We now come to the most tragic, yet most world changing event in all of human history- the day Christ died. As you know, if Christ had turned back from such horrible suffering and death for our sins, we would all be hopelessly headed for eternal doom that we so deserve. The crucifixion story is actually quite familiar to us through Easter plays, sermons and Bible readings. But what may surprise you is how little is told by the gospel writers about what Christ's death on the cross was actually accomplishing. John simply tells us that Jesus declared, "It is finished." So for the new reader who just jumped into the story at this point or those standing there that day might wonder, "What is finished?" We will answer that vital question shortly, but first... Reverently read this crucial account of the death of Christ in John 19:17-30.
"It is finished." What did Jesus' death finish or accomplish? In 2004, the blockbuster film, The Passion of the Christ came out. At the same time, Pastor John Piper wrote an excellent book entitled, The Passion of Jesus Christ. In it, he listed 50 things that the death of Christ accomplished. It's a great book that you should have. So I spent some time and got you each a copy. (It's amazing what you can find for free online:) So please go to- http://ift.tt/1ZjR7Qv; You'll see that pages 4-6 list 50 things that Christ accomplished on the cross. 1.- Pick one of those 50 accomplishments and scroll down to read that brief chapter (or portion of the chapter if you're short on time). Then cut and paste some important words that you want to enrich us with. (Be on the lookout to send or share your great findings with others too. Perhaps you could send such to the guy you are seeking to recruit to M3.) 2.- Now end by writing your own prayer of worship and thanks to Christ for what he accomplished for you on the cross. "It is finished." That phrase is actually one word in the Greek- "tetelesai." It is also variously rendered, to accomplish, to complete, to fulfill, to pay in full. Jesus paid all of our sin debt in full. He didn't just give a down payment. If it was just a deposit, we would be left to pay off the remaining impossible debt. Sadly, this is the view that so many people have. "Yes, I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sins. But I still think I have to pay my fair share to get into heaven by being good enough." Yet we know that even one sin is beyond repayment. Just the one sin of Adam and Eve plunged the whole world into ruin, sin and death. We would be doomed if Jesus hadn't paid it all. "It is finished!" Thank You Lord! Announcements May you be on the look out to share the good news with others, "It is finished!" Stay focused on this great co-mission of telling others of transformation and your T goals. I'll ask you Monday how you did. So ask God to open your eyes to opportunities around you. They are there. May we see them and seize them. Thanks for getting all your points up on the board today. See you Monday in our new home located at multiplyingmanlymen.com (If you come here you'll be lonely :)
Did you ever watch the TV show, The Time Tunnel? I liked it a lot, but not enough people did. It only aired one season (1966-67). The two heroes would go through a time tunnel and would be transported back in time to some great historical event. How amazing to actually be there to see such. What would you want to see? Today, I want to take you into the Time Tunnel. I want you to see the actual trial of Jesus before Pontius Pilate. The following movie may be the closest we will get to actually seeing and hearing what really transpired. The film is based completely on the gospel of John, using the Good News Translation, which they stick to very closely. That's a very good thing about this movie (released in 2003 by the Visual Bible Project); it is so scriptural. Thus, it's unlike Hollywood films that take great liberties with the text. It's a 3 hour movie, so fast forward to 2 hrs. 27 min. and 00 seconds and stop it at 2:33:20, where Pilate hands Jesus over to be crucified. You can read along in your own Bible, or you can see how closely they followed the Good News Translation below. I want you to see yet another great resource available to you for free on the internet. I am not saying that the movie perfectly captures the story, but it certainly does a great job sticking to the word of God. See for yourself.
Jesus Is Sentenced to Death(John 18:38-19:16)
Then Pilate went back outside to the people and said to them, “I cannot find any reason to condemn him. 39 But according to the custom you have, I always set free a prisoner for you during the Passover. Do you want me to set free for you the king of the Jews?”
40 They answered him with a shout, “No, not him! We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a bandit.)
19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. 2 The soldiers made a crown out of thorny branches and put it on his head; then they put a purple robe on him 3 and came to him and said, “Long live the King of the Jews!” And they went up and slapped him.
4 Pilate went back out once more and said to the crowd, “Look, I will bring him out here to you to let you see that I cannot find any reason to condemn him.”5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Look! Here is the man!”
