Saturday, February 01, 2014
Friday, January 31, 2014
Surreal and Sweet Small Group Meeting
The young adults Link Group at our church has been studying Resisting Gossip in their weekly meetings, and last night they invited me to come for their last discussion.
It was a bit surreal to hear them read chapter 9 together and discuss the questions that I wrote, but it was also really sweet to hear their conversation. Several times throughout the evening I thought, "That's exactly what I was hoping the discussion would sound and feel like when I wrote that!"
They also encouraged me by saying that they felt equipped now to confront gossip in their own lives and in their relationships. Praise God!
Thursday, January 30, 2014
On the Boundless Show
I thoroughly enjoyed talking about Resisting Gossip with Lisa Anderson on today's episode of the Boundless Show (our interview starts at the 25:54 mark). What a great ministry for young adults!
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
60 Days Until the "Grace for the Broken" Conference
I'm looking forward to participating in this conference, both as an attendee and a speaker.
I can't believe it's only 60 days away!
In the video below, keynote speaker Ed Welch talks about the conference theme.
In my breakout session, I'll be talking about Resisting Gossip by the power of grace.
Hope to see you there!
Ed Welch Speaks About Brokenness from Foundations Christian Counseling on Vimeo.
Ed Welch, faculty member at CCEF, speaks with Jeremy Yeckley on the topic of brokenness. Both Ed and Jeremy will be featured speakers at the Grace for the Broken Biblical Counseling Conference on March 29, 2014.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Pictures from the Resisting Gossip Live Seminar in Shelby Ohio
I had a terrific time on Saturday with the Christians from all over north-central Ohio who met in the frigid weather at Core Community Church for the Resisting Gossip Live Seminar. Special thanks to the four EFCA who invited me and for coordinator Josh Harpold and his team!
Here are a few pictures to give you a feel for the event:
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| Cool set design! |
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| A copy of the book in the photographer's bag. Thanks, Troy Magers, for taking these great photos! |
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| How did they do that? |
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| Good looking kids running the booktable. (They take after their mom.) |
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| Bad weather. |
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| It was warm inside! |
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| "Gossip is bearing bad news behind someone's back out of a bad heart." |
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| Brrrr. |
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| "Resistance is not futile!" |
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| Attentive audience. |
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| "The gospel defeats gossip." |
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| Josh: "How great is our God!" |
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| "A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue." - Proverb 17:4 |
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| Great people! |
Sunday, January 26, 2014
[Matt's Messages] "Do the Right Thing"
A Heart for the Heart of God: The Message of 1 Samuel
January 26, 2014 :: 1 Samuel 26:1-25
Our series is called “A Heart for the Heart of God” and it’s become about the anointed king David who is not yet king over Israel, but God has said that he will be.
And it’s also been about the anointed king Saul who has been a disappointment in just about every way. Saul has not had a heart for the heart of God, and God has promised to tear the kingdom away from him.
And in the meantime, Saul is chasing David. Relentlessly. Wrongly but relentlessly.
One anointed king is chasing the next anointed king. All around the middle east.
David who has exhibited a heart for the heart of God has been chased but not caught.
Chased but not caught.
Which we have said is like a metaphor for how difficult life can be as a follower of God. Difficult but good.
Chased but not caught.
And two weeks ago, we saw David get a chance to cut the corner and put an end to all the chasing.
King Saul was in David’s grasp, but he let him get away–on purpose. He chose to do the right thing.
David chose to do what he knew was the right thing to do, even though I’m sure it was a hard thing to do.
Well, in today’s story (chapter 26), David does it again.
Something similar happens to David a second time, and he has yet another chance to cut the corner and end the chasing once and for all.
And we’re going to see David choose again to “Do the Right Thing.”
And that will be our major application of this story to our lives today, as well.
“Do the Right Thing.”
Not just when it’s popular.
Not just when it’s easy.
Not just when you feel like it.
Do the right thing.
Our story starts with the Ziphites doing the wrong thing.
Remember the residents of the Ziph? How they betrayed David back in chapter 23?
They’re still up to their old tricks. V.1
“The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, ‘Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?’ So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search there for David.”
Nothing has changed. David is still on the run. The Ziphites are still betraying him. They have chosen to be, as we say, “on the wrong of history.”
They have told Saul where David is, and Saul has brought his army of 3,000 hand-picked men to catch David.
But watch what happens. V.3
“Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the desert [hidden]. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.”
Do you see the picture?
