Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Pastoral Report 2009
The Annual Pastoral Report
Pastor Matt Mitchell
Year in Review: 2008
Dear Church Family,
10 years! It’s hard to believe, but in 2008, we completed and celebrated a full decade of ministry partnership together. I am so blessed to have been your pastor since 1998. It is a joy to serve with you in the Lord’s work!
2008 was a growing year for us, both spiritually and numerically. Numerically speaking, we averaged 130 people in worship (a 5.6% increase from 2007). We took on 4 new members: Charlene Ball, Kay McGivney-Knaul, Tanya Harned, and John Bodner. And a number of new families began to worship with us. It’s hard to keep track of everybody–and that’s a good thing!
We grew spiritually, as well. God worked in our hearts to love Him more and make us more like Him!
Pastoral Ministry
As your pastor, I concentrate on three main ministry emphases: preaching the Word, equipping the church for ministry, and shepherding the flock.
Preach the Word
It was a fruitful year for preaching. We had four main sermon series. In the Winter and Spring, we studied the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit: “The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit.” In June, we celebrated the ten year anniversary of the beginning of my ministry here with three special sermons called “Ten Things.” In the Summer, we considered “Applying the Gospel: the Message of Titus” and for the whole Fall, we studied (and memorized!) 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 under the title, “Learning to Love.”
We also had special guest preachers: Brian Rathbun, Blair Murray, Ralph Magill, Phil Alessi, Tim McGill, Mark Petras, Dave Young, Steve Miller, and Tim McIntosh.
Equip the Saints
It’s my job to help our ministry leaders work effectively. It was a joy to work with our 2008 Leadership Board, chaired by Blair Murray and with our devoted part-time staff, Holly Lockwood and Cindy Green.
I had the privilege of working with each of our ministries, committees, and leaders to help them develop towards their ministry potential. Their reports fill the rest of this Annual Report, and I’m pleased with their efforts and progress.
I was also able to be useful in ministry in the Allegheny District and on the national EFCA level. I continue to lead a regional pastor’s group and have taken over leadership of the district Constitutions and Credentials Board. I got to attend the EFCA National Leadership Conference in June, participate in the historic vote to affirm a new Statement of Faith, and write up a report of the conference for EFCA Today–“More Than a Vote.” I am now also serving on an editorial consultants team for EFCA Today, offering my two cents worth on each issue before it goes to print.
Shepherd the Flock
My favorite part of ministry is caring for people. It’s a precious privilege to visit you in your homes, have you over to our place, talk to you in the foyer or on the phone, stop by your hospital room, pray for your family, and provide a biblical counsel. Thank you for letting me into your lives. I don’t take that privilege lightly.
To grow in this area of shepherding, I took two intense weeks of doctoral-level classes with the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation (CCEF) in Philadelphia. Thank you for allowing me the time to study and for praying me through the course-work!
Report on Ministry Goals for 2008
Last year at this time, we set six specific goals to reach for in 2008.
1. Five Active Link Groups.
We didn’t achieve this goal, though we did grow from two groups to three and each of our groups have grown in size. Perhaps this year we’ll see that goal reached.
2. Two Servant Outreach Events.
We did reach out to our community in 2008. We offered a Bike Rodeo at the West Branch Community Days, created Outreach Prayer Cards to send with love to outsiders, and hosted a Wild Game Dinner and a Christmas Tea outreach. We still need more work in this area.
3. Building an Allegheny District Church Planting Prayer and Support Team with 30 Adults Praying and Raising $300/month.
At one point last year, we were averaging over $300/month for this ministry. And we have at least 20 adults who have committed to pray. More is needed!
4. Totally Eliminating Our Debt.
Done within the first quarter! Praise the Lord!
5. Developing a Master-Plan for the Next Three Years.
This hasn’t really even begun. We are waiting for the leadership re-structuring to be completed and comfortable before we get underway with this goal.
6. Leadership Restructuring Completed and Approved.
Done! We approved the new structure in July, found leaders to populate the new structure throughout the Fall, and are now implementing it. It’s going well so far! Praise the Lord!
Vision & Goals: Growing in Love in 2009
Our current emphasis on learning to love will continue into the new year:
Love for God
As a church, we exist to glorify God by bringing people into a LOVE relationship with Jesus Christ.
We are loved with an unfathomable, amazing love and are called to love the Lord in return (Ephesians 3:16-19, Matthew 22:36-40).
