“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” —Luke 18:9-14

Do you have any empty pews where you worship? How do you explain that? When was the last time you ordered more chairs or started another service? Why are people skipping church?

Well, it’s not because of Jesus for sure, would you agree? And it’s not because of the Bible, right? It’s because of Christians and because people’s experience with Christianity is so negative. People have turned Christianity into a religion. Jesus’ parable above is about this exact condition. Read it again and compare the two prayers. Which one do you think most resembles a prayer you might hear at your church on any given weekend? Which one represents faith and which one represents religion?

I want to share with you five decisions that will free us from religion:

1.  Refuse to bind others with man made rules. Rules beyond God’s always hurt more people than they help. Any rules pursued as a way to gain merit with God or salvation are wasted effort, sure to fail. The Pharisee was smug with his religious system, oblivious to God’s rejection.

2.  Reject externals as a spiritual yardstick. The Pharisee judged a fellow sinner to make himself look better, but he actually distanced himself from God.

3.  Review your walk or your relationship with God and beware of the dangers of form without function. We may fool others with external appearances, but God knows our hearts.

4.  Return to the basics of examination and confession. In a world that abhors personal responsibility, God welcomes those who know themselves as sinners and entrust themselves to God’s grace and mercy.

5.  Renew your pursuit of personal humility. Humility isn’t a look or appearance; it’s action. Humility chooses Christ’s way over my way. Humility says to God, “Your will, Lord, not mine.”

The Pharisee in Jesus’ parable rejected each of these wise decisions; the tax-collector practiced them. What will be your condition the next time you come home from church? —James MacDonald

Journal

Why is being religious such a pervasive temptation in my life?

What does freedom in Christ mean to me today?

Prayer

Almighty Father, I am that tax collector. And yet I confess that sometimes I’ve acted like that Pharisee. Forgive me for judging others by standards I couldn’t live up to for a moment. Forgive me for thinking I could do something to make You accept me. Thank You for reminding me again and again that only when I see myself clearly as a sinner can I then receive Your mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Harvest Bible Chapel is now on 7 campuses—and each is a story of reluctant expansion, given our greater passion to plant autonomous churches. When dying congregations have come for help or facilities have been given to us, we have infrequently multiplied locations for our own church. Yet we have continued to plant churches in much greater numbers, both locally and around the world, through the leaders we are privileged to train and send out.

While the Scripture commands us in 1 Peter 5:2 to shepherd the flock of God, Ephesians 4 instructs that the pastor-teacher is to equip the saints for the works of ministry, rather than hoarding those responsibilities personally. Those who are effective in that duty frequently see their congregation grow beyond the number that one pastor could shepherd anyway.

In the multi-site model, the primary preacher has entrusted the direct discipling and care of the majority to other pastors and volunteers. But that same thing happens in a church with more than 200, regardless of how many services or locations they gather in. To argue that a church cannot be shepherded biblically unless all the sheep appear to see you preach live, simply denies that reality.

The fact is that most pastors in churches over 200 do not directly shepherd the majority of their people anyway. Pastors are commanded biblically to give ministry away to those they have trained, not to hoard ministry for themselves or seek to contain and control the impact of the gospel in their community through misplaced notions of the division of labor. Multi-site is not for everyone, as a certain death to self is needed to give the ministry away so completely. The ego-centric, “I am the shepherd, all must be under my gaze and control,” (more…)

Conversation #5—T.D. Jakes & Jack Graham | Mark Driscoll moderating

There are contexts and cultures about which we are clueless. Cities not so geographically distant from suburban congregations, experience radically different needs and challenges in their churches. And any congregation is prone to becoming so comfortable that we don’t recognize when our preferences become our prejudices.

Watch the trailer or order The Elephant Room on DVD.

“Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying,⁹“If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.”
—2 Chronicles 20:7-9

Wow! Read those verses again. In fact, if you’ve got your Bible close (as you should) read all of 2 Chronicles 20. Now, let’s take a few minutes with verse 7, “Did you not . . .?” This is King Jehoshaphat praying. In this verse, his focus is on the faithfulness of God. So, he’s not just reminding God who He is, it’s what He’s done. He doesn’t change. God will do as God has done. Fear not!

And so he says, “Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?” The king is declaring in public, I know what You’re like. I know what You did. Then he moves on in verses 8-9 to review why he is standing before the Temple, crying out to God.

Verse 9 quotes 1 Kings 8:33, part of Solomon’s dedication prayer. Notice the phrase, “for your name is in this house.” God didn’t “live” in His house, but His name, His reputation, His character and relationship with Israel was represented by the Temple.

The question is, does God need reminding? Does He ever forget what He did or what He promised? Absolutely not! So, is the king in trouble? No. Reminding God of something He did or said is one of the best ways for us to remember who He is!

