Journey to The Journey https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:29:10 -0400 http://churchplantmedia.com/ One Day Women's Event: Trusting God https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/test https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/test#comments Sat, 15 Oct 2022 15:00:00 -0400 https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/test 3.PNG

 

Main Sessions:

Session 1- Self Existent (Amanda Parman)
Session 2- Incomprehensible (Morgan Trout)
Session 3- Self-Sufficient (Amanda Parman)

Breakout Sessions:

Understanding Your Emotions Through the Lens of Truth - Danielle Bruni will be sharing through her personal experience with avoiding the emotional roller coaster our flesh wants to ride and instead depending on the Truth of Scripture.  She will help us learn to process through scripture and avoid that wild ride of emotional reacting.

Sovereignty: If God is in control, why does my life feel out of control? - Jen Wilt will share through her testimony how even when life was brutally hard, God never left her and even used the difficult to draw her to Himself and strengthen her faith.

Wrath vs. Love: Why they aren’t in competition and how they both equally exist in a good God - Chris Morris will use God’s Word to show us how the God of the OT and the God of the NT are the same God.  He doesn’t change.  Chris will also help us understand that this is a good thing that God is both wrath and love.

Sanctification: Can we really “Count It All Joy”? - Cody Parman will use God’s Word to help us understand how to really count it all joy as we are instructed in scripture.  He will teach us how sanctification is for our good and God’s glory and that we don’t have to muster this up within ourselves, instead we rely on God to strengthen us to experience repentance and true joy.

Suffering: Joy and sorrow held in the same hands - Jen Radabaugh will teach us through God’s word that suffering is a good gift given from the Lord and how we can walk through these trials well.  Not pretending that it is easy or doesn’t hurt, but rather that in the hurt we know it is not in vain.  In this world we will have trials and suffering, but we do not need to be paralyzed by them because we know the One that has overcome the world.

 

Click here or use the QR code below to register online:

 Form QR Code

]]> 3.PNG

 

Main Sessions:

Session 1- Self Existent (Amanda Parman)
Session 2- Incomprehensible (Morgan Trout)
Session 3- Self-Sufficient (Amanda Parman)

Breakout Sessions:

Understanding Your Emotions Through the Lens of Truth - Danielle Bruni will be sharing through her personal experience with avoiding the emotional roller coaster our flesh wants to ride and instead depending on the Truth of Scripture.  She will help us learn to process through scripture and avoid that wild ride of emotional reacting.

Sovereignty: If God is in control, why does my life feel out of control? - Jen Wilt will share through her testimony how even when life was brutally hard, God never left her and even used the difficult to draw her to Himself and strengthen her faith.

Wrath vs. Love: Why they aren’t in competition and how they both equally exist in a good God - Chris Morris will use God’s Word to show us how the God of the OT and the God of the NT are the same God.  He doesn’t change.  Chris will also help us understand that this is a good thing that God is both wrath and love.

Sanctification: Can we really “Count It All Joy”? - Cody Parman will use God’s Word to help us understand how to really count it all joy as we are instructed in scripture.  He will teach us how sanctification is for our good and God’s glory and that we don’t have to muster this up within ourselves, instead we rely on God to strengthen us to experience repentance and true joy.

Suffering: Joy and sorrow held in the same hands - Jen Radabaugh will teach us through God’s word that suffering is a good gift given from the Lord and how we can walk through these trials well.  Not pretending that it is easy or doesn’t hurt, but rather that in the hurt we know it is not in vain.  In this world we will have trials and suffering, but we do not need to be paralyzed by them because we know the One that has overcome the world.

 

Click here or use the QR code below to register online:

 Form QR Code

]]> The Fruit of THE SPIRIT https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/the-fruit-of-the-spirit https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/the-fruit-of-the-spirit#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2021 16:00:00 -0500 https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/the-fruit-of-the-spirit Well, first off, as you can tell, I am back.  I just want to send out a huge thank you to everyone for all of the prayers and the outpouring of love that my family and I received over the last couple of weeks.  By God's grace, our bout (or should I say, my bout, since I'm thankfully the only one to have actually tested positive) with COVID-19 was relatively light in comparison to the horror stories you hear in the news and even what some of you have experienced.  Honestly, the worst part of it has been a persistent and nagging dry cough that continues to stay with me.  I'm told that can last for weeks.  It is often triggered by talking.  So, if I can ask for a few more prayers...I am preaching this Sunday as we kick off our new sub-series over foundational doctrines of the Christian faith.  Please pray that my cough will subside, so that I can get through that!  Ok, with that out of the way, let's dive into our new sermon series on the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians chapter 5...

The fruit of the Spirit is a popular concept within the Christian faith.  The fruit that Paul lists in his letter to the Galatians (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) is succinct, yet not exclusive nor exhaustive.  What I mean is that the idea that the Christian life should bear the fruit of genuine conversion is taught all over the New Testament, even by Jesus himself, who says we will be known (or identified) as his true followers by our fruit (Matthew 7:15-20).  The analogy is simple, a tree or plant is identified by the fruit that it produces.  We would no more expect a professing Christian's life to be marked by unrepentant sin and a pursuit of worldly pleasures than we would expect an apple tree to produce oranges.  It would be unnatural.

As simple as the concept appears within the pages of scripture, in teaching and practice, there is a great deal of misunderstanding about the fruit of the Spirit...what it is, how it works, etc.  So, let's begin with the basics.  The primary thing we need to understand about the fruit of the Spirit is that it is the fruit of the Spirit.  It's not called the fruit of the hard working man, or even the fruit of the devoted follower.  This is more than just a choice of words or phrasing, rather it is a fundamental doctrine of the faith.  Practically speaking, what this means is that this fruit is not a list of behaviors and attitudes that one can or should strive for.  Striving to look and and act like faithful Christians for its own sake, or out of some belief that we can somehow earn God's approval on our own merits is called something else in scripture...self-righteousness (or legalism)...and Jesus vehemently opposed it!

The fruit of the Spirit is, as the phrase implies, the attitudes and actions of God himself.  He is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control...as well as, generosity, humility, thankfulness, holiness, compassion, mercy, justice, truthfulness, and on and on and on.  Mankind, on the other hand...even or our best day...are none of these things (at least not in the truest and purest sense).  So, when we display these attitudes and actions in our daily lives, it is a testimony to the saving, redeeming, and restorative power of the Spirit that is flowing in us and through us, and cause for genuine thanksgiving and worship...not a reason to pat ourselves on the back and make much of ourselves for a job well done.

As Christians, we are granted a new identity and a new life in Christ.  And as with all new life, this begins with birth (or a new birth).  However, just as a newborn child requires a great deal of care and attention in order to survive and thrive, and must learn and grow in stature, maturity, and ability over time; so too must we as Christians grow-up in our new life.  This process, much like all growing processes, is difficult and full of bumps, bruises, and hard lessons along the way.  Moreover, not everyone grows and matures at the same rate or in the same measure.  This means that comparing the grace of God in our lives to that of other believers is a recipe for disaster.  Instead, we should measure our new life against our old life through the lens of scripture.  The question isn't, is my life experiencing and producing as much fruit as my neighbor, rather it is, is my life experiencing and producing the fruit of genuine newness in Christ.  The truth is, some people take off like sprinters from day one as Christians, others of us (myself included) limp along with a sprained ankle and a broken leg.  Regardless of which camp you find yourself in, progress is progress and worthy to be celebrated.

I would be remiss though to end here.  You see, despite the fact that this fruit in our lives is produced not of our own efforts, but rather through the life-altering work of the Spirit, this does not mean that there is nothing we can or should do to fertilize the soil of our hearts and minds and nurture this growth.  The human body grows up stronger and healthier by putting the right things into it.  This is true also of our spirits.  When we consume that which is good and practice good and healthy disciplines, we facilitate more growth.  We do this by consuming a healthy diet of God's word and neglecting the junk-food of the world.  Likewise, we exercise our Spirits in prayer, fasting, and participation in Christian fellowship/community.  These things are good for the soul and contribute greatly to our long-term spiritual health.

In Grace,
Chris Morris

If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 1 - Self Examination

Question discussed in this sermon

1: What are the fruit of the Spirit?
2: What stops me from developing godly character?
3: What areas of your life would change most if you grew spiritually?

Next week's lesson:  Galatians 5:22-23

]]> Well, first off, as you can tell, I am back.  I just want to send out a huge thank you to everyone for all of the prayers and the outpouring of love that my family and I received over the last couple of weeks.  By God's grace, our bout (or should I say, my bout, since I'm thankfully the only one to have actually tested positive) with COVID-19 was relatively light in comparison to the horror stories you hear in the news and even what some of you have experienced.  Honestly, the worst part of it has been a persistent and nagging dry cough that continues to stay with me.  I'm told that can last for weeks.  It is often triggered by talking.  So, if I can ask for a few more prayers...I am preaching this Sunday as we kick off our new sub-series over foundational doctrines of the Christian faith.  Please pray that my cough will subside, so that I can get through that!  Ok, with that out of the way, let's dive into our new sermon series on the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians chapter 5...

The fruit of the Spirit is a popular concept within the Christian faith.  The fruit that Paul lists in his letter to the Galatians (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) is succinct, yet not exclusive nor exhaustive.  What I mean is that the idea that the Christian life should bear the fruit of genuine conversion is taught all over the New Testament, even by Jesus himself, who says we will be known (or identified) as his true followers by our fruit (Matthew 7:15-20).  The analogy is simple, a tree or plant is identified by the fruit that it produces.  We would no more expect a professing Christian's life to be marked by unrepentant sin and a pursuit of worldly pleasures than we would expect an apple tree to produce oranges.  It would be unnatural.

As simple as the concept appears within the pages of scripture, in teaching and practice, there is a great deal of misunderstanding about the fruit of the Spirit...what it is, how it works, etc.  So, let's begin with the basics.  The primary thing we need to understand about the fruit of the Spirit is that it is the fruit of the Spirit.  It's not called the fruit of the hard working man, or even the fruit of the devoted follower.  This is more than just a choice of words or phrasing, rather it is a fundamental doctrine of the faith.  Practically speaking, what this means is that this fruit is not a list of behaviors and attitudes that one can or should strive for.  Striving to look and and act like faithful Christians for its own sake, or out of some belief that we can somehow earn God's approval on our own merits is called something else in scripture...self-righteousness (or legalism)...and Jesus vehemently opposed it!

The fruit of the Spirit is, as the phrase implies, the attitudes and actions of God himself.  He is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control...as well as, generosity, humility, thankfulness, holiness, compassion, mercy, justice, truthfulness, and on and on and on.  Mankind, on the other hand...even or our best day...are none of these things (at least not in the truest and purest sense).  So, when we display these attitudes and actions in our daily lives, it is a testimony to the saving, redeeming, and restorative power of the Spirit that is flowing in us and through us, and cause for genuine thanksgiving and worship...not a reason to pat ourselves on the back and make much of ourselves for a job well done.

