Biblically Understanding Homosexuality

Here are a few resources I used while developing the message this past week.

Theology and Culture: Homosexuality: This is a fantastic message on the subject from Matt Chandler, Pastor of the Village Church.

Jesus and Homosexuality: A great and short paper on what Jesus taught on homosexuality from Geoff Ashley.

How I Wish the Homosexuality Debate Would Go: Great blog from Trevin Wax that aims to help believers clearly communicate what the Bible teaches about homosexuality.

Jesus On Homosexuality: Another great blog on what Jesus taught on homosexuality. This one is written by JD Greear, pastor of the Summit Church in Durham, NC.

RC Sproul on Homosexuality: A message from RC Sproul on the issue.

Just for Girls: Guest Post by Katie Creery

Great guest blog just for the ladies from my unbelievable assistant, Katie Creery. Enjoy!

Why Be Modest?
by Katie Creery

OK ladies, have any of you been shopping lately?  Probably all of us have! What did you shop for?  Shirts, pants, jewelry, shoes (my personal favorite!)…there are lots of items to choose from out there. Well, if any of you are like me, sometimes I actually go shopping with a mission, looking for a very specific item. For example–last summer I decided I was going to shop for the perfect pair of shorts. I left pretty excited and energized thinking, “Yep, today is a good day to buy shorts, and the perfect pair will be waiting in the first store just for me”.  You’re thinking ridiculous, right?  Well, you would be correct…not only were there not shorts out there waiting for me at the first store, but there were no shorts at all in that store unless you just count the small (very small!) shorts-shaped pieces of jean or cotton cloth hanging on  hangers or lying on tables.

Was this a joke? Is that really what those stores expected me to wear?  These garments did not contain enough fabric to cover even some underwear !

So, after that disappointment I went to a different store thinking, “Surely not all clothing stores have bought into this type of totally immodest “clothing” …OK, not this store either…OK, not next store…now totally next shopping center…still nothing!  The shopping trip for that particular day was officially a “fail”. I started to wonder, “What is a girl supposed to do who really cares about the appearance and appropriateness of the clothing she puts on, and the image she projects?” What can we do to find appropriate, but still cute, clothing (cause let’s be honest, girls, we want to look cute, don’t we)?  Well, I guess the short answer to that is to be patient until we do find the right look. There are stores out there that sell cute, but appropriate clothing. It may just mean we have to look a little bit harder to find them. I was eventually able to find a pair of shorts that were a length I was comfortable with, but still stylish.

I really don’t need to tell you where to find your clothes–you and your parents can do that together. I just want  you girls to understand why the length of my shorts mattered to me in the first place. If stores were “telling” me by the inappropriate clothing they stock, “buy short shorts” why didn’t I just go ahead and buy what was easily available?

Well, here’s my answer to that. God created me in His perfect image (Genesis 1:26 reminds us of that), in order to glorify His name throughout the earth. Being a young woman in today’s society, I am in a unique position to glorify Him by how I act and dress in my daily life, especially if that (as it so often is) is counter to the culture in which we live today. 1 Peter 2:12 states to “keep your conduct honorable…that they may see your good deeds and glorify God..” In other words, if my faith is as important to me as I say, then I need to live a life that reflects Him, and that includes every daily choice that I make, including how I dress. Wearing immodest clothing will distract from the message God gave me to share with the world, His love. The Bible (1 Timothy 2:9) specifically instructs us that as young women of God we should “dress modestly with decency and propriety” When my physical appearance distracts from His message of love, it means that others, especially boys, may be looking at me as an object, and thinking about how I am dressed (or, in the case of some of today’s fashions, more like undressed!) rather than seeing me as the person God created me to be. Now understand girls, that you are not usually to blame when men’s thoughts are inappropriate, but it is wrong if we  unthinkingly or purposefully dress in such a way to lead guys into thinking ungodly, sexually inappropriate thoughts. If we do, we share in the responsibility of contributing to their sin. It is wrong of us to do anything that would cause another Christian to stumble and fall (See Romans 14:13-21 for a good explanation of this).