6 When the chief priests and the Temple guards saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
Pilate said to them, “You take him, then, and crucify him. I find no reason to condemn him.”
7 The crowd answered back, “We have a law that says he ought to die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid. 9 He went back into the palace and asked Jesus, “Where do you come from?”
But Jesus did not answer. 10 Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Remember, I have the authority to set you free and also to have you crucified.”
11 Jesus answered, “You have authority over me only because it was given to you by God. So the man who handed me over to you is guilty of a worse sin.”
12 When Pilate heard this, he tried to find a way to set Jesus free. But the crowd shouted back, “If you set him free, that means that you are not the Emperor's friend! Anyone who claims to be a king is a rebel against the Emperor!”
13 When Pilate heard these words, he took Jesus outside and sat down on the judge's seat in the place called “The Stone Pavement.” (In Hebrew the name is “Gabbatha.”) 14 It was then almost noon of the day before the Passover. Pilate said to the people, “Here is your king!”
15 They shouted back, “Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!”
Pilate asked them, “Do you want me to crucify your king?”
The chief priests answered, “The only king we have is the Emperor!”
16 Then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.
1.- What is one verse or phrase that grabbed you? Share some of your thoughts regarding it.
2.- Monday we will be moving into our new home. So that you start to know your way around, go there now- multiplyingmanlymen.com and place a comment on the blog and put up some fictitious scores on our new scoreboard. If you have any problems, juslemeknow. Hmm. Some of you haven't put up any points on the board yet this week. Please do so now. For the rest of you, I commend you for your faithfulness.
Optional: If you have time to watch even the first few minutes of the following video that Luis Ortiz recommended on Jesus and Barabbas, you'll find it to be excellent. Thanks Luis! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPah8hxFTaM Please keep Louie Ojeda in prayer. His brother Rick passed away yesterday after fighting the West Nile virus.
What's your purpose in life? I've interviewed many people regarding their purpose for living. Some have never considered this very important question. Others seem to offer guesses. Once while waiting for my wife to finish shopping in the mall, I decided to ask some passers-by what their purpose for living was. Armed with a borrowed clipboard in hand I received a variety of answers: "To make lots of money." "To get a good job." "To raise a family." "To party hearty." But my most memorable response was from the guy who was trucking rapidly toward me. As he neared I quickly blurted out, "Sir, just one question; what's your purpose in life?" To which he called out over his shoulder as he passed me, "To die!" I couldn't resist calling back to him, "You'll succeed!" (from the book, Lifelines.)
So what's your purpose in life? Hint: It's to be Christlike (MANLY). So perhaps it would be good to find out what Christ declared his purpose for living was. He reveals it to us in today's passage- "For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth" John 18:37 ESV. To bear witness to the truth is to testify or to tell others of transformation. Witnessing or testifying it just telling others what you've discovered about Jesus. This is what the Samaritan woman did, and with great results- "Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony" John 4:39. Sadly, many Christians never testify or bear witness to the truth. They are aborting the mission and their purpose. I'm so glad you are on purpose and mission. You have learned how to share your testimony as the blind man did- "I once was blind, but now I see." You can share how blind you were before coming to Christ and then how he opened your eyes to the truth. You've also learned how to witness to the truth using the bridge illustration and one verse- Romans 6:23.
Also you've learned how to testify to the truth in such a simple but powerful way by giving out our Greatest Minimovies cards to lots of lost people. Testifying to the truth is key to conquering the lies of the enemy that keep people in bondage. As with Pilate, there are many people who ask, "What is truth?" You know the answer- it's Jesus. He declared, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" John 14:6. As you testify to the truth, you are fighting to advance Christ's kingdom which is not of this world. You were not meant to fight alone. Aren't you glad you have a band of brothers battling with you? Our King is worthy of worshiping and warring for. He was manly; he did not cower when his life was on the line before Pilate. If he had caved, we would all be doomed. So how should we then live? Paul tells us, "In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ...To him be honor and might forever. Amen" 1 Tim.6:13ff. God's command is that we "fight the good fight of the faith" 1 Tim.6:12. Again, you don't fight alone. 1. Read our passage now, John 18:28-40 and share a verse or phrase that grabbed your interest and some of your thoughts regarding it. As always, feel free to use your arsenal of commentaries at- http://ift.tt/1QVU3MY
2.- We have been talking about Christ's purpose and our purpose for being born again, to testify to the truth. So share an opportunity you took recently to testify to the truth. This could be via sharing your testimony, or drawing out the bridge illustration, or giving out a minimovies card, or inviting someone to church, etc.
