Are YOU a Good Neighbor? The Parable of the Good Samaritan

We live in a society that struggles to listen, learn, and love. Turn on the TV or jump on any social media platform, and you'll quickly find that many of us can easily lose self-control and scream at those we disagree with. Instead of trying to better understand those who are different from us, we often do what makes us comfortable and hang out with those who are like us. We're creatures of comfort who want what we want, and we want it now!

When we fail to look at the cross and allow the Spirit to lead us, this is bound to happen. Even those who know God's Word well can succumb to panicking and being proud people-pleasers who stay within their own tribe. This certainly isn't how Jesus loved God and others! What did Christ say about loving God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind? How can we be good neighbors?

A fantastic parable that helps us better understand how to love God and others is the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. A wealthy and educated lawyer asks Jesus two questions. 

1. Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
2. And who is my neighbor?

Jesus responds with questions of His own and with this popular parable. The rich man of law didn't really want to learn from Jesus. He was trying to prove that he was a good person who didn't need to change his thoughts, words, and actions. 

As Jesus begins telling the Parable of the Good Samaritan, he tells about a Jewish man who is robbed, stripped, and severely beaten. First, a Jewish priest saw the bloody man on the desert road and left him to die. Later, a Levite (an assistant to the priests) also saw the bloody man on the desert road and left him to die. Finally, a Samaritan, a biracial man whom Jews looked down upon, tended to the man's injuries and took him to an inn where he paid for the stranger to be cared for. 

Jesus concludes the parable by asking which of the three people was a neighbor to the badly battered man. The lawyer had asked the wrong question. The question isn't, "Who is my neighbor?" The question we all should be asking is, "How can I be a neighbor?"

So, how are we doing when it comes to loving God and others? Are we humble and looking to God's holy standard, or do we defend ourselves like a legalistic lawyer and get together with only those who make us feel good? How are we serving and loving those different from us whom God brings into our lives? 

Let's be sure to obey God's Word and love even our enemies (Luke 6:27). When we trust in Christ, we have the Holy Spirit to love God and others wholeheartedly, no matter who they are or what their background is. To God be the glory!

And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39

Movies, Music, & Video Games: Helping Our Children Be Spiritually Discerning

My favorite comedy, which happens to be based on a true story, is Nacho Libre. Any Nacho Libre lovers out there? It's a fairly clean underdog movie that was released in 2006 (rated PG). Nacho Libre is about a Catholic monastery monk in Mexico who is a wrestler at night so he can buy better food for the orphans in his care. It is filled with cheesy humor and a happy ending, and I'm a sucker for happy endings. If you have a middle school boy, I highly recommend watching Nacho Libre with him. Some notable quotes from Nacho include:

• "My life is good. Really good. I get to wake up at 5 AM every morning and make soup." 
• "They may have the appearance of riches, but beneath the clothes, we find a man... and beneath a man, we find his nucleus."
• "Get that corn outta my face!"

There are more quotes I like; however, they aren't exactly what I want our elementary students to be quoting (e.g., how much Nacho knows about the gospel). :-)

Recently, my family enjoyed watching the Michael Jackson biopic (rated PG-13) on a flight to Korea. This led my teenage son, Josiah Lee, and me to examine some of Michael Jackson's song lyrics. Some of Michael Jackson's lyrics are great ("I said if you're thinkin' of being my brother, it don't matter if you're black or white"), and some of his lyrics are not so great ("You can't hurt me; I found peace within myself"). Hee hee. Ow!

It can be hard to navigate our entertainment-driven culture, but if we want our children to grow closer to Christ, we must actively disciple our kids. If we don't, the world will influence them in ways that don't honor God. As our children make choices about what they watch, listen to, and play, how can we protect them, help them be wise, and encourage them to think critically? Below are five points to consider.

1. Remember what Scripture says and share it with your children REGULARLY. We are to do everything to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful and build up (1 Corinthians 10:23). The Holy Spirit is our guide into all the truth (John 16:13). 

2. Use http://pluggedin.com/ to help discern the good, the bad, and the ugly. This Focus on the Family website has been extremely helpful to us, providing detailed information about movies, music, video games, and more.

3. Ask yourself and your children: 

• How does the movie, music, or video game affect my heart and others? 
• Does it glamorize wealth, drug use, and fame? Does it demean women? 
• Is it biblical? 
• Does the movie, music, or video game help my child positively connect with others? 
• Can they learn anything from the movie, music, or video game? 
• What time constraints should I put on my child? Is my child completing their schoolwork and chores?

4. Pray with your children REGULARLY, and don't ignore your conscience (Romans 9:1). The prayer of a righteous person has great power (James 5:16)!

5. Look at the MPA and ESRB ratings and take notice of the parental advisory labels, but be the parent. Hollywood and New York City aren't Christian meccas, so don't be surprised when that PG-13 movie contains some nudity and foul language.

These guiding principles, tips, and questions have helped Megan and me teach and train our three children to grow in discernment. Mistakes will be made, but major growth and maturity can happen if holiness is pursued. 