Everything we do as a church must be done from a heart of love for God.
Love for Each Other
Our new elder board will be studying 1 Corinthians 13 again and applying its principles to leadership. We need to lead with love. Pray for us as we begin to functionalize the leadership structure changes that we outlined last year.
Our Link Groups are all studying the life of Jesus and learning to love like He does. We invite everybody to read along with us in the book Love Walked Among Us.
Our Connection Team needs re-tooled for effective ministry of care for one another.
Love for Our Community
I believe that God is calling us to reach out beyond our walls to serve our community. We need to reach lost people with the Gospel and care for our neighbors in tangible ways.
Other Goals
Holly Lockwood will be resigning this Spring as her family is moving away. We will miss her and need to pray in her replacement.
Our new Facilities Team will be evaluating needs around the building and working on plans for new projects, including the sound/video project we began last year.
It’s been a great 10+ years. I’m looking forward to seeing what God does in the next 10+ years! He is so good to us.
In His Grip,
Pastor Matt
Pastor Matt Mitchell
Year in Review: 2008
Dear Church Family,
10 years! It’s hard to believe, but in 2008, we completed and celebrated a full decade of ministry partnership together. I am so blessed to have been your pastor since 1998. It is a joy to serve with you in the Lord’s work!
2008 was a growing year for us, both spiritually and numerically. Numerically speaking, we averaged 130 people in worship (a 5.6% increase from 2007). We took on 4 new members: Charlene Ball, Kay McGivney-Knaul, Tanya Harned, and John Bodner. And a number of new families began to worship with us. It’s hard to keep track of everybody–and that’s a good thing!
We grew spiritually, as well. God worked in our hearts to love Him more and make us more like Him!
Pastoral Ministry
As your pastor, I concentrate on three main ministry emphases: preaching the Word, equipping the church for ministry, and shepherding the flock.
Preach the Word
It was a fruitful year for preaching. We had four main sermon series. In the Winter and Spring, we studied the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit: “The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit.” In June, we celebrated the ten year anniversary of the beginning of my ministry here with three special sermons called “Ten Things.” In the Summer, we considered “Applying the Gospel: the Message of Titus” and for the whole Fall, we studied (and memorized!) 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 under the title, “Learning to Love.”
We also had special guest preachers: Brian Rathbun, Blair Murray, Ralph Magill, Phil Alessi, Tim McGill, Mark Petras, Dave Young, Steve Miller, and Tim McIntosh.
Equip the Saints
It’s my job to help our ministry leaders work effectively. It was a joy to work with our 2008 Leadership Board, chaired by Blair Murray and with our devoted part-time staff, Holly Lockwood and Cindy Green.
I had the privilege of working with each of our ministries, committees, and leaders to help them develop towards their ministry potential. Their reports fill the rest of this Annual Report, and I’m pleased with their efforts and progress.
I was also able to be useful in ministry in the Allegheny District and on the national EFCA level. I continue to lead a regional pastor’s group and have taken over leadership of the district Constitutions and Credentials Board. I got to attend the EFCA National Leadership Conference in June, participate in the historic vote to affirm a new Statement of Faith, and write up a report of the conference for EFCA Today–“More Than a Vote.” I am now also serving on an editorial consultants team for EFCA Today, offering my two cents worth on each issue before it goes to print.
Shepherd the Flock
My favorite part of ministry is caring for people. It’s a precious privilege to visit you in your homes, have you over to our place, talk to you in the foyer or on the phone, stop by your hospital room, pray for your family, and provide a biblical counsel. Thank you for letting me into your lives. I don’t take that privilege lightly.
To grow in this area of shepherding, I took two intense weeks of doctoral-level classes with the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation (CCEF) in Philadelphia. Thank you for allowing me the time to study and for praying me through the course-work!
Report on Ministry Goals for 2008
Last year at this time, we set six specific goals to reach for in 2008.
1. Five Active Link Groups.
We didn’t achieve this goal, though we did grow from two groups to three and each of our groups have grown in size. Perhaps this year we’ll see that goal reached.
2. Two Servant Outreach Events.
We did reach out to our community in 2008. We offered a Bike Rodeo at the West Branch Community Days, created Outreach Prayer Cards to send with love to outsiders, and hosted a Wild Game Dinner and a Christmas Tea outreach. We still need more work in this area.
3. Building an Allegheny District Church Planting Prayer and Support Team with 30 Adults Praying and Raising $300/month.
At one point last year, we were averaging over $300/month for this ministry. And we have at least 20 adults who have committed to pray. More is needed!
