Remember When…?

Posted by Michael Breznau on 2:51 pm in Bible Study, Devotionals, Story Time, Worship | 0 comments

Remember when?  Throughout my 36 years, God has granted me some deeply rewarding, long-lasting friendships. A dozen or so numbers nestled away in my phone’s contact list represent relationships with guys, who I’ve known since we were all just kids. We worked, biked, hiked, camped, fished, wrestled, boxed, debated, and planned a whole slew of other antics as we grew up together.

We’ve celebrated at each other’s weddings, cheered one another on at the birth of our children, and challenged each other to devotedly follow the way of Jesus. I could call any of these men at the drop-of-a-hat and we’d pick up right where we left off. In fact, I just spoke with one last week who lives in California. Next week, we’re going to spend an evening with another good friend who is raising his family down near Brighton.

Atop Mt. Oberlin in Glacier National Park | Summer 2007

Without fail, at least half of our conversations begin with, “Hey do you remember when…?”

Laughter ensues as we retell our perspectives on the crazy trip to Washington, D.C., the cross-state cycling journey, our evangelistic efforts in downtown Flint, or the campout in the dead of winter. We look back with fond memories, but also some wise evaluation of how we’ve ended up where we are now. We reflect on some regrets and discuss how we’d like to plan for the future.

Most importantly, as we remember the experiences, choices, and outcomes of our youth, the conversation moves toward the grace and power of God. We give thanks for what He has done in our lives. We praise Him for how we’ve grown in our understanding of who He is and of His plan for our families. We recall how we were often self-centered jerks, ignorantly arrogant, or just plain stupid (like the time I attempted to climb a giant, sheer cliff without properly roping up).

Through all of this, we pause to recognize the shocking, unbelievable kindness and mercy of God.

So we remember.

As we talked about two weeks ago at Mayfair Bible Church in my message on DNA: Core Value #3: Vibrant Worship, the first movement in the biblical theology of worship is intentional remembrance. Just as all believers have entered into covenant with God in Christ by faith, so we are to recall His faithfulness to us in the past and our responsibilities as the faithful in the present. The entirety of God’s Word is replete with examples of worshiping through remembrance (see Gen 8:1, 9:14-15; Exod 6:5-6, 13:1, 20:8; Psa 20:7; 105:42; Luke 1:54; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Rev 2:1-5).

By reminding ourselves of God and His faithfulness, we are encouraged to take hope and endure in the faith despite hardship and difficulty. The prophet Jeremiah enters into worship this way after the demise of Jerusalem:

“My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind [lit. “bring back to my heart/mind”], and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lam 3:20-23).

God’s people may be discouraged in times of stress and tribulation. Yet we can have faith in the faithful One. As Dr. Jim Allman always reminded us during seminary class lectures, “what God has done in the past is a promise and model for the future, but He is too creative to do it the same way twice.” God has been faithful, He is faithful, and He will be faithful.

The public reading of Scripture and the preaching of God’s Word call God’s people to worship through remembrance. Finally, for believers in our age, covenant remembrance is most fully performed in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper:

“This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26 | NASB) 

Our communion around the Table correlates to the second position of the heart in worship: a confident anticipation of the hope of glory.

We know that in Christ we have been made right before God. Yet we also have a future anticipation deeply seated in our hearts and minds. We have the hope of the resurrection and the hope of His return, and “we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is.” (1 John 3:2)

And we will celebrate.

In Christ Alone,

This coming Sunday at Mayfair Bible Church – Michigan, we’ll gather around the Lord’s Table for communion during our 10:45 AM worship service. I urge you to come with hearts prepared through intentional remembrance of God’s great love, truth, and power. We’ll also enjoy fellowship and Bible study at our 9:15 AM Bible classes for all ages. We’ll also hear from a young missionary, Alyssa Carrell, who recently returned from Africa.

I’m praying for and anticipating by faith a great work of God among us this coming Lord’s Day!

