[@IndeedEng] Boxcar: A self-balancing distributed services protocol
July 27-Aug 2 Boxcar Christianity
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Transcript of July 27-Aug 2 Boxcar Christianity
The Word of Life Study BibleThe Word of Life Study BibleTMTM
When preparing for this week’s lesson I ran across a good
article in The Word of Life Study Bible.TM The article was
taken from the message in Isaiah 52:7.
Messenger Announces Messenger Announces DeliveranceDeliverance
Isaiah 52:7 NET How delightful it is to see approaching over the
mountains the feet of a messenger who announces peace, a
messenger who brings good news, who announces deliverance, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
Messenger Announces Messenger Announces DeliveranceDeliverance
The good news of peace and salvation prophesied by Isaiah was effectively
delivered by Jesus. Later, Jesus' followers spread this good news
throughout the Roman world, and from there it passed down through the
centuries to us who live today.
Messenger Announces Messenger Announces DeliveranceDeliverance
The gospel is very good news for sinners who stand under
the judgment of God. Through Christ, we can have
forgiveness of sins and peace with God.
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Acts 13:38 NET Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that
through this one forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
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Romans 5:1 NET Therefore, since we have been declared
righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ,
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Romans 6:23 NET For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.And this salvation is a free gift of God's grace, even though by nature
we were "children of wrath"
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Ephesians 2:3 NET among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives
in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature
children of wrath even as the rest…
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4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with
which he loved us, 5 even though we were dead in transgressions,
made us alive together with Christ — by grace you are saved!
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6 and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly
realms in Christ Jesus, 7 to demonstrate in the coming ages
the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ
Jesus.
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8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not
from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so
that no one can boast.
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Thus we begin our life in Christ "by grace . . . through faith." But how do we then continue our life with
Jesus? How do we grow into spiritual maturity as believers,
which is what God wants us to do?
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Ephesians 1:1 NET From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints [in Ephesus],
the faithful in Christ Jesus. 2 Grace and peace to you from God
our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
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3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. 4 For he
chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight
in love.
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Notice the truth Paul just stated. “he chose us in Christ before the
foundation of the world” Can we wrap our minds around this?
Before creation Jesus knew He would come to earth to die &
provide salvation.
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5 He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will — 6 to the praise of the
glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly
loved Son.
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7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us
in all wisdom and insight.
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9 He did this when he revealed to us the secret of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in
Christ, 10 toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up
all things in Christ — the things in heaven and the things on earth.
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11 In Christ we too have been claimed as God's own possession, since we
were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will 12 so that we, who were the first
to set our hope on Christ, would be to the praise of his glory.
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13 And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) —
when you believed in Christ — you were marked with the seal of the
promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God's own
possession, to the praise of his glory.
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15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for
all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you in my prayers.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
For many Christians, the journey of faith might be called "Boxcar Christianity" which works like
this: When we place our faith in Christ, Jesus becomes the new
Engineer of the train we call our life.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
Up until then, we had tried to run the train on our own, according to
our own wits and by our own power. But we failed. As sinful
people, we simply couldn't make the train run, certainly not the way
it was intended.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
But now that we have placed Jesus at the controls of our life, we hope for better things. We
expect the train to start moving, and eventually, to
arrive at its final destination.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
Obviously any illustration will be inadequate to express the wonder of salvation in Christ. But what
happens in "Boxcar Christianity" is an appropriate illustration of what many people actually do
today as they try to follow Jesus.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
They start hooking on "boxcars" that they have reason to
believe should be a part of their Christian, experience,
For example:
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
We need to spend focused time with Jesus each day, because we need to get to know our Lord. Therefore, we need to
pray every day, and we need to read the Bible.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
Then we need to find a good church to join. We need to be with God's
people. And once we are in a church, we should not only
participate in the worship service, but join a Sunday school class for instruction, if the church has any.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
If there is an evening service, we should attend that too.
Then, if we really want to grow, we should join a mid-week
group such as a prayer meeting.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
And if the church has a gathering for fellowship, we should consider
being a part of that. We'll make new friends, we'll have a sense of
community and we'll also have fun.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
To understand our new faith, we need to begin reading some good Christian literature. A growing
Christian is a reading Christian, so we might start borrowing books
from the church's library, or frequenting a Christian bookstore.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
Meanwhile, as we mature in Christ, it's important to start using our gifts. If we have
musical ability, we might join the choir or church ensemble
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
We might become a leader in the youth group. We might teach a
Sunday school class or serve as an usher. There is always something we can do, and our service will be
appreciated.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
In the summers there are summer programs, such as Vacation Bible School. That's only a week or two
long. Why not volunteer some time for the spiritual nurture of
children?
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
During the week, there may be a Bible study in our community.
