Being Chinese and Reformed (Reforming) » » Practical

Motivations for a teacher

reformed — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:29:02 +0000

As a Christian and as a teacher, WHY do you teach?

I hope as you read this that you will evaluate why you teach, what are your motivations and point you towards right motivations. As teachers we recognize that the word of God is not only information but there is power in the word for transformation.

That is why Paul says in 1 Cor 13:1-2 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge… but do not love, I am nothing.

We have more than just information, but in Christ, we have something transformational. But Paul also recognize that some teach out of selfish motives.

Philippians 1:15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.

Some people do it out of selfish motives, they want the limelight, influence or have power over others, or have a large following.

God desires to transform not only our students, but our hearts as well. I know we all have selfish motives. We want to be somebody, we want to be noticed and wanting to look smart.

But God sees us. God knows our hearts. God knows our deepest desires. But he also desires for us to know him, and to worship him, and to bring all things under him.

So one characteristic of teachers with the right motivation who seek after God is humility. Teachers who seek God’s glory, desire the transformation for themselves and their students, seeking the good of others, motivated to help others are humble teachers.

So what are your motivations? Are you trying to seek the glory of God, to see people transformed through preaching and teaching of the word, to see your heart being renewed? Or do you want to look good, want to be a rockstar with a large following?

What are your motivations? I hope you it is love for God and his people.

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For more info on teaching check out: Come Teach With Me

Seeking God’s will

reformed — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 20:41:55 +0000

There may also be needs at home which will help to shut us in to the will of God. Our immediate family situation may circumscribe our lives. There are duties which we are bound by God to treat as primary concerns. Honouring our father and mother, ivisting the fatherless and the widow—these may greatly limit where we are able to go and what we are enabled to do in life. Our responsibilities according to Paul extend to grandparents too. If God calls us to such a ministry of love and mercy, we must ask his help to seal in our consciences the assurance that being in the centre of his will, however mundane and trying it seems is the safest, and ultimately the happiest place in the world.

- Sinclair Ferguson, Discovering God’s Will, Banner of Truth (85)

Motivated to do what?

Endurance

reformed — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:42:41 +0000

Something I have struggled with all my life. Ever since I was a kid I knew that whenever things got tough, I could always quit. I retired multiple times from the youth soccer league.

Even now, when things are tough, I take a break. When things are not going my way, I take a break. What is it that God desires of me?

This is an excerpt from an article describing the roots of endurance is Spiritual. Maybe I had it all wrong. Endurance is not just a physical or emotional, but needs the focus on the Spirit of God.

Christians recognize that this is impossible, even with inspiring examples to point the way. The endurance needed to accomplish these tasks is supernatural in origin–it happens only through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Powerful Spiritual Weapons to Battle the Forces Attacking Young Adults

The emerging generation needs to understand that endurance is not rooted in a compelling vision/mission statement, or a well-defined goal, or a spiffy resume, or flawless communication skills. All of these things have merit, but aimlessness is first and foremost a spiritual problem, not a logistical problem.

Christians must clearly understand what John Piper articulates in The Roots of Endurance:

Our fight and our race and endurance is a radically God-centered, Christ-exalting, Spirit-dependent, promise-supported life. It is not a ‘just do it’ ethic. It is not a moral self-improvement program…. It is a deeply cross-embracing life that knows the Christ of the Bible as the Son of God who was crucified first as our substitute and then as our model of endurance. (p. 29)

If you’re concerned about those who are having a hard time getting a sense of direction, consider engaging spiritually on their behalf through prayer, as the Apostle Paul did for his disciples:

- Pray that the Holy Spirit will help them in their weakness (Romans 8:26, Ephesians 3:16)
- Pray that they will not do what is wrong, but will do what is right (2 Corinthians 13:7)
- Pray that the eyes of their heart will be enlightened (Ephesians 1:18)
- Pray a prayer of thanksgiving for them (2 Timothy 1:3)
- Pray that they may increase in knowledge and depth of insight (Philippians 1:9, Colossians 1:9)
- Pray that they will be able to avoid anxiety but turn their concerns over to God in prayer (Philippians 4:6)
- Pray that they will live a life worthy of the calling they have received (Ephesians 4:1)
- Pray that God will fulfill their every good purpose and that the name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified in them (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)
- Pray that they will be active in sharing their faith (Philemon 1:6)

If the problem is spiritual, then only spiritual weapons can fight it. So keep praying. As John Bunyan said, “Pray often; for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan.”

Christians in Politics

reformed — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:34:01 +0000

This was the topic of discussion this past weekend as some of the people from Church discussed politics from a Christian worldview.

What exactly is politics and how should a Christian respond? This was definitely an interesting topic though quite broad in nature.

Recognizing God’s sovereignty and that all authority has been given from God, we recognize that in all situations, we need to be faithful to the place that God has called us to be. I think it is easy to get caught up in the larger political scene, but forget that God also called us to love our neighbors and be a blessing to those around us.