Saul has been the one doing the chasing with his hounds, but the fox is up at night.
And David has crept up to Saul’s camp and can see the entire army asleep around him.
One great big circle of men with Saul at the center.
And David gets a wild idea into his head. V.6
“David then asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, ‘Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?’ ‘I'll go with you,’ said Abishai. So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.”
Oh boy! This is exciting.
Two men carefully stepping over all of these soldiers, winding their way through the army, creeping, creeping, creeping to the very center of the camp.
This is crazy risk taking. I’m not saying that this was doing the right thing. I’m not sure.
I’m not sure why David was doing it, really. Maybe he wasn’t even sure.
But Abishai was sure he knew! V.8
“Abishai said to David, ‘Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice.’”
“We are here today to be assassins! Why else would we have come down here?” v.9
“But David said to Abishai, ‘Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless? As surely as the LORD lives,’ he said, ‘the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go.’”
He did it again!
And this time, he didn’t cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
David knows that it would be wrong for him to kill Saul.
So, he does the right thing.
His restraint is really remarkable. Saul is right there, again, in his grasp!
And Abishai is certain that it’s God’s will for them to kill him!
“Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear...”
“No. It would be wrong.” V.9
“Who can lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?”
It would be wrong. It would be evil.
Let’s do the right thing.
Now, I fought against that being the application of this message–I looked for another application of this passage for today because we just talked about this two weeks ago.
We shouldn’t cut corners. We should do what know is the right thing, even when it hurts.
We just said that two weeks ago.
But it’s the right thing to say today, as well.
David had to choose that again and again.
And so do we.
You and I are tempted by the world, the flesh, and the devil to do things the world’s way, the flesh’s way, and the devil’s way every single day.
And we need to be reminded again and again to do things God’s way.
Do the right thing.
Do the right thing with your mouth.
Do the right thing with your eyes.
Do the right thing with your sexual organs.
Do the right thing with your feet.
Do the right thing with your hands.
Do the right thing with your purse and your wallet and your checkbook.
Do the right thing by your neighbors.
Do the right thing by your employer.
Do the right thing by your employees.
Do the right thing by your business partners.
Do the right thing even when it hurts or when it’s unpopular and even when your friends tell you that it’s God’s will for you to sin.
Do the right thing.
Now, that’s easy to say, but it’s often hard to do.
How was David able to show such restraint?
Let me give you three things I see in this story that helped David to do the right thing.
#1. TRUST IN GOD’S JUSTICE.
Look at verse 10 again.
“As surely as the LORD lives,’ he said, ‘the LORD himself will strike [Saul]; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed.
Do you see what he’s saying?
David is trusting that God will take care of justice.
Do you think he learned anything from last week’s story with that fool Nabal?
Last week, David pulled up just in time from committing an atrocity over an insult.
And then he saw the LORD make things right. Nabal died, and David got the girl!
David saw firsthand that God can take care of the justice. He didn’t know how or when but that God’s justice would win.
So, he knew that he could leave it in God’s hands.
That’s what the apostle Paul is saying in Romans chapter 12 when he says, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” (vv.17-19).
“Do not take revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath.”
That’s not easy to do.
It’s a lot easier to go off on a rant on Facebook.
It’s a lot easier to take a key to someone’s car.
It’s a lot easier to gossip your frustrations into someone else’s ear.
It’s a lot easier to take your ball and go home.
It’s a lot easier to hold a grudge.
It’s a lot easier to kick that person out of your life.
It’s a lot easier to pick up that spear and send it into their heart.
“Do not take revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath.”
God is so much more able to carry out justice.
So, you and I can do the right thing.
Do you need to hear that this morning?
Do you have an enemy that you are tempted to sin against? To take revenge upon?
“Do not take revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath.”
God’s justice is perfect. He will make sure that every sin is eventually paid for, either at the Cross of Christ, or forever in eternity in Hell.
“‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
Trust in God’s justice.
#2. BELIEVE GOD IS AT WORK.
Even when we can’t see it. Look at verse 12.
“So David took the spear and water jug near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the LORD had put them into a deep sleep.”
I never noticed that verse before in this story.
I don’t know how many times I’ve read this 1 Samuel 26, but I never noticed that the LORD was the one keeping everybody asleep.
But the author of 1 Samuel wants to make sure don’t miss it.
“They were all sleeping, because the LORD had put them into a deep sleep.” God had David’s back here.
