But when I look at Scripture and the lives of the early Christian leaders I’m conflicted with this.  They say crazy things like, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Phil 3:11).  I see 12 dudes who followed Christ.  One was betrayer and he hung himself.  You might say, “Well that makes sense.”  But then what about the others who were the hardcore Jesus followers.  Check it out:

1.  John died of extreme old age in Ephesus.

2. Peter was crucified, head downward, during the persecution of Nero.

3. Andrew died on a cross at Patrae, in Achaia, a Grecian Colony.

4. James, was thrown from a pinnacle of the Temple, and then beaten to death with a club.

5. Bartholomew was flayed alive in Albanapolis, Armenia.

6. James, the elder son of Zebedee, was beheaded at Jerusalem.

7. Thomas, the doubter, was run through the body with a lance at Coromandel, in the east Indies.

8. Philip was hanged against a pillar at Heropolis (Abyssinia).

9. Thaddeus was shot to death with arrows.

10. Simon died on a cross in Persia (now Iran.)

These are not stories of “Up and to the right”, at least by our worldly successful, performance oriented mindset.  Do you want to go on this path?  Most of us when we are really honest would say, “Heck no.  I want to be safe, careful, and die peacefully in my sleep when I’m 91.” I include myself in this response most days.

But what if these kind of stories are the real and true “Up and to the right.” What if the way down of embracing suffering and the hard stuff of life is actually the true way to a life of love and peace…stuff with eternal significance.   I think with a different mindset- a gospel oriented, Christ centered mindset-they are.  I’m studying Philippians as I get ready to lead our next Journey Bible Class at Cornerstone and I’m blown away at Paul’s attitdue towards his time in prison.  He was landed there for preaching the gospel and causing a ruckus to the Roman status quo.  But he is rejoicing and says that “what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel” (Phil 1:12).  And because of this “most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.”  He’s looking at his imprisonment as a win in his life because it is advancing the news to the world that Jesus is the savior.  This flies in the face of the prosperity gospel that has crept into the church, especially in America.

So, I’m challenged.  Are you?  What is the focus of our lives, what are we striving for, what are we laboring for day after day.  Is it to hopefully one day become comfortable, safe, secure, and rest in easy living?  Or is it to fearlessly and courageously make Christ and his amazing love known to the world…at all costs? Are you all in?

In preparing for this I’ve been thinking about these words that the Prophet Isaiah spoke out, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11.

I’ve been thinking about how the word of God that we will study together will be like receiving the rain and snow from heaven…it will nourish, make bud and flourish, yield seed.  This gets me excited for all of us.  And not just for us, but for the world as well.

I’m praying that we would be shaped by His word and be transformed more like Christ.  But not just for us, so that we can feel good about ourselves and that we are all spiritual and in good with God.  But for the sake of the world that we will engage with the love of Christ that lives in us.

So come and be shaped by his word.

Journey Bible Class from Cornerstone Church on Vimeo.

(Props to Matt Leroy and Love Chapel Hill for the cool video inspiration.)

We had a great evening with about 150 other friends at Journey Bible Classes last night.  We started out the night praying together and just quietly listening to the roar of the rain pounding down on the roof above us.  But the best part of the night was when we each spent about 10 minutes in silence meditating and observing the story of God testing Abraham…reading it like a love letter.

I didn’t see it coming when we were planning the night but it was an incredible moment.  We prayed together, heard the scripture read then went into silence over the text.  Very quickly I realized it was a sacred moment. To watch 150+ people pouring over God’s word in complete silence all at once…blew me away.  I wondered about the great work the Holy Spirit was up to at that moment.

So thankful for these friends who are longing to know Christ more and his Word.  He is surely up to something in our church.  I wait in expectation to watch him unfold more of his glory among us.

If you’ve missed out on Journey the last few weeks you can go to our website to listen to the podcast and download the notes.

Been feverishly working in these last weeks to finalize the content for our Journey Bible Class that starts next week at Cornerstone.  This first 5 week session will be “How to Study the Bible.”  In all this work of preparation I have found that it is doing something in me.  I’m again remembering just how incredible God’s word it…it’s wisdom, its beauty, its ability to speak truth into our lives.  I love how David puts it in Psalm 19:

7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The commandments of the Lord are right,
bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear,
giving insight for living.
9 Reverence for the Lord is pure,
lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true;
each one is fair.
10 They are more desirable than gold,
even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
even honey dripping from the comb.
11 They are a warning to your servant,
a great reward for those who obey them.

His Word revives the soul, gives light to the eyes, brings joy to the heart!  I love it.  It is sweeter than honey…honey from the comb.

Lord I pray that you birth a new hunger in me and in our church for your Word.  May we meditate on it day and night.

This is all coming out of a vision to equip and teach people in spritual practices…like how to study God’s word and live in it…allowing our lives to be shaped by His story of searching after us.  We’re starting out with a 5 week class that’s on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8pm.  Our hope is to continue with short classes through the year that offer people more resources and avenues to grow their roots deep into Christ.  You can learn more and sign up here at Cornerstone’s website.

See you there!