Illuminate Community Church

06/02/19 - Immorality In The Church - 1 Corinthians 5

Sometimes it's hard to believe the evil things people are capable of doing. Can you imagine those things happening in the church? Sadly, it does happen. When a church allows itself to be shaped by the world's culture, it will become lax about sin within its walls. Left unchecked, flagrant sin will destroy the individual and infect the whole church. In his letter to the church in Corinth the Apostle Paul explains why moral absolutes and church discipline are vital for the good of the individual as well as the church family, even though the church may be labelled judgmental and intolerant.

The fact is, we all walk around sinning all the time. The difference is repentance. We don’t want Satan to tear us apart and loving confrontation is the means used to bring about repentance, forgiveness and restoration - this is the ultimate goal. Churches don’t often do this when necessary because they don’t take the protective power of the church seriously. It’s like being exposed to radiation. The only way to protect yourself is to enter the fallout shelter. When sin is tolerated in the church it’s like bringing radiation inside where others are affected.

The world is waiting to see a church that that takes sin seriously and shows the power of the gospel in all its forms. Let’s not be like those churches that stay away from sinners and tolerate unrepentant sin. Be gracious with sinners in house and reach those not in the house.

05/26/19 - Spiritual Parents - 1 Corinthians 4:14-21

Moms and Dads are important. Some are still trying to pick up the pieces of their lives after being raised by abusive, controlling and harsh parents. We were designed to have examples of what to be and how to live. When those examples lead you astray the voice in your head receives mixed messages that can take years to unravel.

As Christians, we have been placed in God's family as adopted sons and daughters. The apostle Paul tells us that in God's family there are spiritual moms and dads. Paul referred to himself in this way - a spiritual father. These are the men and women who tell you about Jesus, warn you about dangers, prove to be examples, and care enough to confront in love. Howard Hendricks was once asked how the church can identify her spiritual depth. He said, "That's easy, just ask to see the spiritual children." In other words the church ought to be a maternity ward where there is constantly heard the cry of newborn babes in Christ.  

How about you? Do you have spiritual children in your life? Are you setting a good example for them? Would you be pleased if your spiritual children live their Christian lives just like you? Would you want them to imitate you in your zeal for Christ, your service to others, your love for the saints, your diligence in the Scriptures? I know, these are sobering thoughts. Let’s take them to heart as we prepare ourselves to receive the good words of Paul this Sunday.

05/19/19 - The Scum Of The Earth - 1 Corinthians 4:1-13

"Scum" probably isn't a word you would use to describe yourself. It sounds self-loathing and demeaning. So why would Paul apply it to himself? Albert Hung explains...

Paul was writing to a group of early Christians living in a materialistic, hyper-sexualized culture, much like our own. These Corinthian believers gathered regularly to worship and pray and sit under the instruction of their pastors. They broke bread together in one another’s homes. In that sense, they had every appearance of godliness. Yet in other ways, these Christians were no different than anyone else. They lived in luxury, comfort, and ease. They freely indulged in various forms of sexual immorality. As a result, they became smug, prideful, and spiritually lazy. “Look at how God is blessing us,” they boasted. “Truly, we are favored more than others."

In contrast, Paul and the apostles were poor, itinerant preachers, traveling from place to place spreading the gospel, despite the constant threat of imprisonment or death. The Corinthians wanted no part of this life.

It’s no wonder nobody takes Christians seriously when the only thing different about us is that we go to church, pray before meals, and tend to be more judgmental than the rest of the population. But nobody could accuse Paul and his compatriots of displaying this kind of shallow faith. They were fools for Christ. They were the scum of the earth. The Corinthians were clamoring for the top positions in life, Paul was working his way down.

Henri Nouwen says it well. "The society in which we live suggests in countless ways that the way to go is up. Making it to the top, entering the limelight, breaking the record – that’s what draws attention, gets us on the front page of the newspaper, and offers us the rewards of money and fame. The way of Jesus is radically different. It is the way not of upward mobility but of downward mobility. It is going to the bottom, staying behind the sets, and choosing the last place! Why is the way of Jesus worth choosing? Because it is the way to the Kingdom, the way Jesus took, and the way that brings everlasting life."

Jesus modeled this didn't he? He climbed all the way down to the gates of death and burst them open for you and me. He became nothing so we could become something. It's ok, go ahead and count yourself with Paul and Jesus. You're in good company!

