• Lesson 10 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 5:8-14.

Paul contrasted the lives of these Ephesians before they knew Christ with their current lives as people of faith. He wrote, “You were once darkness … you are now light in the Lord.”

Note that he didn’t say they once lived in darkness. He said they “were once darkness.” That’s pretty serious. Darkness wasn’t external but internal. It penetrated their whole lives. But once they found Christ, they became light, and that light began to illuminate their lives all the way to the center.

How does that work? God is light, and as we embrace his dramatic transformation, we will find ourselves shining as lights in a world that loves darkness.

God’s grace ensures you will grow more like Christ over time. If we desire to speak, act and think in such ways that are consistent with our Christian identity, we must talk, behave and think in almost the exact opposite ways of current culture. We are not to participate with those who don’t imitate God. We are children of light, not darkness.

Christians who walk in the light don’t waste time pursuing fruitless darkness. They don’t expend energy doing the kinds of things that displease God and harm their neighbors. Christians don’t do or say the kinds of empty things that cause divisions among people. Verse 13 says the light of their lives should expose sin rather than join sin.

Curiously, if there were no Christians in the world, there would be no need for excuses. Who would notice or care how anyone lived? Who would decide right from wrong? But Christians call attention to sin by the way they live.

Paul commanded believers to walk or live “as children of light.” Just as Jesus is the light of the world, so Christians are to walk as He walked—as lights of the world. In fact, Jesus himself said to His followers, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).

As believers, let us commit to living every day reflecting the light of God that is in us. We walk in light by exhibiting light, exposing darkness, and exhorting unbelievers.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 9 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 4:17-24.

God calls us to put off the old and put on the new. Unfortunately, too often we want to kill the bad habits without dealing with our heart. We try to put off just enough to avoid a negative consequence. So, we end up replacing the bad habit or sinful behavior with something else that displeases God. Maybe we stop looking at porn but never deal with the lust, or we eliminate the bad habit of gossip but don’t deal with the bitterness.

Our old nature will rob us of physical, mental and spiritual strength, leaving us unfruitful in Christian service. The influence of the life of a Christian may be ruined, if one does not exercise a stronger will to stand against deceitful lusts through the power of the Word and Spirit.

When you repented of your sins and turned to Christ by faith, you made a decision to die to self and live for Christ. You have been made new. The challenge is for us to live as who we already are by faith.

One problem is we don’t all think the same way about sin. We continue to justify, rationalize and embrace what we want. But all sin is futile—it never gives us what we think it will give us. It’s short-sighted—it always thinks about the here and now and not the consequences or eternity. It’s ignorant—separated from the life of God. It’s consuming—sin wants more and more.

You can possess all the talent and ability in the world, all the spiritual giftedness, yet your spiritual immaturity will greatly hinder your ministry in the church. In fact, you will not serve well unless you are committed to your own spiritual growth and spiritual maturity.

Too many of us regularly embrace the sins of the old life because they still come naturally to us. It’s easier to go back to what we came from instead of growing in Jesus, especially when going back takes no effort, while growing takes surrender, faith and obedience.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 8 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 4:11-16.

Paul didn’t simply offer good moral advice with a spiritual flavor. He intended to root Jesus’ behavior into our Christian identity, and he knew the best tool given to us by God to make that happen was Christ’s church.

The church is not just a random group of people who show up at the same place to sing the same songs and study from the same holy book. Rather, we collectively are called out by God to accomplish his work according to his gospel.

God expects us to work together and to grow together so we, as individuals, will become more like Jesus, and the church will reflect the love, light and grace God wants to show to the world. God didn’t leave us on our own to figure this out. God gave us his Holy Spirit to guide us, and he gave us spiritual gifts to help us minister to each other.

Verse 11 lists four specific leadership gifts given by Christ to build the church and equip its members. This is only a partial list—more are listed in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. The gifts, known as spiritual gifts, enable members to serve the church with effectiveness and skill. The four gifts listed here are given so the church may grow in fellowship, service, encouragement and maturity.

Originally, apostles were eyewitnesses to Jesus and his ministry, and they knew the resurrected Jesus personally. But while the office of apostle was destined to change, the spiritual gift remains. It resides among missionaries and church planters, people who have a deep desire to take the gospel to those who have not heard it.

