NUMBER ONE, 2019
In this issue 3
A Year in the Word
6
Choosing Church
8
What to Do When A Leader Falls
charles r. swindoll robyn roste insight for living ministries
Q&A 13 How Can I Find a Good Church?
steve johnson
Beyond the Broadcast 15 Looking Deeper into Our Church
Insights is published by Insight for Living Canada, the Bibleteaching ministry of Charles (Chuck) R. Swindoll. Chuck is the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Texas. His international radio program Insight for Living has aired for more than 35 years. We hope this publication will instruct, inspire, and encourage you in your walk with Christ. Copyright Š 2019 Insight for Living Canada. All rights reserved. No portion of this monthly publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture passages are taken from the NLT. Unless otherwise noted, photography and illustration by Tim Schellenberg. IFLC is an autonomous ministry and certified member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities. Printed in Canada.
by charles r. swindoll
Cover and artilce Images: Guilherme Stecanella on Unsplash
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ptimal health requires optimal that of those who say ugly things against nutrition. you. God’s Word enables you to live above No one can deny the importance intimidation and threat. of bodily nutrition. Our energy levels, Verse 99 offers the second: “I have ability to cope with life’s challenges, and more insight than my teachers.” The even mental attitudes are directly linked to filter of Scripture equips you to recognize the regular intake of the right foods in the truth. You’ll have more insight than your proper amounts. Eat an unbalanced diet, professors or supervisors. You won’t be consume too many sweets, choke down bullied or intimidated by anyone who too much too quickly, or start skipping wants to attack your faith. God promises to meals and you’ll invariably endure the give us insight for living! consequences. You might feel sick or The commandments of the LORD are right, light-headed. You may become irritated bringing joy to the heart. or depressed. Sometimes, you’ll get a little The commands of the LORD are clear, shaky; my family calls it “getting the jitters.” giving insight for living. (Psalm 19:8) These symptoms are the body’s way of Verse 100 gives the third promise: “I am saying it’s lacking sufficient nourishment. even wiser than my elders.” You don’t have The same applies to spiritual health. to wait until you’re old to gain wisdom. Without sufficient and regular biblical The Scriptures give us a leg up on people nutrition, our inner lives suffer. Our souls decades older than we are when it comes long to be nourished and energized by to understanding. the Scriptures. When we fail to set aside Simply put, studying God’s Word consistent time to digest healthy spiritual yields wisdom as well as insight and food, the consequences kick in...and it’s understanding. We often use these words not a pretty sight. interchangeably, but they’re not the same. We start to operate out of the flesh rather • Wisdom is the ability to look at life as than God’s Spirit. We become shallow and God does selfish, more demanding, less gentle. We • Insight is the ability to see through life’s react impatiently, rashly, and angrily. All circumstances—to look beyond the telltale signs of inner malnutrition. obvious or the apparent For your soul to be properly nourished, • Understanding, the crowning blessing, it’s not enough to have a pastor or a teacher is the ability to respond to life correctly serve your spiritual meals once a week. Your spiritual health depends on your YOU need to be able to prepare your own fixing your own spiritual meals and then spiritual food on a daily basis. savouring God’s truths. There are at least Psalm 119 reveals three amazing five ways to get God’s Word into your system, promises that God fulfils in you when you and an easy way to remember them is to use feed yourself His Word. Verse 98 holds the your hand as an illustration. So, get out a first: “Your commands make me wiser than piece of paper, trace your hand, and write my enemies.” You will have wisdom beyond the following points on your five fingers.
1. Hear Your pinkie finger represents hearing the Scripture through expositional teaching. Hearing is the simplest way to take in the Word. “Faith comes from hearing,” wrote the Apostle Paul (Romans 10:17). 2. Read Your ring finger represents reading the Bible. You take a giant leap forward when you move from being merely a hearer of the Word to a reader. So, find a Biblereading plan and stick with it! 3. Study Your middle finger represents studying the Scriptures. Studying is reading with pencil and paper. Studying means writing down your observations, noting the text’s meaning, looking up related verses, and recording how you plan to put God’s Word into practice. 4. Memorize Your index finger represents memorizing Scripture. You truly begin to consume Scripture when you hide it in your heart.