Thank you Jesus
for taking our punishment.
We were the rebels,
as Barabbas was,
deserving death,
but you took our place.
Wow! I am impressed with the T goals you set Monday. We will be fulfilling a great part of the purpose for which Christ left us here- to tell others of transformation. Here are some practical A,B,C steps for success. Ask God to help you see and seize opportunities. Desire to be used of God and believe he wants to use you. I start my day before I eat on bended knee asking God, among other things, to witness through me. Be prepared. I have cards in my car and in my wallet. Try this. Put one in your pocket to give away that day. Consider when you don't hit your goal, why you didn't hit your goal. And there will be times when you don't hit your goal. Consider and learn from it. Don't get discouraged and give up. J.C. Penney put it well, "When you fall down, get up." Daily- The more you can make any new behavior a daily behavior, the more likely you will succeed with it. My goal is to give away cards daily. So yesterday evening the doorbell rang while we were eating dinner. It was a young guy wanting to sell me windows. I sell windows! I pointed to my company car behind him and we both laughed. I went back to eating and then realized I could have given him a card. Ugh! (See "C" above). So after dinner, I found his partner still in the neighborhood and gave him two cards, one for him and one for his buddy who came to my door. Announcements Men, I loved your comments yesterday about why you have chosen to be on the M3 battleship. The ship's not perfect, but she is manned by some great men. We are not just an online Bible study fellowship. We are at war and are learning how to be devoted to our fellow warriors. We need to help new recruits coming in catch this vision of devotion to one another. You all make me proud to serve with you. We're moving into our new home Monday, October 12th. Our new address is- multiplyingmanlymen.com You've already got that bookmarked, right? Want to see a good movie clip that follows the trial of Christ before Pilate word for word according to the gospel of John? You'll see it tomorrow.
Take Full Responsibility for your Life by Jim Rohn 1930-2009
Nourish your Mind Everyday
Don't Lose Your Dreams- set goals
6 Daily habits of successful people by Brian Tracy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu5I85_YAak
Set goals, be results oriented, be people oriented, nurture your health, stay honest, self discipline- make yourself do what needs to be done whether you like it or not. (Become unstoppable)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-H_UmTZ0w8
Les Brown Be Resiliant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFfozZTjItQ
Alfred saves Bruce Wayne...YOu still haven't given up on me. Never!
You may fall, but we will never give up on you.
The 4 Horseman John Gottman Institute
Book summary of How to win friends and influence people
How many movie scenes have you seen where evil men have taken innocent people hostage? Then the hero steps forward and courageously says, "I'm the one you want. Let them go." We see such a scene occurring in today's drama. The gospel of John is unfolding like a movie. Jesus steps forward to spare his own. It's a foreshadowing of what he will soon do for all of us. It's also a reminder of what manly men do for those they are devoted to. A man will lay down his life for his wife and children. A fireman will run into a burning building to rescue people when everyone else is running out. A soldier will throw his body on a grenade to spare his buddies. Such sacrifices are so manly, heroic and loving. They remind us of Jesus' love for us of which John 3:16 speaks. But do you know 1 John 3:16? "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." Such sacrificial love for one's Christian brothers was expected back then. Now it seems so foreign. Most contemporary Christians have little sense of sacrificial devotion to others. They view being a Christian as one who goes to church and tries to be good. They have no sense of devotion to the mission, the fight to set captives free and multiply manly men. They have no covenant friends, none that have their backs, none that they are devoted to, none that they fight in prayer for by name. Thus, if they ever felt their life was under fire, they would have no fireteam brothers to call on who would fight for them. They have no sense of fighting together as a team. They have a cruise ship versus a battle ship mentality. See what I mean-