As Christians, we are granted a new identity and a new life in Christ.  And as with all new life, this begins with birth (or a new birth).  However, just as a newborn child requires a great deal of care and attention in order to survive and thrive, and must learn and grow in stature, maturity, and ability over time; so too must we as Christians grow-up in our new life.  This process, much like all growing processes, is difficult and full of bumps, bruises, and hard lessons along the way.  Moreover, not everyone grows and matures at the same rate or in the same measure.  This means that comparing the grace of God in our lives to that of other believers is a recipe for disaster.  Instead, we should measure our new life against our old life through the lens of scripture.  The question isn't, is my life experiencing and producing as much fruit as my neighbor, rather it is, is my life experiencing and producing the fruit of genuine newness in Christ.  The truth is, some people take off like sprinters from day one as Christians, others of us (myself included) limp along with a sprained ankle and a broken leg.  Regardless of which camp you find yourself in, progress is progress and worthy to be celebrated.

I would be remiss though to end here.  You see, despite the fact that this fruit in our lives is produced not of our own efforts, but rather through the life-altering work of the Spirit, this does not mean that there is nothing we can or should do to fertilize the soil of our hearts and minds and nurture this growth.  The human body grows up stronger and healthier by putting the right things into it.  This is true also of our spirits.  When we consume that which is good and practice good and healthy disciplines, we facilitate more growth.  We do this by consuming a healthy diet of God's word and neglecting the junk-food of the world.  Likewise, we exercise our Spirits in prayer, fasting, and participation in Christian fellowship/community.  These things are good for the soul and contribute greatly to our long-term spiritual health.

In Grace,
Chris Morris

If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 1 - Self Examination

Question discussed in this sermon

1: What are the fruit of the Spirit?
2: What stops me from developing godly character?
3: What areas of your life would change most if you grew spiritually?

Next week's lesson:  Galatians 5:22-23

]]> The Church in America...A Vital Mission Field https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/the-church-in-americaa- https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/the-church-in-americaa-#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2021 16:00:00 -0500 https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/the-church-in-americaa- Can I shoot straight with you guys???  There is a lot of crap (pardon my crassness) that passes itself off for or assimilates itself into and under the banner of Christianity these days.  And a lot of it is being manufactured in and exported around the world from right here in the United States.  False teaching has always been a concern among God's people, dating all the way back to the earliest days of Israel.  There is a long history of people who have undertaken to boldly speak untruths about and in the name of God...often times motivated by the hope of selfish gain.  Sometimes this manifests itself as outright and blatant lies that can be easily debunked by anyone with even a cursory knowledge of scripture.  More often though, it manifests itself as some type of diluted or polluted version of the Christian faith that subtly, yet effectively, shifts the focus away from the glory of Christ and onto the glory of man...or more accurately, the man or woman who is peddling it.

Now right off the bat I know that what I just said there immediately puts a lot of people on guard.  In our modern sensibilities, we know that it's uncouth to call someone or something wrong.  After all, isn't truth in the eye of the beholder?  Who am I to make such bold assessments about the beliefs and practices of others?  There is some validity in that.  I have no great pedigree.  There's no credentials behind or in front of my name that would grant me credibility.  And believe me when I tell you, I am far from perfect in my doctrine, theology, and understanding of scripture.  I learn new things all of the time.  But like it or not, there is such a thing in this world as absolute truth.  There is right and there is wrong...and this doesn't just apply to morality, but to thoughts, ideas, practices, and beliefs as well.  At the end of the day, when there exists a myriad of competing and contradicting ideologies, we must conclude that they aren't all created equal.  Someone has to be right, and everyone else is by extension wrong.  For my part in all of that, I do my very best to stand on the side of God's word, because it's the only thing in this world that is ultimately worthy to be trusted.  So when I speak, or teach, or, (as is the case here) write blogs...I do my best to communicate what God says in his word.  I'm not alone in this fight.  There are many others like me.  We aren't flashy or overly popular.  Most of us have a relatively small circle of influence, but we continue to soldier on for the sake of the gospel and the hope of the lost.

For me personally, this resonates so deeply because God has particularly burdened me for the lost inside of the "churches."  That's not to excuse me from Christ's commission to make disciples of all nations, however, my particular plot of land in the greater mission field, I believe, is those who have been bewitched by some perverted version of the faith.  It is the goats of Matthew 7:21-23 who come to Jesus professing to be sheep and pointing towards their religious deeds as proof, only to hear the Good Shepherd say, "depart from me, I never knew you."  That passage of scripture terrifies me.  How can so many who exist inside of organizations that profess to be churches of Christ, be strangers to the Lord and Savior they profess to follow?  It doesn't make sense.

The more I have dwelled upon that question, the more I have become convinced of the only possible answer.  That is that many organizations that profess to be churches of Christ aren't.  Moreover, those organizations are being led by people who are also not what they claim to be.  Does that mean that a church like the Journey doesn't have some goats masquerading as sheep among our flock?  Of course not.  In fact, we spend a lot of time and energy pushing people towards the deep end of the pool in the hopes of revealing the poor souls who are just playing the part, so that they might finally see their desperate need for true and genuine salvation.  That's why we do what we do.  It's why Cody will take two years to walk us verse by verse through a book of the Bible...so we can't avoid having to look at the ugly parts of ourselves and our desperately sick hearts.  Again, we are far from perfect, but we give it our best.

It's one thing to desire to be right for being right's sake or for some prideful desire to make much of yourself.  It is an entirely different thing to desire to do and say and teach and live what is right because you know that people's eternities are at stake.  So, when Cody preaches a message like he did this past Sunday or when I write a reflection like this, where we warn you about the many dangerous wolves prowling among us, it isn't because we think we are better than someone else...it's because we are afraid of seeing people killed as prey.

The hope is that you will take a moment to just pause and reflect on things.  Am I believing, thinking, doing, and saying what is true about God?  Moreover, how do I even know what is true about God?  That's an easier question to answer, because God has given us his truth through the scriptures.  So, do I know what the Bible actually says???  Have I studied it for myself?  Or am I simply content to believe what someone else tells me about it?  These are crucial questions that every person must wrestle with and answer for themselves.

If you attend a church, it is important that you ask yourself, does my church and it's leaders believe and teach what is true about God?  Are they faithful to his commands and the Great Commission?  Are they about Christ's glory or their brand?  Am I settling on what is primary (the teaching of scripture, the proclamation of the gospel, and the expansion of Christ's kingdom) and prioritizing the secondary (styles of worship, aesthetics, buildings, events, ministries - kids, youth, men, women, singles, seniors, etc., the brand, popularity, etc.)?

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not throwing stones here.  And if I am, my intentions are pure.  At the end of the day, my desire is to see more people passing through the narrow gate to new life with Christ and avoiding the wide path to destruction.  I see a lot of "churches" growing massive crowds and with massive amounts of resources, and wasting that influence and platform by saying little to nothing of true consequence or value.  No calls to personal holiness, no encouragement in suffering, no conviction of sin that leads to repentance, and on and on and on it goes.  It's all about making people feel comfortable and entertained.  It's all about boosting the ego or the bank account of the "pastor."  It's all about something...anything...other than Jesus and his gospel.  Yet it is all performed under the guise of worshipping him.  And it breaks my heart...every time.

Speaking this way can be costly.  None of us like to be come face to face with our blind spots.  We bristle against such things.  And yet here I am...opening up the flood gates.  It isn't the first time, and surely wont be the last.  If I can offer any encouragement here, it is simply to be discerning.  Just because something feels good or sounds appealing doesn't make it true.  In fact, the more I have learned of God, and the more I have studied his word, the more I realize that when I find myself getting comfortable, I am probably drifting outside of the center of God's will for my life.  To follow Christ is a calling to give up what is easy and comfortable...and that's not a bad thing!  God calls us to step out of our comfort zone, but in so doing, he promises us that our burden will be light and easy (Matthew 11:28-30).  Paul tells us that everything we face in this life is but light and momentary (2 Corinthians 4:12-18); that includes the "good" stuff that we devote so much of our time, energy, and resources towards...as well as the hard stuff, like pain and suffering.  It is all fleeting he says.  In fact, in his letter to the Philippians, he says that he counts everything else as rubbish in comparison to knowing Christ as his Lord and Savior (Philippians 3:8).  That is strong language for sure.  Paul never pulled punches because he knew the stakes were so high.  That's why I love him so much and feel such a connection to him through his writing.

We are coming down the home stretch in our study over Hebrews.  We've learned a lot of important and sometimes difficult truths throughout.  As is customary in most letters, the authors is now, in closing, trying to cram in a few more helpful instructions and encouragements for his audience.  We would be remiss to simply glance over these...none more so than those we studied this week.  Being a Christian and the Christian faith is more than just a few buzz words.  Just because someone speak about "Christian" things, it doesn't make them a true teacher or their message true.  We must filter everything through God's word and test it up and against what he says and his standard of truth...even this blog post.  I'd invite you to do so and if I am wrong...teach me so I can learn and grow and ultimately move closer to the Lord I love and desire to faithfully serve.

In Grace,
Chris Morris

If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 38 - Diverse & Strange 

Questions discussed in this sermon:

1. How can a teaching become diverse and strange?
2. How do you identify strange teaching?
3. How does the gospel teach us to live for eternity?

Next week's lesson:  Hebrews 13:15-19

]]> Can I shoot straight with you guys???  There is a lot of crap (pardon my crassness) that passes itself off for or assimilates itself into and under the banner of Christianity these days.  And a lot of it is being manufactured in and exported around the world from right here in the United States.  False teaching has always been a concern among God's people, dating all the way back to the earliest days of Israel.  There is a long history of people who have undertaken to boldly speak untruths about and in the name of God...often times motivated by the hope of selfish gain.  Sometimes this manifests itself as outright and blatant lies that can be easily debunked by anyone with even a cursory knowledge of scripture.  More often though, it manifests itself as some type of diluted or polluted version of the Christian faith that subtly, yet effectively, shifts the focus away from the glory of Christ and onto the glory of man...or more accurately, the man or woman who is peddling it.

Now right off the bat I know that what I just said there immediately puts a lot of people on guard.  In our modern sensibilities, we know that it's uncouth to call someone or something wrong.  After all, isn't truth in the eye of the beholder?  Who am I to make such bold assessments about the beliefs and practices of others?  There is some validity in that.  I have no great pedigree.  There's no credentials behind or in front of my name that would grant me credibility.  And believe me when I tell you, I am far from perfect in my doctrine, theology, and understanding of scripture.  I learn new things all of the time.  But like it or not, there is such a thing in this world as absolute truth.  There is right and there is wrong...and this doesn't just apply to morality, but to thoughts, ideas, practices, and beliefs as well.  At the end of the day, when there exists a myriad of competing and contradicting ideologies, we must conclude that they aren't all created equal.  Someone has to be right, and everyone else is by extension wrong.  For my part in all of that, I do my very best to stand on the side of God's word, because it's the only thing in this world that is ultimately worthy to be trusted.  So when I speak, or teach, or, (as is the case here) write blogs...I do my best to communicate what God says in his word.  I'm not alone in this fight.  There are many others like me.  We aren't flashy or overly popular.  Most of us have a relatively small circle of influence, but we continue to soldier on for the sake of the gospel and the hope of the lost.