05/12/19 - Spiritual Fruit Cocktail - 1 Corinthians 3, Galatians 5:22-23

It's great to be back in the land of free refills! We had a special time together in Isreal and Jordan with a great group of folks from Illuminate. To be where Jesus lived and did ministry makes the Bible come to life in new ways and of course to be reminded of the amazing life of Jesus Christ. I missed you.

I don't have much of a sweet tooth but I do like savory things. If given the choice between chocolate cake and hot wings, it's wings every time. There is however one sugary food I do like. I'm certain it has to do with my experience eating it as a kid - the syrup from fruit cocktail in a can. Along with this sweetness comes that magical variety of fruit all mixed together. It's a perfect combination. So it is with the Fruit of the Spirit. It's when all the fruit comes together in your life you know you've hit the sweet spot. In fact, this is what spiritual maturity looks like. 

The problem with the Corinthian believers is that they had very little spiritual sweetness because they neglected the fruit that produces it. They were not growing in faith as a result. These believers had much talent but lacked depth. This is a bad combination that leads to pride and quarreling and as a result they looked like those on the outside. One of the great fruit killers is when we allow the gospel of the culture to replace the gospel of Jesus. So together, by God's Spirit, let's make Illuminate this amazing produce section in God's store!

05/05/19 - Wisdom in the Inner Ring - 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

C.S. Lewis, in one his most memorable essays “The Inner Ring,” describes a place where almost all of us long to be. We want to be in the know—one of the essential people – in the Inner Ring. We want to be part of that tight circle that’s most important, wherever it may be: in a family, a circle of friends, at work, or at church. Lewis writes: “I believe that in all men’s lives at certain periods, and in many men’s lives at all periods between infancy and extreme old age, one of the most dominant elements is the desire to be inside the local Ring and the terror of being left outside.” To feel excluded or out of it or non-essential is miserable. Yet the desire to be “in” can make you say things you would not otherwise say or not say things you should say. This desire to be on the inside of whatever group you want to join can and will affect your relationships at work at home, in the community, and in the church. In Corinth, the freshness of a relationship with Jesus had worn off among the Christians and had given way to the wisdom of the cool and sophisticated “in crowd.” By the time Paul writes 1 Corinthians, this pursuit for the inner ring had only brought them quarreling, factions, competition, confusion, selfishness, and immorality.

In our text this Sunday, Paul encourages you to rediscover God’s inner ring and the gifts that await you. Inside, you can’t help but be transformed!

04/28/19 -Simply Sharing the Gospel - 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

The story itself was still pretty raw. It was a certainly a touchy subject. Jesus and the cross didn’t have tradition yet. It wasn’t in the fabric of any culture yet. In fact, the message of Jesus was still shocking to most who would hear it. Imagine telling someone an improbable story using unfamiliar words about an event that happened a few years back where the leader died; at the same time, you have to communicate that it is the secret to everything. You would have to be pretty adept at presenting this one – especially given the competition in Corinth.

Speaking and telling stories publicly was a big deal in Corinth. It was a pre-social media, pre-mass media, pre-printing press world. Public speakers were a major source of entertainment. The elite speakers were called Sophists – and they were wise. They would make a living by going around and speaking and debating at public gatherings, banquets, and parties. They would come with a bit of “truth” wrapped with fancy logic and clever presentation. When they debated, it wasn’t always about who was right, it was about who made the greatest presentation. And these speakers knew how to work a crowd with their stories.

Paul finds himself right in the middle of this scene in Corinth. And the reality is that he could have gone toe-to-toe with the Sophists in public with the message of the gospel. He was an educated man with great reputation. He was an expert on the law. His writings show he was an expert in persuasion. He could have easily wowed the crowd with his skill. And yet, he chose, on the basis of all he says in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, to present the gospel in a much different way – in a way to which you and I can easily relate 2000 years later.

Sharing the gospel today in north Scottsdale poses many of the same challenges for us as it did for Paul among the Corinthians. This Sunday, you’ll discover how simple it can really be.

04/21/19 - Rescue! - Matthew 28:1-20

Several years ago I was called by a frantic mother whose 20 year old daughter had just been hit by a car. When I arrived at the hospital, the girl was on life support and the doctors were uncertain about her prognosis. Because she was young she had a good chance to live, but the injuries were severe. I asked what happened and quickly abandoned any thought of discovery. Mom could not bring herself to speak so I watched as she stroked her daughter's hair hoping and praying that she would see a marriage, have children and live a full life. At the same time mom knew where her daughter was ultimately headed - to a new life. Nothing makes you think about the reality of Jesus' resurrection and heaven itself than when a loved one is facing death. She lived.