Joining it will allow us to spend time with people around God's Word, focusing on the
things of the Lord.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
And somewhere in town is probably a group meeting for coffee and prayer before the workday begins. Attending
that might be of great help to our spiritual progress.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
Then from time to time a spiritual retreat will be offered, perhaps for a weekend. If we go, we'll have a great opportunity to be renewed in
our faith, to build some closer friendships, and to draw closer to
the Lord.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
Back home, there are always committees, councils, and boards that need capable
people to serve. Why not serve the body of Christ in this way?
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
We might also consider becoming part of the church's visitation team, welcoming new people to the
congregation. In fact, that would be great preparation for joining an
evangelism or outreach team, which will help us actively share our faith
with unbelievers.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
Not that ministry stops with evangelism. Many churches sponsor homeless shelters, meals-on-wheels, and other resources for people's basic needs. Here is a place where the Lord
could use us to "give a cup of cold water in His name."
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
All the while, it's important to support the church and other
ministry organizations financially. We should be mindful of what our church's missionaries are doing,
and pray for them regularly.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
We might even consider participating in a short-term
mission project. We should also be actively involved as citizens,
influencing the political system through our faith and values.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
We should be concerned about racial reconciliation and other
social justice issues. If we have children, we need to be
involved in their schools, whether public or private.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
We should be active in ... We should do ... We should
become . . . We should . . . We should . . . We should . . .
What Happened?
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
Obviously this list is a bit exaggerated, maybe not by much! "Boxcar
Christianity" has a way of adding load upon load of expectation to what
started out as a pure and simple faith—faith so simple that even a child can
demonstrate it.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"What happens? How does the gospel
become so complicated and so freighted with demands? How is it that so many
believers start out with Jesus pulling the train, only to wind up completely
exhausted as they strain to pull the whole train, which grows ever longer with heavy
boxcars?
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
All of the boxcars are full of valuable opportunities and
experiences. Any of these can be enormously beneficial to
our spiritual growth.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
But the most important thing on the train is not in any of the boxcars, it's in the engine. That's because
nothing is more important than our relationship with Jesus. Everything else on the train is merely a means
of drawing us closer to Him.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
This Is Eternal LifeIf we miss Jesus in our lives, then we miss the One who gives life to
us. Jesus challenges "Boxcar Christians" as He did His disciple Philip, who had known Him for
about three and a half years:
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
John 14:9 NET Jesus replied, "Have I been with you for so long, and you have not known me, Philip? The
person who has seen me has seen the Father! How can you say,
'Show us the Father'?
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
Shortly thereafter, Jesus prayed to His Father, "And this is
eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus
Christ whom You have sent." John 17:3 The gospel is all about
knowing God.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
"Boxcar Christianity" can lead to failure, frustration, and
wretchedness. The situation is not unlike that described by
Paul in Romans 7
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
Romans 7:7 NET What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not!
Certainly, I would not have known sin except through the law. For indeed I would not have known what it means
to desire something belonging to someone else if the law had not said,
"Do not covet."
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
8 But sin, seizing the opportunity through the
commandment, produced in me all kinds of wrong desires. For apart from the law, sin is dead.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
9 And I was once alive apart from the law, but with the coming of the commandment sin became alive 10 and I died. So I found that the very commandment that was intended
to bring life brought death!
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
11 For sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment,
deceived me and through it I died. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous,
and good.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Absolutely not! But sin, so that it would be
shown to be sin, produced death in me through what is good, so that
through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
14 For we know that the law is spiritual — but I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin. 15 For I
don't understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want —
instead, I do what I hate.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
16 But if I do what I don't want, I agree that the law is good. 17 But
now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me. 18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that
is, in my flesh.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want! 20 Now if I do what I
do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
21 So, I find the law that when I want to do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God in my inner being.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
23 But I see a different law in my members waging war against
the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin
that is in my members.
"Boxcar Christianity""Boxcar Christianity"
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of
death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I
serve the law of sin.
Well Versed in God’s WordWell Versed in God’s Word
We cannot do it alone! Jesus must be at the controls. I
believe my main job standing in front of you speaking is to
encourage you to be well versed in God’s Word.
Well Versed in God’s WordWell Versed in God’s Word
That is why the past three years I’ve done my best to get you reading
the Bible. We read the NIV Chronological Bible, then The
Message New Testament, and this year a daily reading schedule using
your favorite Bible.
Well Versed in God’s WordWell Versed in God’s Word
If we want to know God, grow in maturity as Christ’s
followers, there is no other way besides knowing what
God reveals about Himself in His Word.
Well Versed in God’s WordWell Versed in God’s Word
Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice so we could be forgiven of our sins. Several times He tells us if we love Him we will obey His commandments. How can we know what He commands if
we don’t open His book to see?