Finally, girls you deserve better than having guys only thinking about the way you look and the way you dress.  That’s all surface, all external.  You are beautiful, “knit together by God before you were ever born” (Psalm 139:15) and you don’t need to compromise who God made you to be by what you wear in order to get guys attention. 1 Peter 3:3-4 says “Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in”.  You get God’s attention simply by being you (after all, He created you and He loves you enough to send His Son to die for you!)

That is the kind of spirit that others will be blessed by and that you are worthy of.  Paul puts it this way: “Women should be in humility before God, not primping before a mirror, or chasing the latest fashions, but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it:” (1 Timothy 2:10, The Message)

Myths, Fables, & Sex: Stuff for Parents

Parents, I know this issues we’re discussing on Wednesday nights are important for you to hear about also. Here a a few articles that you should definitely check out.

Tending…Pornography…: Walter Mueller shares 10 stats about teens and internet pornography that are unbelievable. If you think your teen would never look at porn, click the link. If you are concerned that your teen might be looking about porn, click the link. These stats show it is a problem for guys and girls.

5 Internet Monitoring Approaches For Parents: Good article with helpful tips about how to create online accountability for your teen vs. spying on your teen.

Saved Sex: Interesting Article that I quoted from in my message last night. If your teen came home freaked out about a quote I read, it was more than likely one from this article. Check it out for yourself.

I hope these help!

brandon

Good Resource for Parents

This week we’re beginning a new series at The Link on Wednesday nights called “Myths, Fables, and Sex.” The goals are to help students understand a biblical worldview about sex, establish healthy boundaries in their relationships, and to breakdown current myths about sex. I know as a parent, this topic can be overwhelming to discuss with your student. Our students are surrounded with sex constantly and it can be difficult for us to discern what is really going on with your student.

I’d like to recommend a great resource to you, An Expose on Teen Sex and Dating by Andy Braner. In this short book, Andy explains what is going on behind the scenes in the teen dating world. Why would this be a good read for parents?

First, at the risk of being overly simplistic, we read about things that are important to us. I read about bikes, guitars, music, Atlanta Braves, Georgia football, and God (not necessarily in that order). I know that, as a parent, your student is important to you. And your student making great decisions about sex and dating is improtant to you, too. So I think that this book would be worth reading.

Second, while I don’t agree with everything Andy says in this book I think it will be helpful to you.  There are a few times in the book when he seems to water down biblical truth in light of how to communicate that truth with teens, which I think it one major drawback. But overall, this is a great resource, especially in describing what is going on in the teen dating scene and how to communicate with students about it.  Chapter Six, “Parental Involvement,” and Chapter 10, “Communication,” are fantastic and would be extremely beneficial to you.

So pick up a copy of the book. Read it discerningly. Hopefully, it will help you talk to your student.

Why Small Groups Are For Parents, Too

I love our small groups! I tell my leaders all the time that I believe small groups are the most crucial aspect of our student ministry. Don’t get me wrong I love teaching students the Bible every Wednesday night, but I’ve come to see that small groups make a much bigger impact than anything I could ever say from the stage. As a parent I think in a strange way that our small groups are also for you. What I mean is that your kid attending a weekly small group will actually benefit your relationship with your student. Here are a few reasons why I believe that.

1. We teach our small group leaders to partner with parents. Our goal is not to work against you, but to work alongside you. Our small group leaders want to be another encouraging voice in the life of your student. You want the best for your student, so do we. As a parent, if you think a little help in guiding your child would be a great thing, then our small groups are for you.

2. Small Groups teach students about relationships. This generation of students is more connected via technology than previous generations, but they also feel more isolated. A small group is a great place to help your student learn how to develop great relationships over time. I think most parents want healthy peer relationships for their kids, which is one of our goals in our small groups, too.

3. Small Group Leaders are clutch in crisis situations. When a crisis hits your kid’s life, having a caring adult who is there for them and willing to listen to them is crucial. Its a great comfort to know your student has a great encourager in their corner when life gets messy. But you know those types of relationships are built over time, so having your student actively involved in a small group prior to the crisis is the key.