Prophets are gifted by the Holy Spirit to preach and proclaim the gospel. This is primarily a gift of proclamation, not prediction. People with the gift of prophecy take what God has given to them and reveal it to God’s people. They have a passion for speaking God’s truth and are often church planters. Evangelists are specifically gifted for communicating the gospel in relevant, compelling terms to people who are not Christians.

Pastor and teacher as used here are usually combined to represent different aspects of the same gift. The word “pastor” means to shepherd and protect, and describes someone who leads and cares for the church. “Teacher” means to shepherd and teach, interpreting God’s word to his church.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.  

• Lesson 7 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 4:1-6.

Since believers are called to serve in accordance with their respective ministries, they should seek to do so with a humble and gentle spirit, with merciful compassionate love, and always seeking the unity and betterment of the church in seeking to keep the peace.

First, Paul said, walk worthy of your calling, and with a sense of urgency. These are your conditions, or the characteristics of believers whose aim is to walk worthy of their divine, heavenly calling.

Second, Paul asked that it be done with humility (lowliness) and gentleness (meekness) of heart—to be completely humble and gentle in your living. God has called imperfect people to serve a perfect God. Believers must know they are blessed to be called by such a holy and righteous God and be grateful and honored to serve, whether it is as a greeter or as a minister.

Third, serve with patience (longsuffering)—do it with endurance. Paul said to this church in Ephesus that they must understand what God has called them to do would not be easy, but it carries eternal rewards with it.

If your ministry is to serve as a greeter, and somebody refused to return your smile and kindness, be patient with them, do not give up—endure the hardship as a good soldier because you know your rewards are stored up for you in heaven.

As Paul wrote in Romans 8:28, you know it is all working out for good to those who love God and are called to his purpose. You might have to put up with other people’s messes and their noncooperative attitudes, but remember you are a part of a royal family and have rewards. You have fellowship with Christ, faith in Christ, friendship with other believers, and your future faith and future hope will help you to endure.

Finally, Paul highlights why believers will do their best to encourage cooperation and unity, rather than chaos and confusion. He wrote in Ephesians 4:3, “being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Being diligent or “endeavoring” means to make every effort. Do your very best to cooperate with one another, to keep the peace rather than to cause chaos and confusion.

There may be times while you are serving in your ministry that Satan wants to cause confusion, because he does not want you and your fellow worshipers to worship God in the Spirit of peace and truth. God wants what is chaotic to be calm. On the Sea of Galilee while Jesus was asleep in the boat there was a chaotic sea, but Jesus spoke, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39, KJV) to calm the situation.

Paul understood that God is not the God of confusion, but of peace. Yes, we are called by God, to work in a particular ministry, but the choice is ours. Yes, there are some conditions, that are set by God and God’s word.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

The Pursuit of Safety: A Theology of Danger, Risk, and Security

By Jeremy Lundgren (IVP Academic)

Is this world safe? No. Is it supposed to be safe, and if so, who’s responsible for making sure it is? Should Christians seek safety? Whether they should, the human instinct is to pursue safety, which Jeremy Lundgren presents as an exacting taskmaster turned idol in the modern age.

In answering questions like those above, Lundgren’s The Pursuit of Safety is a wide-ranging exploration not just of theology, but also the history, philosophy, technology and ethics of safety and security. It is an academic treatment perhaps most appreciated by those of an analytical or philosophical bent.

Lundgren begins by defining a host of terms and concepts related to safety. He then offers an extended examination of human conceptions of danger in the premodern, early-modern and late-modern eras. Premodern people viewed danger in relation to a world filled with gods and spirits. The disenchanted world of the early-modern era understood danger as a natural feature of the material world. For the late-modern world, danger resides within us.

Religious ritual gave way to calculating probability, technological innovation and the fine-tuning of safety measures. In the absence of the gods, the pursuit of safety became an idol, Lundgren contends.

Interesting discussions frequently bog down in what seem to be tangential analyses many readers will find tedious. Dedicated readers will find these apparent asides eventually support the broader argument.