5. Meditate Finally, your thumb—which wraps around the rest—represents meditating on Scripture. The psalmist wrote, “I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways” (Psalm 119:15). That’s meditation: taking time to reflect on God’s Word and let it soak into your heart. Make 2019 the year you don’t get the spiritual jitters! Feed daily on God’s Word. Fill your mind with what you’ve heard, read, studied, memorized, and meditated on. Think about Scripture while doing chores, commuting to and from work, or taking a walk. Let Truth encourage you as you drift off to sleep at night. Ingest God’s Word and absorb it into every fibre of your being. What a healthy and wholesome year it will be!
Charles R. Swindoll serves as the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas.
Saying Yes! To Christ’s Call SINGLE CD MESSAGE
DO YOU WANT YOUR LIFE TO COUNT FOR SOMETHING? For ordering information visit insightforliving.ca or view enclosed flyer.
by robyn roste
C
hoosing church on Sunday morn- truth: church was a lower priority than it ings was tough when I was in high should have been. If it was important to school. I practiced my sport before me my excuses wouldn’t have held water. Hebrews 10:24-25 helps me understand school on weekdays and worked the opening shift at my job on Saturdays. But as why church should be a priority in my tough as getting up on my one day off was, life. “Let us think of ways to motivate nothing was as arduous as finding motiva- one another to acts of love and good tion to go church when I was in university. works. And let us not neglect our meeting When people move away from home, together, as some people do, but encourwhy doesn’t the habit of attending church age one another, especially now that the go with them? I know I am not alone in day of his return is drawing near.” I like this passage because it points out the this experience. i m p o r t a n c e o f m e e tHere are three ideas of When people move ing together with other why this happens. away from home, why believers to encourage, 1. Some people only go to church because doesn’t the habit of motivate, inspire, and of other people (like attending church go support each other. Since those days of their parents). Once with them? experiencing the more that influence is gone, casual side of church attendance I’ve had a church attendance drops off lot of time to reflect on why I go to church. 2. Skipping church often doesn’t feel any I don’t have any definitive answers different than going (although the Bible sure talks a lot about 3. Finding a new church can be uncomencouraging one another in the faith), but fortable and awkward When I think back to my years in uni- I can’t ignore each time I worship with versity, I can’t justify church-skipping other believers I am reminded of all Christ any more than I can defend missing class. has done for me, which causes me to be I had a million excuses though. I didn’t that much more secure in my faith and know anyone, I didn’t like the music, it with who I am. was too far, it was weird, no one talked to Robyn Roste is the media and marketing manager me, it was too overwhelming, I was too shy, at Insight for Living Canada. etcetera. After some time, I faced the hard
by insight for living ministries
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od’s work is sacred. So when a person engaged in ministry repeatedly defies God’s high and holy standards, that individual is to be removed. The Apostle Paul’s judgment and command are uncompromising. The very reason God’s work is holy is because He is holy. Those who minister will never do so without some failures, because they are not holy as He is. God’s grace, however, is sufficient to forgive those frailties. But those who cover up a lifestyle of sin behind the façade of sacred ministry must be confronted and removed. The consequence of violating God’s sacred work, that which is performed for God’s glory and the body’s edification, is severe—disqualification from ministry—because His work bears His mark and reflects His reputation. Because this is true, God sets the boundaries in which His work is to be accomplished. The standards are high and holy. That is why Paul warned Timothy and Titus to treat with care any accusations against those who minister but to not falter when confrontation was necessary.