4. Small Group Leaders talk about Jesus. I believe (and I hope you do, too) that the most significant relationship in your student’s life is his/her relationship with Jesus. In fact, I believe that relationship influences all of our other relationships. The best thing for your relationship with your student is for them to have a growing relationship with Jesus.  Priority number one for small group leaders is to point your student to Jesus.

So, these are just a few of the many reason why I think that small groups are beneficial for parents, too. I know you’re busy. I know you’re family schedule is nuts. I know your student has homework, school activities, and traveling whatever. But I think small groups are important enough for you to make time for Wednesday nights, 715-800. If you need to make a choice, skip The Link, skip my teaching, skip worship, or skip summer camp to make time for small groups. I honestly believe small groups make more impact on our students lives than anything else we do. To register your student for a small group click here.

If you are a parent who loves your kid’s small group leader, please post a comment below and tell us why.

Another World

“At the root of the Christian life lies belief in the invisible” (Tozer, Pursuit of God, p. 54).

I lose track of this truth constantly. I think because I’m constantly surrounded by and interacting with this world. And let’s face it, its not real trendy or hip to talk about other invisible worlds. But it is a reality!

Tozer says, “Every man must choose his world” (p. 55). We can get caught up in this world and base our entire lives on finding contentment here. When a man makes the choice to live in this world he may be enticed by the short-lived glitz and glamour pushing all his chips on the table, betting his life on fun and excitement. Or he may be overwhelmed with this world, unable to conquer it, and deeply depressed by the lack of meaning offered by it. There are dozens of options for living this life for this world only and many will make this choice.

But, there is another option, another world. The man who chooses to live his live for a heavenly realm remains in touch with the reality of an invisible spiritual world. Another way to say it is that there is an unseen reality is more real that this world and is in fact, what gives this world its meaning. The invisible world is where everything important is: love, joy, purpose, meaning which all flows from God. This is the world I long to choose.

Beyond Biblical Exposition

Jacob, my intern, and I are currently reading through The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer together. I originally read The Pursuit of God back in college well before many of the defining moments in my life. It has been amazing to read back through the book from a completely different perspective now as a husband, father, and pastor. The book has truly impacted Jacob and I both, so this past week we decided to blog weekly about it, picking out particular sections along the way that spoke to us personally.

Immediately, a couple of paragraphs in the preface regarding preaching and teaching God’s Word jumped out at me. Of course, when I previously read the book I wasn’t preaching or teaching, so I’m sure I missed these ideas the first time around. But, after spending a considerable amount of time thinking about how we teach the Bible, these thoughts challenged me. Tozer writes, “There is today no lack of Bible teachers to set forth correctly the principles of the doctrines of Christ, but too many of these seem satisfied to teach the fundamentals of the faith year after year, strangely unaware that there is in their ministry no manifest Presence, nor anything unusual in their personal lives. They ministry constantly to believers who feel within their breasts a longing which their teaching simply does not satisfy” (8).

Wow! My first thought was I definitely don’t want to be that guy. But then, I had to be honest and admit that I am often that guy. I am guilty of teaching relying only on my knowledge of the Scripture or on my skill set. Or perhaps even worse, I teach parroting or simply repeating what I’ve heard some one else do. While understanding, skill, and resources are all good things, they are not the main thing. In the middle of all the hows of teaching, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that biblical knowledge is not the goal, but knowing God is the goal.

Tozer says it this way, “But exposition may be carried on in such a way as to leave the hearers devoid of any true spiritual nourishment whatever. For it is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience they are not better for having heard the truth” (9). He is communicating two crucial ideas. First, good biblical exposition does not necessarily produce good preaching. It is an important component that does not need to be overlooked, but it is not the only component and perhaps not even the most important. Second, the purpose of the Bible “is not an end in itself” (9). Knowing the Bible is helpful, but its not the point. The purpose of the Scripture is knowing God, and the purpose of great preaching is not just communicating the truth, but communicating the truth so that it helps hearers know God.