Church @ The Park

Just in case you missed it, check out our Church @ The Park (on June 23) video invite, with a special message for Mayfair family. Click on the image to watch the video on our YouTube channel or click below:

Touching the Line

Posted by Michael Breznau on 4:59 pm in Devotionals, Discipleship | 0 comments

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been building a fence around the perimeter of our backyard. With the help of many friends, we’re now almost done with the project. Yes!

In an effort to make the fence as straight and uniform as possible, we’re using several different types of leveling devices – a corner level, carpentry level, and masonry string with a bubble level. In particular, the string and attached level provide the benchmark so that each post is at the same height. However, once the masonry line is carefully leveled and strung tight, it’s quite important to not disturb it; otherwise we’d no longer have an accurate guide for the fence.

We have a large yard of lush green grass, trees, and open space to play. But can you guess where our young children want to be?

Yep. Right on the line.

I instructed them, “Stay away from the line. Don’t touch the masonry string, kids. Don’t lean on the line.”

But where do they seem magnetically drawn? You guessed it. Directly to the line. Every time they go outside they want to touch the line, run dangerously close to the line, and wander on the other side of the line.

Argh.

So the debacle continues:

You can imagine my frustration.

But then I realized, this is just how you and I are with the lines and loving rubrics set in place by God. All-too-often, we simply want to touch, watch, taste, or do simply because we wonder why God says not to. We are practically animalistic about what has recently been coined as #FOMO – the fear of missing out.

We wonder… 

“Am I missing the fun and pleasure I need by not touching that line?”

“Did God really say this would be bad for me?”

“Does God know best about what brings me happiness or does He just not understand me?”

“Can I touch that line or cross off that guide-point from God’s Word and suffer no consequences?”

All-the-while, God is observing our childish yet dangerous behavior with sadness and dismay. If we’d only realize He is not looking to unleash a thunderstorm on our lives, but longs for us to experience the sunshine of authentic joy! Yet we want to touch that line simply because we’re told not to. Gadz!

God’s rules aren’t for our detriment but for our good. His design for life is holistically according to the beautiful, satisfying pattern He’s made for “life-to-the-full” – abundant life in relationship with our Creator (see John 10:10).

Yet just like my young children, our sin-propensity pulls us to and over the line all the time. So let us hear from the heart of God:

“But My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. ‘Be appalled, O heavens, at this, and shudder, be very desolate,’ declares the LORD. For My people have committed two evils:

They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”  (Jeremiah 2:11b-13)

Don’t turn from God and make attempts at replacing God! Empty, stone basins only hold death. You and I have been down into those empty, waterless, lifeless cisterns time after time after time.

Stop in your tracks. 

Remember you’ve tasted grace…a life worth more than this.

Cheap, broken God-replacements don’t work and cannot satisfy. So slay lust before it is consummated. Don’t allow nascent sin-thoughts to conceive and give birth to death in your soul.

The apostle James writes of the tell-tale signs that mark this pathway of the death-life:

“But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.” (James 1:14-16)

But how can we stop, turn, and run free from the nagging temptation? By refusing the lie of the lust-line and, in turn, believing in the Source and Treasure-Hold of true goodness and life: God.

James’ quill was guided by the Holy Spirit to point us squarely in this direction immediately after discussing the lie of lust:

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” (James 1:17)

We fight against the pull of the line by treasuring true goodness. So, today, oh children of God’s family: live in the expansive, sweet, green lawn of God’s grace by believing and delighting in God Himself and the good gifts He has given.

Don’t bother with touching the line. 

In God’s Vineyard,

My friend, Dave Radford, of The Gray Havens, wrote an exquisitely powerful song that captures the message of how we must turn and run from the downward, deathward pull of lust. Watch his award-winning music video entitled SIRENS:

The Day that Never Came

Posted by Stephanie Breznau on 1:09 pm in Devotionals, Marriage & Family, Pain and Suffering, Theology | 0 comments

We all love the feeling of anticipation about a long-awaited day. We look forward to exciting things happening as we circle items on our calendars. We count down the hours by crossing off the finished days each night. We have hope in our waiting.