From Tabernacle to Temple to Hearts Since the creation of humankind, God has been at work in the lives of His people. In His infinite creativity, God has varied the method by which His sacred work has been performed, but His standard has never changed: He requires holiness from those who serve Him. After the Lord led Israel out of slavery in Egypt and they wandered in the desert, doing the Lord’s work consisted of serving in the tabernacle, a portable building where the people worshipped. Priests who served wore sacred garments, did their work around sacred furniture, read the sacred Scriptures, and carried out sacred sacrifices for God’s sacred purposes (Exodus 39-40). Priests who failed to maintain the holiness of God’s work often paid with their lives, because God is serious about His work being done His way (Numbers 3:4; 1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-25, 34). Under the reign of Solomon, the place for worshipping God changed from temporary to permanent with the construction of the temple in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 28-29; 2 Chronicles 2-3). The structure may have
At times in the life of a church, an accuchanged, but God’s standard remained. God’s work continued to be sacred. Over the sation comes against one of its spiritual passing of time, the temple ultimately was leaders. So Paul instructed Timothy to destroyed because God’s people compro- tune out hearsay and turn a deaf ear to gosmised His standards (2 Chronicles 36:14-19). sip or suspicious hunches and refuse to act After a time, and in His mercy and grace, quickly on every rumour. Setting the bar God sent His Son to earth to die, removing high, Timothy was to receive only hard evithe barrier of sin between God and humans. dence, accompanied by provable and viable After He rose again and before He ascended facts, presented by “two or three witnesses” to heaven, Jesus sent us His Spirit (John (1 Timothy 5:19). The offence, once verified, was not to be 14:16-19; Ephesians 3:16-17), no longer to inhabit temples “made by human hands” ignored, not secretly addressed, not overlooked, and not swept (Acts 7:48) but ones made under the rug. Rather, by divine hands. No lonIf you’ve ever been in ger residing in a builda church that has had the offender was to be rebuked “in the presence ing, God has moved into to apply discipline to a of all” (5:20). The reason the lives of His people wayward leader, you was clear—“that the (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). rest also will be fearful We who are believers know the sadness of sinning.” Since Paul form “the church of the and pain associated was addressing leaderliving God” (1 Timothy with “rebuking” and ship issues, most likely 3:15). From tabernacle to “rejecting” a beloved the “all” represents all temple to hearts—God’s who are affected by the standard for holiness servant of God. offender’s leadership: all has never changed. It’s who have a need to know and all whose just more personal now. lives are directly impacted by the leader When a Leader Is Accused Paul’s admonitions in 1 Corinthians being accused. As information is shared apply to all Christians, but they are to be openly, an appropriate fear will sweep over of particular concern to Christian leaders. the people of God. If someone in the conFor both the layperson and the leader, God gregation is engaged in the same or similar offers forgiveness. But for the leader who sin, his or her heart will feel the sting of harms his or her body as well as the church, conviction. Paul took seriously the sacredness of there is also judgment. As we will discuss later, Paul instructed Titus to deal with God’s work. That’s why he impressed leaders drawn into the sin of factious strife upon Timothy the need to maintain God’s and disputes. But first we will read how Paul standard of holiness. “I solemnly charge instructed another young protege, Timothy, you,” Paul wrote Timothy (5:21). As one swearing an oath in court, Paul charged about how to handle sinful leaders.
Timothy “in the presence of God and of church’s four walls but extends to paraChrist Jesus and of His chosen angels” to church ministries, missions organizations, preserve the holy work of God within and scores of other ministries. The text tells us Titus was not to reject the temple, the church. And he said the principles of investigating and rebuking a an accused leader without careful invessinning leader must never be carried out tigation. Just like Timothy, he was to take with “bias” or “partiality,” regardless of pains to confirm that the information was whom the accused was. He stressed that correct and warn the sinning leader, not any leader who decides to lead a double once but twice, before taking action (Titus life—one of sacredness in public but sin- 3:10). If the one caught