I had to ask myself the question, “Do my students feel God’s Presence when I teach?” Its a tough question. Tozer reminds me that no matter how much I study, no matter how funny my jokes are, and no matter how slick my presentation is, only God’s Spirit can do the real work of transformation. If I want to nourish my students spiritually (which I do), then I must rely on God in my preaching and teaching. This is a humbling, but much needed truth for me. I hope it encourages you, also.

brandon

Why I Love Our Graduates

We love our graduating seniors here at Central. In fact, each spring it gets harder and harder for me to watch our students graduate. I feel like some of the students aren’t quite ready and think, “If I only had a few more months with them.” Some of them have grown into incredible leaders and it is difficult to imagine our ministry without their leadership. I’ve invested much time and energy into some and as they leave, I get nervous like a broker keeping an eye on his investment portfolio. “Did I do enough? Is it going to make a difference in their lives?” No matter the scenario, I love each of them and desire God’s very best for their lives.

It is also incredibly exciting to watch them embark on this new stage of their lives. So many of our students leave here after graduation and go on to accomplish amazing things. It thrills me to think about the potential of each senior class and how our church is truly unleashing them to fulfill God’s purposes. I love when they come back home full of stories about how God is using them on the mission field, at summer camps, in the lives of their friends, and at local churches. I love to see them excited about what God is doing in their lives. Some of my proudest youth pastor moments happen when I’m talking with students who have graduated and moved on.

On Sunday, March 22nd we will honor our graduates, the class of 2011. In the 9:00 AM service the soon to be graduates will be recognized and presented with a gift from our church. Following the service we will host a brunch for the graduates and their immediate family members. This is an incredibly meaningful morning for both graduates and their families. If you are graduating, or are the parent of a graduate then we want you to join us.  Check out, www.centralalive.org/students, for more info or  to register.  You must register before May 11th.

Lifebook Project

Next week begins an amazing opportunity for our students called the Lifebook Project. The Lifebook is the Book of John along with an Old Testament summary. You can check out the Lifebook here. We have been given (as in for free) 10,000 Lifebooks, one for every high school student in Houston and Peach Counties. Next week our students, along with students from 18 other local churches, will be embarking on a mission trip in our own home town, to give the Lifebook to their friends. This week is called a Saturation. This is not mass distribution, but one to one, peer to peer. I’m excited about our students sharing the words of Jesus with their friends. Please pray for our students as they take on this unbelievable task.

This Sunday, March 6th there is a Saturation Rally at Byron Baptist Church. The hundreds of students from Houston and Peach Counties who are participating in the Lifebook Project are going to come together for a night of worship and encouragement. I think its going to be incredible for our students to realize there are tons of other students who are participating. Worship is going to be led by our house band. We will leave from CBC Sunday night @ 5:30 PM. We will return to CBC at 8:00 Pm. I hope that your student can make it.

DiscipleNow Prayer Partner Instructions

First, thanks for being a prayer partner for DiscipleNow 11//Awaken. James 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” We believe that God is going to work as we prayer together for our students this weekend. So thank you for being apart of what God is doing in the hearts of our students.

I’d like to share a few instructions with you regarding exactly what you’re be doing.

1. We will (or already have) sent you a text message with a list of student’s by first name, and their cell phone numbers. Please delete those names and numbers after the weekend is over.
2. Send the students on the list a text message that introduces yourself (first name only) and let them know that you will be praying for them the entire weekend.
3. Feel free over the weekend to text the students and let them know that you are praying for them. You can send them any encouraging words, or verses.  Three texts is probably a good number for the weekend (You can definitely send more)
4. Don’t become a distraction by having lengthy conversations with the students. Again, the purpose is to encourage them. If they have some questions or issues they want to talk about please direction them to their leader.

Here is a brief schedule of the weekend, so that you will know what is going on while you’re praying.

Thursday
7:00pm-830pm Corporate Worship & Host Home Meet and Greet, Text

Friday
7:00 pm-11:59pm  Bible Studies in Host Homes

Saturday
8:30am Students Having Devotional Time
10:45am Corporate Worship
12:30pm Lunch @ CBC
2:00-5:30 Bible Studies in Host Home, Free Time
7:30pm Corporate Worship
10:30pm Bible Study in Host Home

Sunday
9:00am – Students in 9am Worship Service
10:30am-Student Testimony Service in Youth Room

Thanks again! If you have any questions feel free to contact me, brandon@centralalive.org.

brandon