The only due date I don’t like, however, is the one marked for a baby that will never come.

The baby who left many months ago.

The baby whom most may have forgotten, but who will never leave our hearts.

The baby that my kids still ask me about.

The baby who was very wanted and loved.

The Weight of the World

Posted by Michael Breznau on 7:04 pm in Devotionals, Discipleship, Story Time | 0 comments

One evening after a long day of landscaping, my brother, several of my employees, and I gathered down in the basement to see who could push the most iron. Lots of “talking smack,” ridiculous ego, and testosterone swirled around the room. After watching a couple guys bench-press some serious pounds, I took my turn on the bench. As “the boss” of the landscape company, I heard some tongue-in-cheek chants from the boys:

“Come on, Mike! You da man, push that iron… fast as you can!”

Oh boy. 150 Ib. felt pretty good. 175 Ib. went up without too much trouble (I was in a lot better shape back then). Suddenly someone (I will not name who) decided to slam it up to 220 Ib. I lifted the bar off the rack and within a split-second the crushing weight tore against my elbows and triceps, driving the weight rapidly down on top of my chest.

“HELP!” I gasped as my two cocky spotters reluctantly eased the bar off my rib cage…quietly enjoying the fact that I was struggling under less weight than what they had previously conquered.

What weights are pressing down on your heart this week? Do you have specific concerns that frequently cycle through your mind? Two diagnostic questions I often ask myself and those I counsel are: What’s the first thing you think about when you wake up in the morning and what’s the last thing on your mind just before you go to sleep? For many people, the answer to those two questions produces the same answer, namely, a singular concern, fear, or need that bears down as a perpetual stressor.

The feelings of angst and anxiety can super-glue onto our craniums. Scraping them off seems more difficult than pulling a stubborn molar. As a result, we often shuffle through life with our shoulders slumped over by the poundage of bondage to our fears, worries, and myriad anxieties.

I’ve often found myself under the anvil of seemingly insurmountable needs and concerns. You, too? I thought so. But there is a way forward and out from under the crushing kilos of relentless anxieties and fears.

King David learned the hard way…many times over. Yet God, in His patient grace, continued to draw David back to contrition and dependance on Him. Remember when he purposely faked insanity before Abimelech? David was certainly at the end of his rope at that life-juncture. The Philistine King Abimelech later routed David out of the region. But with all those fears and pressures weighing down on his life, David penned a profound poem of trust and hope in God:

“I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed. . . . O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”  (Psalm 34:4-5, 8)

Yes, David wrote these very words shortly after he departed from the land of King Abimelech. I encourage you to take a moment to read the entirety of Psalm 34 this weekend.

No matter what anxieties have stuck onto our souls, these three things we can know: (1) The Lord hears our cry (2) The Lord is always near, and (3) The Lord is good. Because these promises are true, God’s people can take refuge in Him.

So today, God’s Word through David’s song invites you and me to bring all our requests to Him. Take every sour note of your worry-filled song and play it before the Lord. He will listen to the end. After you’re finished, look to Him…gaze upon His face. You’ll find that God’s love for you hasn’t diminished by a single ounce. His heart will still be overflowing with kindness and mercy toward you.

From that place of grace, step into the experience of the Lord’s abundant goodness. Taste of His safety, peace, and presence. O brothers and sisters, you’ll find that He is forever good.

Take refuge in Him.

In Christ Alone,

______________________

Extra! Extra! Read All About It! 