in sin didn’t heed the warnings, only then was he or she to fulness in private—was to be rebuked. Engaging in God’s work is serious be rejected. Why would such a person reject the because it is sacred business. Therefore, Paul instructed Timothy to be cautious in opportunity to repent when grace is twice laying his hands on anyone to commission extended? Paul said it is because a divisive person is “warped and sinful” (Titus 3:11 them for holy service (1 Timothy 5:22). NIV) or “perverted” (NASB). The word When a Leader Falls Paul instructed Timothy on the rebuke ekstrepho means to “turn aside,”2 to be of a sinning leader. But what if that leader twisted and bent out of shape. A perverted continues in his or her sin—continues to person can’t walk a straight line, like a cover the stench of it under the perfume of drunkard stumbling in the darkness. He sacredness? And, as was the case in Crete, or she is in a sinning state, willfully chooswhat if his or her sin is causing factions to ing to violate God’s standard of holiness. As such, the individual has already conform in the church? What then? Paul was succinct and brutally clear: demned himself or herself. Perhaps nothing has more potential to such a divisive person is to be rejected (Titus 3:10)! The word Paul used, blight the sacred work of God than wilful, paraiteomai, carried with it the stern deliberate, and repeated sinfulness by action of “discharging” or “dismissing” those engaged in ministry. That is why someone. Or stronger still, to “drive Paul was so pointed in his instruction— [them] out.”1 Why such drastic action? If “Reject a factious man…[because he] is the person causing division, dissension, perverted” (3:10-11). and unrest in the church is allowed to con- Conclusion If you’ve ever been in a church that tinue, his or her actions could destroy the church, the temple of God (1 Corinthians has had to apply discipline to a wayward 3:17). This counsel is especially applicable leader, you know the sadness and pain to leadership in the local church, but it associated with “rebuking” and “rejectcan also apply to any ministry. The sacred- ing” a beloved servant of God. If you’ve ness of God’s work is not confined to the been part of a church that should have
disciplined a sinning leader but didn’t, approach the situation with integrity, you know the frustration and anger of discernment, and humility. Finally, we must have as our goal the seeing God’s sacred work stained. If you’ve been a member of a church that restoration of the individual. Discipline has never had a “warped and sinful” should never condemn but should seek leader, you are most fortunate. Regard- complete repentance and reconciliation less of your past experience, you or your of the individual. There are times when doing the hard church leaders may eventually be faced with doing the hard thing of confronting thing is, in fact, the best thing. This is espea sinning minister. If and when that day cially true when it comes to God’s sacred comes, here are five practical and proven work. He has always held an increasingly high standard for those who handle His principles to follow. First, we must have accurate informa- Word and work with His people. James, tion based on facts. If we are committed to the half-brother of Jesus, understood the maintaining the integrity of God’s minis- high and holy work of a minister. That’s try, we must be willing to do the hard thing. why he warned: “Let not many of you This requires the ability to discern and become teachers, my brethren, knowing to listen only to hard facts—not hearsay, that as such we will incur a stricter judgment" (James 3:1). For the leader refusing rumour, or innuendo. Second, we must undertake discipline to repent of his or her sin, part of that only when it would be for the overall good “stricter judgment” involves consequences of the ministry and be to the benefit of of rebuke and rejection. Though no one relishes administering the individual. The sting from a ministry leader’s sin may prick our hearts, but our such judgment, God’s work is too impordiscipline must never be a personal attack. tant to avoid the hard thing of confrontaWe must understand that sometimes tion when it really is the best thing for the removal is necessary for the sake of the church and the sinning leader. church and for the purging of the sin in the individual’s life. Adapted from Insight for Living, “When Doing What’s Third, we must discipline in a spirit of Hard Is Best,” Tough Grace in Difficult Places: A Study genuine love and care for the person. We of the Book of Titus Bible Companion (Plano, Tex.: Insight for Living), 91-100. Copyright © 2007 by must also keep in mind that the fallen Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. leader is loved by the Lord and our call is to love him or her as Christ does. We don’t 1 Walter Bauer and others, eds., A Greek-English uphold the sacredness of God’s work if we Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 2d rev. ed. (Chicago: University don’t discipline God’s way—in grace. of Chicago Press, 1979), 616. Fourth, we must carry out the action only after much prayer. In our zeal for 2 Bauer and others, eds., A Greek-English Lexicon truth, we may be tempted to simply cut of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 245. off the sinning leader, but we must submit to the wisdom of the Spirit. We must