4. Totally Eliminating Our Debt.
Done within the first quarter! Praise the Lord!
5. Developing a Master-Plan for the Next Three Years.
This hasn’t really even begun. We are waiting for the leadership re-structuring to be completed and comfortable before we get underway with this goal.
6. Leadership Restructuring Completed and Approved.
Done! We approved the new structure in July, found leaders to populate the new structure throughout the Fall, and are now implementing it. It’s going well so far! Praise the Lord!
Vision & Goals: Growing in Love in 2009
Our current emphasis on learning to love will continue into the new year:
Love for God
As a church, we exist to glorify God by bringing people into a LOVE relationship with Jesus Christ.
We are loved with an unfathomable, amazing love and are called to love the Lord in return (Ephesians 3:16-19, Matthew 22:36-40).
Everything we do as a church must be done from a heart of love for God.
Love for Each Other
Our new elder board will be studying 1 Corinthians 13 again and applying its principles to leadership. We need to lead with love. Pray for us as we begin to functionalize the leadership structure changes that we outlined last year.
Our Link Groups are all studying the life of Jesus and learning to love like He does. We invite everybody to read along with us in the book Love Walked Among Us.
Our Connection Team needs re-tooled for effective ministry of care for one another.
Love for Our Community
I believe that God is calling us to reach out beyond our walls to serve our community. We need to reach lost people with the Gospel and care for our neighbors in tangible ways.
Other Goals
Holly Lockwood will be resigning this Spring as her family is moving away. We will miss her and need to pray in her replacement.
Our new Facilities Team will be evaluating needs around the building and working on plans for new projects, including the sound/video project we began last year.
It’s been a great 10+ years. I’m looking forward to seeing what God does in the next 10+ years! He is so good to us.
In His Grip,
Pastor Matt
Matt's Messages "What Do These Stones Mean?"
“What Do These Stones Mean?”
Possessing the Promises: The Book of Joshua
January 25, 2009
Joshua 3:1-4:24
Joshua is a pretty exciting book. In the first chapter, God told Joshua to be strong and courageous because the time had come for Israel to conquer the Promised Land. And the people excitedly began to get ready.
In chapter 2, there was a secret adventure by two Israeli spies into Canaan to spy out the land and bring word back of the defenses and mood of the enemy. They weren’t very good at spying and almost got caught–but were rescued by a pagan prostitute named Rahab. And she got a promise from them to be rescued, as well.
And here’s the word: Canaan is scared. They know about this nation of Israel and about their God Who is at work among them.
In chapters 3 and 4, it gets even more exciting! In fact, it gets downright amazing!
Amazing things happen in chapters 3 and 4, and they show us again the amazing character of the LORD our God!
It’s time to cross the Jordan River.
Joshua chapter 3, verse 1.
“Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: ‘When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it.’ Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.’” Stop there for a second.
You can just feel the anticipation and electricity in the air.
Joshua is telling the people, “Tomorrow, something big is going to happen! Tomorrow, the LORD will do amazing things among you.”
We are on our way into the Promised Land.
They don’t know yet, what these amazing things are going to be, but they begin to get instructions.
The first instruction is to follow the Ark.
Remember the Ark of the Covenant? It is a great big box in which is are the tablets with the 10 Commandments, Aaron’s Staff that budded, and a jar of manna.
And over the box are these two winged creatures that form a kind of set, a mercy seat or an atonement cover that is kind of like a symbolic throne for the LORD.
This is kind of like God’s mobile throne. (Mobile Phone, Mobile Throne)
This box symbolizes the covenant between God and His people and the very presence of God among His people.
And they are supposed to keep their eyes on the box. On the ark.
And follow it.
It’s a picture of being focused on the LORD and following Him.
But not too closely. Did you notice that? How far away are they supposed to stand?
At least 1,000 yards (2,000 cubits) away from the Ark of the Covenant.
Why? Why do you think?
Because He is holy.
That’s why Joshua tells them to consecrate themselves. Literally, to holy-fy themselves.
Because they were going to somewhere with this Ark. They were going to follow it.
Being 1,000 yards away would also help for everybody to see it. People wouldn’t be crowded around it so that they couldn’t see.