This past week, Stephanie and I participated in a forum for pastors and wives hosted by Ethnos 360 (formerly New Tribes Mission). These men and women are like the Green Beret unit or Navy SEAL team of gospel missions. We enjoyed great conversation on what we can and should do as sending and supporting churches, and also what we can expect from Ethnos360 and our missionaries. We’re thankful for the fellowship, encouragement, and opportunity to join with about 12 other pastoral couples and their executive leadership team. Mayfair currently supports 8 missionary families associated with Ethnos360.

Stephanie and I also had the joy of meeting Dean Hess, one of Mayfair’s missionaries with Ethnos360. Dean is a key member of their finance team at the US home office and has been with Ethnos360 since 1998. Please pray for Dean, Trudy, and their four children.

Pray for their support level to increase; for wisdom as he leads Ethnos360 in transitioning to new finance programs and protocol; pray for them to have numerous opportunities for gospel witness in their community. Dean also shared with us that he was diagnosed with autism while serving in Senegal. He discovered God specifically gifted him for bookkeeping and does fantastic work for the Lord. It’s so encouraging to see how God is using Dean with his unique gifts to serve the global Church!

Flushing Christian Outreach Center (FCOC) is now OPEN! This afternoon, Jeremy Jentzen and I took a quick tour of FCOC’s new location in Mayfair’s THRIVE Center building. They moved all the belongings from their old location last weekend and officially opened just two days ago. Take a look!

FCOC is a non-profit food pantry, clothing dispensary, and community services organization that is led by a collaborative of nine local churches. If you’re interested in volunteering at FCOC, simply click on this link to their website and give them a call –> https://www.flushingchristianoutreach.org/

Plans are also underway for a joint Grand Opening of the THRIVE Center with FCOC on Saturday, May 18th. We’ve begun design work for the front suite of the THRIVE Center (see below). If you’d like to be on the work team for initial flooring, painting, and decor work, simple contact Matt Pearson (elder), Pastor Michael, or call the church office at: (810) 733-7130.

Here’s a 3D rendering of a possible design for the multi-purpose front suite of the THRIVE Center, in which we’d like to incorporate these 4 components:

Three Little Shoes

Posted by Michael Breznau on 5:11 pm in Devotionals, Discipleship, Marriage & Family | 0 comments

This past Monday night, I cleaned up the kitchen after we’d all enjoyed Stephanie’s giant, belated St. Patrick’s Day feast. As I finished scrubbing the last pan, I noticed there was a stillness in the air. The rush and banter and ornery, bed-time laughter of our three kidlets had disappeared. Our home was quiet. Not a peep was heard. Not even (thankfully) a mouse.

So quickly they are growing! 

Within the blink of an eye, they’ll be moving up to the next shoe size. As fast as the sun rises, they’ll be sailing through school, and then asking me for the keys to the truck.

I’ll turn my head, look back, and they’ll be off to college, setting their own dreams, married, and Lord willing, raising their own families…. all with tiny shoes next to their front door, too.

How the days and years fly by… I vividly remember the look of each child just moments after birth. I gazed into their eyes and they stared deeply into mine. Words weren’t necessary. Love cradled us at first sight.

As all Jesus-loving parents should, I ask God to give me guidance and strength to “train up [our] children in the way they should go” (Proverbs 22:6). I pray that I do not make a practice of “provoking my children to anger so that they are discouraged” (Colossians 3:21), but instead demonstrate love, faithfulness, and hope. They soak up what we do like fresh sponges on water. Knowing my many faulty and sinful propensities, I regularly cry out: “Oh Lord, guide me to love them as you love me. May they find an example to imitate in me, as I follow Christ!”

Growing is Good

Yet as much as I become misty-eyed by their rapid growth, their maturation process is a very good thing, too. I’m extremely glad to only be changing lil’ Carson’s diaper these days. I’m thankful I won’t need to brush my children’s teeth before their first job interview or on their wedding day. That would be fairly awkward.

As those reborn – “born from above” – in Jesus Christ, we, too, are designed to grow. Toddlers eventually must move on from their mama’s milk to solid food. Their new, sharp teeth tend to spur on that process! The same holds true for believers in Jesus: we are born of God to mature in Christ. 