For me personally, this resonates so deeply because God has particularly burdened me for the lost inside of the "churches."  That's not to excuse me from Christ's commission to make disciples of all nations, however, my particular plot of land in the greater mission field, I believe, is those who have been bewitched by some perverted version of the faith.  It is the goats of Matthew 7:21-23 who come to Jesus professing to be sheep and pointing towards their religious deeds as proof, only to hear the Good Shepherd say, "depart from me, I never knew you."  That passage of scripture terrifies me.  How can so many who exist inside of organizations that profess to be churches of Christ, be strangers to the Lord and Savior they profess to follow?  It doesn't make sense.

The more I have dwelled upon that question, the more I have become convinced of the only possible answer.  That is that many organizations that profess to be churches of Christ aren't.  Moreover, those organizations are being led by people who are also not what they claim to be.  Does that mean that a church like the Journey doesn't have some goats masquerading as sheep among our flock?  Of course not.  In fact, we spend a lot of time and energy pushing people towards the deep end of the pool in the hopes of revealing the poor souls who are just playing the part, so that they might finally see their desperate need for true and genuine salvation.  That's why we do what we do.  It's why Cody will take two years to walk us verse by verse through a book of the Bible...so we can't avoid having to look at the ugly parts of ourselves and our desperately sick hearts.  Again, we are far from perfect, but we give it our best.

It's one thing to desire to be right for being right's sake or for some prideful desire to make much of yourself.  It is an entirely different thing to desire to do and say and teach and live what is right because you know that people's eternities are at stake.  So, when Cody preaches a message like he did this past Sunday or when I write a reflection like this, where we warn you about the many dangerous wolves prowling among us, it isn't because we think we are better than someone else...it's because we are afraid of seeing people killed as prey.

The hope is that you will take a moment to just pause and reflect on things.  Am I believing, thinking, doing, and saying what is true about God?  Moreover, how do I even know what is true about God?  That's an easier question to answer, because God has given us his truth through the scriptures.  So, do I know what the Bible actually says???  Have I studied it for myself?  Or am I simply content to believe what someone else tells me about it?  These are crucial questions that every person must wrestle with and answer for themselves.

If you attend a church, it is important that you ask yourself, does my church and it's leaders believe and teach what is true about God?  Are they faithful to his commands and the Great Commission?  Are they about Christ's glory or their brand?  Am I settling on what is primary (the teaching of scripture, the proclamation of the gospel, and the expansion of Christ's kingdom) and prioritizing the secondary (styles of worship, aesthetics, buildings, events, ministries - kids, youth, men, women, singles, seniors, etc., the brand, popularity, etc.)?

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not throwing stones here.  And if I am, my intentions are pure.  At the end of the day, my desire is to see more people passing through the narrow gate to new life with Christ and avoiding the wide path to destruction.  I see a lot of "churches" growing massive crowds and with massive amounts of resources, and wasting that influence and platform by saying little to nothing of true consequence or value.  No calls to personal holiness, no encouragement in suffering, no conviction of sin that leads to repentance, and on and on and on it goes.  It's all about making people feel comfortable and entertained.  It's all about boosting the ego or the bank account of the "pastor."  It's all about something...anything...other than Jesus and his gospel.  Yet it is all performed under the guise of worshipping him.  And it breaks my heart...every time.

Speaking this way can be costly.  None of us like to be come face to face with our blind spots.  We bristle against such things.  And yet here I am...opening up the flood gates.  It isn't the first time, and surely wont be the last.  If I can offer any encouragement here, it is simply to be discerning.  Just because something feels good or sounds appealing doesn't make it true.  In fact, the more I have learned of God, and the more I have studied his word, the more I realize that when I find myself getting comfortable, I am probably drifting outside of the center of God's will for my life.  To follow Christ is a calling to give up what is easy and comfortable...and that's not a bad thing!  God calls us to step out of our comfort zone, but in so doing, he promises us that our burden will be light and easy (Matthew 11:28-30).  Paul tells us that everything we face in this life is but light and momentary (2 Corinthians 4:12-18); that includes the "good" stuff that we devote so much of our time, energy, and resources towards...as well as the hard stuff, like pain and suffering.  It is all fleeting he says.  In fact, in his letter to the Philippians, he says that he counts everything else as rubbish in comparison to knowing Christ as his Lord and Savior (Philippians 3:8).  That is strong language for sure.  Paul never pulled punches because he knew the stakes were so high.  That's why I love him so much and feel such a connection to him through his writing.

We are coming down the home stretch in our study over Hebrews.  We've learned a lot of important and sometimes difficult truths throughout.  As is customary in most letters, the authors is now, in closing, trying to cram in a few more helpful instructions and encouragements for his audience.  We would be remiss to simply glance over these...none more so than those we studied this week.  Being a Christian and the Christian faith is more than just a few buzz words.  Just because someone speak about "Christian" things, it doesn't make them a true teacher or their message true.  We must filter everything through God's word and test it up and against what he says and his standard of truth...even this blog post.  I'd invite you to do so and if I am wrong...teach me so I can learn and grow and ultimately move closer to the Lord I love and desire to faithfully serve.

In Grace,
Chris Morris

If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 38 - Diverse & Strange 

Questions discussed in this sermon:

1. How can a teaching become diverse and strange?
2. How do you identify strange teaching?
3. How does the gospel teach us to live for eternity?

Next week's lesson:  Hebrews 13:15-19

]]> What is Your Standard??? https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/what-is-your-standard https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/what-is-your-standard#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2021 16:00:00 -0500 https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/what-is-your-standard Prior to 1933, the United States followed the gold standard monetary system for currency.  In a nutshell, the gold standard means that a country's currency is established, controlled, and backed by the true value of gold.  So, if for example, the value of gold is $100 per ounce, then $1 of currency has an equivalent value of 1/100th of an ounce of gold.  In fact, prior to WW1, nations would conduct trade in physical gold.  A nation who had a surplus in trade would gain gold as payment for their exports, whereas a nation with a deficit would see their gold reserves decline.  This meant that a nation was unable to issue additional currencies above the value of their actual gold reserves, because at any time the currency could be exchanged for gold.  This prevents the effects of inflation, where a currency's value loses purchasing power.

Countries today, including the United States no longer use the gold standard.  Today's currency is fiat money, or government-issued currency that is not backed by a physical commodity, such as gold or silver, but rather by the government that issued it.  The value of fiat money is derived from the relationship between supply and demand and the stability of the issuing government, rather than the worth of a commodity backing it as is the case for commodity money.  In 1933,under the gold standard, an average home might cost around $4800.  That means that the home, $4800 in paper currency, and 182.3 ounces of gold (at $26.33 per ounce) all had the same value.  In 2019 under our current monetary system, the same average home would cost you around $382,000; the same $4800 in paper currency is still worth $4800; and the same 182.3 ounces of gold would now be worth $276,141 (at $1,514.75 per ounce)...that's how inflation works.

What's my point in this little economics lesson?  The standard of measurement that you use matters!  In this week's scripture lesson from Hebrews, the author provides a number of practical instructions for Christian living.  By worldly standards, most of these would be of little concern?  Why would anyone care much about my level of hospitality towards others or my concern for prisoners?  Many people wouldn't think twice about my sexual purity or my fidelity to my wife.  Moreover, most people would encourage me to get as much wealth and "stuff" as I can...YOLO!  And don't even get me started on how we view our leaders...or the example that many of them set!  My point is simply that for most of us, these are personal and private issues.  They are of little or no concern to anyone else.  What I do with my own life is my business and apart from doing something illegal, no one has any right to tell me I'm wrong.

So, why does God spend so much time speaking to us through his world about how we are to live our lives?  Why does he care so much.  Sure, theft, cruelty, and murder...those are issues God should be concerned about.  But why does he care what I do with my money?  Is it really such a big deal that I enjoy looking at pornographic images or videos if I'm not actually engaging in physical adultery with another person?  Why do these things really matter?  Isn't it just like speeding?  Is a crime with no victim really a crime???  The way we think about and answer these questions, and others like them, depends heavily on the standard by which we measure morality.  Do we follow the world's standard or God's?  

God goes to great lengths to speak into our lives about our personal holiness because it is vitally important to our well-being.  When we measure by the low standard of humanity, it is easy to be deceived about the severity of our sinfulness.  However, when your standard is the ultimate perfection and holiness of God, we can see how quickly we fail to measure up.  But God's purpose isn't necessarily to crush us under the weight of his glory, but rather to set us on a path toward human flourishing.  When we live according to God's design, we get to experience all that it truly means to be human.

It is easy to follow the status quo.  A friend recently said something that resonated with me.  He said that when you want to get smarter, you read and study.  When you want to be healthy, you exercise and eat well.  It's easy and appealing to watch TV and sit on the couch eating junk food.  But getting to what is good, or even what is best requires sacrifice and effort.  There's a great deal of wisdom in his words.  When my focus is always on me, my wants, and my needs; I will always be looking to myself as my own functional god.  But when my focus is on God, and his commandments, and his design for humanity; I will rightly see myself in light of God, who he is, and my place and part in his kingdom.

In Grace,
Chris Morris

If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 37 - Do this don't do that

Questions discussed in the sermon:

1. How do beliefs always have consequences?
2. Why is our holiness so important?
3. What is the basis for Christian holiness?

Next week's lesson:  Hebrews 13:9-14

]]> Prior to 1933, the United States followed the gold standard monetary system for currency.  In a nutshell, the gold standard means that a country's currency is established, controlled, and backed by the true value of gold.  So, if for example, the value of gold is $100 per ounce, then $1 of currency has an equivalent value of 1/100th of an ounce of gold.  In fact, prior to WW1, nations would conduct trade in physical gold.  A nation who had a surplus in trade would gain gold as payment for their exports, whereas a nation with a deficit would see their gold reserves decline.  This meant that a nation was unable to issue additional currencies above the value of their actual gold reserves, because at any time the currency could be exchanged for gold.  This prevents the effects of inflation, where a currency's value loses purchasing power.

Countries today, including the United States no longer use the gold standard.  Today's currency is fiat money, or government-issued currency that is not backed by a physical commodity, such as gold or silver, but rather by the government that issued it.  The value of fiat money is derived from the relationship between supply and demand and the stability of the issuing government, rather than the worth of a commodity backing it as is the case for commodity money.  In 1933,under the gold standard, an average home might cost around $4800.  That means that the home, $4800 in paper currency, and 182.3 ounces of gold (at $26.33 per ounce) all had the same value.  In 2019 under our current monetary system, the same average home would cost you around $382,000; the same $4800 in paper currency is still worth $4800; and the same 182.3 ounces of gold would now be worth $276,141 (at $1,514.75 per ounce)...that's how inflation works.

