The Carl F. H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding is pleased to announce that Rev. Scott Samuelson will be serving as the new moderator of the Timothy Series.

Scott Samuelson serves as University Chaplain at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois.  He is a graduate of Taylor University and received his Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.  Scott has ministered in campus and urban contexts as a staff worker with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship as well as in the church, having been ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament by the Presbyterian Church (USA).  He has served Presbyterian congregations in Libertyville, Illinois and Fort Dodge, Iowa.  Scott’s wife, Haley, is a graduate of Trinity Graduate School and, together, they are raising their son, Elijah.

The Henry Center is excited to announce this good news. Scott brings a rich background in pastoral and campus ministry. Please join us in praying for Scott as he serves the Center and the MDiv students at TEDS as the moderator of the Timothy Series.

The Henry Center welcomes Harry Stackhouse, the Senior Pastor at Sign of the Dove Church in Waukegan, Illinois on Tuesday, April 12, and Thursday, April 14 for the 11:00 a.m. TEDS chapel service. There will be a free lunch immediately following in Hinkson Hall. We hope to see you there as we share a meal with Pastor Stackhouse and as we learn from his years of experience about the joys and challenges of pastoral ministry.

Pastor Stackhouse and his wife Deborah founded Sign of the Dove Church in 1989 to minister to the hurting in the Lake County area. In addition to their pastoral duties, they also oversee several other Sign of the Dove Churches in the United States and around the world. Mr. Stackhouse also serves as President of United Ministries for Christ.

 

Live Blog by Chipper Flaniken

Welcome to the live blog for the Henry Center’s Timothy Series message at the 11AM TEDS chapel service.  This event will begin shortly (approximately 11:10).

———————————————————————————————

Today’s speaker is Dave Johnson, pastor of the Church of the Open Door, Maple Grove, MN

David Johnson has been the senior pastor at Church of the Open Door in Maple Grove, Minnesota, since 1980. During this time, the church has grown from a congregation of 160 to 3,000 people. A much sought-after speaker, he is a graduate of Bethel College and received his theological training at Bethel Seminary and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His Growing in Grace radio broadcast is syndicated internationally. David and his family live in Minnesota.

———————————————————————————————

Scripture reading: Colossians 1:3-8

Dave Johnson

Introduction

We are going to talk this morning about hope – what we put our hope in – and what it’s like to lose hope.

Many of the people living in Colossi had lost their hope – they were living in the shadow of the Romans. Many had lost their lives or their land.

But still, Paul gives thanks at the opening of this passage! Paul has heard of the Colossian church and their faithfulness and love.

Faith and love are coming from the hope that the Colossians have. But where does the hope come from? The Word of Truth.

The war is over! The victory is won! Victory gives birth to hope.

The Central Question: What is this Word of Truth that stirred such faith and love in Colossi and beyond? This hope was being spawned in places where the circumstances seemed hopeless.

The human spirit is dependent on hope! We can suffer through almost anything – except the loss of hope.

We are all “hopers”. We hope we get jobs, we hope it’s not cancer, we hope our spouses come back.

But what if what you are hoping in doesn’t actually come to fruition? Paul was in a Roman prison – he certainly hoped to get out. But what if he didn’t?

So the people in Colossi are probably hoping the Caesar doesn’t notice their refusal to worship him. But what if he does notice?

So what is this Word of Truth that provides such hope?

See Paul’s words in 1 Cor. 15  – Paul condenses the gospel into just a few verses about Christ’s resurrection! This is where the hope comes from! Roman crosses and Caesars can kill you – but they can’t keep you because Christ has been raised.

So the Colossians apparently had this type of hope! Because their external circumstances would suggest otherwise

But the truth is – we don’t have death in our face everyday. So sometimes, the reality of heaven may not help us out much. It may not feel like a significant source of hope.

So what did Paul see that we have such a hard time seeing?

The faith and hope we are talking about is not born of pretending things are fine if they are not fine. It is not fairy dust that makes our problems go away!

- Paul saw his problems clearly. He even despaired of his life! He saw things and didn’t deny what he felt.

- The key is – he saw MORE! See 2 Cor.4:18

So the question for us is, what do we see?

In our personal battle to find hope in whatever circumstances we might be in, what do we see?

People full of faith – on a practical level – they live their lives with a conviction that there is more going on in life that what we can see with physical eyes. They don’t deny what is real.

Again, Paul didn’t pretend! He just saw more.

But it is so easy to forget this “more”. This is why we need community! We need to remind each other of these things.

- The people in Colossi saw the horrors of Rome and didn’t deny it. The felt the pain, but they saw more! This gave birth to faith and hope.

- Same example with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they were threatened with the furnace! They didn’t write off the furnace as if it wasn’t hot! Instead, they looked to God to rescue them from this furnace and refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar.

- Example of Caleb and Joshua – they saw more when the others around them wanted to give up.

- Example of Nehemiah – those living and working around him were losing hope. All they could see was rubble!

Does this happen to you? Does it often happen that you can’t see past the rubble? For example, can you see past the rubble in your marriage?

- When you make mistakes, what do you see? Everyone has made these types of mistakes. But in him we have redemption in the blood of Christ.

- Do you see this?

What is the rubble for you that has convinced you that you can’t rebuild?

- Sometimes our ability to see more is really a choice. We have to look at something else! And often we need someone in our life to help us stop moping! We have to be reminded of Heb. 12:2

- But sometimes when we try to see more, we can’t! And in cases like this we need a gift from God. To help us see what we can’t see. Recall 2 Kings 6! Sometimes God has to open our eyes!

- And remember – God is for us! See Romans 8:31-35!