Y RESPUESTAS CEISTEANNA AGUS FREAGRAÍ 问题和解答 DOMANDE E RISPOSTE ਸਵਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਜਵਾਬ TANIA I ODPOWIEDZI MGA TANONG AT MGA SAGOT вопросы и ответы PERGUNTAS E RESPOSTAS C SPØRSMÅL OG SVAR FRÅGOR OCH SVAR KÉRDÉSEK ÉS VÁLASZOK QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS QUESTIONS ET RÉPONSES VRAGEN EN ANTWOORDEN PREGUNTAS Y RESPUESTAS CEISTEANN 解答 DOMANDE E RISPOSTE ਸਵਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਜਵਾਬ питання та відповіді PYTANIA I ODPOWIEDZI MGA TAN осы и ответы PERGUNTAS E RESPOSTAS CWESTIYNAU AC ATEBION SPØRSMÅL OG SVAR FRÅG VÁLASZOK QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FRAGEN UND ANTWORTEN QUESTIONS ET RÉPONSE N PREGUNTAS Y RESPUESTAS CEISTEANNA AGUS FREAGRAÍ 问题和解答 DOMANDE E RISPOS ідповіді PYTANIA I ODPOWIEDZI MGA TANONG AT MGA SAGOT вопросы и ответы PERGUNTAS AC ATEBION SPØRSMÅL OG SVAR FRÅGOR OCH SVAR KÉRDÉSEK ÉS VÁLASZOK QUESTIONS A ANTWORTEN QUESTIONS ET RÉPONSES VRAGEN EN ANTWOORDEN PREGUNTAS Y RESPUESTAS RAÍ 问题和解答 DOMANDE E RISPOSTE ਸਵਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਜਵਾਬ питання та відповіді PYTANIA I ODP MGA SAGOT вопросы и ответы PERGUNTAS E RESPOSTAS CWESTIYNAU AC ATEBION SPØR SVAR KÉRDÉSEK ÉS VÁLASZOK QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FRAGEN UND ANTWORTEN RAGEN EN ANTWOORDEN PREGUNTAS Y RESPUESTAS by steve johnson CEISTEANNA AGUS FREA NDE E RISPOSTE ਸਵਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਜਵਾਬ питання та відповіді PYTANIA I ODPOWIEDZI MGA TANONG веты PERGUNTAS E RESPOSTAS CWESTIYNAU AC ATEBION SPØRSMÅL OG SVAR FRÅGOR OCH SVA QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FRAGEN UND ANTWORTEN QUESTIONS ET RÉPONSES VRAGEN EN A Y RESPUESTAS CEISTEANNA AGUS FREAGRAÍ 问题和解答 DOMANDE E RISPOSTE ਸਵਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਜਵਾਬ TANIA I ODPOWIEDZI MGA TANONG AT MGA SAGOT вопросы и ответы PERGUNTAS E RESPOSTAS C SPØRSMÅL OG SVAR FRÅGOR OCH SVAR KÉRDÉSEK ÉS VÁLASZOK QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS QUESTIONS ET RÉPONSES VRAGEN EN ANTWOORDEN PREGUNTAS Y RESPUESTAS CEISTEANN 解答 DOMANDE E RISPOSTE ਸਵਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਜਵਾਬ питання та відповіді PYTANIA I ODPOWIEDZI MGA TAN осы и ответы PERGUNTAS E be RESPOSTAS CWESTIYNAU ATEBION SPØRSMÅL OG SVAR FRÅG themAC according to the healthy church ou think it wouldn’t too hard to find VÁLASZOK
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a good church but sometimes it can be. Finding a church home, like finding a house to live in, is one of the most important decisions you will make as a believer. It is worth putting time and effort into it. Here are some of the traits of a good and healthy church. • There is biblical and doctrinallysound preaching and teaching with a focus on, and commitment to, Christ and relevant application to daily life • Leaders who serve with integrity, humility, and accountability and are seeking to empower and equip the congregation for ministry • There are opportunities to serve using your spiritual gifts • The church reaches out into the community • Worship is inspiring and Christ-centred • Loving relationships pervade the church body Here are some practical steps to finding a good church. 1. Go online and search for local churches rather than church-hopping week after week. Most churches these days have websites, which can help you evaluate
criteria noted above. 2. Once you have a list of churches in your area prioritize the list by things important to you. If you don’t have some things in mind when you start your search you will need to decide while you search whether one thing is more important than another. Here are a few examples of things to consider. • Denominational preference. If you have a preference, such as Baptist, Pentecostal, or Anglican, narrow your search by looking first at churches of a certain denomination • Accessibility. Is the church easy to get to? How far are you prepared to travel? • Size. Larger churches can offer more in the way of programs for all kinds of people but require a small group for a sense of community. Smaller churches offer less in programming but are often more closely knit and focus on community • Priorities. The pastoral staff’s responsibilities will tell you a bit about the church’s priorities • Statement of beliefs. Check whether it is doctrinally sound and whether