What's my point in this little economics lesson?  The standard of measurement that you use matters!  In this week's scripture lesson from Hebrews, the author provides a number of practical instructions for Christian living.  By worldly standards, most of these would be of little concern?  Why would anyone care much about my level of hospitality towards others or my concern for prisoners?  Many people wouldn't think twice about my sexual purity or my fidelity to my wife.  Moreover, most people would encourage me to get as much wealth and "stuff" as I can...YOLO!  And don't even get me started on how we view our leaders...or the example that many of them set!  My point is simply that for most of us, these are personal and private issues.  They are of little or no concern to anyone else.  What I do with my own life is my business and apart from doing something illegal, no one has any right to tell me I'm wrong.

So, why does God spend so much time speaking to us through his world about how we are to live our lives?  Why does he care so much.  Sure, theft, cruelty, and murder...those are issues God should be concerned about.  But why does he care what I do with my money?  Is it really such a big deal that I enjoy looking at pornographic images or videos if I'm not actually engaging in physical adultery with another person?  Why do these things really matter?  Isn't it just like speeding?  Is a crime with no victim really a crime???  The way we think about and answer these questions, and others like them, depends heavily on the standard by which we measure morality.  Do we follow the world's standard or God's?  

God goes to great lengths to speak into our lives about our personal holiness because it is vitally important to our well-being.  When we measure by the low standard of humanity, it is easy to be deceived about the severity of our sinfulness.  However, when your standard is the ultimate perfection and holiness of God, we can see how quickly we fail to measure up.  But God's purpose isn't necessarily to crush us under the weight of his glory, but rather to set us on a path toward human flourishing.  When we live according to God's design, we get to experience all that it truly means to be human.

It is easy to follow the status quo.  A friend recently said something that resonated with me.  He said that when you want to get smarter, you read and study.  When you want to be healthy, you exercise and eat well.  It's easy and appealing to watch TV and sit on the couch eating junk food.  But getting to what is good, or even what is best requires sacrifice and effort.  There's a great deal of wisdom in his words.  When my focus is always on me, my wants, and my needs; I will always be looking to myself as my own functional god.  But when my focus is on God, and his commandments, and his design for humanity; I will rightly see myself in light of God, who he is, and my place and part in his kingdom.

In Grace,
Chris Morris

If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 37 - Do this don't do that

Questions discussed in the sermon:

1. How do beliefs always have consequences?
2. Why is our holiness so important?
3. What is the basis for Christian holiness?

Next week's lesson:  Hebrews 13:9-14

]]> A Consuming Fire https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/a-consuming-fire https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/a-consuming-fire#comments Mon, 25 Jan 2021 16:00:00 -0500 https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/a-consuming-fire This past weekend I had a bonfire in my backyard of trash lumber and yard waste.  It began with some kindling, but I quickly piled things on until I had a massive pyre built.  Before long it was fully ablaze.  It was so hot that I could barely stand to get close to it for more than a few second to "stir" it around as it burned.  In a matter of a couple of hours, all of that wood was reduced to a pile of ashes.  This is what I think of when I read, "our God is a consuming fire."

Besides the multiple references to God as a consuming fire in the scriptures, there are also two accounts of God quite literally consuming people and things with fire (see Leviticus 10, 1 Kings 18:20-40).  So, this description of God is not merely metaphorical, rather God can execute his judgement and wrath in the form of an all-consuming flame.  These pictures of God as jealous, vengeful, and merciless in the face of transgression are wildly unpopular.  We much prefer a tamer picture of God.  We want the picture of the lamb in the petting zoo, not the king of beasts, the lion, stalking his prey on the plains of Africa.  But God is both the lion and the lamb.  By rejecting or distancing ourselves from one, we lose all perspective on the other.

Think of it this way, pretend for a moment that you are enjoying a day at the beach and while out swimming and playing in the waves, you suddenly find yourself being quickly pulled to shore by a lifeguard.  Now suppose when you get to shore the lifeguard tells you to have a nice day and goes on about his business with no explanation.  You would likely find the whole encounter strange and rather pointless, right?  Now, reimagine the same scenario, but this time, when the lifeguard gets you to shore, he directs your attention to the several large sharks that are in a feeding frenzy in the same area you had just been swimming.  Suddenly, your perspective completely changes.  Not only do you find yourself appreciative for your safety, but also with a profound respect and admiration for the courageous lifeguard who put himself at risk to protect and save you.

Isn't our understanding of the gospel much the same?  I can scarcely proclaim the merciful nature of God in Christ and the merits of the cross if my audience has no legitimate fear of the wrath and justice of a holy God.  My message would fall on deaf ears.  The issue for many today is that they find themselves with no need of salvation because our society has convinced them that the measure of a man is not in his status before a transcendent deity, but rather in his interactions with his fellow man.  Sure rapists, murderers, traffickers, pedophiles, terrorists, drug dealers, and the like are in need of a savior, but the average joe who works a 9-5, pays his taxes, and can identify at least one friend of a different skin color or sexual orientation is doing what they can to make the world a decent place to live.  We have set the bar increasingly lower in order to puff ourselves up and pat ourselves on the back for a job well-done.  We celebrate mediocrity and teach our kids that just showing up is worthy of a trophy.  All the while our gospel gets smaller and smaller.

This is nothing new.  Human beings have always found ways to convince ourselves we really aren't that bad.  Paul's letter to the Romans, which is perhaps his most theologically and doctrinally rich epistle, starts with an in-depth exposition of the plight of mankind, before the apostle turns his attention to the saving work of Christ.  We need to know where we've been and where we are in order to see where we need to go.  A map is no good if you have no point of reference from which to go forth.  The teaching of the Old Testament, and the vivid descriptions of God's just hatred of mankind's sinfulness; as well as the descriptions of his patience, loving-kindness, mercy, and grace, all move the narrative forward towards the incarnate Christ of the New Testament.  One does not, indeed it cannot, make sense apart from the other.

This is why the author of Hebrews again reminds his hearers of their position before God, apart from Christ.  God doesn't desire that we approach him with dread and terror.  If that were the case, non would dare to draw close.  Rather, he desires we approach him with the respect, reverence, and awe that he is due.  The scriptures implore us not to flee from God, but rather to approach him as penitent, with a humble spirit and a contrite heart.

By God's grace every one of us exists today.  A right understanding of the truly despicable nature of our sin would lead any to rightly expect to be consumed by the flames of judgement.  And yet, we continue to fumble about as we are; and the Almighty God of Heaven tarries on with us.  Proper reflection on this reality should draw us to look inwardly at our own hearts and minds, and to reach outwardly for the hand of our Savior, who desires to pull us out of the tempestuous seas of sorrow, fear, doubt, and shame, and set our feet firmly on dry and solid ground to enjoy a new life in him.  This is the hope of the gospel, and a reference point for our weary souls. 

In Grace,
Chris Morris

If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 36 - Do Not Refuse Him

Questions discussed in this sermon:

1. Are there consequences for rejecting God?
2. What is Marcionism?
3. Have you refused Him?

Next week's lesson:  Hebrews 13:1-8

]]> This past weekend I had a bonfire in my backyard of trash lumber and yard waste.  It began with some kindling, but I quickly piled things on until I had a massive pyre built.  Before long it was fully ablaze.  It was so hot that I could barely stand to get close to it for more than a few second to "stir" it around as it burned.  In a matter of a couple of hours, all of that wood was reduced to a pile of ashes.  This is what I think of when I read, "our God is a consuming fire."

Besides the multiple references to God as a consuming fire in the scriptures, there are also two accounts of God quite literally consuming people and things with fire (see Leviticus 10, 1 Kings 18:20-40).  So, this description of God is not merely metaphorical, rather God can execute his judgement and wrath in the form of an all-consuming flame.  These pictures of God as jealous, vengeful, and merciless in the face of transgression are wildly unpopular.  We much prefer a tamer picture of God.  We want the picture of the lamb in the petting zoo, not the king of beasts, the lion, stalking his prey on the plains of Africa.  But God is both the lion and the lamb.  By rejecting or distancing ourselves from one, we lose all perspective on the other.

Think of it this way, pretend for a moment that you are enjoying a day at the beach and while out swimming and playing in the waves, you suddenly find yourself being quickly pulled to shore by a lifeguard.  Now suppose when you get to shore the lifeguard tells you to have a nice day and goes on about his business with no explanation.  You would likely find the whole encounter strange and rather pointless, right?  Now, reimagine the same scenario, but this time, when the lifeguard gets you to shore, he directs your attention to the several large sharks that are in a feeding frenzy in the same area you had just been swimming.  Suddenly, your perspective completely changes.  Not only do you find yourself appreciative for your safety, but also with a profound respect and admiration for the courageous lifeguard who put himself at risk to protect and save you.

Isn't our understanding of the gospel much the same?  I can scarcely proclaim the merciful nature of God in Christ and the merits of the cross if my audience has no legitimate fear of the wrath and justice of a holy God.  My message would fall on deaf ears.  The issue for many today is that they find themselves with no need of salvation because our society has convinced them that the measure of a man is not in his status before a transcendent deity, but rather in his interactions with his fellow man.  Sure rapists, murderers, traffickers, pedophiles, terrorists, drug dealers, and the like are in need of a savior, but the average joe who works a 9-5, pays his taxes, and can identify at least one friend of a different skin color or sexual orientation is doing what they can to make the world a decent place to live.  We have set the bar increasingly lower in order to puff ourselves up and pat ourselves on the back for a job well-done.  We celebrate mediocrity and teach our kids that just showing up is worthy of a trophy.  All the while our gospel gets smaller and smaller.

This is nothing new.  Human beings have always found ways to convince ourselves we really aren't that bad.  Paul's letter to the Romans, which is perhaps his most theologically and doctrinally rich epistle, starts with an in-depth exposition of the plight of mankind, before the apostle turns his attention to the saving work of Christ.  We need to know where we've been and where we are in order to see where we need to go.  A map is no good if you have no point of reference from which to go forth.  The teaching of the Old Testament, and the vivid descriptions of God's just hatred of mankind's sinfulness; as well as the descriptions of his patience, loving-kindness, mercy, and grace, all move the narrative forward towards the incarnate Christ of the New Testament.  One does not, indeed it cannot, make sense apart from the other.

This is why the author of Hebrews again reminds his hearers of their position before God, apart from Christ.  God doesn't desire that we approach him with dread and terror.  If that were the case, non would dare to draw close.  Rather, he desires we approach him with the respect, reverence, and awe that he is due.  The scriptures implore us not to flee from God, but rather to approach him as penitent, with a humble spirit and a contrite heart.

By God's grace every one of us exists today.  A right understanding of the truly despicable nature of our sin would lead any to rightly expect to be consumed by the flames of judgement.  And yet, we continue to fumble about as we are; and the Almighty God of Heaven tarries on with us.  Proper reflection on this reality should draw us to look inwardly at our own hearts and minds, and to reach outwardly for the hand of our Savior, who desires to pull us out of the tempestuous seas of sorrow, fear, doubt, and shame, and set our feet firmly on dry and solid ground to enjoy a new life in him.  This is the hope of the gospel, and a reference point for our weary souls. 

