I am the way, the truth, and the life

John 14:6

The Truth

Jesus is utterly other-centered and loving. Before He was to be betrayed and die a humiliating & painful death, He told his disciples not to be troubled. He is the truth about God. He is God in flesh. Perfectly loving. During troubled times, we usually search for reasons. God comes to us in humble love.

The Way

Jesus is the way for the wayward. We can barely keep New Years resolutions till March. But our faith is not dependent upon us. We have sinful hearts. We cannot live the life required by God. So Jesus lived this perfect life for us... And then died for us. He didn't show a way. He became the path to the Father.

Life

Jesus speaks of making place for His disciples. He will take the disciples into a house with many rooms. A place where we would be with Jesus and the Father. Eternal life without God would be meaningless. Security, joy, love, fulfillment, meaning, and hope is ours forever... In Him.

I am the Light of the World

John 8:12

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Rev. David Skinner

We use time. We don't like to take the time to read things that aren't immediately clear. Like poetry, which takes several readings to understand before the light comes on and we understand it. 

A brass bowl by Wendell Berry

It talks of the life of Saul/Paul of Tarsus.

Philippians 3:4-8 speaks of personal glory. The point is not our own credentials, but being empty so God's glory can fill us. That is glorious.

Answering God by Eugene Peterson

Following Jesus is not about another item to put onto our agenda. Discard the agenda, be filled with the Spirit, and simply walk.
Resting in the Lord is simply laying down in the Father's arms. Surrender to God and wait for Jesus to meet you there.

The application is not now to go out and evangelize to the world. I don't want you to even try. I know that sounds stark but there is a reason for that. Jesus, the light, has come into the world.  He had lived the life righteously that we could not live. Then He gave it to us. The Israelites saw the face of Moses through a veil. We don't have to contend with a veil. We see Christ directly. 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 says so. He will make our faces shine.

I am the Bread of Life

John 6:25-35

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, iyou are seeking me, not because you saw jsigns, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which mthe Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing pthe works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, qthat you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Pastor Won Ho Kim

Jesus as giver
This view sees Jesus as the one who provides what we want. He is an means to an end. We ask for things from God just so we can get what we want. We follow Jesus to get what we want... But here's the catch. We are not submitted. Our own desires are top priority. Follow Jesus this way and we won't last, we will end up deserting Jesus. God is not king, our desires are.

Jesus as miracle worker

Miracles are a sign. They are not simply what we need. They are supposed to point to something. We aren't supposed to desire the sign, we are supposed to desire the reality that these miracles point to.

Is our faith based on signs? Are we going to be shaken when a miracle does not happen? Will we doubt God's presence when the miracles stop?

Jesus as bread

To both these, Jesus offers himself. He offers Himself, God incarnate. A frail human yet god. He is a person with whom we can relate. Jesus does not offer a business relationship or contract. It is not that we pray and study the bible and obey Jesus, so that He will give success, friends, career does, power, and riches. It is not tit for tat.

Eternal life is more than just for heaven...it is also for the here and now. Knowing Jesus is life. Believing in Jesus is the work of God.

Bread is used in the following way. It is broken, chewed, and digested. That is Christ. He became our bread. He was broken for us. When we find the hunger for things overwhelming us, we need to come to Christ. We need him continually.

I am the Good Shepherd

John 10:1-18

Rev. Dan Whang

Jesus is making incredible claims.

He came during a time where Israel was lost. They were under Roman rule. They were being judged for not following God. There were people who were supposed to shepherd the people. But they cared only themselves. Ezekiel 34:11-12;15-16 speaks of the shepherd of God. The true shepherd.

What is Jesus saying?

This is the most personal statement. He is claiming that He is a personal God. He is also claiming us as his sheep. Shepherds are not ranchers or pet owners. Sheep are their life and dictate their lifestyle. Jesus was telling the people that he is knowable and loving.

Why is the claim meaningful?

He knows us perfectly, we cannot hide anything from him. The shepherd knows everything about his shepherd.

Sheep are not the brightest animals. It is a bit of an insult. They cannot defend themselves. They follow other sheep, but they don't know how to get home. This is how Christ sees us. Isiah 53:6 tells us how we are. At the best of times, we see how stupid we've been...but only on hindsight. God sees us in the present as sheep.

He is telling us that he will lay down his life for us. He is not seeing sheep as wealth. He is not a hired hand. He loves and cares for his sheep more than his own life.

Shepherds never leave or abandon their sheep. Jesus will seek us out even when we stray. He will find the lost sheep and bring us back.