What suggestions do you have in helping your children grow in discernment? Post a comment or drop me a line. I would love to hear what has worked for you and your family!

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

Building Resilient Families

PARENTING CAN BE HARD STUFF! Can I get an amen? Even if you have "good" kids, parenting is sometimes tough. BY GOD'S GRACE, our three kiddos have done okay. I would love to tell you I've always been a perfect father who was never impatient, selfish, or easily angered. I would love to tell you that I've always been thankful for my children and pointed them to Christ. No, that would be a BIG FAT LIE. I have been downright lazy and childish at times. I've been emotionally out of control and a monster at times. I'm thankful a camera hasn't been on me 24/7 so the whole world could watch the sins I committed against my kids. I'm thankful God's mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23) and that He doesn't quit on those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). I'm thankful for the Spirit's work, making us who trust in Christ more and more holy. Can I get an amen?

Being a good parent is of the utmost importance to me. It should be of the utmost importance for anyone who has kids. Unfortunately, lots of parents are struggling. There's hope, though - His name is Christ. Any fruit Megan and I have seen in our children is God's blessing on us. I'm thankful for the godly people God has put in our lives who have shown us how to parent our children well. God has also provided us with amazing resources that have helped us know how to raise our children in godly ways. Something that has blessed my family tremendously for a decade is RightNow Media. RightNow Media gives us access to 25,000+ Bible-based videos, enabling us to grow in our faith and disciple our children. Of course, I don't always agree with all the content I hear; however, SO MUCH is helpful.

Starting next Thursday, February 13th, I will facilitate our second annual Resilient Families study for anyone who wants to raise children to live God-honoring lives. This six-week study will be from 8 to 9:30 AM at Epworth Community Church in Newburgh, Indiana, and you can sign up here. Regardless of where you are in your faith, whether you are struggling or doing alright, YOU are invited to join us for a time of ENCOURAGING FELLOWSHIP. This will be a time to pray, talk, laugh, cry, and watch Natasha Crain's video series on RightNow Media, Talking with Your Kids about Jesus. There is NO COST, and you can walk away with the tools needed to help explain who Jesus is, why He matters, and how kids can be radically transformed by Him. 

If you can't attend the study I'm facilitating on Thursday mornings, check out one of the five other Resilient Families studies happening in Henderson, Evansville, and Newburgh on Wednesday evenings. 

• Christian Fellowship Church - 6 to 7:30 PM from February 12th to March 19th
• Crossroads Christian Church - 6:30 to 8 PM from February 12th to March 19th
• RiverWind Church 6 to 7:15 PM from February 12th to March 19th
• One Life Church - 6:30 to 8 PM from April 2nd to April 30th
• Henderson's First Baptist Church - 6 to 7 PM from April 2nd to May 15th

Raising children can be a challenging task, and there is no need to do it alone. Join one of the Resilient Families studies and grow in your faith with others who see the importance of sharing Christ with young people. To God be the glory!

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Get in the Word and Don't Stop!

I was gifted with a New King James Study Bible when I was baptized in 1996 at a small Southern Baptist church in Central Indiana. It wasn't until early 2001, when I was 27 years old, that I read through that entire Bible. It was the toughest year of my life, so I committed to reading and studying my Bible regularly in a new way. The next year, I moved to South Korea to serve with a Christian organization, and my future mother-in-law gave me a New American Standard Bible. It became my go-to translation for six years until the ESV Study Bible was published in 2008. 

I used to write all 66 books and chapters of the Bible on paper and mark off the chapters when I completed them. I now do it on my Mac and highlight the chapters I've read. Keeping track of what I'm reading has helped ensure I don't neglect any part of God's Word. I have struggled through parts of Old Testament history and prophecy and often forget what I've read, but God's Word has been a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). 

Megan and I expected our three children to be in God's Word seven days a week. They didn't always accomplish the goal, which would result in a healthy talk from yours truly. Grace Noel completed her first reading of the Bible in elementary school, and Rosalie did it as a middle schooler. Josiah Lee, our 7th grader, has completed the New Testament and is now reading the Psalms. Are there parts of the Bible that went over their heads? Absolutely. Welcome to the club. We still wanted them to read every word of the Bible and ask us questions when things got confusing. Seeing my kiddos reading and studying their Bibles has helped me walk more closely with Jesus.

If little kids can read the entire Bible, there is no reason YOU can't do this. We spend so much time on social media, attending sporting events, and watching movies and TV shows. Yet it only takes ten to twenty minutes for the average reader to complete three chapters in their Bible. There are 1189 chapters in the Bible, and reading 3.25 chapters a day is all it takes to have it done in a year. If you don't like reading, then listen to the Bible. This can be done as you enJOY breakfast, complete a household task, drive to work, or before you go to bed. Consistently feeding on God's Word can help us progress toward holiness. It can help us resist accepted sins like complaining about our jobs, showing impatience with our children, and being anxious about our finances. It forms us. 

Consider downloading one of the Bible reading plans here and grow in your relationship with God. Figure out a Bible reading rhythm and let God speak to you in new and exciting ways!