If you and I are not claiming God’s promises and reviewing His acts of faithfulness in prayer we are missing out on great power. God is never irritated when we accurately quote His Word back to Him. Our prayers should be applications of Scripture before our attentive heavenly Father. When God said, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” (Isaiah 55:8), He wasn’t just pointing out our obvious limitations. He was also pointing us to the most trustworthy source in the universe for direction in thought, action, and prayer: God’s own Word. Memorizing Scripture is not only an essential step in godly meditation (see Psalm 1); it is also a crucial step in developing a robust prayer life!
—James MacDonald

Journal

What Scriptures do I use most often in prayer?

What are some promises or instructions from God’s Word that I haven’t memorized yet but realize I need to as “fuel” for my prayers?

Prayer

Father, did You not promise, “Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you?”(James 4:8) Because You promised to be with me always, I don’t have to stand in a certain place, but have immediate access to You. Today I want to walk with You in such a way that at various times I will be suddenly aware that You are keeping Your promise and drawing near to me. Thank You for Your powerful and trustworthy Word! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Conversation #8—Speed Round Q&A
Dividends are paid by every generation of church leaders to allow for the next generation of leaders to lead. The calling of a church leader does not come without cost. In this conversation we share our concerns for today’s young pastors.

Watch the trailer or order The Elephant Room on DVD.

We are wanting to give God glory for the work He is doing in our church—taking us deeper and further into the joy of His gospel than ever before.

God forbid that I should boast, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
—Galatians 6:14

We have much to rejoice in. Following a week of round-the-clock Passion readings—with 162 hours logged online as people tuned in for the live stream—and our best-ever Good Friday services at Harvest, we saw an overwhelming demonstration of the power of God’s Word going forth this Easter… (more…)

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. —Colossians 2:13-15

When God wins, He wins big time. This is no overtime, squeak-it-out victory. Not like they call it in soccer when they have that penalty kick thing—the shootout. This is no shootout victory where you get one penalty shot and the ball dribbles in, but it was really a tie. God doesn’t operate like that. When God wins the battle, the contest is over.

With each painful step to Calvary, Jesus was taking on “the principalities and powers” that waved “the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.” Satan had an open-and-shut case against us—we were toast. But Colossians 2:14 tells us that when Jesus won the victory on the cross, “He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (NKJV). It’s like, “BEAT YOU!” That’s the way God wins. I love that because I really like winning. When it came to settling our eternal destiny, God’s not like, “Well, good game.” He’s like, in your face, standing on your chest, “You LOST! Just like I TOLD you!” That’s the way God wins.

We can almost hear the joyful shouts of the former slaves looking back toward the sea that has closed over the Egyptian army that had been in hot pursuit of Israel. Game over! “Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously . . . ” (Exodus 15:1) Miriam sang it over and over (see Exodus 15:21). It’s never about our victories; it’s about God’s victory for us.

Romans 8:37 says, “…we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” We are super conquerors. God doesn’t just win He crushes the enemy. That’s why you don’t want to get in that battle yourself. This is why the battle that took place at the cross was entirely out of our hands. Jesus took on our debts, our sins, and our condition and defeated the eternal hold any of those things had on us. Through Him we are freely given a place in the conquering band that will celebrate victory forever! Allow yourself to live today in the glow of the victory that Jesus won for you. —James MacDonald

Journal

How does the concept of victory fit into the way I think about my life in Christ?

Where do I need to experience some victory today?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I admit I don’t usually feel much like a “super-conqueror” would feel. But I realize that the more I focus on what You have done, rather than worrying about what I have done, the more I sense the freedom to feel victorious. Thank You for being the decisive factor in every battle I face. Remind me to keep trusting You in the battles I face today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Following Christ to the Cross, we come to Golgotha—the place where He who knew no sin, became sin on our behalf. Here Jesus suffered more than anywhere else, and here He demonstrated His love to the very end.

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. —Luke 23:44-46

View other Passion Week videos.

As we continue following the footsteps of Christ, we’re in Jerusalem on the Via Dolorosa—the road of suffering. It is the road that Jesus walked, staggering toward the ultimate sacrifice with a heavy cross upon His torn and bloodied back. So often we try to refuse the trials that God allows in our lives…where would we be if the Savior had refused His?

They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross…
—John 19:17

View other Passion Week videos.

We’re on the steps of Caiaphas’s house in Jerusalem—the courtyard of the high priest where the Savior was left alone to endure His trial. As you reflect on Christ’s suffering, remember that we’re following in His steps. If you’ve felt like those you love aren’t there for you, remind yourself that Jesus also suffered—alone. (more…)