The writer to the Hebrews informs us,

“…solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14).

The apostle Paul weighed in with a similar warning to the believers in Corinth:

“I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3a)

Two Indicators of Growth

So how about you and me? First, are good, spiritual growing pains spurring us on to be more and more like Jesus? Or do we still slip into infantile, childish attitudes and words of jealousy, pride, discontment, or anger?

Second, just as I pray my children eventually marry and are blessed with little shoes by their front doors one day, so the final test of spiritual maturity is reproduction. We are born of God to reproduce in Christ. 

We all are called to “make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). Clearly, Paul’s command to Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5), isn’t limited to just those in full-time pastoral ministry.

So are you and I actively seeking to reproduce the life of Christ in other people? God has called, equipped, and empowered us for this purpose – a life of maturing in Jesus Christ to the praise of His grace.
_______________________

I, again, look back at those three cute, little shoes. Although our home was still and silent, the seemingly insignificant clutter in the foyer was shouting a message, “We’re growing, Papa!”

What about you? 

We Need Each Other!

Posted by Michael Breznau on 3:42 pm in Bible Study, Church & Praxis, Devotionals, Discipleship | 0 comments

Two events occurred this week that overwhelmed my heart with joy. I’m not just talking about a fleeting moment of happiness. No, I’m speaking of an inexpressible gladness in God’s work here at Mayfair.

What happened that was so fantastic?

A: Younger disciples learning, worshiping, and even playing with older disciples of Jesus. Look at this great picture taken Tuesday night during our guy’s weekly basketball meet-up:

Photo credit: Mia Hutchison

Here you see a great number of younger guys along with a few not-quite-so-young guys talking about God’s truth and praying together before hitting the court. I love it!

By the way, if you’re interested in shooting some hoops with these men, just head on over to our gym at 6pm every Tuesday night at Mayfair Bible Church!

Just a day later, we held our ReFOCUS Praise and Prayer gathering in the Library (7-8pm on Wednesdays).

Again, my heart was filled with joy as teeangers, middle-aged folks, and senior saints all sang and prayed together. This scene was captured during ReFOCUS last week:

ReFOCUS Praise and Prayer

How Good It Is!

As it turns out, I’m not the only one who is filled with unspeakable joy at the sight of the younger praying and learning together with the older.

Far more importantly, God Himself rejoices over such a beautiful sight. Here’s how David put this

truth to song:

“Behold! How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! . . . It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing – life forever.” (Psalm 133)

Let’s not skip over the implication of the short phrase, “dwell together.” Certainly, this includes all ages of fellow believers. When God’s people cross-generationally gather to serve, love, and worship, the very sight of it invokes the blessing and joy of God.

Pastor Greg Laurie recently said:

“Younger Christians need older Christians in their lives to stabilize them. Older Christians need younger Christians in their lives to energize them. We need each other!”

Now some of the more seasoned gentlemen among us may no longer have the lung capacity (or knees!) to run around on a basketball court. Sometimes a song chosen by an older disciple may not be the first choice of a younger disciple. A more youthful person may think about mission-effectiveness differently than someone with more rings around the tree. But in every case, the beauty and joy of God is found in us joining together – despite the challenges or obstacles in doing so.

The Path of Unity

How can we continually live in the joy of unity? Humility. Such an ethos in the church is impossible without humble submission to God and one another. This is precisely where Peter goes in his admonition to the younger and the older:

“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)

Spiritual maturity cannot occur in a heart of spiritual arrogance…no matter how many verses have been memorized in the cranium or the number of gray hairs on the head. Now don’t be mistaken, God’s call to humility should step on the toes of the youngest and the oldest and everyone in between (including mine).