In Grace,
Chris Morris

If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 36 - Do Not Refuse Him

Questions discussed in this sermon:

1. Are there consequences for rejecting God?
2. What is Marcionism?
3. Have you refused Him?

Next week's lesson:  Hebrews 13:1-8

]]> Words Matter https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/words-matter https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/words-matter#comments Mon, 11 Jan 2021 16:00:00 -0500 https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/words-matter Are you familiar with oxymorons?  They are figures of speech containing words that seem to contradict each other.  They're often referred to as a contradiction in terms.  Some common oxymorons include terms like jumbo shrimp, deafening silence, passive aggressive, and seriously funny.  We use oxymorons regularly in our everyday speech.

I couldn't help but think this week, as we studied through this section of Hebrews chapter 12, that perhaps I had uncovered a new oxymoron in the pages of scripture.  In verse 15, the author uses some paradoxical language when he writes, "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God..."  This begs the question, "How does one go about obtaining that which is freely given?"  We typically define grace as a free gift from God, and yet the author of Hebrews here seems to put forth the idea that we are in some sense required to strive to obtain it.  This doesn't sound like a gift to me.  It sounds like work!  Is he wrong?  Is there a contradiction here in the scriptures?  Do I earn God's favor on my own merit or is it truly gracious?  These are important questions that strike at the heart of the gospel.

One of my favorite things about studying the Bible is digging into the words.  We all agree that words matter, but nowhere is this more apparent than in our study of the scriptures.  The challenge we face every time we approach God's word is to uncover the meaning of the text.  Everyone agrees that the human authors of scripture wrote to convey a message with meaning.  In many cases that meaning is explicit and clearly defined.  In others it is veiled in symbolism or poetic language and requires some interpretation from the reader.  Regardless though, there can only ever be one meaning...that which was intended.  And when trying to derive the meaning, the words play an important role.  How does each word serve to contribute and combine to convey that meaning?  That is the goal at hand for us.

So, how do we "fail to obtain" something that is by definition free?  The answer is simple, we reject it.  By declining to take possession of a gift, we fail to obtain it.  So if someone offers me a gift and my response is, "Thanks, but no thanks." then the gift serves no benefit for me.  Despite the offer, it is not mine.

But why would someone decline something that is free?  A free meal, free money, a free house, or car, or vacation...most of us would gladly accept such an offer.  In fact, for most of us, the fact that something is free is incentive enough for us to accept it...regardless of what it is.  I must confess I myself have accepted a number of free offers over the years that otherwise were really of little to no interest to me.  These are the stuff of future garage sales and garbage dumps...and yet, we gladly accept.  So, to even think of passing on a free gift is beyond our understanding.  And yet everyday untold numbers of people reject the free offer of salvation through Christ.

We all get that there is a difference between those who are inside and those who are outside of the kingdom, and that difference is solely rooted in our response to the gospel.  But is this all that the author of Hebrews has in view here?  I tend to think not.

I think the point he is making here is that receiving salvation from Christ is a free gift, but it isn't simply enough to say we desire it, rather we must wholly accept it in a way that produces fruit in our lives.  Fruit like peace and holiness, which he mentions just before this in verse 14.  What I mean is, we can accept something for free in a half-hearted way...like me with those free offers I accepted, but later tossed in the trash.  It may look like I obtained those things, but did I really?  Did they have any value to me?  Is accepting something only to quickly discard it later really all that different from just rejecting it in the first place?

A lot of people reject Christianity and the gospel of salvation; but a lot of people also accept it in ways that don't lead to genuine regeneration.  Maybe they are duped by a counterfeit version.  Or maybe they choose to accept it in piecemeal fashion, where they keep what they like and get rid of the rest.  Or maybe they like the free parts, but quickly change their mind when they discover that there are strings attached or a price to pay...like a free trial version.  Regardless of why they respond the way that they do, at the end of the day, if accepting the gift was really all that it took, there would be a lot of "so-called" or "fair-weather" Christians hanging out in Heaven.  Put that doesn't seem to be the description of the Christian life we see in the scriptures or that was taught by Jesus himself.

We are commanded here to "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God..."  This means there is work to be done, both in our own lives and in the work of evangelism.  First we have to keep constant watch over our own lives.  It is easy to convince ourselves that things are ok.  It's easy to rationalize and justify our sin.  It's easy to become distracted.  It's easy to take things for granted.  These pitfalls lie around every corner.  We must be diligent in keeping watch.

Moreover, we must constantly be striving to share the gospel with others.  This isn't just as simple as passing out free samples.  It's not enough to simply offer the gift, but the offer should come with a willingness to eagerly seek the well-being of the recipient.  It's easy to say, "I tried..." but is that all we are called to?  Or is our calling to sacrificially give of ourselves in lovingly sharing the good news of Christ and building relationships so that we can disciple others with the truth of the gospel?

In Grace,
Chris Morris

If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 34 - Peace & Holiness

Questions discussed in this sermon:

1. How do peace and holiness work together?
2. How peaceful is it where you live?
3. What "root of bitterness" has crept into your life?

Next week's lesson:  Hebrews 12:18-24

]]> Are you familiar with oxymorons?  They are figures of speech containing words that seem to contradict each other.  They're often referred to as a contradiction in terms.  Some common oxymorons include terms like jumbo shrimp, deafening silence, passive aggressive, and seriously funny.  We use oxymorons regularly in our everyday speech.

I couldn't help but think this week, as we studied through this section of Hebrews chapter 12, that perhaps I had uncovered a new oxymoron in the pages of scripture.  In verse 15, the author uses some paradoxical language when he writes, "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God..."  This begs the question, "How does one go about obtaining that which is freely given?"  We typically define grace as a free gift from God, and yet the author of Hebrews here seems to put forth the idea that we are in some sense required to strive to obtain it.  This doesn't sound like a gift to me.  It sounds like work!  Is he wrong?  Is there a contradiction here in the scriptures?  Do I earn God's favor on my own merit or is it truly gracious?  These are important questions that strike at the heart of the gospel.

One of my favorite things about studying the Bible is digging into the words.  We all agree that words matter, but nowhere is this more apparent than in our study of the scriptures.  The challenge we face every time we approach God's word is to uncover the meaning of the text.  Everyone agrees that the human authors of scripture wrote to convey a message with meaning.  In many cases that meaning is explicit and clearly defined.  In others it is veiled in symbolism or poetic language and requires some interpretation from the reader.  Regardless though, there can only ever be one meaning...that which was intended.  And when trying to derive the meaning, the words play an important role.  How does each word serve to contribute and combine to convey that meaning?  That is the goal at hand for us.

So, how do we "fail to obtain" something that is by definition free?  The answer is simple, we reject it.  By declining to take possession of a gift, we fail to obtain it.  So if someone offers me a gift and my response is, "Thanks, but no thanks." then the gift serves no benefit for me.  Despite the offer, it is not mine.

But why would someone decline something that is free?  A free meal, free money, a free house, or car, or vacation...most of us would gladly accept such an offer.  In fact, for most of us, the fact that something is free is incentive enough for us to accept it...regardless of what it is.  I must confess I myself have accepted a number of free offers over the years that otherwise were really of little to no interest to me.  These are the stuff of future garage sales and garbage dumps...and yet, we gladly accept.  So, to even think of passing on a free gift is beyond our understanding.  And yet everyday untold numbers of people reject the free offer of salvation through Christ.

We all get that there is a difference between those who are inside and those who are outside of the kingdom, and that difference is solely rooted in our response to the gospel.  But is this all that the author of Hebrews has in view here?  I tend to think not.

I think the point he is making here is that receiving salvation from Christ is a free gift, but it isn't simply enough to say we desire it, rather we must wholly accept it in a way that produces fruit in our lives.  Fruit like peace and holiness, which he mentions just before this in verse 14.  What I mean is, we can accept something for free in a half-hearted way...like me with those free offers I accepted, but later tossed in the trash.  It may look like I obtained those things, but did I really?  Did they have any value to me?  Is accepting something only to quickly discard it later really all that different from just rejecting it in the first place?

A lot of people reject Christianity and the gospel of salvation; but a lot of people also accept it in ways that don't lead to genuine regeneration.  Maybe they are duped by a counterfeit version.  Or maybe they choose to accept it in piecemeal fashion, where they keep what they like and get rid of the rest.  Or maybe they like the free parts, but quickly change their mind when they discover that there are strings attached or a price to pay...like a free trial version.  Regardless of why they respond the way that they do, at the end of the day, if accepting the gift was really all that it took, there would be a lot of "so-called" or "fair-weather" Christians hanging out in Heaven.  Put that doesn't seem to be the description of the Christian life we see in the scriptures or that was taught by Jesus himself.

We are commanded here to "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God..."  This means there is work to be done, both in our own lives and in the work of evangelism.  First we have to keep constant watch over our own lives.  It is easy to convince ourselves that things are ok.  It's easy to rationalize and justify our sin.  It's easy to become distracted.  It's easy to take things for granted.  These pitfalls lie around every corner.  We must be diligent in keeping watch.

Moreover, we must constantly be striving to share the gospel with others.  This isn't just as simple as passing out free samples.  It's not enough to simply offer the gift, but the offer should come with a willingness to eagerly seek the well-being of the recipient.  It's easy to say, "I tried..." but is that all we are called to?  Or is our calling to sacrificially give of ourselves in lovingly sharing the good news of Christ and building relationships so that we can disciple others with the truth of the gospel?

In Grace,
Chris Morris

If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 34 - Peace & Holiness

Questions discussed in this sermon:

1. How do peace and holiness work together?
2. How peaceful is it where you live?
3. What "root of bitterness" has crept into your life?

Next week's lesson:  Hebrews 12:18-24

]]> The Truth About Fear and Doubt https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/the-truth-about-fear-and-doubt https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/the-truth-about-fear-and-doubt#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2021 15:00:00 -0500 https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/the-truth-about-fear-and-doubt Happy New Year Journey Church friends and family and congratulations on making it through another sermon series!  This week we concluded our study over Peter's first epistle.  And what an appropriate place it has been for us to study over the course of a global pandemic.  First Peter was written to encourage believers to remain steadfast and hopeful in a seemingly hopeless world.  As Christians, we are taught to trust and believe that our hope is in Christ.  We may know this to be true, but at the same time do many of us find ourselves, in the midst of trials and difficulties, believing and trusting in that reality?  It can often be a long and winding road from our minds to our hearts.

Many of us may object to the old saying, "knowledge is power," because we don't feel very powerful.  In fact, we may more often than not struggle to believe and implement what we know to be true.  The struggle of fear and doubt is not something that is foreign to the Christian.  If it were, then the encouragement we find in scriptures like 1 Peter would be unnecessary.  Instead, God has graciously inspired men like Peter to write letters of encouragement to his people because he knows our propensity for doubting.

Often times, fear and doubt is viewed as a sign of faithlessness.  While there is some validity to this view (doubt is surely rooted in the lack or absence of faith), it also can be misleading.  What I mean is that struggling at times with fear and doubt is not a clear indication of one's spiritual immaturity, though it can be.  Rather, it should be viewed as a clear indication of one's humanity.  That is to say that to be human, to be a child of flesh, is to be one who is accustomed to fear and doubt.  It is a result of our fleshly existence.