The topic of safety in relation to the Christian life provides Lundgren’s most interesting chapter—the next-to-last. Here, he frames the pursuit of safety as “a perpetual flight away from harm and toward nothing,” the opposite of a “pursuit of life” (p. 222). He describes this pursuit as an end in itself in conflict with obedience to Christ.

The Pursuit of Safety is less interested in ethical and conceptual prescriptions than in a thorough analysis of the whole field of safety and security.

Eric Black, executive director/publisher/editor
Baptist Standard

• Lesson 6 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 3:14-21.

It is a blessing to have a person who loves and cares for you to pray that the love of Christ and Christ’s presence might be present in you. We find in verses 17–19, Paul was praying Christ would dwell in the hearts of the Ephesian Christians; that is, Christ would rule at the center of their intellect and emotions.

Having Christ dwell in their hearts speaks to the Gentiles seeking Christ’s words and way of life to guide them daily. With the Holy Spirit empowering them and God’s riches being supplied to them, Paul concluded it is their faith that will help them to be rooted and grounded in God’s love.

Faith, as mentioned in verse 17, takes an active role in ensuring they would be properly rooted like a plant and grounded, established as one who not only knows God’s word, but is actively living it out daily. As Jesus said to his disciples in John 14:23, the evidence of true, grounded love is seen in the words and actions of obedience to God’s word. “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15).

Paul gave four dimensions (width, length, height and depth) to show the importance of grasping the true depth of the love of Christ. For the Gentiles truly to be knitted together as one family, they must know of the complete love of Christ. If any area is lacking in any dimension, it will be more difficult for them to have the power needed to be unified as members of the body of Christ.

This requires the individual to have a holistic representation of Christ’s love, as well as the collective gathering of the people. If any member is lacking, then the entire unit is lacking because of the member’s absence of love. The earlier scholars looked at Paul’s notation of the four dimensions of Christ’s love, referring to the cross and its four corners as a reminder of the depth of Christ’s love.

As the comprehension of Christ’s love is gained, so will their unity be with God as their Father, Jesus as their Christ, the Holy Spirit as their comforter, and with one another. In Ephesians 3:19, Paul noted the more one comprehends the love of Christ, the better we understand God more fully. But since the love of Christ is so great, it is almost incomprehensible to fully grasp the depth of such love.

This love is so much in tune with God that it defies humanity’s ability to see why someone would go to such great length to sacrifice his life to redeem those who would eventually reject Christ’s love. But because Christ’s obedience to his Father is grounded in God’s love, it is only when we try to understand why God would sacrifice his Son that we can understand Christ’s love.

Therefore, the more we grow in appreciation and understanding of God’s love, the more we will understand Christ’s love. Finally, the love of Christ is the love he bears to us and is the motive of his sacrifice for our redemption.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 5 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 3:1-13.

Because we are blessed to be God’s children (Gentiles and Jews alike), we all have been blessed with the privilege to share God’s word and testify of the mystery of God’s love and the riches of God’s grace.

What a powerful statement to know that previously the Hebrews/Israelites/Jews were the sole heirs of God’s promise to redeem and reconcile humankind to himself, but now through the sharing of the gospel, the Gentiles are blessed to be “sharers” together in promise of God’s saving hope (NIV, 3:6).

Paul was mindful that the first step is accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The moment that acceptance is made known in one’s heart and confessed with one’s mouth (Romans 10:9–10), he or she becomes a part of God’s holy family—they become joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

It is amazing that Paul did not speak of one purchasing a membership, taking a test, or asking someone to join this unique, elite group. Instead, Paul spoke of one’s admittance and acceptance can only come through the gospel, accepting Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior.

Once you are accepted as member of the body of Christ, you have the same privilege as a Jew. We are all one and equal. As stated in Galatians 3:28 (ESV), “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Paul was also mindful that his calling to serve (3:7) was again because of God’s grace. One can sense Paul’s degree of humility and gratefulness to serve. Although Paul was known as an educated student of Rabbi Gamaliel, a Pharisee of Pharisees, none of that mattered to him as much as being called by God to share the gospel to the Gentiles.

The “working of his power” is a reference to Paul’s acknowledgement that only God has the power to save by the preaching of God’s word. It is definitely not within himself that he possessed such power. As Paul stated in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (NASB). “To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things” (3:8–9).