- Nothing is able to separate us from the love of God! This is the ultimate Good News! This is Word of Truth that inspired love and faithfulness in the Colossians.

Closing Prayer

Thanks for joining us! Dave Johnson will be giving a second message on Thursday, April 22nd at 11AM. See you then!

live blogged by Chipper Flaniken

February 9th, 2010

—————————————————————

The Henry Center for Theological Understanding welcomes Wayne Ogimachi as a part of the ongoing Timothy Series. Pastor Ogimachi will be speaking at the TEDS chapel services on February 9th and February 11th.

A graduate of UCLA and Fuller Theological Seminary, Wayne Ogimachi has experience in youth, campus, and pastoral ministry in southern California. He also served for 17 years as the Pastor of Christian Layman Church in Oakland, CA, during which time he also helped start the Asian American Christian Fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2000, he moved to Seattle to plant Lighthouse Christian Church in Bellevue, Washington, where he currently serves as Lead Pastor.

—————————————————————-

Scripture passage from John 21:15-23 (read by TEDS student)

Pastor Ogimachi

Introductory comments:

Born in Chicago…moved to southern California when two years old. Pastored for 17 years in the Bay area. Then moved to Seattle to plant a church that he is still with (Lighthouse Christian Church). Attended Fuller Seminary…tough experience for him spiritually. Lots of new learning for a lifetime of ministry, gained a broader perspective of church history, gained a better understanding of theological controversies, rubbed shoulders with bright faculty and professors.

Spent seven years at Fuller doing his MDiv.

Did lots of different ministries during that time. Including prison ministry. Began to fall in love with the church as the vehicle for God’s kingdom.

Went to seminary with no intention of becoming a pastor. Thought he was going to do campus ministry (didn’t have a positive view of the institutional church during college years at UCLA – was involved in a vibrant parachurch organization).

Hard times during seminary: financial crises, relational issues, feelings of inadequacy, academic struggles. During those years, would often doubt God’s call on his life. Wondered if God could use someone like him effectively in ministry.

On the the passage:

Peter in a crisis of faith in John 21 – Peter had claimed he would die for Jesus rather than forsake him. Then he had a “humpty-dumpty” moment where things fell apart.

We have all had these types of moments. Like during Pastor Ogimachi’s experience in youth ministry.

But remember, Jesus wanted to help Peter pick up the pieces. Wanted to be sure Peter would meet him in Galilee. And they had breakfast together…which signified relational warmth in that culture.

But there was still an “elephant in the room” between Jesus and Peter. This is a common experience among many of us!

And for Peter…the elephant was his denial of Jesus! This is the same Peter that Jesus wanted to use to help build the church (Matt 16:18).

Jesus never tries to shame or blame Peter. Instead Jesus decides not to dwell on the past…but he didn’t minimize the sin either.

So Jesus asks, “do you love me?” (John 21:15)

This question just hangs in the air…and everything in Peter’s life hangs in the balance. This is a “defining moment” – the day that changes your life forever.

How do we know if we love Jesus?

1. If we love Jesus, we will long for personal communion with him and to be with him.

2. We will love the things he loves (Micah 6:8).

3. We will hate the things that he hates (Proverbs 8:13). There are things that Jesus hates!

4. We will long for Jesus to return. Has this longing been put on the back burner? What about in your life? If we love Jesus, we will long for his returning. Paul does! (2 Tim 4:8)

5. We will keep his commandments. This is a tangible outworking of love!

Regardless of past failures, those who love Jesus can be recommissioned like Peter was. We can rejoin the mission and take up the cause! We can serve the King and his kingdom!

Main point about loving Jesus: Jesus will only entrust his sheep to those who love him and his people. To those who deeply and absolutely love him! These are the only safe shepherds!

One of the things about seminary is that it can make you discerning, but it can also make you cynical. Are you becoming critical thinkers, or just becoming critical?

Anecdote: The church will be changed and renewed by people that love the church and are deeply committed to it! Pastor Ogimachi heard this in seminary and it profoundly impacted his life. Would he then stand on the periphery and criticize, or throw his hat in the ring and try to be a part of the solution?

So our prayer should be that God would protect us from cynical attitudes.

Wouldn’t you give your children to someone that you trust? That also love your children? Jesus is the same way. He will only entrust people into the care of people that love Jesus Christ and his sheep.

Quote: “There are two kinds of people…those who takes risks for God, and those who criticize and malign the first group.”

Back to the passage:

Jesus tells Peter that loving the kingdom will not be easy! Love brought Peter a task AND a sacrifice! We don’t love Jesus unless we are prepared to take up his cross.

Do you love Jesus? Our seminary years should increase our hearts for the Lord! Beware of coming out of seminary with a cold heart!

Will you follow Jesus to the end of your life? Will you get discouraged when the road gets hard, or will you be distracted by what God is doing in the lives of others?

Peter had this “distraction problem”. He looked at the apostle Jesus loved and asked Jesus about him. Do you get distracted by how God is using other people in ministry!

Again, sacrifice is going to happen in ministry!

Pastor Ogimachi: My hardest year in ministry was in 1996. Staff conflict. Several months of terrible discouragement. Lots of humbling moments and discouragement. Things I thought were going well were not going as well. Then the Lord told him, “if this is really going to be a good church, someone is going to have to lay down their life!”

When you see a healthy church – or even a healthy marriage or relationship – you can assume that it came at a major cost to someone. Even the healthiest churches and marriages have high costs!

If we don’t love God, we will be a danger to a church. But the more we love Jesus, the more ministry he will entrust to us.

Jesus trusts leaders that fall in love with him!

End live blog…thank you for joining us! Pastor Ogimachi will speak again during the TEDS chapel on Thursday, February 11th.