Mankind was designed to live in perfect fellowship with our Creator.  Part of this fellowship was to enjoy perfect trust.  This is a concept that many of us can't even wrap our minds around.  We don't know what it means to experience perfect trust.  It is too foreign to us.  Adam and Eve had the opportunity to perfectly trust God.  We see this illustrated in his command that they enjoy the fruit of the Garden, with the exception of one tree.  Often times people struggle to understand why God would place a forbidden tree among the Garden.  They view this as an unnecessary or cruel temptation to place before his children.  But I believe the forbidden fruit of the garden in many ways displays, more than anything else, the perfect trust that exists in fellowship with God.  You see, it goes both ways.  Not only does the forbidden tree provide an opportunity for Adam and Eve to trust God, but it displays for them his trust in them.  In other words, it was a constant visible reminder of his love and trust of them to walk in obedience to him.

Now, we all know how that story ended, and it wasn't a surprise to God either, but I believe the lesson to be learned is that love cannot exist where there is not first and foremost mutual trust.  This is why the Apostle John writes, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.  For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love" (1 John 4:18).  Perfect love casts out fear, but our struggle remains to love perfectly.  Only Christ has ever displayed perfect love.  Apart from his power and his Spirit living and working in and through us, we do not have the capacity for this type of perfect love that removes all fear and doubt.  So, in other words, it is through the process of sanctification that we are learning to love and trust our Lord and one another.  But it isn't until we reach glorification that we will experience it fully.  This means that this side of eternity, we will need to continue to wage war against fear and doubt.

That may seem like bad news to many, but we have not been left unarmed and outmanned for battle.  We have the scriptures which remind us of the truth we know and encourage us to remain steadfast in our trust and belief in it.  At the same time, we have been given the Spirit of Christ which lives and dwells in each of us to empower us to fight with supernatural strength and endurance.  We have been trained and equipped as good soldiers in our battle against sin and flesh.

Joe reminded us this week that fear is rooted in our pride.  In fact, I believe strongly that pride is the ultimate sin that stands as the root of all others.  It was pride (the belief that they knew a better way) that led Adam and Eve to take of that which was forbidden.  It was pride that led Satan to desire God's throne.  It is pride that leads men and women to reject God and his kingdom in favor of their own day in and day out.  "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18).  The lesson is clear, pride leads to pain, suffering, death, and destruction.

We want to believe that we have everything well in-hand and that we have within us the power to control the world around us.  However we quickly learn this isn't true, and when we come face to face with that reality, we experience fear, doubt, worry, and anxiety.  It is an exhausting way to live.  Thankfully, God has offered us something better in Christ.  Jesus died so that we can once again enjoy fellowship with our Heavenly Father.  This is the hope of the gospel.  And this is the hope of 1 Peter.  I hope you can take that away from this study and that it will serve to enrich your life in so many ways!

In Grace,
Chris Morris

If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 10 - Humility in Christ

Questions discussed in this sermon:

1. How does humility and salvation correlate?
2. How is pride and anxiety linked?
3. Why is the devil described as a roaring lion and what is his main objective?

Next week's lesson:  Hebrews 12:14-17

]]> Happy New Year Journey Church friends and family and congratulations on making it through another sermon series!  This week we concluded our study over Peter's first epistle.  And what an appropriate place it has been for us to study over the course of a global pandemic.  First Peter was written to encourage believers to remain steadfast and hopeful in a seemingly hopeless world.  As Christians, we are taught to trust and believe that our hope is in Christ.  We may know this to be true, but at the same time do many of us find ourselves, in the midst of trials and difficulties, believing and trusting in that reality?  It can often be a long and winding road from our minds to our hearts.

Many of us may object to the old saying, "knowledge is power," because we don't feel very powerful.  In fact, we may more often than not struggle to believe and implement what we know to be true.  The struggle of fear and doubt is not something that is foreign to the Christian.  If it were, then the encouragement we find in scriptures like 1 Peter would be unnecessary.  Instead, God has graciously inspired men like Peter to write letters of encouragement to his people because he knows our propensity for doubting.

Often times, fear and doubt is viewed as a sign of faithlessness.  While there is some validity to this view (doubt is surely rooted in the lack or absence of faith), it also can be misleading.  What I mean is that struggling at times with fear and doubt is not a clear indication of one's spiritual immaturity, though it can be.  Rather, it should be viewed as a clear indication of one's humanity.  That is to say that to be human, to be a child of flesh, is to be one who is accustomed to fear and doubt.  It is a result of our fleshly existence.

Mankind was designed to live in perfect fellowship with our Creator.  Part of this fellowship was to enjoy perfect trust.  This is a concept that many of us can't even wrap our minds around.  We don't know what it means to experience perfect trust.  It is too foreign to us.  Adam and Eve had the opportunity to perfectly trust God.  We see this illustrated in his command that they enjoy the fruit of the Garden, with the exception of one tree.  Often times people struggle to understand why God would place a forbidden tree among the Garden.  They view this as an unnecessary or cruel temptation to place before his children.  But I believe the forbidden fruit of the garden in many ways displays, more than anything else, the perfect trust that exists in fellowship with God.  You see, it goes both ways.  Not only does the forbidden tree provide an opportunity for Adam and Eve to trust God, but it displays for them his trust in them.  In other words, it was a constant visible reminder of his love and trust of them to walk in obedience to him.

Now, we all know how that story ended, and it wasn't a surprise to God either, but I believe the lesson to be learned is that love cannot exist where there is not first and foremost mutual trust.  This is why the Apostle John writes, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.  For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love" (1 John 4:18).  Perfect love casts out fear, but our struggle remains to love perfectly.  Only Christ has ever displayed perfect love.  Apart from his power and his Spirit living and working in and through us, we do not have the capacity for this type of perfect love that removes all fear and doubt.  So, in other words, it is through the process of sanctification that we are learning to love and trust our Lord and one another.  But it isn't until we reach glorification that we will experience it fully.  This means that this side of eternity, we will need to continue to wage war against fear and doubt.

That may seem like bad news to many, but we have not been left unarmed and outmanned for battle.  We have the scriptures which remind us of the truth we know and encourage us to remain steadfast in our trust and belief in it.  At the same time, we have been given the Spirit of Christ which lives and dwells in each of us to empower us to fight with supernatural strength and endurance.  We have been trained and equipped as good soldiers in our battle against sin and flesh.

Joe reminded us this week that fear is rooted in our pride.  In fact, I believe strongly that pride is the ultimate sin that stands as the root of all others.  It was pride (the belief that they knew a better way) that led Adam and Eve to take of that which was forbidden.  It was pride that led Satan to desire God's throne.  It is pride that leads men and women to reject God and his kingdom in favor of their own day in and day out.  "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18).  The lesson is clear, pride leads to pain, suffering, death, and destruction.

We want to believe that we have everything well in-hand and that we have within us the power to control the world around us.  However we quickly learn this isn't true, and when we come face to face with that reality, we experience fear, doubt, worry, and anxiety.  It is an exhausting way to live.  Thankfully, God has offered us something better in Christ.  Jesus died so that we can once again enjoy fellowship with our Heavenly Father.  This is the hope of the gospel.  And this is the hope of 1 Peter.  I hope you can take that away from this study and that it will serve to enrich your life in so many ways!

In Grace,
Chris Morris

If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 10 - Humility in Christ

Questions discussed in this sermon:

1. How does humility and salvation correlate?
2. How is pride and anxiety linked?
3. Why is the devil described as a roaring lion and what is his main objective?

Next week's lesson:  Hebrews 12:14-17

]]> Striving Towards the Prize https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/striving-towards-the- https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/striving-towards-the-#comments Mon, 14 Dec 2020 15:00:00 -0500 https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/striving-towards-the- Don't grow weary.  Don't quit.  Don't give up.  Don't stop pushing towards the goal, the prize, the finish.  Keep fighting.  Run the race with endurance.  And on it goes...

This is God's encouragement for his people, time and again.  He comes back to it so often because he knows the road he has called us to walk is a difficult one.  This begs the question.  Why?  After all, we are talking about the sovereign Creator and Lord of the entire universe here.  I mean couldn't he just cut us some slack?  What's the deal?

Maybe God is just a subscriber to the popular notion that anything worth doing is going to be difficult.  Funny enough though, while we champion this belief with our coffee mugs and motivational posters, we expend massive amounts of time and energy developing ways to make our lives easier.  Truth be told, no one really wants things to be difficult.  "If it was easy, everyone would do it" (there's another famous adage for you).

Interestingly enough, many of the encouragements in the scriptures to press onwards are placed in the context of sports analogies.  I think that is interesting and significant for a number of reasons.  First, I think we can all agree that reach the upper echelons of any sport requires a lot of really hard work.  Don't get me wrong, it requires a great deal of pure talent as well, but everyone who competes at the highest levels is talented.  But what sets those athletes who achieve greatness apart from all of the rest is an unquenchable desire to win.

Nine times out of ten, a great athlete never leaves their sport at the pinnacle of their success.  We may remember their greatness, but most of the time, the end of their career is a sad slide.  No one can do it forever, and eventually father time catches up with all of us.  Why is this the story for so many?  It's that unquenchable desire.  It just won't let them quit.

But what does this have to do with the Bible and our lives as Christians?  I think the reason that the scriptures so often encourage us to "fight for the prize" by  painting the picture of an athlete is to remind us that to be the best you can be at whatever you are trying to do requires a lot of work.  For athletes (as well as many others like artisans), practice makes perfect.  Regardless of the level of talent one possesses, you can't simply wake up one day and be great.  It requires a great deal of effort and hard work.

For the Christian, we have been drafted to be on the team.  But this is just the first step towards achieving "greatness" in our faith.  Sure, we can be content to be on the team.  We can be benchwarmers.  But if we want to get into the game, we have to get busy perfecting our craft.

And how do we do that?  Well, it takes a lot of practice.  The author of Hebrews tells us that we need to begin by casting off those things that are holding us back...like our sin.  Next, we should look to Jesus.  Behind every great athlete is a coach who works to make them better.

Now, don't get me wrong, Jesus is much more than just a morality coach.  But, like a good coach in sports, he has much to offer us.  Not only is he our teacher, our example, and our leader...but he also has our best interests at heart.  In fact, he so desperately wants to see us thrive that he has taken upon himself the burden of all of our weakness.  He has overcome all of that on our behalf so that we can, in and through him, be made perfect.

Following Jesus isn't easy...it's not meant to be.  But by striving for Christlikeness is the great honor of every Christian.  We are called to it and we are encouraged time and again to keep striving after it.  It is the greatest prize we can receive in this life and in the eternal one to come.

In Grace,
Chris Morris

If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 32 - The Race of Faith

Questions discussed in this sermon:

1. How do we lay aside sin?
2. What's the key to enduring faith?
3. How is your race going?

Next week's lesson:  Hebrews 12:4-13

]]> Don't grow weary.  Don't quit.  Don't give up.  Don't stop pushing towards the goal, the prize, the finish.  Keep fighting.  Run the race with endurance.  And on it goes...