Later I learned this young lady was attempting to rescue a dog in the street. The first responders rescued her from immediate death. The doctors rescued her from internal damage. But her greatest need for rescue occurred before the accident. It was already met by Jesus on the cross. He rescued her from her sins. Ever since the Garden of Eden God has been on mission to bring people back to life. The sacrificial death of Jesus is proof of this and Easter is that miracle!

04/19/19 - The Three Crosses - Matthew 27:32-44

"It is finished."

Stop and listen a moment. Let the words move through your heart. Imagine the cry from the cross. The sky is dark. The other two victims are moaning. Jeering mouths of the crowd are silent.

There is thunder. There is weeping. There is silence. Then Jesus draws in a deep breath, pushes His feet down on that Roman nail, and cries, “It is finished!”

What was finished?

The history-long plan of redeeming man was finished. The message of God to man was finished. The works done by Jesus as a man on earth were finished. . . .

The sting of death had been removed.

It was over.

When Jesus tasted the vinegar, He said, “It is finished.” Then He bowed His head and died. John 19:30

But let us never forget that Friday is paved to Sunday!

4/14/19 - A Tale Of Two Entries - Matthew 21:1-11

This Sunday is traditionally known by Christians as "Palm Sunday." Palm branches were laid before Jesus as he rode a donkey into the city of Jerusalem. Crowds cheered. Jesus was hailed as the king who saves - "Hosanna!" But people are fickle. By the end of the week some of these same fans will shout, "Crucify him!" What happened? It's all about expectations. People want heroes and champions. They want to be on the winning team. They want to be associated with the high and mighty not the weak and lowly. A crucified messiah was unexpected and therefore rejected.

On the other side of town there was another triumphal entry. Yes, there were actually two that took place. Pontius Pilate rode into Jerusalem on a war horse. He led an army of troops dressed in brilliant battle gear. The sound of the drummer could be heard beating out the foot soldier's cadence. It was a show of force and power. As the Governor of Judea Pilate worked for the Emperor Augustine and Augustine was considered a god. So then, Pilate was considered the son of god. The crowds would be forced to decide. Do I follow the one who comes in humility or do I follow the one who comes in power? Most are drawn to power. Christians are drawn by sacrifice.

Every day people make the choice to choose power and might over sacrifice and love. They make the choice to choose “the way we think things should be done” over “the way God intends them to be.” They make the choice to exchange a fake son of god for the real Son of God. What kind of king do you expect? The fact is, God is much bigger than you think he is. The one riding a donkey was far more powerful than the one riding a war horse. Believe it! God can deal with all your doubts and your failures, he’s the creator of the universe and he has sent his son to be the sacrificial king that captures your heart.   

4/7/19 - Can We Trust the New Testament? - Luke 19:1-19 - Dr. Peter Williams

In the spring of 1989 syndicated talk show host Larry King interviewed Shirley MacLaine on the New Age. When a Christian caller challenged her view with an appeal to the New Testament, MacLaine brushed him off with the objection that the Bible has been changed and translated so many times over the last 2000 years that it's impossible to have any confidence in its accuracy. King was quick to endorse her "facts." "Everyone knows that," he stated and the conversation moved on.

The case against the BIble's reliability goes like this...How can we know that the documents we have in our possession accurately reflect originals destroyed almost two millennia ago? Communication is never perfect; people make mistakes. Errors are compounded with each successive generation - have you ever played the telephone game?? By the time 2000 years pass, it's anyone's guess what the original said.

This criticism comes from those who don't know the real issues. They are ignorant of the facts. The question of authenticity is not really a religious concern at all; it's an academic one. It can be answered in an academic way which is completely unrelated to spiritual convictions. So I'd like to introduce you to our special guest speaker this Sunday: Dr. Peter Williams. He is the principal of Tyndale House Cambridge. I had the privilege of studying at Tyndale House in the summer of 2015 and the library is remarkable. Dr. Williams is a also a lecturer on Hebrew language at the University of Cambridge. He earned his M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D., at the University of Cambridge studying ancient languages related to the Bible. Prior to leading Tyndale House, he was a Senior Lecturer in New Testament in the University of Aberdeen. In other words, this guy knows his stuff and I'm super glad he will be with us. Dr. Williams helps us understand that the facts reveal the Bible has not been altered and can be trusted!