Imagine it! Everybody would be at least 10 football fields away from this little group of priests who are carrying the Ark. And then they set out. V.6
“Joshua said to the priests, ‘Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.’ So they took it up and went ahead of them. [Every eye on the Ark.] And the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. [Remember, everybody has been wondering if Joshua will be able to lead like Moses did. And God has told him again and again that He will be with Him–there is nothing to fear. Be strong and courageous. V.8] Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river.'’”
Whoa. Interesting.
Probably everybody here knows what’s going to happen, but, again, pretend that you don’t.
These priests are given strange instructions. March out to the river and go stand in it.
“Don’t just do something, stand there!”
Notice how God requires action from their faith, but it’s actually to just stand there and let Him do something.
God is amazing how He wants us to trust Him enough to act, but He wants the glory, so often our job is just to stand there and let Him work.
That’s what they are supposed to do.
Shouldering the Ark, the priests are to go stand in the river–and watch God do something amazing! V.9
“Joshua said to the Israelites, ‘Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. [Just as He has promised.] See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD– the Lord of all the earth [notice how he stresses that He is Lord of all the earth! As soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD]–set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.’”
Now, they know what God is planning to do. Every eye is on the Ark. V.14
“So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. [I read this week that it’s normally 100 feet across and 3-10 feet deep at this place in the river, and it’s turbulent (Hess, pg.104). This was floodstage. We don’t know how much it had swollen with the Spring rains!] Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) [We call it the Dead Sea] was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.”
Wow!
“The water from upstream stopped flowing.” You know, that doesn’t happen everyday.
“It piled up in a heap, a great distance away.” Do you know how far? 18 or 19 miles from Shittim to Adam. 18 miles!
And not only that, but it left dry ground on the bottom of the river bed!
29% of the Jordan valley was affected by this miraculous wonder! Wow!
And the people marched across.
Now, the story’s not over yet. There is still work to be done while the river is dry. Chapter 4, verse 1.
“When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.’ [Now, we know why those 12 men were being chosen in chapter 3. To get ready for this. V.4] So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, ‘Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.’”
Do you get the picture?
The River Jordan is missing. It’s upstream in a heap.
The riverbed is dry and rocky.
Joshua wants 12 men drawn from the each of the 12 tribes. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12. And wants them to go back into the middle of the riverbed where the priests are still standing with the Ark. Can you see it in your head?
And they are each supposed to grab a great big stone from right there in the middle of the river and sling it over their shoulders [and they’re each going to carry it 8 miles].
Why? V.6
“To serve as a sign among you.”
The LORD is fond of signs. He likes to establish signs and symbols to stand for things, to point to things, to remind people of things.
Today, Tonya and Alea Harned are going to experience another one of God’s signs.
They are public, God-ordained, memorials to give testimony to God’s powerful actions in His people’s lives. They stand for something.
These stones are going to stand for something. Remind people of something that God did.
V.6 again.
“To serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’” You’ll have an answer.
That’s our title for today’s message: “What Do These Stones Mean?”
Joshua foresees a day when the people don’t remember what God has done. Maybe the children’s children. They weren’t there. They don’t remember.
But here are these stones. And they ask, “What Do These Stones Mean?” V.7
“Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.’”
It’s important for us to remember. Christians are to be people who remember what God has done.
That’s why He’s given us signs like water baptism and like the Lord’s Supper (which we will celebrate next Sunday).
God wants us to remember, with tangible signs the amazing things that He has done in our lives.
That’s why we’re going to have our Annual Reports meeting in just a few minutes. We want to take some time to stop and remember what God has done in our midst.
Our Annual Report is not a God-ordained public sign like water baptism, but it is a tangible record that we can return to to remember what God has done and be thankful.
So they did it. V.8
“So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the LORD had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. [1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12.] Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day. [Now, some interpreters take it that there were two piles of rocks, one outside the Jordan and one inside (you can see that that’s a possible rendering from the footnote in the NIV), but I doubt it. I think the NIV has it right, that they took rocks from right where the priests were standing and they took them out to be piled up where folks could see them. V.10] Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the LORD had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over, and as soon as all of them had crossed, the ark of the LORD and the priests came to the other side while the people watched. The men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, armed, in front of the Israelites, as Moses had directed them. About forty thousand armed for battle [I think that’s 40,000 of Reuben, Gad, and Manesseh] crossed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho for war. That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses.”
Just as LORD had promised in chapter 3, verse 7.
Joshua is the undisputed Commander of Israel. V.15
“Then the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Command the priests carrying the ark of the Testimony to come up out of the Jordan.’ So Joshua commanded the priests, ‘Come up out of the Jordan.’ And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before. [Can you imagine?]”