He might not have even realized that God was doing this, but He was.
Just think about it.
Three thousand [!] sleeping soldiers.
And David and Abishai just walk in and walk out?
How could David be so chased but not caught?
It was a God thing.
And all it was here was sleep. God gave these guys deep sleep, and David got away.
I think the thing to point out here is that we don’t always see what God is doing even though it’s all around us.
And that should help us to do the right thing.
Because God is at work. Even doing things like giving people around me more sleep!
Sometimes it feels like we have to take things into our own hands because God is asleep at the wheel.
But that’s not at all the way it really is. The reality is that God is in control and at work and on the move, and we can trust His secret ways.
And do the right thing.
God was right there with David in the middle of the camp.
Do you need to be told today that God is right there with you in the middle of your trial and your temptation?
Do the right thing. He’s got your back. V.13
“Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them.
He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, [Hey!] ‘Aren't you going to answer me, Abner?’ Abner replied, ‘Who are you who calls to the king?’”
He’s probably all groggy and having a hard time waking up from his God-induced sleep. “Who is it?” V.15
“David said, ‘You're a man, aren't you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn't you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. What you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you and your men deserve to die, because you did not guard your master, the LORD's anointed. Look around you. Where are the king's spear and water jug that were near his head?’”
David is “trash-talking” old Abner.
He’s on the run for no good reason, but Abner who has actually failed the king is right there with Saul. V.17
“Saul recognized David's voice and said, ‘Is that your voice, David my son?’ David replied, ‘Yes it is, my lord the king.’”
You can almost hear Saul’s “gulp.”
“Is that you?” v.18
“And he added, ‘Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? [None!] Now let my lord the king listen to his servant's words. If the LORD has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, men have done it, may they be cursed before the LORD! They have now driven me from my share in the LORD's inheritance and have said, 'Go, serve other gods.' [He’s giving Saul an “out,” “I’m not even blaming you. Just stop chasing me!”] Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. [From the land of Israel and the tabernacle!] The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea–as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.’”
“Please leave me alone. I’m not worth it.”
“Then Saul said, ‘I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have erred greatly.’”
Good for Saul.
Finally, he admits his sin and folly and errors and shame.
It’s too late. David knows that he can’t trust him.
Even if he’s not laying a trap. Saul isn’t trustworthy in the slightest.
But at least he speaks the truth and admits that David is in the right and Saul is in the wrong. V.22
“‘Here is the king's spear,’ David answered. ‘Let one of your young men come over and get it. The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and deliver me from all trouble.’ Then Saul said to David, ‘May you be blessed, my son David; you will do great things and surely triumph.’ So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.”
Here’s number 3.
#3. LOOK FOR GOD’S REWARD.
Do you see what David understands?
Look at what he says to Saul in verse 23.
“The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness.”
“I didn’t do the right thing, O Saul, because I like you so much!”
“I didn’t do it just because I felt like it. I didn’t feel like it.”
“I did the right thing because I know that God rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness.”
With obedience comes blessing.
From God.
So, often, we look to other people for our reward.
What will he think?
What will she think?
What will they think?
As if the reward of other people could be greater than the reward of our Lord?!
There was probably a time when David wanted Saul’s reward.
But now, he’s living for the Lord’s reward.
That’s part of what it means to have a heart for the heart of God.
To look for God’s rewards. To anticipate the blessings that will come because we’ve done the right thing (by faith in God’s promises).
“The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness.”
You reap what you sow.
So, do the right thing.
With obedience comes blessing.
And even Saul blesses David! V.25 “Then Saul said to David, ‘May you be blessed, my son David; you will do great things and surely triumph.”
Saul has to agree. “You’ve done the right thing. And God will bless you. Sooner or later. You can count on it.”
And the two of them part.
You know what? As far as we know, that’s the last time these two anointed men ever met.
And these were the last things they said to one another.
David said, “I would not lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed.” I chose today to do the right thing.
And Saul said, “Yes you did, and you can count on the Lord’s reward.”
Do you need to hear that today?
Do the right thing and God will bless you.
It may take a lifetime to see that blessing.
It may be after you die that you see it in all of its fullness.
But you can count on it.
You can take it to the bank.
“The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness.”
He forgives ours because of what Jesus did for us.
And He gives us the power to do the right thing.
And when we do, by faith, He promises to reward us with blessings on top of blessings!
So, why wouldn’t we do the right thing?
If God’s justice is perfect?
