Waging Peace

"Waging war" is costly, isn’t it? We read the news and see the costs of waging war in Iraq or in Afghanistan. The financial costs alone are staggering, with dollar amounts that have more zeros than I can compute in my simple brain. But, I’m not thinking merely of Iraq and Afghanistan. Waging war is costly on all fronts. Maintaining "wars" with people at work, school, the neighborhood, the church—and even in our families—is costly, too. There’s a price to be paid for not getting along with other people in our lives. What kind of price have you paid?

Interestingly, "waging peace" is costly, too. Seeking reconciliation ("peace") with people with whom we’ve had some falling out is costly. Embracing people who have such a different view of life is costly. Accepting people who are just plain "different" is costly.

The good news is, the price of "waging peace" has already been paid by our gracious Lord. How can we benefit from His gift of grace in our pursuit of "waging peace" in our relationships? What is the connection between the gospel of God’s grace and getting along with people that we find it difficult to get along with?

Sunday, January 17th we will look at this very issue in the morning services at Christ's Covenant Church. This will be a very timely and personal topic of discussion. In preparation for the sermon, why not start praying now for God to open the eyes of our hearts, that we would see the practical implications of how the gospel impacts our relationships—especially our "difficult" relationships? Take some time before Sunday to prayerfully read through Ephesians 4:1-6.

You can listen to the sermon on www.hisfameministries.com by Monday, January 18th if you miss Sunday and want to hear what you missed!

5 Solas of Reformation Radio Interview

For those in the Fort Wayne/Northern Indiana area you can listen to an interview I conducted with 1090AM at 10:30am on Saturday, November 21st. Tomorrow's discussion is the second of a handful of airings from an interview I participated in on the 5 Solas.

GOD HAS GIVEN US A PURPOSE FOR LIVING

Do you look forward to getting out of bed on a typical Monday? Some people are probably thinking right now, "Are you crazy, Pastor Larry? Of course not! Why would I want to get out of bed on a Monday morning?" Many people crawl out of bed each morning only because they "have to." They "have" to go to work or to school or go tend to a crying baby. For many people, life has become rather mundane — routine.

But does it need to be this way?

At Christ's Covenant Church as we are journeying in the book of Ephesians we are reminded that "the gospel changes everything." The Lord has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. It‘s as if God has given us a treasure box full of His indescribable blessings, granted to us because of the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. The Christian‘s glorious challenge is to "unpack" that treasure box of the gospel for everyday life. If we seldom open the treasure box of the gospel, we live without full enjoyment of the blessings that are already ours in Christ. Instead of enjoying the gospel treasure, we end up looking for joy and purpose in other places — and those "substitutes" always let us down eventually. Over time, life becomes dangerous at worst and disappointing at best. Eventually, we don‘t even want to get out of bed.

Again, does it need to be this way? Might not the Lord want us followers of Jesus to deeply enjoy life — to see it as having great purpose? Sunday, October 25th we asked and answered these very questions. If you were not able to be with us in person, you can listen to what you missed at www.hisfameministries.com

THE END OF THE BEGINNING

The end is not always the end. Sometimes we come to what we presumed to be the "end" of a journey only to find so much more lies yet ahead. It‘s like climbing to the top of a mountain, thinking of the peak as your destination. Then, when you get there you can see spreading before you an inviting panorama of ridge after ridge of that breath-taking mountain range. What you thought of as the "end" of your upward hike was, in fact, only "the end of the beginning."

Coming to the end of our journey in Luke‘s Gospel is like that. It‘s not really "the end," but more like "the end of the beginning." As we saw Sunday, October 4th at Christ's Covenant Church, Luke closes his Gospel with the physically resurrected Lord Jesus Christ making a pronouncement like this: "Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his [Jesus’] name to all nations beginning in Jerusalem" (24:47). What was that? What did He say? Something about forgiveness of sins being preached to the whole world? Why, that endeavor would be worth a whole another book!