The pattern of older-younger discipleship repeats across the Old and New Testaments. Here’s an excerpt from a personal note by the older church-planter (Paul) to encourage a younger pastor (Timothy): “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:1)

Prof. Howard Hendricks, one of my all-time favorite teachers at Dallas Theological Seminary often challenged us with this principle: “Everyone needs a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy. You need a teacher-mentor, an encourager, and a disciple.”

So may I ask you some heart-level questions? 

Q: Who is your Paul? Barnabas? Timothy? If you’re missing one of these key elements for spiritual growth, ask God to guide you to a relationship that fulfills what you’re missing.

Q: Has your pride or generational preference created an obstacle to “dwelling together” with people of differing ages or backgrounds? If we’re honest, we all probably struggle in this area. Let’s take a moment to confess our failing to God and ask for His grace to pour over our pride and wash it away.

Remember, we need each other! 

_________________________

In Christ Alone,

As Good As Dead?

Posted by Michael Breznau on 1:53 pm in Bible Study, Devotionals, Discipleship | 0 comments

Sometimes the Bible makes me laugh. I don’t just mean a light chuckle either. I’m talking about a full-throated laugh out-loud. Have you ever experienced this in your study? Early this morning, while deep in preparation for my message this Sunday on the life of Abraham, I encountered a line I never really noticed before:

“By faith even Sarah herself received the ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Therefore there was born even of one man [Abraham], and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.” (Hebrews 11:11-12)

Ha! Sometimes you discover a familiar, colloquial phrase was originally coined in the scriptures. Lo and behold, tucked away in the Letter to the Hebrews is exhibit A. So the remark, “…and him as good as dead at that,” vividly (and humorously) points out how ancient ole’ Abraham really was. On the brink of death’s door. About ready to kick the bucket. Hobbling around with one gasp left. Of course, there’s a bit of hyperbole here to make the point of God’s power to fulfill exactly what He promised…no matter how geriatric the person may be!

Bruce Waltke, renowned Old Testament scholar, writes:

“Abraham must learn that God’s covenant partners must live in this imagination when the heavenly vision seems impossible in light of the harsh and contrary realities. Called at seventy-five years of age to this venture of faith, he must watch his own body petrify like a dead tree that has lost its sap and Sarah’s womb wither like a dead flower.”

Twenty-four more years passed before the promised son, Isaac, was born. Sometimes we forget how long that must have felt. But Abraham, though often faulty in his walk, kept stepping forward with faith in God’s covenant.

Now you may just be half Abraham’s age but feeling like you’re caught in an endless cycle of nothing-so-important. Can you identify? Do you sense a growing despondency about the outlook for 2019? Have you been caught in a doldrum of spiritual apathy – as if you’re just not going anywhere? As the wrinkles increase and gray fills in your once shimmering dark locks, do you lose sight of eternity and, instead, become more anxious about the present?

You may feel “as good as dead at that.” But according to God’s promises, He isn’t finished with you yet. Continue considering God faithful. Keep believing that what He has begun in your life will be brought to a beautiful completion in Jesus Christ.

_____________________

This Sunday, I’ll begin our new springtime sermon series at Mayfair Bible Church at 10:45 AM (even though it still looks like winter in Michigan): REBORN | Transformed in Christ! Each week we’ll discover how God transformed the life of a man or woman in the Bible and then parallel their narrative with a transformation story from someone in the Mayfair family. We can’t wait!

In Christ Alone,

Fault-Lines and the Faithful

Posted by Michael Breznau on 5:52 pm in Eschatology & the Kingdom, Podcast, Sermons, Theology, Videos | 1 comment

So how should Christians respond and live faithfully in a broken, divided world?

:: Fault-Lines and the Faithful :: A message delivered on February 24, 2019 at Mayfair Bible Church:

________________________________

The San Andreas Fault stretches for 800 miles with at least half a dozen other fault-lines branching off to the east and west. Millions of people live right along the fault-line. Yet repeated earthquakes don’t seem to deter people from living there either! They are in constant danger of a chaotic disaster…

Today, across North America, our culture is splitting wide-open with societal upheaval, moral collapse, racism, violence, and political division. It’s like we’re living along the San Andreas Fault with no telling when the next moment of chaos may occur.