And He’s at work all around us?
And He promises to reward us bountifully?
Do the right thing!
Not just when it’s popular.
Not just when it’s easy.
Not just when you feel like it.
What are you facing this week? What are you tempted to give in to that you know is the wrong thing?
What is that spear in Abishai’s hand?
Don’t do it.
Do what you know is right.
And experience God’s reward.
***
A Heart for the Heart of God
01. Hannah's Prayers
02. Those Who Honor Me I Will Honor
03. Speak, LORD, for Your Servant Is Listening
04. God In A Box
05. Who Can Stand in the Presence of the LORD, This Holy God?
06. Be Careful What You Ask For
07. "Go and Look for the Donkeys."
08. From Here On
09. Who Knows?
10. How to Grieve the Lord
11. The Lord Looks at the Heart
12. The Battle Is the Lord's
13. May the LORD Be With You
14. The Fugitive
15. Cutting Corners
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
My 2014 Annual Report for Lanse Free Church
by bringing people into a love relationship with Jesus Christ
through worship, instruction, fellowship, evangelism, and service.
The Annual Pastoral Report
Pastor Matt Mitchell
Year in Review: 2013
Dear Church Family,
Happy New Year! Each year, I understand more fully what a high privilege it is to be your pastor. This year, it really came home to me during a half-day prayer retreat I took in September. This is what I wrote on my blog after the experience:
Today, I headed off into the woods of Black Moshannon State Park with a pile of prayer cards and a determination to bear the burdens of the flock under my care, the families of Lanse Free Church, to the one who bears our burdens (Ps 68:19).Some of those prayers have been answered already. Some we’re still awaiting the answers. What a privilege it is for me to be your shepherd! Thank you.
I saw the sun (and the moon!), beautiful Fall colored trees, sparkling water on the lake, a loon, leaves all over the path, and white tailed deer running in the distance.
I breathed in delicious fresh air and breathed out desperate prayers. So many of our folks asked me to pray about difficult situations: trials, health trouble, difficult job situations, and especially un-saved family members. I asked the Lord so many times to "Please, capture the heart of ...."
My prayer hike was good for me, too. I started with praise and adoration and then moved into personal confession–one of my biggest prayers was for help in not being lax about prayer, a pastor needs to pray for his people. I want to become an Epaphras, whose people know that he "is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured" (Colossians 4:12).
It came to me today what a privilege it is to be able to pray–that God listens to the request of His people. And what a joyful privilege it is to be set aside for the Word of God and prayer! So thankful that I don't have to carry our little flock's burdens on my own, but am able to cast them on the Lord because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). Looking forward to seeing how God answers some of today's prayers.
Last year, I said that 2013 would be year of expansion, and it turned out to be:
• As a church, we expanded our missionary force by taking on three new missionary units (two of which expanded their families and had babies this year!).
• We expanded our district involvement by hosting the Allegheny District Conference in April. I’m as proud as a pastor is allowed to be because of how our church family rallied together to put on such an awesome event!
• We expanded our outreach by not only putting on the Good News Cruise again, but also offering a follow-up Gospel Hour concert. That wasn’t the only concert we hosted, either. We also had the Moody Bible Institute Chorale, the Gray Havens, and an Oaxaca Missions Team music night!
• We remodeled the conference room into a family/handicap restroom for expanded accessability.
• We expanded the arsenal of scripture in our hearts through the "Hide the Word" initiative on Sunday mornings. Can you still say Ephesians 3: 20-21, 1 John 4: 7-8, Proverbs 12:18, Isaiah 40:30-31, Colossians 3:23-24, Psalm 27-1, John 1:14 from heart?
• Each of our many ministries prayed about how the Lord might expand their effectiveness in worship, instruction, fellowship, evangelism, and service. Read their accounts elsewhere in this report to see what God did!
• We expanded our attendance. The average participation on Sundays was 149 people (up about 3% from 2012) with Resurrection Sunday (258) and Christmas Eve (212) being our best-attended services.
• We also expanded our membership. Todd & Heather Dobo, Schenley Pilgram, Tyler & Kendra Piotrowski, and Ildiko Schall were added to membership.
• One of the biggest surprises was the birth of another home-grown missions trip for our church family. We had not planned one so soon after our Serbia trip in 2012, but God began putting things together in 2013 for a trip that is now just around the corner. At this writing, the Oaxaca Mission Team (11 men, women, and teens from LEFC) is fully funded (almost completely from giving within our generous church!) and is preparing to go. That’s expansion!