What would it take for you to quit- to go back to a cruise ship Christianity? No one is forcing you to stay on board the M3 battleship. It's easier not to be devoted to others and to Christ and his mission. Peter found that out the hard way. He thought he was so devoted to Jesus. He declared, "Lord, I am ready to go to prison and to death" Luke 22:33. But Jesus saw through his self-confident heart- "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!" John 13:38. Thank God for the Lord's restorative grace and the gift of his Spirit to transform Peter. O Lord help us to remain devoted to you and each other, otherwise we could cower and disown you before even a servant girl as Peter did. 1.- Read through John 18:1-27 and share some of your thoughts on it. As always, feel free to use your arsenal of commentaries at http://ift.tt/1QVU3MY
2.- True NT Christianity calls us to be devoted Christ, to lay down our lives for him and for one another and to the mission, to make every effort to grow and make multiplying disciples. It can be very challenging. But that's what we are about. We even set goals to pry ourselves out of our comfort zones for God's glory and our good and the good of others. So why do you prefer to be on the M3 battleship than simply the Sunday morning cruise ship? Announcements I want to commend Mike Dunn who has done something manly and worthy of honor. He has shown himself unstoppable for four weeks in a row. Thus, I look forward to presenting him with his Unstoppable Award Pin at our next meeting, October 18th. Way to go Mike! You will see a U by your name on the scoreboard starting tomorrow. Who-ra! I see some other brothers that are showing renewed unstoppable determination as well. Remember, as crazy as the day may get and ruin your plans, you can still fulfill your goal and commitment at night- No scripture, no sleep. A little sacrifice of sleep is a little sacrifice indeed. Manly men make noble sacrifices to fulfill the mission and that's what you are. Just do it! You are a "no excuses" man. You are made new in Christ to conquer. Thank you Lord!
I just got back from seeing the movie, War Room. Wow, what a great movie on the power of prayer!
Friday, we looked at Jesus' powerful prayer in John 17. As we mentioned, many confuse that with his prayer in Gethsemane. That actually occurred shortly after Jesus finished praying for his disciples and for you and me. John's gospel doesn't include Jesus' war room prayer in Gethsemane. Because it's so powerful, I don't want you to miss it. So today I want us to enter into this deeply moving battle. It's recorded in all three of the synoptic gospels- Matthew, Mark and Luke. Let's read the fuller account that Matthew gives us in Mt.26:30-46. Read also the added detail that Dr. Luke gives us in Luke 22:41-44. 1.- What is one thing that grabs your attention from these war room verses? I kept my writing short today because I want to allow time for a guided tour of our new home. It's so cool! It's our new M3 website/blog/scoreboard all in one location. Tim Dearborn has been working on this diligently for weeks and weeks and it's excellent! He's also put together a short guided tour video clip to help you learn your way around our new home which we will all be moving into next Monday, Oct.12th. So without further a due, click and enjoy.
2.- Go now to our new site, multiplyingmanlymen.com (Bookmark it.) Click login. Your user name is the first letter of your name and your last name. For now, your password is password. (Even I can remember that:) Change it to what you wish when you wish. Now browse around in our cool, new home for a while. Whachthink? Here are the scores from last week. Many of you are doing so well. Please do remember that the A column is now just for Attacking in prayer. The most you can get is one point per day, not one point per teammate that you prayed for by name. Sorry to be so miserly :( Remember, in the G column of sharing God's word, it's one point per individual as well as one point per group. So if you send a group text verse, that's one point. (Yeah, I know, miserly.) 3.a- So how did you do in hitting your SMARTER goal from last week? I want to introduce a new "game" though I need your suggestions for a name for it. I want to honor anyone who scores 3 or more points per week in the T column, via, giving out Greatest minimovies cards or the link to them (http://ift.tt/1NbCp6o), sharing your testimony, witnessing, giving a tract or gospel of John, drawing out the bridge illustration, inviting a person to church, etc. Kudos already for last week's outreach to Ricardo-3; Robert-3; Oscar-4; Sam-5, Pastor Mike-7; Horacio-10 and George-14. Uda man George! Some of us are shooting for passing out cards daily, me included. Getting the gospel out is so vitally important. 4.- So what's your T goal for this week? Just for the sake of accountability, mine is to give out 5-10 cards this week. I've written it down on a sticky note on my laptop. Last week we had a total of 64 T points. Let's see how well we do by next week. Game on!