I think Jeremiah 29:7 where the exiles are told to seek the “peace and prosperity” of the city… there is real blessing when Christians are in the public sphere, but I think more in the way of being a blessing than pushing any one agenda. Whether we agree with civil government or not, Christians are called to be agents of love, salt and light in this dark world, and active in every way… so that some may be saved through the witness of Christians. We are the bringers of justice, of good news, of freedom to the captives… Christians have a larger responsibility in overcoming the power struggles of this world.

Reformed view on baptism

reformed — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:04:31 +0000

This is a good article on Baptism by R Scott Clark from Westminster Cal.

Introduction

Among Western Christians there are four major views on baptism:

1 Baptism is the means of spiritual renewal and initial justification and sanctification through the infusion of grace received in it, in such a way that one cannot be saved ordinarily without it. Baptism communicates saving grace, by the working of its own power. Children of all church members and unbaptized adult converts must be baptized (Roman Catholic).

2 Baptism is a public testimony to one’s faith in Jesus Christ. Only those who have reached the age of discretion can make such a profession of faith. Therefore, only those who are able to confess Christ should be baptized. (Baptist).

3 Baptism is so closely related to the gospel that through it, Christians receive eternal life and without baptism there can be no assurance of salvation. Both the children of believers and unbaptized adult believers should be baptized (Lutheran).

4 Baptism is a means of sanctifying grace and a gospel ministry to the people of God. It is a sign and seal of the Covenant of Grace illustrating what Christ has done for his people and sealing salvation to the same. Therefore covenant children of believing parents as well as unbaptized adult converts should be baptized. (Reformed).

Protestants uniformly reject the Roman Catholic view of baptism as unbiblical and sub-Christian since it replaces faith as the instrument of justification. Among Bible-believing Protestant churches, the Baptist view is easily the most common and the Reformed view is probably the least well known. The view labeled Lutheran is probably somewhere in the middle in popularity. Unfortunately, many Bible-believing Christians assume that all infant baptizing (paedobaptist) churches are identical.
This essay is intended in part to change that perception. I believe (perhaps naively) that if more Bible-believing Christians understood the Reformed view of baptism, they would accept our explanation of what God’s Word says about baptism. I also intend to give Reformed believers a clearer understanding of what God’s Word says about baptism and to answer objections which are often made against the Reformed position.

Equipping families to do discipleship

reformed — Fri, 01 May 2009 04:10:42 +0000

Desiring God is having a conference on Children Desiring God. One of the topics is on family worship and family church. Thought this was an interesting quote. Been looking to do family church in our home and bring about a time where Christ is consecrated and worshiped.

Jonathan Edwards declared, “Every Christian family ought to be as it were a little church, consecrated to Christ, and wholly influenced and governed by His rules. Family education and order are some of the chief means of grace. If these fail, all other means are likely to prove ineffectual.” It’s still true! If discipleship is occurring in the homes of your church’s members, all other means of grace will become more effective. This seminar will equip you to train families in your church to be, to play, to learn, and to serve together in ways that will strengthen your entire congregation.

No related posts.

Tips on Engaging Culture

reformed — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:56:54 +0000

This is an interesting article from the Resurgence website. Jonathan Dodson gives tips on how to engage culture. You can find it at the following link.

They’re pretty straightforward, but they are helpful in reminding you that you are in the world, but not of the world. It is so easy for Christians to get entangled with the world’s affairs that we forget who we are in Christ and what that means in our lives.

1. Engage Culture Prayerfully
2. Engage Culture Carefully
3. Engage Culture biblically-theologically
4. Engage Culture redemptively
5. Engage Culture humbly
6. Engage Culture selectively.

When engaging culture prayerfully, we depend on the wisdom that comes from the Spirit who searches out all cultures, who can enable us to recognize and rejoice in what is true, beautiful, and good, and reject or redeem what is false, ugly, and immoral. As a result, engaging culture can become an act of communion with God. Relying on the wisdom of the Spirit will also mean careful investigation of cultural issues, being critical of our own biases while maintaining an open ear to the arguments of others. However, we’re not left to navigate the turbulent waters of our culture with only prayer and reason. God has given us his Word, a divine and authoritative Text from which we can glean wisdom and theological principles to engage culture.

When wrestling with issues, we must be careful to bring questions, not assumptions, from our culture to the Word, following a pattern of Text-Theology-Culture. This biblical-theological engagement with culture should always lead to redemptive action, restoring what is ugly and immoral from our position as accepted children of God, citizens of Zion. In turn, we can engage culture humbly and selectively, recognizing our limitations and rejoicing in our unique opportunities to engage the world around us.

Finally, try to practice these six ways of engaging culture not just as an individual but in community. To put a spin on Rufus Wainwright’s words: Only when the Church in this country becomes obsessed with glorifying God in all things will we critically and redemptively engage our culture on all kinds of subjects.