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

The Church in Dark Times

By Mike Cosper (Brazos Press)

The church publicly humiliated one of its own members, called his salvation into question, stripped him of his livelihood and compelled others in the church to cut ties with him—all because he spoke truth that made church authorities uncomfortable.

That’s what happened to Galileo in the early 1600s, when he dared teach the Earth was not the center of the universe.

It also happened much more recently to some members of Mars Hill Church when they dared question the authority of Pastor Mark Driscoll, who had become—in the eyes of many in the church—the center of their universe.

It also has happened countless other times in evangelical churches, big and small, when members offered dissenting views on varied topics, from hot-button social issues to matters of biblical interpretation. And it most certainly has happened in churches where leaders have been credibly accused of abusive behavior and the powers-that-be failed to see what should have been obvious.

In The Church in Dark Times, author Mike Cosper, host of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast, explores factors that have made otherwise-moral people in churches complicit in enabling abuse and other moral failures of church leaders.

Cosper draws deeply from the insights of German-American historian and political theorist Hannah Arendt. In the aftermath of World War II, she sought to explain how ordinary, seemingly decent people supported the evil perpetrated by totalitarian systems. Little by little, increasingly corrupt and immoral practices became accepted as the norm when they were carried out to fulfill the vision cast by a charismatic figure.

The Church in Dark Times does not just identify the problem. In the second half of the book, Cosper offers helpful ideas and guiding principles to equip Christians to resist the darkness. Instead of surrendering to ironclad ideology and grandiose movements centered on celebrities, Cosper encourages Christians to embrace shared life together—praying, worshipping and bearing each other’s burdens.

Ken Camp, managing editor

Baptist Standard

• Lesson 4 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 2:19-22.

The Icon of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) is currently the world’s largest cruise ship, five times larger than the Titanic. How are these massive ships built in just one- or two-year’s time? The stateroom is part of a modular system, built at multiple sites. These are then brought to the final assembly area.

We might see the church—this new, holy temple of the Lord’s—as a building project in which the different modules (believers) are joined together.

In verses 21-22 “joined together and built together” are present passive verbs. Present means that the work is ongoing, not finished. Passive means the joining and building are works of God. This work will continue in each of us until we draw our dying breath.

Recall from verse 10, the faithful in Christ (believers) are God’s workmanship. As such, we are not designed to be set on a shelf or displayed on a wall. What a great picture here of God coming to live in the lives of believers. Think back to Jesus’ promise of the Advocate in John 14. He would come to live in and through all who follow Christ.

It is easy in our Western culture to become individualized in our approach to faith. We are more independent minded. However, Paul noted these multitudes of believers are assembled together into one dwelling.

This dwelling is a permanent place. God is not preparing himself a one-room apartment for eternity. He is the architect and builder. Across the world there are old, sometimes ancient stone fences. These fences used no mortar. The builder used rocks of all shapes and sizes to make one fence. The skilled builder had an eye for knowing just the right spot for any rock.

In similar fashion, God knows just the right spot for you to serve in his kingdom through his church. As long as you live, there is a place for you.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

• Lesson 3 in the Connect360 unit “The Immeasurable Love of Christ” focuses on Ephesians 2:8-10.

As much as you may have despised freshman English, there are times when grammar is important. This is one of those times. “Have been saved” is a perfect passive verb. Perfect identifies a completed past action that continues to have effect in the present. Passive means you were not the cause of action in the verb; essentially you were acted upon.

The “saints, the faithful in Christ” (Paul’s label for the Ephesian Christians seen in 1:1) have a past salvation from spiritual death that continues to give spiritual life in the present. Those once separated from God are restored to relationship with him. These saints did not bring about this salvation.

John Stott has said, “We must never think of salvation as a kind of transaction between God and us in which he contributes grace and we contribute faith.” I think back to the birthday and Christmas presents my sons received from their grandparents. The boys had done nothing to deserve those gifts, except to exist. The gifts were freely given but did not have any effect until the boys grasped them in their hands.

Faith always follows grace. The grammatical order of the sentence identifies grace as the gift, not faith. The pattern we see God develop throughout Scripture is that God initiates the call to grace. Where do many Christians go wrong? They fail to act daily, in faith, to the accomplishment Jesus made on the cross.