Lines are drawn up by mass-media outlets (on both sides of political and social persuasion, mind you). New battles seem to arise just about every day. After all, they want to keep us engaged in the news cycle! If something can’t be drummed up out of Washington, DC, then they’ll resort to the weather report to get everyone stirred into a panic.

However, on a very sincere level, the second largest church denomination in the USA is – this very week – drew up battle lines, per se, around issues of morality. Fault-lines are appearing everywhere around us… and the fault-lines of the culture often invade the church.

Two weeks ago, an extremely well-known pastor of a giant conservative evangelical church network was fired by his elders after years of hidden abuses and cover-ups. And the world salivates over our demise. The fault-lines are spreading…

So how should Christians respond and live faithfully in a broken, divided world?

I’ve prayed and thought and prayed some more over the past a couple years, but especially over the past several weeks about the answer to that question. Today, I will simply map out 4 coordinates from God’s Word to help us navigate the fault-lines as faithful Jesus-followers.

Here are 4 vital coordinates for faithful living in a divided world: 

1. Follow SCRIPTURE not CULTURE. (2 Tim. 3:14-17; 1 Pet. 1:23-25; 2:12)

Receive your talking points from the words and works of Jesus, not from political pundits or governmental power groups. Don’t take your cues from the broken culture, but from the enduring Word of God. This applies not only to matters of morality and bioethics, but also issues of justice and poverty. We aren’t in opposition to the culture itself, but we are not guided by the prevailing winds and morals of the times.

2. Live by FAITH not FEAR. (Josh. 1:9; Hab. 2:4; Matt. 28:20; Rom. 1:17; Heb. 10:38)

God said to Joshua: “…do not be afraid from I AM with you wherever you go.” (Js 1:9) Many years later, Jesus then promised His disciples (and to us who are union with Him by faith): “Lo, I am with you always even to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20) Therefore, we can live out our trust in Christ no matter what, knowing He is with us. The righteous of God live by faith in God. (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Heb. 10:38). So we can move from fear to faith because HE IS WITH US.

3. Rest your HOPE in GOD not GOVERNMENT. (Job 12:23; 1 Pet. 1:13; Rom. 15:13)

Nations will rise and fall. Kings and kingdoms will pass away. The earth will fade. But God and His Word will never change. Focus your hope on the One who governs all governments (1 Pet. 1:13; Rom. 15:13). One caveat: there’s nothing wrong with being grateful for our country. We are commanded to be prayerful for our government leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-3). I’m thankful for those within our local church who serve in leadership positions in the government. We must pray for them. Yet we must also remember that our hope is not in them but in Jesus the King, whose kingdom is not of this world.

4. Speak from LOVE not HATE. (Matt. 5:10-12, 43-48; 1 Pet. 3:8-9, 13-15)

When verbal (or literal) stones are being thrown, we don’t pick them up and throw them back at the crowd. As counter-intuitive as this sounds, we are called to love the haters. When commenting on Matthew 5:43-48, John MacArthur said,  “We are most like our God when we love the people who hate God.” So we must ask ourselves: Will they know we are Christians by our vote? Money? Buildings? Programs? No… by our love.

“The choice for the church in every age will always be, will our identity be shaped by Scripture or by our culture – by the biblical story or the cultural story?” – Lesslie Newbigen/Michael Goheen

Don’t Just Sing in the Shower

Posted by Michael Breznau on 4:46 pm in Bible Study, Devotionals, Worship | 0 comments

“…the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” (Luke 19:37-40) 

Don’t wait for rocks to break out in song.

