The Rejected Son (Mark 11:27-12:12)
CrossWay Community Church
September 24th 2023
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The Rejected Son (Mark 11:27-12:12)
Now Walk: The Theme of “Walking” in Ephesians
The following notes are from a lesson I put together for CrossWay’s 2023 men’s retreat.
“Walking” is one of the most frequently used images in the entire Bible (not just by Paul, but especially by him). And we continue to use it even today (e.g., “How’s your walk with the Lord?”).
Understand the Imagery
Uses of “walk” in Ephesians:
- 2:2 – We once walked in trespasses and sins.
- 2:10 – God has created us in Christ and prepared for us to walk in good works.
- 4:1 – We are to walk in a manner worthy of our calling.
- 4:17 – We must no longer walk as the Gentiles (those who aren’t God’s people) do.
- 5:2 – We are to walk in love, as Christ loved us and as imitators of God (5:1).
- 5:8 – Since we are no longer darkness but light, we must walk as children of the light.
- 5:15 – We must look carefully how we walk, not as unwise but wise, making the best use of the time (5:16).
Introduction to the imagery:
“In biblical times walking was the most common way of going somewhere, even over long distances. … Beyond the literal mechanics of movement by foot, walking at a more figurative level becomes a prime metaphor for … a person’s lifestyle (with the image of walking suggesting continuing progress in time and in a chosen direction). … Passages such as these use the metaphor of walking to identify a person’s conduct of life and the results that flow from it.”
—Dictionary of Biblical Imagery
Consider how ubiquitous walking would have been for people in the ancient world—such a pervasive image for all aspects of their lives. And consider how much Paul him (author of Ephesians) would be familiar with the act of walking (traveling the Roman Empire during his missionary journeys in Acts).
Continue readingDo We Need to Identify Our Spiritual Gifts?
Does the Bible ever instruct us to “identify our gift(s)”? Or rather, does it simply assume one will know their gifting, and instruct us more on the reason they are giving (i.e., edification)?
I don’t want to argue that identifying one’s gift is unimportant. If you don’t know where you are gifted, that may create barriers to utilizing those gifts (alternatively, you might just end up using them intuitively without fully realizing it). My point, though, is, “identifying” gifts just doesn’t seem to be an emphasis in the scriptures anywhere. This sort of talk, I worry, can treat Spiritual gifts almost like some otherwise mysterious thing we need to diagnoses through a series of tests. I tend to think it’s not that complicated. I think Paul and Peter are more likely just saying, “Hey, God’s gifted you all in different ways to serve each other. Now go do that.” The focus is on the using of gifts–as if their identity is somewhat obvious to all–not the identification of them, as if that’s something still needing to be done.
But again, that’s not to say that in some cases it’s not helpful to help someone recognize the ways God has gifted them.
Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper (Book Recommendation)
The American Dream beckons us to waste our lives on trivial diversions like “success,” pleasure, and comfort. In contrast, in his book Don’t Waste Your Life, pastor John Piper directs us to scripture’s call to live lives that matter for eternity. Piper directs us to live with a single, unifying, all-embracing, all-transforming passion for God’s glory–which also will mean our highest joy.
Marriage Is Vanity
The following was a wedding homily, which I’ve adapted here for written and public format.
“Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.” – Ecclesiastes 9:9
Marriage is vanity.
What do I mean by this?
The Message of Ecclesiastes
The book of Ecclesiastes describes everything in life as vanity. The book’s “preacher” sets out on an exploration to determine what is good for humans to pursue with the short lives we’ve been given (2:3). And after his exhaustive search, he concludes that it’s all vanity. “Vanity of vanities,” says the preacher. “All is vanity” (1:2).
In other words, nothing of ultimate value is to be gained in these things (2:11). He pursues wealth. But it’s not guaranteed; it can be lost. Moreover, it can’t ultimately satisfy anyways (5:10-17). He pursues pleasure. But the need for more never ends (2:1-11). He pursues knowledge and wisdom. But the fate of the wise is the same as the fool (2:12-17). He considers government. Maybe politics is the solution. But what he finds is bureaucracy, corruption, and oppression (Ecc 5:8). Maybe religiosity is the solution. But it leaves him exhausted (7:16). He dives into his work. But in the end, no matter what is gained in this life, it will come to an end when this life does, and amount to absolutely nothing (2:18-23).
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Kirk E. Miller 