How should we respond?

Lay your idols aside and follow your Shepherd in everything.  We all have our idols. None of us are innocent of this.

Follow the shepherd through good times and bad. God leads us through good times and bad. We may find ourselves in the valley of death, but God is still with us. Psalm 23 talks of this.

Lets point people outside of our flock to the Good shepherd. Jesus is seeking the lost sheep. We should follow Jesus in this as well.

We should worship and adore him.

Mercy and Justice: The call to serve our city

Luke 10:25-37 - The parable of the good Samaritan

Rev. Dwight Yoo

The immense need in the city could fill an entire sermon. Alot of my thoughts and views are from a book... In alot of my sermon, you will find echos of this book.

Ministries of mercy - Tim Keller

The necessity of mercy

The law of God can be summed in two things: loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves. There are two kinds of responses. One is okay,i follow the law... I don't murder, steal, etc. The other is...utterly hopeless. We fail to fully love God as we ought. We fail to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are left humbled. The teacher of the law tries to justify himself... He asks Jesus to clarify the law, to try to whittle down the law of God to something manageable and doable. But this is not what Jesus does. Instead he tells a parable. The story of one who risks his life, provides for his needs, and gives sacrificially.

What is the point of this?
It is the way to salvation. To provide for tangible needs, that is how we know that we are saved. It does not save us, but it shows that we are saved...it is the fruit of the Spirit. This is a mark of genuine faith. It is not optional. It is not solely for those with a gift of mercy. It is for all christians.

The nature of mercy

We usually try to limit the scope of mercy. There are three ways we try to do this.

Who: we try to avoid people who are different. Class, race, social, economic, etc. We are called to love even those we hate.

When: we feel like we should not give mercy to those who don't deserve it. Those who made poor choices... This is not dismissing wisdom, but we should remember that we are undeserving of God's mercy.

How much: The Samaritan shows us how much. He risks his life. He gets dirty, tired, and poorer to love his neighbor. He takes on the sorrow of his neighbor. It takes sacrifice.

Motivation of mercy

How are we supposed to do this?
Guilt is not enough. How about obligation? That is ultimately not enough. The law cannot provide us the motivation. It only tells us that we should. We don't have the power to do it. We are not generous enough to show mercy like that. We can only be this radically merciful when we see that we were the one who was bloodied, beaten, and dying hopeless...lying on that road. And Jesus came and saved us in all those ways.

Method of mercy

Practical thoughts

First we need to see. We cannot just walk by it. We have to see it and engage. We cannot just see it and walk by like the priest and the Levite.

We are not called to help everything and everyone. We need to be wise about it. We need to do it in community. Evangelism should be done in community; same for mercy. We should provide mercy in a targeted, deliberate, and organized way.

We should work with churches. It would be arrogant to think we can serve the city as individual churches. We should make strategic partnerships with other churches who are already providing mercy. Our name does not need to be on it. We are doing this for the kingdom, not so that our church would be known.

Serve in mercy not because of guilt or obligation, but because of God's mercy.

Seeking the Heavenly City to come

(Hebrew 11:13-16; 13:12-16)

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed hto be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

{Dwight Yoo}

To be a Christian is to be a resident alien.

Abraham left his homeland for Canaan. But the canaanites still lived there. So Abraham lived as an alien in this place. But even so, it was more than just a nationalistic sense. They are not of this place, but rather a heavenly place. We are to live as one seeking to go home.

Those who live for the heavenly city, do the most for their current city.

If we forget our alien status, we start to live like residents. We take on the values and desires of the place we live in. We look the same and act the same. We have no power in Christ. If we forget our resident status, we act like we are passing through. Christ sent us into the world. (Jeremiah 29:4-7) We are called to love and minister to those around us.

Our greatest motivation to live like this is Christ

Jesus came to us from the heavenly city. He came for us. He was taken out of the city for us. So that we would be welcome in the heavenly city.

The alternate city: a counter-cultural community

1 and 2 Corinthians

Rev. Dwight Yoo

How we are different

Attitude toward Community - 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

The world  has two  extreme ways of dealing with community. One is radical individualism. My way is the right way. No responsibility towards others. There is also the worship of community. People seek out a tribe, a place to belong. Like high school: jocks, nerds, rockers, etc. This  continues into older years: hipsters,   classy, emo, etc. This develops into pride and segregation between socio-economic divisions. We end up only hanging with people who are like us. We will do anything to  stay acceptable in our group. The fear of rejection drives us in these communities.