This is God's encouragement for his people, time and again.  He comes back to it so often because he knows the road he has called us to walk is a difficult one.  This begs the question.  Why?  After all, we are talking about the sovereign Creator and Lord of the entire universe here.  I mean couldn't he just cut us some slack?  What's the deal?

Maybe God is just a subscriber to the popular notion that anything worth doing is going to be difficult.  Funny enough though, while we champion this belief with our coffee mugs and motivational posters, we expend massive amounts of time and energy developing ways to make our lives easier.  Truth be told, no one really wants things to be difficult.  "If it was easy, everyone would do it" (there's another famous adage for you).

Interestingly enough, many of the encouragements in the scriptures to press onwards are placed in the context of sports analogies.  I think that is interesting and significant for a number of reasons.  First, I think we can all agree that reach the upper echelons of any sport requires a lot of really hard work.  Don't get me wrong, it requires a great deal of pure talent as well, but everyone who competes at the highest levels is talented.  But what sets those athletes who achieve greatness apart from all of the rest is an unquenchable desire to win.

Nine times out of ten, a great athlete never leaves their sport at the pinnacle of their success.  We may remember their greatness, but most of the time, the end of their career is a sad slide.  No one can do it forever, and eventually father time catches up with all of us.  Why is this the story for so many?  It's that unquenchable desire.  It just won't let them quit.

But what does this have to do with the Bible and our lives as Christians?  I think the reason that the scriptures so often encourage us to "fight for the prize" by  painting the picture of an athlete is to remind us that to be the best you can be at whatever you are trying to do requires a lot of work.  For athletes (as well as many others like artisans), practice makes perfect.  Regardless of the level of talent one possesses, you can't simply wake up one day and be great.  It requires a great deal of effort and hard work.

For the Christian, we have been drafted to be on the team.  But this is just the first step towards achieving "greatness" in our faith.  Sure, we can be content to be on the team.  We can be benchwarmers.  But if we want to get into the game, we have to get busy perfecting our craft.

And how do we do that?  Well, it takes a lot of practice.  The author of Hebrews tells us that we need to begin by casting off those things that are holding us back...like our sin.  Next, we should look to Jesus.  Behind every great athlete is a coach who works to make them better.

Now, don't get me wrong, Jesus is much more than just a morality coach.  But, like a good coach in sports, he has much to offer us.  Not only is he our teacher, our example, and our leader...but he also has our best interests at heart.  In fact, he so desperately wants to see us thrive that he has taken upon himself the burden of all of our weakness.  He has overcome all of that on our behalf so that we can, in and through him, be made perfect.

Following Jesus isn't easy...it's not meant to be.  But by striving for Christlikeness is the great honor of every Christian.  We are called to it and we are encouraged time and again to keep striving after it.  It is the greatest prize we can receive in this life and in the eternal one to come.

In Grace,
Chris Morris

If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 32 - The Race of Faith

Questions discussed in this sermon:

1. How do we lay aside sin?
2. What's the key to enduring faith?
3. How is your race going?

Next week's lesson:  Hebrews 12:4-13

]]> Wrapping Up Faith https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/wrapping-up-faith https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/wrapping-up-faith#comments Mon, 07 Dec 2020 15:00:00 -0500 https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/wrapping-up-faith This week we concluded our extended look at chapter 11 in the book of Hebrews.   The famous "faith chapter," as it is known, has had much to teach us.  In an attempt to "put a bow" on this section of our study, I want to briefly just summarize a few key points or important takeaways for us in regards to faith - what it is, how it works, and why it is so important to us as Christians.

1.  Faith is a fruit of the Spirit's work in our lives
The Apostle Paul, doesn't mince words in his letter to the Ephesians.  He tells us explicitly that the faith that leads to salvation is a gift of pure grace on behalf of God (Ephesians 2:8).  This is fundamental to the Christian faith because it moves the onus for our salvation from us to God.  This is what makes the gospel such good news.  We have proven we can do little more than mess things up and get in our own way when it comes to proving ourselves worthy before a perfectly righteous God.  If it weren't for his grace and mercy towards us, all would perish and reap the just judgement for our sins.

Too often the Christian faith is painted in a light that makes faith paramount to pulling up our bootstraps and working ourselves into a right relationship with God.  If I can just "faith it enough" I can get there.  And if I don't, well I guess I just need to try harder.  This may be moralistic deism, but it surely isn't Christianity!  The key takeaway we need to have (ALWAYS) is that even our faith is received through grace.  We cannot miss that!

2.  We are called to be faithful
The meaning of the word faithful isn't difficult to decipher.  It literally means to be "full of faith."  As Christians, we are called to faithful living.  And what does that mean?  It means that we live lives that are consistently being fueled by unwavering and endless trust and devotion.

Now that sounds like a tall order on the surface, doesn't it?  I mean, I don't know about you, but I at times struggle with fears and doubts.  Does that mean I am living in disobedience to God?  I don't think so, and here's why.  At the end of the day, living a faith-filled life means that we ultimately put our trust in the object of our faith.  That's really what faith is, isn't it?  It's trust.  To be a "faithful" husband means that I am loyal and devoted to my wife and her alone.  A connection like that is built on a foundation of trust.

I don't like to fly, but as an engineer, I know and understand the science behind how airplanes work.  Sometimes for work or even for pleasure, I have to fly somewhere.  I may not love it, but I end up getting on the plane.  In a sense, that's a picture of faith.  I may have fears and doubts about flying, but I ultimately trust the plane to work as it is supposed to, and so I get on board.  Our faith in God works the same way.  When things are difficult or scary, we may be tempted to doubt God's love and goodness towards us.  But in the end, if we choose to walk in obedience (if we choose to get on board) we are proving our trust in him.  And in so doing, our faith (our trust in him) proves stronger than whatever fears and doubts are tempting us not to trust.  That's the calling of the Christian life...to ultimately trust God and to walk in obedience to him even when it is difficult to do so.  And we are encouraged time and time and time again in the scriptures to trust God because he knows we will struggle...so he reminds us constantly.

3.  Faith works both ways
One of the inevitable misuses of a text like Hebrews chapter 11 is to paint the picture that faith always leads us to the mountaintop.  This is the key tactic of prosperity preachers.  If we prooftext the scriptures, it is easy to paint a picture of faith that always leads to good things.  But one of the key takeaways on our study over faith came this week as we wrapped up chapter 11; and that is that sometimes we can be faithful, even to death.

In fact, just a cursory knowledge of scripture will likely lead to the conclusion that sometimes, even often, really faithful people meet unpleasant ends...just look at Jesus, the apostles, and the Old Testament prophets.  Almost all of them met their demise by cruel and unfortunate means as a result of their obedience to God.

It sure would be great if the story of every believer was one of the good and easy life, but that simply isn't the case.  More often than not, the Christian life is one of suffering and persecution specifically for one's beliefs.  We often miss this point in the scriptures because we tend to live fairly privileged and sheltered lives as Americans.  But this isn't the story for many of our brothers and sisters around the world.  In reality, living by faith means we will often walk in places we don't naturally want to go.  However, the promise of scripture and the hope of our faith is that we are saved to a life that is not defined by this temporary existence...but by a better, eternal. and everlasting one.

In Grace,
Chris Morris

If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 31 - The Ups & Downs of Faith

Questions discussed in this sermon:

1. What does this list of names teach us about faith?
2. How could a quick reading of these names give us the wrong idea of faith?
3. What does your faith feel like?

Next week's lesson:  Hebrews 12:1-3

]]> This week we concluded our extended look at chapter 11 in the book of Hebrews.   The famous "faith chapter," as it is known, has had much to teach us.  In an attempt to "put a bow" on this section of our study, I want to briefly just summarize a few key points or important takeaways for us in regards to faith - what it is, how it works, and why it is so important to us as Christians.

1.  Faith is a fruit of the Spirit's work in our lives
The Apostle Paul, doesn't mince words in his letter to the Ephesians.  He tells us explicitly that the faith that leads to salvation is a gift of pure grace on behalf of God (Ephesians 2:8).  This is fundamental to the Christian faith because it moves the onus for our salvation from us to God.  This is what makes the gospel such good news.  We have proven we can do little more than mess things up and get in our own way when it comes to proving ourselves worthy before a perfectly righteous God.  If it weren't for his grace and mercy towards us, all would perish and reap the just judgement for our sins.

Too often the Christian faith is painted in a light that makes faith paramount to pulling up our bootstraps and working ourselves into a right relationship with God.  If I can just "faith it enough" I can get there.  And if I don't, well I guess I just need to try harder.  This may be moralistic deism, but it surely isn't Christianity!  The key takeaway we need to have (ALWAYS) is that even our faith is received through grace.  We cannot miss that!

2.  We are called to be faithful
The meaning of the word faithful isn't difficult to decipher.  It literally means to be "full of faith."  As Christians, we are called to faithful living.  And what does that mean?  It means that we live lives that are consistently being fueled by unwavering and endless trust and devotion.

Now that sounds like a tall order on the surface, doesn't it?  I mean, I don't know about you, but I at times struggle with fears and doubts.  Does that mean I am living in disobedience to God?  I don't think so, and here's why.  At the end of the day, living a faith-filled life means that we ultimately put our trust in the object of our faith.  That's really what faith is, isn't it?  It's trust.  To be a "faithful" husband means that I am loyal and devoted to my wife and her alone.  A connection like that is built on a foundation of trust.

I don't like to fly, but as an engineer, I know and understand the science behind how airplanes work.  Sometimes for work or even for pleasure, I have to fly somewhere.  I may not love it, but I end up getting on the plane.  In a sense, that's a picture of faith.  I may have fears and doubts about flying, but I ultimately trust the plane to work as it is supposed to, and so I get on board.  Our faith in God works the same way.  When things are difficult or scary, we may be tempted to doubt God's love and goodness towards us.  But in the end, if we choose to walk in obedience (if we choose to get on board) we are proving our trust in him.  And in so doing, our faith (our trust in him) proves stronger than whatever fears and doubts are tempting us not to trust.  That's the calling of the Christian life...to ultimately trust God and to walk in obedience to him even when it is difficult to do so.  And we are encouraged time and time and time again in the scriptures to trust God because he knows we will struggle...so he reminds us constantly.

3.  Faith works both ways
One of the inevitable misuses of a text like Hebrews chapter 11 is to paint the picture that faith always leads us to the mountaintop.  This is the key tactic of prosperity preachers.  If we prooftext the scriptures, it is easy to paint a picture of faith that always leads to good things.  But one of the key takeaways on our study over faith came this week as we wrapped up chapter 11; and that is that sometimes we can be faithful, even to death.

In fact, just a cursory knowledge of scripture will likely lead to the conclusion that sometimes, even often, really faithful people meet unpleasant ends...just look at Jesus, the apostles, and the Old Testament prophets.  Almost all of them met their demise by cruel and unfortunate means as a result of their obedience to God.