“On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. [They are across!] And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. [1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12.]”
He said to the Israelites, ‘In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.’”
What Do These Stones Mean?
They are reminders. Physical, tangible, visible reminders of God’s holiness, faithfulness, and power.
That’s what Tonya and Alea are doing today.
They are also piling up a heap of rocks as a physical, tangible, visible reminder of God’s holiness, faithfulness, and power at work in their lives.
What Do These Stones Mean?
Imagine a little Israelite boy. Perhaps he was a baby when the people crossed the river.
And he lives near Gilgal, and every day he sees that pile of stones. Curious, he asks His grandfather what they mean?
What Do These Stones Mean, Grandpa?
Grandpa answers. A lot of things. At least 3.
#1. THE LORD IS UNBELIEVABLY HOLY.
V.22 “Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.”
You know why?
Because the LORD is holy.
We weren’t allowed to stand closer than 2,000 cubits from the Ark of the Covenant.
And when that Ark went into the river?
The waters of the Jordan ran away!
That’s how Holy the LORD is.
That’s why we needed to consecrate ourselves.
And we should consecrate ourselves every day because our LORD is holy.
Tonya and Alea, use this time of water baptism to consecrate yourselves.
Lanse Free Church, use this time of Annual Reports to consecrate yourselves.
The LORD is Unbelievably Holy.
#2. THE LORD IS UNCHANGINGLY FAITHFUL.
V.23 “For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. [Could you have done that on your own?] The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried itup before us until we had crossed over.”
Grandson, the LORD is the same: yesterday, today, and forever.
He did to the Jordan what He did to the Red Sea.
Same God! Same miracle!
He doesn’t change.
He rescued us once to bring us out of slavery.
And now He’s done it again to bring us into our inheritance.
We can trust Him every single day.
Tonya and Alea, you can trust Him every single day. He is the same, unchangingly faithful: yesterday, today, and forever.
Lanse Free Church, you can trust Him every single day. He is the same, unchangingly faithful: yesterday, today, and forever.
Tonya and Alea are publicly professing their faith in Christ.
Baptism doesn’t save them. They were saved before they came to this baptismal pool.
God rescued them from their sins by what Jesus did on the Cross for them.
Being baptized is a visible sign of that invisible work in their hearts.
It saying that God has been faithful to them and they expect Him to be faithful forever.
God is unchangingly faithful: yesterday, today, and forever.
#3. THE LORD IS UNIMAGINABLY POWERFUL.
V.24
What do you say when your grandson asks, “What Do These Stones Mean?”
“He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.”
He possessing unimaginable power.
Words don’t do it justice.
The power to split the Red Sea.
The power to send the waters back up the River.
The power to raise Jesus from the Dead!
That’s what kind of power we’re talking about.
That’s what the baptism by immersion signifies: being buried with Jesus in His sacrificial death and being raised to new life in His resurrection by God’s unimaginable power!
That’s what Tonya and Alea are going to say with their baptism.
God is unimaginably powerful. And He has saved me.
He is worthy of my worship with reverent fear.
V.24. “So that you might always fear the LORD your God.”
Not slavish fear.
Not scaredey cat fear.
Not afraid that He’ll change into something bad and harmful.
But reverent fear. Worshipful fear.
Being amazed by the awesome power of God.
Tonya and Alea, use your baptism as a time of worship–worshiping the God whose hand is powerful–powerful enough to save.
And more than that, to let others know.
Did you see that in verse 24?
What Do These Stones Mean?
“He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful...”
He wants everybody to hear that He is mighty to save.
It’s not a private sign.
That’s why we don’t do private baptisms.
It’s a public sign, a testimony, a witness to others.
So that all the people of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful.
Tell other people.
Tonya and Alea are telling the world today that the LORD is powerful to save them, unchangingly faithful to His people, and unbelievably holy, worthy of all of our worship.
In chapter 2, there was a secret adventure by two Israeli spies into Canaan to spy out the land and bring word back of the defenses and mood of the enemy. They weren’t very good at spying and almost got caught–but were rescued by a pagan prostitute named Rahab. And she got a promise from them to be rescued, as well.
And here’s the word: Canaan is scared. They know about this nation of Israel and about their God Who is at work among them.
In chapters 3 and 4, it gets even more exciting! In fact, it gets downright amazing!