Pastoral Ministry
I envision my pastoral role in three main areas: preaching, equipping, and shepherding.
Preach the Word
What a privilege it is to preach God’s word! In 2013, we finished our series on the book of 1 John called “Essential Christianity.” We also talked about talking in a sermon series on “The Tongue of the Wise.” And I began our current series on 1 Samuel, “A Heart for the Heart of God.” I also got to speak about Resisting Gossip in several places, talk to the West Branch Bible Club a few times, preach in churches in Western Canada on vacation, and open the Word at the Windy Hill Nursing Home in February.
When I was out of the pulpit, we had terrific guest-preachers: Henoc Lucien, Roger Piger, Tim McGill, Jeff Powell, Jim Panaggio, and our own Cody Crumrine (first time ever!).
Equip the Saints
We have so many great people working “behind the scenes” at LEFC to do the work of the ministry. I love getting to be a “coach” to equip them for effective service (Eph 4:11). It’s not glamorous to go to committee meetings, but it’s one of my joys.
I continued to be heavily involved in the EFCA both in our particular district (heading the Constitutions and Credentials Board, leading a regional pastors group for Central PA), and nationally (as book review coordinator for EFCA Today). I was able to write an article for EFCA Today entitled “Social Media Shepherd?” which laid out my philosophy of using technology such as Facebook to pastor people. I also got to teach on Resisting Gossip at EFCA One, our national leadership conference (which Heather and I attended with Roper and Lita Houston–their first!).
Shepherd the Flock
Thank you for allowing me into your lives. I love the privilege of visiting, counseling, discipling, and praying for you and your families. Being a people-shepherd is my favorite of this job!
It was a joy to baptize four of you this year: Esther & Joshua Guerra and Jonathon Guerra on Resurrection Sunday and Velma Francisko on Mother’s Day! Conversely, it was a sad privilege to lead five funerals in 2014: Ed “Buggar” Orwick, Tom Plisco, Rosemary Kovach, Anna Neidrick, and Darla Coble.
Personal Highlights and Thanks
My book came out this year! Thank you to all who prayed me through the very long publishing process and then celebrated with us in this milestone. Thanks for throwing a Resisting Gossip release party (complete with Texas Sheet Cake!) and hosting CLC publisher Dave Almack and his wife Deb for a nice visit.
I’m enjoying being a published author, but I enjoy simply being your pastor even more. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for loving Heather and our kids. Thanks for releasing us for a whole month this year for another fantastic Canadian vacation. Thank you for paying me so generously and for praying for us so faithfully.
I’m thankful for a hard-working staff and a strong elder board. This was, after several decades of service, Blair Murray’s last year as an official board elder. I can’t say how thankful I am for his faithful service over those many years. Thanks, Blair!
This year, I completed my fifteenth full year as your pastor. I am praying for a least fifteen more.
Vision for 2014
I believe that the key word for 2014 is “stretching.”
∙ I see the Lord stretching our Oaxaca Mission Team as most of them head out into uncharted territory.
∙ I see the 2014 Challenge Conference as being a call for our teens to be stretched in new ways.
∙ We have a number of newly elected leaders, including 2 new elders. I’ll bet they are stretched as they learn the ropes and the rest of us are stretched to embrace new ideas and perspectives that they will bring.
∙ We look forward to finishing the “Great Clean Out” and reorganization that began with the remodeling project we did last year. Hopefully, that will stretch our abilities to minister effectively to more and more people.
∙ I have a feeling that we are going to be stretched in new directions as the Holy Spirit answers the prayer with which we started 2014:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24).
In His Grip,
Pastor Matt
Thursday, January 23, 2014
The Funny Forgotten Backstory of "Resisting Gossip" at SteveKMcCoy.com
Funny story:
And, strangely, enough, while reading it, I found myself commenting in the comments!
I had pretty much completely forgotten about this 8 year old conversation (though the emoticons were definitely me), but what really surprised me was my tongue-in-cheek plan to someday write a "biblical, systematic, but practical" book on the problem of gossip!
Steve's got a little post on this forgotten "backstory" at his blog and on his Twitter today, he says:
Commenting on a blog could change your life! http://t.co/cbsexZOXQ5
— Steve McCoy (@stevekmccoy) January 23, 2014
True. And it can change your life without you even remembering it! Thanks, Steve, for your excellent blog.