It sure would be great if the story of every believer was one of the good and easy life, but that simply isn't the case.  More often than not, the Christian life is one of suffering and persecution specifically for one's beliefs.  We often miss this point in the scriptures because we tend to live fairly privileged and sheltered lives as Americans.  But this isn't the story for many of our brothers and sisters around the world.  In reality, living by faith means we will often walk in places we don't naturally want to go.  However, the promise of scripture and the hope of our faith is that we are saved to a life that is not defined by this temporary existence...but by a better, eternal. and everlasting one.

In Grace,
Chris Morris

If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 31 - The Ups & Downs of Faith

Questions discussed in this sermon:

1. What does this list of names teach us about faith?
2. How could a quick reading of these names give us the wrong idea of faith?
3. What does your faith feel like?

Next week's lesson:  Hebrews 12:1-3

]]> Abraham Skywalker??? https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/abraham-skywalker https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/abraham-skywalker#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2020 15:00:00 -0500 https://www.thejourneychurchmarietta.com/blog/post/abraham-skywalker I have to begin this week's email with a disclaimer.  I was not in attendance this week at The Journey because I was filling the pulpit at a small country church which I have been honored to minister to now on several occasions as they search for a new pastor.  Therefore, I have not had the opportunity to hear Cody's message yet, and so I am flying a bit blind in regards to reflecting on that.  However, knowing Cody's faithfulness to preach the true message of the text, I feel confident that I can share some reflections on the passage itself and still be in line with what was taught from the pulpit.  That being said, here we go...

One of my favorite books of the Bible is Genesis and in particular from chapters 11 onward as we are introduced to Abram (Abraham).  For the "uninitiated," Abraham's family is the Bible's equivalent of the Skywalkers in the Star Wars franchise (if you don't know what I am talking about, I just can't help you!).  I say that partly in jest, but it's actually not a bad analogy.  What I mean is that, the whole story is tied to the family tree of Abraham.  Through him, God goes on to establish a people for himself and more importantly, he establishes covenantal promises with Abraham and his offspring that point to, and are eventually fulfilled in Christ Jesus, the promised Messiah.  I wrote a more detailed blog post on the concept of the covenant in scripture and why it is so important to how God has worked through redemptive history.  You can read that here.  For today though, the key takeaway is that Abraham is one of the most important people we meet in the scriptures.

The interesting thing about Abraham is that he was no one special.  I could just as easily be writing right now about some other ancient middle eastern man or woman had God instead chosen to use them for his purposes.  What made Abraham great wasn't anything within him, but rather what God did through him.  I think this is the whole point of chapter 11 in the book of Hebrews.  The author keeps pointing us to ordinary men and women who did extraordinary things because God decided to call them into action.  And the faith element is the key to why we look to them as examples today.  When God called them to act, they trusted him and obeyed.  That's faith!

As we continue our study through chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews, we continue to meet the heroes of faith.  It is like taking a trip through the faith hall of fame.  As Christians, it is important that we know these people and understand the story around them.  This is why Cody has chosen to walk us slowly through each one week by week.  But what we can't fail to see in their individual stories is the hand of God that is at work in each one of them.  So often we are tempted to read about great acts of faith in scripture and think that such faith is unavailable to us.  This couldn't be further from the truth.

Most, if not all of us will never be called to sacrifice our child on an alter or build an ark or part the Red Sea.  It's just not in the cards for us.  But this doesn't mean that God isn't calling us to step out in faith.  Moreover, Paul teaches us in Ephesians chapter 2 that even our faith is a gift that is given to us by God.  This means that God has given each of us the capacity to act faithfully.

No character in the scriptures displayed greater faith than Christ.  His trust in his Heavenly Father was unwavering and unmatched by any before him and by any since.  Of course if we look at other members of the faith hall of fame and feel inadequate, how much more so when we look at the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time)?  We can't help but look at Jesus and feel woefully inadequate.  But is that really what God desires for us?  Or are we believing the lies of our enemy?

You see, the same power that resides in Jesus now resides in us as his followers.  The Spirit of Christ dwells in the heart of every believer.  This is great news for us!

Think of it this way.  If Michael Jordan were to come and offer to teach you to play basketball just like him.  Would that be good news?  Of course not, right!  I mean sure, it couldn't hurt your hoop game to get some pointers from one of, if not the, greatest player ever.  But training only takes you so far.  There is a reason MJ was one of the best.  He had unparalleled talent.  That just can't be taught.  It also doesn't hurt to be 6'-6" tall and freakishly athletic either.

However, imagine now that in some miraculous way, MJ could transfer all of his abilities, athleticism, instincts, competitiveness, etc. to you.  That might be a different story right?  Now, you not only have the ability to learn what he could do, but the power to actually do it.  This is what each and every believer has with Christ.  Not only can we look to his example and instruction, but we have his power within us to do all that he calls us to.

When God asks ordinary people to step out in faith to do extraordinary things, he doesn't simply call them to act according to their own ability and strength.  Rather, he pours out his Spirit to them in order to empower them to act well beyond what they can do on their own.  As the late Billy Graham said, "The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us."  You've probably seen that on a coffee mug or a wall hanging somewhere, and it is true.  The problem is that we often fail to believe it...regardless of what our mug might say.

The story of Abraham, like the others we have studied so far is a great picture of faith.  But it is only great because God gave Abraham the faith he needed to believe and to act.  If he hadn't, we wouldn't be reading his story still today.  I say that not to take away anything from Abraham's obedience, but rather to make much of God's grace.  But both are true and necessary.  God gives us the faith to believe as an act of pure grace.  At the same time, we walk in obedience by faith.  Both things must happen for God's ultimate purposes to be fulfilled in and through us.  We may never find our names in the faith hall of fame, but every act of faithful obedience to God glorifies his great name...and that's what truly matters most.

In Grace,
Chris Morris

If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 29 - Faith Like Abraham

Questions discussed in this sermon:

1. What do we learn about faith through the life of Abraham?
2. What does Sarah teach us about how to live with faith?
3. How does this passage change our perspective on faith?

Next week's lesson:  Hebrews 11:23-31

]]> I have to begin this week's email with a disclaimer.  I was not in attendance this week at The Journey because I was filling the pulpit at a small country church which I have been honored to minister to now on several occasions as they search for a new pastor.  Therefore, I have not had the opportunity to hear Cody's message yet, and so I am flying a bit blind in regards to reflecting on that.  However, knowing Cody's faithfulness to preach the true message of the text, I feel confident that I can share some reflections on the passage itself and still be in line with what was taught from the pulpit.  That being said, here we go...

One of my favorite books of the Bible is Genesis and in particular from chapters 11 onward as we are introduced to Abram (Abraham).  For the "uninitiated," Abraham's family is the Bible's equivalent of the Skywalkers in the Star Wars franchise (if you don't know what I am talking about, I just can't help you!).  I say that partly in jest, but it's actually not a bad analogy.  What I mean is that, the whole story is tied to the family tree of Abraham.  Through him, God goes on to establish a people for himself and more importantly, he establishes covenantal promises with Abraham and his offspring that point to, and are eventually fulfilled in Christ Jesus, the promised Messiah.  I wrote a more detailed blog post on the concept of the covenant in scripture and why it is so important to how God has worked through redemptive history.  You can read that here.  For today though, the key takeaway is that Abraham is one of the most important people we meet in the scriptures.

The interesting thing about Abraham is that he was no one special.  I could just as easily be writing right now about some other ancient middle eastern man or woman had God instead chosen to use them for his purposes.  What made Abraham great wasn't anything within him, but rather what God did through him.  I think this is the whole point of chapter 11 in the book of Hebrews.  The author keeps pointing us to ordinary men and women who did extraordinary things because God decided to call them into action.  And the faith element is the key to why we look to them as examples today.  When God called them to act, they trusted him and obeyed.  That's faith!

As we continue our study through chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews, we continue to meet the heroes of faith.  It is like taking a trip through the faith hall of fame.  As Christians, it is important that we know these people and understand the story around them.  This is why Cody has chosen to walk us slowly through each one week by week.  But what we can't fail to see in their individual stories is the hand of God that is at work in each one of them.  So often we are tempted to read about great acts of faith in scripture and think that such faith is unavailable to us.  This couldn't be further from the truth.

Most, if not all of us will never be called to sacrifice our child on an alter or build an ark or part the Red Sea.  It's just not in the cards for us.  But this doesn't mean that God isn't calling us to step out in faith.  Moreover, Paul teaches us in Ephesians chapter 2 that even our faith is a gift that is given to us by God.  This means that God has given each of us the capacity to act faithfully.

No character in the scriptures displayed greater faith than Christ.  His trust in his Heavenly Father was unwavering and unmatched by any before him and by any since.  Of course if we look at other members of the faith hall of fame and feel inadequate, how much more so when we look at the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time)?  We can't help but look at Jesus and feel woefully inadequate.  But is that really what God desires for us?  Or are we believing the lies of our enemy?

You see, the same power that resides in Jesus now resides in us as his followers.  The Spirit of Christ dwells in the heart of every believer.  This is great news for us!

Think of it this way.  If Michael Jordan were to come and offer to teach you to play basketball just like him.  Would that be good news?  Of course not, right!  I mean sure, it couldn't hurt your hoop game to get some pointers from one of, if not the, greatest player ever.  But training only takes you so far.  There is a reason MJ was one of the best.  He had unparalleled talent.  That just can't be taught.  It also doesn't hurt to be 6'-6" tall and freakishly athletic either.

However, imagine now that in some miraculous way, MJ could transfer all of his abilities, athleticism, instincts, competitiveness, etc. to you.  That might be a different story right?  Now, you not only have the ability to learn what he could do, but the power to actually do it.  This is what each and every believer has with Christ.  Not only can we look to his example and instruction, but we have his power within us to do all that he calls us to.

When God asks ordinary people to step out in faith to do extraordinary things, he doesn't simply call them to act according to their own ability and strength.  Rather, he pours out his Spirit to them in order to empower them to act well beyond what they can do on their own.  As the late Billy Graham said, "The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us."  You've probably seen that on a coffee mug or a wall hanging somewhere, and it is true.  The problem is that we often fail to believe it...regardless of what our mug might say.

The story of Abraham, like the others we have studied so far is a great picture of faith.  But it is only great because God gave Abraham the faith he needed to believe and to act.  If he hadn't, we wouldn't be reading his story still today.  I say that not to take away anything from Abraham's obedience, but rather to make much of God's grace.  But both are true and necessary.  God gives us the faith to believe as an act of pure grace.  At the same time, we walk in obedience by faith.  Both things must happen for God's ultimate purposes to be fulfilled in and through us.  We may never find our names in the faith hall of fame, but every act of faithful obedience to God glorifies his great name...and that's what truly matters most.

In Grace,
Chris Morris

If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 29 - Faith Like Abraham

Questions discussed in this sermon:

1. What do we learn about faith through the life of Abraham?
2. What does Sarah teach us about how to live with faith?
3. How does this passage change our perspective on faith?

Next week's lesson:  Hebrews 11:23-31

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