Amazing things happen in chapters 3 and 4, and they show us again the amazing character of the LORD our God!
It’s time to cross the Jordan River.
Joshua chapter 3, verse 1.
“Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: ‘When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it.’ Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.’” Stop there for a second.
You can just feel the anticipation and electricity in the air.
Joshua is telling the people, “Tomorrow, something big is going to happen! Tomorrow, the LORD will do amazing things among you.”
We are on our way into the Promised Land.
They don’t know yet, what these amazing things are going to be, but they begin to get instructions.
The first instruction is to follow the Ark.
Remember the Ark of the Covenant? It is a great big box in which is are the tablets with the 10 Commandments, Aaron’s Staff that budded, and a jar of manna.
And over the box are these two winged creatures that form a kind of set, a mercy seat or an atonement cover that is kind of like a symbolic throne for the LORD.
This is kind of like God’s mobile throne. (Mobile Phone, Mobile Throne)
This box symbolizes the covenant between God and His people and the very presence of God among His people.
And they are supposed to keep their eyes on the box. On the ark.
And follow it.
It’s a picture of being focused on the LORD and following Him.
But not too closely. Did you notice that? How far away are they supposed to stand?
At least 1,000 yards (2,000 cubits) away from the Ark of the Covenant.
Why? Why do you think?
Because He is holy.
That’s why Joshua tells them to consecrate themselves. Literally, to holy-fy themselves.
Because they were going to somewhere with this Ark. They were going to follow it.
Being 1,000 yards away would also help for everybody to see it. People wouldn’t be crowded around it so that they couldn’t see.
Imagine it! Everybody would be at least 10 football fields away from this little group of priests who are carrying the Ark. And then they set out. V.6
“Joshua said to the priests, ‘Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.’ So they took it up and went ahead of them. [Every eye on the Ark.] And the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. [Remember, everybody has been wondering if Joshua will be able to lead like Moses did. And God has told him again and again that He will be with Him–there is nothing to fear. Be strong and courageous. V.8] Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river.'’”
Whoa. Interesting.
Probably everybody here knows what’s going to happen, but, again, pretend that you don’t.
These priests are given strange instructions. March out to the river and go stand in it.
“Don’t just do something, stand there!”
Notice how God requires action from their faith, but it’s actually to just stand there and let Him do something.
God is amazing how He wants us to trust Him enough to act, but He wants the glory, so often our job is just to stand there and let Him work.
That’s what they are supposed to do.
Shouldering the Ark, the priests are to go stand in the river–and watch God do something amazing! V.9
“Joshua said to the Israelites, ‘Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. [Just as He has promised.] See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD– the Lord of all the earth [notice how he stresses that He is Lord of all the earth! As soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD]–set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.’”
Now, they know what God is planning to do. Every eye is on the Ark. V.14
“So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. [I read this week that it’s normally 100 feet across and 3-10 feet deep at this place in the river, and it’s turbulent (Hess, pg.104). This was floodstage. We don’t know how much it had swollen with the Spring rains!] Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) [We call it the Dead Sea] was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.”
Wow!
“The water from upstream stopped flowing.” You know, that doesn’t happen everyday.
“It piled up in a heap, a great distance away.” Do you know how far? 18 or 19 miles from Shittim to Adam. 18 miles!
And not only that, but it left dry ground on the bottom of the river bed!
29% of the Jordan valley was affected by this miraculous wonder! Wow!
And the people marched across.
Now, the story’s not over yet. There is still work to be done while the river is dry. Chapter 4, verse 1.
“When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.’ [Now, we know why those 12 men were being chosen in chapter 3. To get ready for this. V.4] So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, ‘Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.’”
Do you get the picture?
The River Jordan is missing. It’s upstream in a heap.
The riverbed is dry and rocky.
Joshua wants 12 men drawn from the each of the 12 tribes. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12. And wants them to go back into the middle of the riverbed where the priests are still standing with the Ark. Can you see it in your head?
And they are each supposed to grab a great big stone from right there in the middle of the river and sling it over their shoulders [and they’re each going to carry it 8 miles].
Why? V.6
“To serve as a sign among you.”
The LORD is fond of signs. He likes to establish signs and symbols to stand for things, to point to things, to remind people of things.
Today, Tonya and Alea Harned are going to experience another one of God’s signs.
They are public, God-ordained, memorials to give testimony to God’s powerful actions in His people’s lives. They stand for something.
These stones are going to stand for something. Remind people of something that God did.