All across the pages of the Bible, we’re called to lift up praise to the Lord our God. In the Hebrew text of the Old Testament, the two words translated into “Praise the Lord” are bound into one familiar word: Hallelujah! To “hallal” is to joyfully lift up, sing out, or make known our sincere thanks, honor, adoration, and praise. The direction of our praise is not merely to another human, but to the LORD – Yahweh (combined as “jah”). Our belief in God causes us to overflow with rejoicing for who He is and what He has done.

Don’t just praise Him in the shower. 

I enjoy singing in my truck and in the shower probably more than the average Joe. Yet while personal moments of praise are important, it’s vital to notice that nearly all the biblical  commands to praise the Lord are plural collective (except for Psalm 146:1; 147:2). Say what? This simply means God intends for our praise to be a public, congregational gathering of voices and hearts. Together as the redeemed children of God, we are called for assembly – that’s the basic meaning of the word ecclesia, in fact. God delights in the praises of His people together. As one local assembly – Mayfair Bible Church – our faithful participation is essential to the exaltation of God our Savior and the edification of one another. God works uniquely through the gathered praises of His people.

Don’t limit your praise to singing. 

A brief survey of the Psalms and poetic portions of the prophets gives proof that there are many ways to praise God. God beckons us to express our whole being in thanksgiving to Him: “…praise could involve choirs and musical instruments . . . It could be expressed in speaking (Jer. 31:7), singing (Psa. 69:30), and with dancing (Psa. 149:3).” (Harris, Archer, Waltke in Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, 218). When a news reporter is on the warpath for all the details of a great story, he or she needs to probe with all the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and Wherefore questions. Well, in simple yet beautiful form, Psalm 150 answers those questions about our call to praise. Take a look!

Praise the LORD!  (the What and the Who!)
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty expanse. (The Where!)
Praise Him for His mighty deeds; (The Why)
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. (The How!)
Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.
Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals. (The Way and How!)

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!”  (The Wherefore and the Who!)

So as we prepare our hearts for worship this Sunday morning at Mayfair Bible Church… Let’s remember the significance of our collective gathering. Pause over the words of Psalm 150 and then put them into motion this Lord’s Day. And may we pray that our praise is a sweet and pleasing aroma to God our Savior.

Is He worthy? Oh yes, He is.

A Truth to Hold Close

Posted by Stephanie Breznau on 3:52 pm in Bible Study, Devotionals, Discipleship | 0 comments

I’ve always been one to make a list every January 1st about all the things I’m going to accomplish in the new year. I would then promptly lose the list, forget all of my aspirations, and go on with my life (thank you ADHD). Twelve months later, on December 31st, I’d then remember my lost goals and realize I’d somehow managed to complete a couple, halfway complete a few others, and completely demolish the hope of anything else.

This year I’m doing something new. Instead of writing a gigantic list of resolutions, I decided to look for a promise God has given me in His Word for today and my future, and reflect on how He has been faithful to keep it in my life.

As I was reading, I thought of my favorite verse:

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by his love; He will exult over you with loud singing.”
~ Zephaniah 3:17

As I was re-reading this, I took joy in the fact that not only has He saved me, but He also loves me. He rejoices over me and He is singing over me!

Digging a little deeper: What does “rejoice over” me even mean?
I understand this as an all-encompassing, never ending, exuberant jubilation.

This past week, my sweet six-year-old daughter exercised her reading skills with a Dr. Seuss book as I tucked her into bed. Every few moments she would look up at me with her dancing, vivacious eyes. She read with excitement and happiness as her Mama rejoiced over her. My heart overflowed with gladness in God for the gift he has given me in my bright, beautiful girl.

If I naturally overflow with joy over my daughter, how much more does our perfect Creator delight over everything He has made? Taking it one note higher, Zephaniah reminds us that He particularly rejoices over those He has redeemed and called His own.

Now there is a truth to hold close.

I am His and He is mine.
That is never going to stop.
What an incredible thought and reminder.
That’s a promise for the ages, not just one year!

Blessings,