God is a triune god. There is community in our God. We are not meant to live self-absorbed and self-centered lives. We are meant to step into the community of God. But we are also not meant to worship the group, posse, or tribe. We are all sinners under God. Regardless of race,  social, economic  differences we are one family in Christ.

For christians, we start knowing of our sins. We are acceptable  because of Christ. It is not performance based. We practice radical love, radical acceptance. This  is the type of community we are called  into.

Attitudes toward sex -

Corinth was a place that worshiped sex. It was a place filled with temple prostitutes. It dehumanizes  our interactions with the opposite sex. We treat people as just a place for pleasure instead of loving them. On the other hand, we can't be prudes. Sex is a beautiful gift of God. It is bot a dirty thing. It a wonderful thing to only be  shared in marriage.

Attitudes toward money - 2 Corinthians 8:1-4

Money is not our security. The church in poverty gives more. This is very counter cultural. When hard times come, we tend to hang onto money. Or money gives us a sense of worth. We want to drive bmw's, live the good life, so people will know that we are somebodies. Christ  came and gave so that we might be rich.  We can be radically generous.

Christians are supposed to be like a model home. In front of developments, we have these houses that show what it would be like to move into that development.  When people come into the community of Christ, they should have a foretaste of the city of God. Our communities should give visitors a sense of longing...to go  to the city of God with us.

How to proceed

To pray for growth into Christ-likeness
To pray for and commit ourselves to community

Total church -

The Spirit of Work: The Critical Role of Imagination

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Rev David Kim

The Holy Spirit is not tethered to just our personal salvation. He is a spirit of creation. He brought what was in the mind of God into the world. If you have not used your imagination lately,i dare say that you have not been producing for the kingdom.

When your imagination is active, you look at your world and work, you don't just see annoying coworkers...you see people made in the image of God. Imagination can be misused, but it can also be a great tool for God. We need the ability to see the invisible and things that have yet to come. They will motivate and inspire during tough times in ministry.

Consider that the first place the spirit leads us is to the place of death and destruction. It shows us our brokenness. Then the hand of God comes upon them. The hand of God is a symbol of power and strength. It is God empowering Ezekiel.  Ezekiel is too frail for the calling God had given. So God gives him a vision of resurrection.

TED talk - Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love)

Do we recognize the divine in our lives? When something amazing happens,do we realize that God is the one who empowers us? Or do we attribute it our own talents?

God is there in our work. We are not doing it ourselves. We are working with God. That same closeness we experience in worship can be found in our work.

Finally, consider that God didn't just raise a jumbled mass of people. He raised an organized army. A community of people for God's purposes.

Jesus gives the Spirit to the disciples. The church is that army. The believers are the fulfillment of Ezekiel's vision.

The Glory of Work: Where is all this going?

Isaiah 60:1-14

We don't usually think of work as bringing glory to God. We usually think of praise and ministry as things that bring God glory. When people heard "New Jerusalem", it would be like someone saying to you, New Philadelphia. That is what God is working towards. It is not a glorified church service. We aren't just singing praise. It is an actual city, with life, culture, civilization...renewed.

This New Jerusalem is an international city. You see all these nations and regions represented in the vision of the new city. The ships of Tarshish represented the height of human pride. They were the Goldman Sachs of their times. This is very controversial. These camels are the maserati's of their day. A sportscar in heaven? It is a very metropolitan vision.

Bringing faith to work is more than just evangelism.

Three points
Your motivations toward work
The transformation starts with community
The work itself

Loving our work: Looking deeper into our motives

Rev. David Kim

Revelation 21:1-5

When you think about your typical day, you will find that we spend a significant part of our time at work. Work and religion have become separate spheres. The church has lost it's influence on work.

Why we need to love our work

Isn't our job just a paycheck? Is it only about making money to do things we want to do? The work that God does is an expression of His characteristics. Since we are made in His image, we express ourselves in work. When we don't work, we are missing part of our purpose. While it is true that our identity comes from Christ, part of us is found in work.

When God created the world, He first created the structure then He filled them. He created the separation between air and water... Then He created birds and fish to fill them. This is the vision we should have of work. Work provides both identity and purpose. We are to subdue and cultivate the earth.

Why we can't love our work

Even though we are supposed to love our work, we cannot. We go into our first jobs, full of hope and expectation. But the reality comes crashing in and we come out jaded and bitter. Work has become a source of identity instead of an expression of our identity. We love and hate work because of what it provides or doesn't provide.