To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

The Rhythm of Home: Five Intentional Practices for a Thriving Family Culture

By Chris and Jenni Graebe (NavPress)

The word “rhythm” has evolved from primarily associated with music, dance and poetry and with the recurring processes of science to a term reminiscent of its Latin origin likened to a flowing stream. In The Rhythm of Home, the authors apply the term to a framework of flowing but structured life practices that help people purposefully grow around core values. In the case of Chris and Jenni Graebe, their home furnishes the setting for the family of seven as they strive intentionally to build a culture where each member flourishes personally and spiritually and the family thrives as a whole.

That’s a tall order, but the faith leaders in local church ministry fill the pages of The Rhythm of Home: Five Intentional Practices for a Thriving Family Culture with wisdom, truth, grace, honesty and practical ideas gleaned from their own successes and failures. Each chapter begins with a Scripture or quote, and the Graebes stress starting with a shared vision, establishing a loving home and building a strong community of support.

Jenni and Chris then explore five key core rhythms. These include the rhythm of speaking life individually and collectively, the rhythm of serving each other and then serving outside the home, the rhythm of slowing down when life gets too fast, the rhythm of seeking adventure daily, and the rhythm of staying in awe of God’s world and his creation.

The parents share illustrations with the permission of their five children. For example, the rhythm of speaking life can be as simple as each family member offering a blessing for the birthday girl or boy at dinner on their special day. Or they may be as elaborate as a rite of passage event when each turns 13 that includes male or female relatives and mentors depending on the teen’s gender and perhaps a few close friends who speak blessings and sometimes give gifts that remind them of the individual’s wonderful qualities. The stories of the two who have celebrated that milestone, their son and oldest daughter, provide ideas that can be personalized and replicated.

On another occasion, when the family continually feels too rushed, too frustrated and too crabby on Sunday mornings, they meet together, discuss the need to slow down and develop a solution that works by pre-preparing on Saturday evenings and switching to a later worship service.

The Graebes call readers to examine, evaluate, and envision unique rhythms that continue to allow their family to thrive. Some rhythms may have become ruts that should be eliminated. Others may need to be revised as children grow older.  A few may have developed into cherished traditions that will endure.

Finally, the authors offer encouragement to develop a rhythm of home and no matter how hard, to “do it anyway.” The title closes with a beautiful blessing, made even more beautiful when spoken by Jenni Graebe on the audible book.

The Rhythm of Home delivers healthy hope and practical inspiration for the parenting journey. But for empty-nesters and those without children, the book subtly and not-so-subtly provides hints as to how to help and not hinder. Even if the reader or listener uses just some of the ideas, the rhythm of their home will become more loving, more joy-filled and quite simply more fun.

Kathy Robinson Hillman, former president

Texas WMU and Baptist General Convention of Texas

Waco

When the Church Harms God’s People

By Diane Langberg (Brazos Press)

“A body that does not follow its head is a very sick body.” Diane Langberg initially made that observation while watching her once-athletic father struggle with the effects of Parkinson’s. Later, as she counseled victims of sexual abuse within Christian circles, she applied that same principle to the body of Christ. When the church fails to follow Christ and cares more about preserving institutions than protecting vulnerable people, it is seriously ill.

In When the Church Harms God’s People, Langberg writes as one who loves the church enough to offer an honest diagnosis of its sickness in order to help restore its health. She draws upon more than 50 years of experience as an internationally recognized psychologist and trauma expert and as former chair of the board of the American Association of Christian Counselors.

Langberg identifies how unhealthy churches unwittingly encourage and enable predators, including those in key positions as pastors and ministry leaders, to prey upon people when they are most vulnerable. She explores how domestic violence or abusive behavior—even in the homes of ministers—can be ignored or even excused in a culture of self-deception.

However, she doesn’t just diagnose illness in the body of Christ. She also prescribes actions: calling the church to genuine repentance, speaking a healing message to those who have been victimized, and urging ministers to heed the example of the Good Shepherd. While she offers no easy answers to complex problems of systemic abuse, she does provide guidance. If churches heed her counsel, they can become caring communities that reflect the heart and mind of Christ.

Ken Camp, managing editor

Baptist Standard