are. Although the worship service is you agree with it and other values the only one aspect of the church you are church presents assessing it is a major one. It must be a 3. Contact the churches at the top of your positive experience. list to ask the pastor specific questions 6. If you feel the church was not a good about things that may be important fit try the next one on your list. It will to you such as worship style, Bible also serve as a basis for comparison. translations, church government, Throughout the process be prayerful, membership requirements, or issues asking God how He wants to use you that may have arisen as a result of and where He wants you. God wants us looking at their website. to be part of a local body 4. Based on the answers you received from the Finding a church home, so He will guide you pastor, ask the Lord like finding a house to if you ask Him. It may also be He wants to use to guide you and then live in, is one of the most you to help improve a plan to attend the important decisions you particular local body as worship service of a church you are interwill make as a believer. you exercise your own spiritual gifts. ested in. Arrive a bit Someone once said, “If you find the early and linger afterwards so you get perfect church don’t join it because then it a sense of the atmosphere. Are people won’t be perfect!” No church is perfect in friendly to you and each other? Are every way and each church will be a blend people joyful? Do people seem excited of healthy and not-so-healthy characteristo be there? Try to greet those around tics. Resist the tendency to be too critical or you and to participate fully in all aspects to give up too easily. In the end, your effort of worship. How much you connect will will pay off as you settle into the place God be determined to some extent by how wants you to be. much effort you put into it. 5. After the service, assess your experience based on the healthy church traits listed Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for above. I suggest attending a few times to Living Canada. get a better sense of how things actually
On The Air Did you know Insight for Living airs on radio stations across the country every day? To find the program on your local station visit insightforliving.ca/find-station
Looking Deeper into Our Church
“A church is designed to reshape your life. It doesn’t mean that you have a place to sit on Sunday. It means you get your thinking challenged.” - CHUCK SWINDOLL
The church’s most attractive quality is unity under Jesus Christ. People from all races and social classes come together in Christ as ingredients in a cooking pot, creating a fragrant and irresistible aroma of Christ’s love. Loving one another means that we give and share with open hands rather than closed fists. What a worthy endeavour! Romans 12:14-21 paints a picture of the church using peace as his base colour with pronounced shades of humility and blessing. Looking deeper into the Scriptures helps us discover God’s design for an attractive, life-giving church. Paul’s letter to the Romans contains penetrating insights into God’s work through Jesus Christ while also specifying how we should respond to the Gospel with the Spirit’s strength. Throughout Romans 12, Paul gave us these specifications in the form of precise commands.
Romans 12 shows us how to apply to our lives the doctrine of Romans 1 to 11. Paul inspired us toward unity by giving us an action to practice (Romans 12:15) and an attitude to maintain (12:16). Take a moment to reflect on your life. Are you able to connect with others by weeping when they weep or rejoicing when they rejoice? If this isn’t a healthy habit already, what would it take for you to make this a practice in your relationship? Father, thank You that You don’t return upon us wrath and justice when we commit crimes against You and others. You love us. You sent Your Son to die that we might live in Him. How radical are Christ’s ways compared to the ways of the world! We pray for strength to live radically for Him because it is the good and right way and because we know that You are for us and not against us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“Looking Deeper into Our Church” is from Chuck Swindoll’s series Loving One Another. You can stream this message online anytime at insightforliving.ca/audiolibrary.
Thank you for standing with us and contributing towards our calendar year-end to help bring God’s restorative promises to Canadians. People come to our country hoping to reboot their lives and, with your help, they can hear the Word of God through Insight for Living Canada. It’s so encouraging to know we’re a part of their new beginning!