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

A God of Justice

God of Justice from Mark Wickersham

The outline of this chapel message comes from the gotquestions site.

Reflecting on R.C. Sproul's Passing

A few days ago, I was sad to hear of R.C. Sproul's death. The first book I read and studied at a church was Sproul's Chosen by God. His books, videos, and articles have profoundly impacted me. Except for John Piper, no pastor has taught me more about Jesus than Dr. Sproul. I owe a great deal to the man, and I look forward to thanking him in Heaven. Below are three notable quotes from Dr. Sproul from three of his books that I highly recommend.

"To be conformed to Jesus, we must first begin to think as Jesus did. We need the "mind of Christ." We need to value the things He values and despise the things He despises. We need to have the same priorities He has. We need to consider weighty the things He considers weighty." The Holiness of God (1985)

"If there is one single molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God's sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled." Chosen by God (1986)

"...the more we understand of the holiness and righteousness of God, the more we begin to see by contrast how desperately fallen we are and how utterly dependent we are on His mercy and grace. The Truth of the Cross (2007)

How Can We Inherit Eternal Life?

1. The Problemo: We must understand that a holy God made us in His image (Genesis 1:26), but that we are wretched sinners (Romans 3:23) who deserve to be eternally separated in Hell from God's love (Romans 6:23).

2. The Solution: We must believe Jesus, God's perfect Son, died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins (1 Peter 2:24) and that He resurrected (rose from the dead) three days later. Jesus is the only way to the Father, and He is the only way to satisfy God's wrath (extreme anger).

3. Our Response: If we receive God's gift of salvation in faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), we will be:
    A. regenerated (We are made spiritually new),
    B. converted (We repent of our sins and trust in Jesus for salvation),
    C. justified (We are forgiven of our sins and declared righteous),
    D. adopted into God's family (We are reconciled with God and become His child),
    E. and through the Holy Spirit, sanctified (We become more like Jesus as we live our lives for
         God's glory - 1 Corinthians 10:31).

4. The Future: When we die or when Jesus returns, we will go to Heaven with resurrected bodies (glorification) to worship God forever (Revelation 21-22:5). All creation will be restored, and it will be da' bomb diggity!

Do you believe this? Do you believe For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16)? Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved (Romans 10:9-10). This is the way to a life of purpose. To deepen that life, you will want to:

1. Rely on the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16).
2. Read, study, memorize, meditate on, and share God's Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
3. Constantly pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
4. Learn from Godly people and worship with them (Hebrews 10:25).
5. Serve others joyfully in Christ (1 Peter 4:10).

to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen (Romans 16:27).

Reviewing R.C. Sproul's The Holiness of God

R.C. Sproul, the founder of Ligonier Ministries, says that The Holiness of God is what he recommends first when people ask him what Ligonier book they should use to help them grow. Jerry Bridges, author of The Pursuit of Holiness, says, "Every Christian who is serious about his or her growth needs to read The Holiness of God." I say that I should have read (or listened to the nine-hour audiobook) The Holiness of God years ago. This 240-page work was first published by Tyndale House in 1985 and is considered a modern classic on the subject of God's holy character. You will find KJV, NKJV, NASB, and NIV Bible verses throughout the 11 chapters. Some of the chapter titles include The Holy Grail, The Insanity of Luther, God in the Hands of Angry Sinners, War and Peace with a Holy God, and Holy Justice. In these 11 chapters, Sproul gives us the proper perspective on God's awesome holiness. He reminds us that God is to be feared and revered and not treated simply as our buddy. Each chapter begins with a quote, and a few questions are provided at the end of each chapter. If you read Sproul's foundational piece, hopefully, you will develop a stronger hunger to be holy like God. 

Reviewing Jerry Bridges' The Pursuit Of Holiness

This is the second book by Jerry Bridges I have completed. I was introduced to this member of Navigators a few years ago, and I quickly became a fan of his after reading Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate. Portions of The Pursuit of Holiness actually reminded me of Respectable Sins.

In The Pursuit of Holiness, Bridges reminds us that God commands us to be holy (1 Peter 1:16). We are also told that we have a responsibility to pursue a life that is holy. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we are to train ourselves to regularly practice spiritual disciplines. This, of course, includes studying Scripture deeply and praying constantly. Bridges' is not saying that our works save us, but He is saying that we cannot sit back and simply live in the same manner as the world. We are saved by faith alone in Christ alone, and if you truly believe that, you strive for holiness. You seek it out. You do not want to be God or worship other "gods", but you desire to be like God, the Holy One of Israel.

The Pursuit of Holiness is divided into 17 chapters and takes only four hours to complete. Although Bridges is covering a serious topic, the material is presented in a clear and engaging manner. I chose to listen to several chapters more than once. The book is endorsed by a number of people that I enjoy listening to, such as Chuck Colson, John Piper, and J.I. Packer. If you desire to learn about God's holiness and how to develop habits of holiness, I highly recommend Bridges' book. It is filled with tons of Scripture, real-life stories, and plenty of pertinent counsel.