V.6 again.
“To serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’” You’ll have an answer.
That’s our title for today’s message: “What Do These Stones Mean?”
Joshua foresees a day when the people don’t remember what God has done. Maybe the children’s children. They weren’t there. They don’t remember.
But here are these stones. And they ask, “What Do These Stones Mean?” V.7
“Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.’”
It’s important for us to remember. Christians are to be people who remember what God has done.
That’s why He’s given us signs like water baptism and like the Lord’s Supper (which we will celebrate next Sunday).
God wants us to remember, with tangible signs the amazing things that He has done in our lives.
That’s why we’re going to have our Annual Reports meeting in just a few minutes. We want to take some time to stop and remember what God has done in our midst.
Our Annual Report is not a God-ordained public sign like water baptism, but it is a tangible record that we can return to to remember what God has done and be thankful.
So they did it. V.8
“So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the LORD had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. [1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12.] Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day. [Now, some interpreters take it that there were two piles of rocks, one outside the Jordan and one inside (you can see that that’s a possible rendering from the footnote in the NIV), but I doubt it. I think the NIV has it right, that they took rocks from right where the priests were standing and they took them out to be piled up where folks could see them. V.10] Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the LORD had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over, and as soon as all of them had crossed, the ark of the LORD and the priests came to the other side while the people watched. The men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, armed, in front of the Israelites, as Moses had directed them. About forty thousand armed for battle [I think that’s 40,000 of Reuben, Gad, and Manesseh] crossed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho for war. That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses.”
Just as LORD had promised in chapter 3, verse 7.
Joshua is the undisputed Commander of Israel. V.15
“Then the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Command the priests carrying the ark of the Testimony to come up out of the Jordan.’ So Joshua commanded the priests, ‘Come up out of the Jordan.’ And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before. [Can you imagine?]”
“On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. [They are across!] And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. [1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12.]”
He said to the Israelites, ‘In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.’”
What Do These Stones Mean?
They are reminders. Physical, tangible, visible reminders of God’s holiness, faithfulness, and power.
That’s what Tonya and Alea are doing today.
They are also piling up a heap of rocks as a physical, tangible, visible reminder of God’s holiness, faithfulness, and power at work in their lives.
What Do These Stones Mean?
Imagine a little Israelite boy. Perhaps he was a baby when the people crossed the river.
And he lives near Gilgal, and every day he sees that pile of stones. Curious, he asks His grandfather what they mean?
What Do These Stones Mean, Grandpa?
Grandpa answers. A lot of things. At least 3.
#1. THE LORD IS UNBELIEVABLY HOLY.
V.22 “Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.”
You know why?
Because the LORD is holy.
We weren’t allowed to stand closer than 2,000 cubits from the Ark of the Covenant.
And when that Ark went into the river?
The waters of the Jordan ran away!
That’s how Holy the LORD is.
That’s why we needed to consecrate ourselves.
And we should consecrate ourselves every day because our LORD is holy.
Tonya and Alea, use this time of water baptism to consecrate yourselves.
Lanse Free Church, use this time of Annual Reports to consecrate yourselves.
The LORD is Unbelievably Holy.
#2. THE LORD IS UNCHANGINGLY FAITHFUL.
V.23 “For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. [Could you have done that on your own?] The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried itup before us until we had crossed over.”
Grandson, the LORD is the same: yesterday, today, and forever.
He did to the Jordan what He did to the Red Sea.
Same God! Same miracle!
He doesn’t change.
He rescued us once to bring us out of slavery.
And now He’s done it again to bring us into our inheritance.
We can trust Him every single day.
Tonya and Alea, you can trust Him every single day. He is the same, unchangingly faithful: yesterday, today, and forever.
Lanse Free Church, you can trust Him every single day. He is the same, unchangingly faithful: yesterday, today, and forever.
Tonya and Alea are publicly professing their faith in Christ.
Baptism doesn’t save them. They were saved before they came to this baptismal pool.
God rescued them from their sins by what Jesus did on the Cross for them.
Being baptized is a visible sign of that invisible work in their hearts.
It saying that God has been faithful to them and they expect Him to be faithful forever.
God is unchangingly faithful: yesterday, today, and forever.
#3. THE LORD IS UNIMAGINABLY POWERFUL.
V.24
What do you say when your grandson asks, “What Do These Stones Mean?”
“He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.”
He possessing unimaginable power.
Words don’t do it justice.