Exactly. That‘s why the Holy Spirit had Luke write "The Acts of the Apostles," too. The book of Acts is "Volume 2." The Gospel of Luke is "Volume 1." So, when we come to the end of our journey, it‘s not really the end. It‘s more like "the end of the beginning." How the resurrected Lord Jesus continued His ministry through His followers by the power of the Holy Spirit is a story that fills the book of Acts and even continues to this day. Encouraging, isn‘t it?

HOPE REBORN

Hope died that previous Friday afternoon. They had put so much hope in their teacher. His teaching had been uniquely compelling. And the things he would do sometimes . . . marvelous and unexplainable . . . miracles, that‘s what they were.
They had hoped that he was "The One." But, on Friday afternoon, he had been murdered — unjustly executed by the political and religious authorities.
You can almost hear the conversation as these two discouraged people were trudging home on Sunday afternoon after their profoundly emotionally draining weekend in Jerusalem: "It‘s all over now. I can‘t believe he‘s dead. How could God let us down like this?"

Then, a mysterious fellow-traveler joined them on their homeward bound journey. Their new companion joined in their discussion. It ended up being more of a walking Bible study, actually. That conversation — and the revelation of the identity of their unrecognized guest that would follow — would change their lives forever.
By evening, their hope had been reborn.

This story, so vividly retold by Luke in 24:13-35 is one of my favorite passages in the whole Bible. You ask me "why?". It‘s hard to explain. When I read this story for the umpteenth time, I‘m still so drawn in — so drawn to Jesus Christ afresh. It‘s like I‘m meeting Him all over again.

At Christ's Covenant Church we revisited the encounter on the road to Emmaus on Sunday, September 25th. I'd encourage you to visit www.hisfameministries.com and hear what you may have missed!

THE EMPTY TOMB

Have you ever been in my study at the church office? Four years ago, when we were moving into our church‘s new building, I knew the piece of art that I wanted above my desk. My wife graciously tracked down a framed print of the painting with the rather long but descriptive name of The Disciples Peter and John Running to the Sepulchre on the Morning of the Resurrection. The original painting was done in 1898 by Swiss artist, Eugene Burnand. His inspiration was John 20:3 which alludes to these two followers of Christ rushing to the empty tomb that Sunday morning of all Sunday mornings. Sometimes I glance up at this print hanging just above my computer monitor and ponder, "What would I have done? How would I have responded if I had heard some ladies announce that they had just discovered that Jesus’ tomb was empty?" Burnand‘s painting captures Peter and John with expressions on their faces that strike me as a captivating mixture of hope and disbelief. (Go ahead, look it up online. Is that how the painting strikes you?) Like Peter and John, would I have run to the tomb? Or, like the majority of the apostles, would I have remained at my breakfast table in disbelief at this strange report from the women rushing back from the tomb? Sunday, September 20th we looked at the account of the empty tomb from Luke 24:1-12 and celebrated our Lord's resurrection together. If you were unable to join us, you can catch up at www.hisfameministries.com

THE DEATH OF THE AUTHOR OF LIFE

Midnight came at noon that day. It was as if creation itself was recoiling from what was happening just outside the walls of Jerusalem at the place known as "The Skull." It was as if the sun refused to shine. The earth quaked. For good reason. Hanging on a Roman cross there at "The Skull" was none other than the Creator Himself. "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life" (John 1:3-4). Yet, on that dark, quaking Jerusalem afternoon, the Author of Life himself was dying on the cross. This past Sunday at CCC, we ventured into those hours from noon until sundown on that day when the Author of Life died. We looked at Luke 23:44-56 together. That‘s the passage that concisely describes the death and burial of Jesus the Christ. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit to us, we sought to better understand the death and burial of Jesus and what difference that makes on our lives — and on our eternities.

