD brought you out of here by the strength of his hand.” When something is repeated in the Bible, especially this many times, it must be important!

Throughout the plagues, God made clear that this was being done for his glory. The people were to never forget how great their God was and what he had done for him. This would cause them to worship him how he deserves, it would remind them of his care for them, and it would keep them from straying away from him. Now, looking back we see how important this warning was with the unfaithfulness of Israel, but it is huge for us as well! How often do we forget how great our God is? How often do we doubt and take things into our own hands? How often do we selfishly choose sin over and above him?

In chapter 13 we find a hugely important reminder to remind ourselves of God’s power, goodness, and faithfulness! We can do this by recounting the works he has done as recorded in his Word. Things like the provision of salvation from slavery to Egypt in the Exodus, a foreshadowing of the ultimate act of providing salvation to us through Christ from the slavery of our sin! Reminding ourselves of God’s goodness is a critical reason why we must spend time in his Word and should read our Bibles daily! The Bible is the best source of stories of God’s faithfulness, but your own experience with God is a great reminder too. Take a moment and reflect on your life. Where has God shown up for you? Remember when and how he saved you! Recall the times he met you in your brokenness. Realize all the blessings he has given you! When we remember how great and good our God is, it keeps us walking closely with him and keeps us from straying. This is a lesson the Israelites did not get but let us learn from their mistakes. Let us remind ourselves of God’s power, goodness, and faithfulness and let them cause us to fall even more in love with him! This is the beautiful truth I discovered in Exodus 13 this morning.

The way God spoke to me this morning is a reminder of why it best for us to read and preach through the Bible chapter by chapter. God will speak to us through passages that are rarely discussed, highlighted, or even preached on. As a church we have experienced this time and time again as we have preached through 1 Timothy over the last couple of months. But this is not only for preaching, but also our own personal Bible reading. If you don’t regularly or daily spend time with God in his word, let me encourage you to that! As you just heard, I experienced the benefits of this type of reading just this morning in Exodus 13. Often, we jump to the calling of Moses in chapter 2, the Passover and Exodus in chapter 12, or the parting of the Red Sea in chapter 14. But nestled right in the middle of these big chapters we spend a lot our focus on, and rightfully so, God spoke to me through his Spirit as I read a portion of his Word that can seem like a mere footnote of information. I hope this encourages you to take time in God’s Word seriously and to reflect and remind yourself of what God has done for us!

Sunday, October 13, was the first time I preached before an American audience. I have preached before foreign mission trip audiences, but I preached through an interpreter. The 13th was my first time to preach before Redemption Hill Church, which includes Circle Drive Baptist Church. Dr. Al Barrera extended the invitation to preach the text found in 1 Timothy 3:14-16, and I accepted.

I had a little over one month to craft my sermon. During my preparation time, if one can call it that, I jotted down what I wanted to say as part of my sermon. I spent considerable time trying to discern the passage’s big idea and what I thought the apostle Paul was saying to his protégé Timothy.

When the moment of truth came, I preached my best. Beforehand, I thought I had 30 minutes’ worth of “stuff.” I don’t know how long the sermon lasted or how long you had to sit there. Upon the conclusion of the sermon, I gave an invitation. I don’t know if anyone came forward. My eyes were closed while I reviewed what had gone on.

Looking back, there are a few tips I wish I had been given as a beginning preacher. Here are a few comments my Gateway Seminary Preaching Professor gave me before and after my preached sermon.

Seek your Pastor’s Affirmation & Counsel

I sought counsel from several of Redemption’s pastoral staff members on how I ought to preach my sermon. They gave great counsel and encouraging words. These conversations were not foreboding; they were simple encouragement and confidence-builder conversations before I stepped onto the platform.

Find a Low-Pressure Venue

Circle Drive used to conduct Sunday evening services. In many ways I wish we still did. Generally, the bigger the stage (as in Sunday mornings), the greater the pressure will be. As a first-time preached sermon, I might have liked to have a go at it on a Sunday evening. But Sunday morning it was, and I enjoyed the time. Preaching in front of family and friends is a joy, but I would have enjoyed having a few ‘low pressure’ sermons under my belt before I hit the big time of Sunday morning.

Choose Your Text Wisely

I appreciated preaching 1 Timothy 3:14-16. This passage was not a ‘thorny passage’ such Ross and Austin have preached here of late. I did not have to reconcile faith and works from James 2; harmonize God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility from Romans 9 and 10; or explain the hypostatic union of Christ from Philippians 2. Such passages would have been too ambitious for me as a first-time preacher. 1 Timothy 3 was a much more manageable passage. Many biblical texts preach themselves. I was thankful to have preached from 1 Timothy.

Exposit the Text

After studying the text of 1 Timothy 3, I prayed and asked the Lord to show me how to exposit his Word before the people. As a beginning preacher, I prayed to avoid unrefined speech and prayed to overcome a lack of homiletical polish, awkward locutions, fidgety habits, and nervous ticks. Before I started my sermon, I gave my wrist watch, car fob, pen and pencils with my wife. I prayed not to be excused for mishandling the passage. I wanted to achieve a simple, yet faithful, explanation of the text. I wanted God’s people to hear God’s Word, even if his spokesperson (that would have been me) was a bit green behind the ears.

Over-Prepare

For my sermon, I studied and prepared, even to the point of overpreparing. However, much as I might have thought that I had (over)prepared, I was encouraged to double my preparation. I’ve read preaching giants such as Charles Spurgeon, Adrian Rogers, and Charles Stanley, to have said that preachers need to prepare, prepare some more, and then prepare even more. Then, and only then, trust the Holy Spirit to do his work. The few sermons I’ve preached I’ve felt just the opposite. I definitely felt under-prepared as I preached 1 Timothy 3. On this occasion, I was amazed at how quickly I went through my sermon notes. To be frank, I would rather preach undressed than unprepared (please forgive the use of this illustration).

Remove the “I”

I hope this was not the case. The preacher always needs to remember that no matter how much the congregation wants to hear from you, they must hear from Jesus. Personal illustrations, opinions, and any other phrase that begins with “I” is of little importance. Carefully use the word and letter “I,” and even then, use it sparingly. I hope my use of a map and photograph illustrations did not over speak the point.

Lift High Jesus

A wise preacher once wrote, “If you are ever unsure of what to preach, just preach Jesus.” Now, the truth of the matter is, every sermon should feature Jesus, but especially first sermons. As I preach, make sure Christ eclipses me. You can never go wrong by lifting high the name of Jesus.

Rest in God’s Power

Lastly, rest in God’s power. Trust him. Trust his Word. Be faithful to the text and be assured that God will work through you. The effectiveness of the sermon rests in God’s power, not mine.

Conclusion

I’ll never again get the chance to preach my first sermon first. I’ll always remember my first sermon, but I’ll probably be the only one, and that is a good thing. If God opens door for me to preach again, I’ll likely feel the exhilaration and fright all over again. I’ll walk through the doors once again cheerfully, and I’ll keep these eight tips in mind as I go.