The power to split the Red Sea.
The power to send the waters back up the River.
The power to raise Jesus from the Dead!
That’s what kind of power we’re talking about.
That’s what the baptism by immersion signifies: being buried with Jesus in His sacrificial death and being raised to new life in His resurrection by God’s unimaginable power!
That’s what Tonya and Alea are going to say with their baptism.
God is unimaginably powerful. And He has saved me.
He is worthy of my worship with reverent fear.
V.24. “So that you might always fear the LORD your God.”
Not slavish fear.
Not scaredey cat fear.
Not afraid that He’ll change into something bad and harmful.
But reverent fear. Worshipful fear.
Being amazed by the awesome power of God.
Tonya and Alea, use your baptism as a time of worship–worshiping the God whose hand is powerful–powerful enough to save.
And more than that, to let others know.
Did you see that in verse 24?
What Do These Stones Mean?
“He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful...”
He wants everybody to hear that He is mighty to save.
It’s not a private sign.
That’s why we don’t do private baptisms.
It’s a public sign, a testimony, a witness to others.
So that all the people of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful.
Tell other people.
Tonya and Alea are telling the world today that the LORD is powerful to save them, unchangingly faithful to His people, and unbelievably holy, worthy of all of our worship.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Studying the Book of Joshua
I'm reading several books right now each week to help me understand what I'm reading in the Book of Joshua.
By far the best is a commentary by my former professor, Dr. David Howard: Joshua in the New American Commentary series.
I'm also getting things out of: Hess (TOTC), Woudstra (NICOT), Campbell (BKC).
And popular works by Boice, Wiersbe, Hughes.
By far the best is a commentary by my former professor, Dr. David Howard: Joshua in the New American Commentary series.
I'm also getting things out of: Hess (TOTC), Woudstra (NICOT), Campbell (BKC).
And popular works by Boice, Wiersbe, Hughes.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Joshua: Possessing the Promises
It's great to have a graphic designer in your church!
This is the new logo for our new sermon series.
It just makes me want to preach strong and courageously!
This is the new logo for our new sermon series.
It just makes me want to preach strong and courageously!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Matt Mitchell - Backyard Lumberjack
If you are one of the (thousands?) of folks who had never conceived of me, Matt Mitchell, running a chain-saw, buying lumber, feeding a furnace in sub-zero temperatures, don't worry you are not alone--I couldn't see it either!
But it is me, now, and I think I'm enjoying it.
One thing that's helped me a great deal is this favorite Christmas present for 2008 from my wife:
But it is me, now, and I think I'm enjoying it.
One thing that's helped me a great deal is this favorite Christmas present for 2008 from my wife:
It's a delightful little book, fully illustrated, funny, careful, wood-wise, and helpful by a father/son team. The father is a pastor, the son is a writer and "urban lumberjack."
While I was surprised at how much I already knew, this book makes me feel like I'm barking up the right tree.
And just this week, I received my own Peavey in the mail:
And if you don't know what that is for, then you might want to read the book yourself...
Warm Inside
We've had temperatures colder than -10 here recently, but things have been nice and toasty inside our house--and more hot water in our showers and baths to boot!
I go out twice a day to feed the stove; it does all of the rest of the work.
I go out twice a day to feed the stove; it does all of the rest of the work.
Heating with Wood
The big, untold story at our place has been the preparations for and installation of an outdoor wood-burning furnace.
This is Peter inside the little "house" we've made with the firewood we've cut, split, and stacked.
We borrowed a friend's splitter, though we've done some by hand with a maul, too.
Here's the man who made it all happen. My father-in-law, John Lundeen, attacked with gusto the tri-axle load of wood that we had delivered. He ran a chainsaw several days in a row. Beware! You lose weight when you come to visit us!
Inauguration Thoughts & Prayers
John Piper: Being Pro-Life Christians Under a Pro-Choice President
Al Mohler: A Prayer for President Obama
Scot McKnight: A Prayer for Our New President
Byron Harvey: Thoughts on the Inauguration of Barack Obama
Ron Jones: An Open Letter to President Elect Barack Obama
In order to understand our new president better, I'm reading Dreams From My Father.
Al Mohler: A Prayer for President Obama
Scot McKnight: A Prayer for Our New President
Byron Harvey: Thoughts on the Inauguration of Barack Obama
Ron Jones: An Open Letter to President Elect Barack Obama
In order to understand our new president better, I'm reading Dreams From My Father.