To hear this sermon, please visit www.hisfameministries.com

Celebrating Baptisms

Sunday, August 30th was a powerful reminder of God‘s sovereign grace. We witnessed the baptisms of six people and heard their Christ-exalting, grace-saturated stories. I think we should have been passing out Kleenex with our bulletins that Sunday. There were plenty of tears of joy as we rejoiced with these precious brothers and sisters. Not able to be here on the 30th? Tell you what: go to the church‘s website (www.christscovenant.org) and watch the baptism testimonies. I think you will find it time well spent! And, don‘t forget the Kleenex.

Loving Your Wife as Christ Loves the Church

Larry McCall, in this new book delivers a powerful message for men who did not grow up with dads who were good role models, or for men who need to be reminded that Christ is the perfect husband to His bride, the church.

In his typical crisp, biblical style, McCall lays out 14 chapters, most of which contain practical, biblical descriptions of various aspects of love—love that is practical, protecting, purposeful, passionate, praying, purifying, pardoning, persevering and much more. Every chapter concludes with discussion questions and action steps that make the book perfect for one-on-one mentoring, small-group discussion, or for personal thoughtful reflection.

Larry McCall, a graduate of Grace College and of Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana, has also earned his doctorate from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Since 1981 he has pastored Christ’s Covenant Church in Winona Lake. He and his wife, Gladine, have three married children.

Author Jerry Bridges says, “Since we are all ‘in process,’ every husband, regardless of how long he’s been married, will profit from this book.” Author and pastor Tedd Tripp says the book “through clear, thorough exposition exposes the many facets of what it means to love like Christ.”

Walking Like Jesus Did

Do you really want your life to reflect Jesus Christ to others?

Walking Like Jesus Did: Studies in the Character of Christ, may be just what you need.

Walking Like Jesus Did is a challenging but easy-to-read handbook that helps Christians better understand what it means to walk as Jesus did.

Author Larry McCall explains that mirroring the character of Jesus should be the normal pattern of life for a Christian. He lays out 14 character traits that Jesus demonstrated in His own life, and explains how these traits can and should be reflected in the daily lives of Jesus' followers.

Chapter subjects include walking in meekness like Jesus did, walking with a mission like Jesus did, walking in holiness like Jesus did, suffering like Jesus did, persevering like Jesus did, praying like Jesus did, and much more. Each chapter is followed by stimulating discussion questions that have been field-tested with small groups to maximize fruitful discussion and personal application.

The author, Dr. Larry E. McCall (and his wife, Gladine) grew up in the Grace Brethren Church of West Kittanning, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Grace College and of Grace Theological Seminary, and received his D.Min. degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Since 1981 McCall has pastored Christ's Covenant Church in Winona Lake, Indiana. In that time, God has used the church to have a growing impact on its own community, the United States, and various parts of the world.

Dr. Jerry Bridges of The Navigators, writing in the foreword to the book, says, "One of the strengths of this book is that it takes us outside the realm of what we normally think of as Christian character. We see Jesus on a mission; and by His example, we are challenged to live purposeful lives as 'people on a mission' ourselves. I have been personally challenged by this book to pay more attention to the actions of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels and to learn from them how I might more and more walk like He did. I trust this book will have a similar impact on all who read it."

Nathan Zakahi, pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Sunnyside, Washington, says, "Read Walking Like Jesus Did to gain insight into normal Christian living. Read it again to shape your prayer requests for Christlikeness. Read it a third time in the hearing of another."

Management guru Olan Hendrix says, "Larry McCall has contributed a timeless treasure to the Christian world in this work. I wish every believer desiring to obey Christ could read this wonderful work. It is solidly biblical and a source of inspiration as well as instruction. I highly recommend it!"

And Grace College and Seminary professor Roger Peugh, co-author of Transformed in His Presence: The Need for Prayer in Counseling, says, "Becoming like Jesus Christ began growing as a passion in my life about 35 years ago. It is an immeasurable privilege to recommend Larry McCall's profound presentation of the character of our Lord. Over the years this book could have been used hundreds of times in my pastoral counseling and discipleship to point struggling people to God's perfect standard for us--Jesus Christ, His Son."