How we can grow to love our work

God creates a new city. The city of God. The bride in the story is not the church...it is the city. Part of what we have done is part of the bride. Our deeds are part of what God displays. When God looks at our work, He looks at them through the eyes of love. It is not a matter of  objective judgement, it is that God loves us, therefore God loves our work.  God will not let our work go to waste.

Work: The call to cultivate our city

Various passages

Rev. Dwight Yoo

We are going to look at what it means to be a church for our city. Some of us will automatically think of evangelism. Or being active in serving our communities. But today will be on another area: work. The gospel should change the way we view and do our work.

The goodness of work

Genesis 2:2;2:15
God is a working god. And we are made in His image. So we are meant to work. Work is inherently good. Even though it makes us crazy, it is not evil. Work was meant to be good.

Genesis 1:28
This passage covers the Cultural Mandate. We are to develop the social world, harass the natural world, and build civilizations. That is our original purpose. There is a progression from the garden of Eden ... to the city of God. We are to end up in a civilized place... Not return to the garden.

Your work matters to God.
Your work is Spiritual Work.

Total truth - Nancy Pearcy

The brokeness of work

Genesis 3:17-19
Sin corrupts the goodness of work.
We use our skills for things other than the glory of God. We work for our own glory. We step on others to get ahead. We get into work and have a Monday. That is sin's effect on work.

Our experience is corrupted.
Our motivation is broken.

Redeeming work

Matthew 3:2

The footprints of God are here. The healing effects are here. Jesus is no longer here, but His spirit dwells in us. We are here to do His work of healing. The gospel should transform how we view and act at work. We will become a transforming agent at our workplaces and companies. It is more than a paycheck and getting ahead.

The tale of two cities

[Genesis 11:1-9; Hebrews 11:8-10; Jeremiah 29:4-7]

{Rev Dwight Yoo}

There is a big difference between being in a country and being for a county. We call them patriots. The ready are just americans. This is the same for our attitude towards the city. We can be a church in the city, but that does not make us for the city. I believe that we are called to be for the city as a church. To serve our city.

Perspectives: How to view the city

The city of God by St. Augustine speaks of two cities. One that is earthly and self-centered. The other is heavenly, selfless, and God-centered. Two paths are found though-out the old testament. The city of Cain's descendents is skilled and proud. The cities of Nimrod, Nineveh and Babel, are filled with technological skilled and proud people. They are cities that forsake God and are self-seeking. It is filled with people who love power, their own glory, and making their own way. The city of man is built on love of self to the contempt of God.

So what of the other city? There is a man called Abraham. He is dependent on God. God promises to make a nation of his descendents. And a city called Jerusalem...that would be ruled by God's values: justice, love, holiness, and the worship of God. It is judged and falls short. But there is a heavenly city and we, as believers, are citizens of this city. It is both here and not yet here. Our home is the city of God. So how are we to treat the other city?

Practicalities: How to treat the city

There are several options.

Join them. - this sounds ridiculous, but some of us still want to make a name for ourselves. We want earthly things and want them more than God.

Escape and avoid them. - we see them as different and run away from them. People move out to the suburbs because they want to get away from them. They join little christian circles and avoid non-christians entirely.

Use them. - we go to see shows.enjoy the food. Just take the good things and ignore everything else.

Serve them. - we love and lay down our lives for them. We go out and live like citizens of the city of God. Our love should be like that of Christ in coming into the mess of the city of man and laying down His life for them.

Power: How we become a church FOR the city

As sinners, we will normally hate and devalue those who get in our way. We will live as those trying to get rather than those who already have it all in Christ.

In Christ, we have nothing to prove. We don't need to live to get. God will provide for everything that we need. The world holds nothing for us. Christ provides our value, our importance, and our identity. So act it. We are to serve and give to the city.

Realigning with the redeemer

Jonah 4:5-11

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Our next series will be on God's heart for the city and our role in the city.

The book of Jonah is less about the city of Nineveh. Rather, it is about the heart of Jonah. A prophet of God should be closest to God. But you notice the misalignment of God and his prophet. He does not see what God sees, he does not love what God loves. He reconciles Jonah to Himself by using a storm,a fish,a city's repentance... 

God sends a plant to shade Jonah. Then a worm to make it wither. And Jonah is angry enough over this to wish he could die. God uses this plant as an argument for the salvation of Nineveh. He asks Jonah why he cares more for a plant yuan for the entire city of Nineveh. A plant that lived for less then a day...compared to the entire population of the city. A city that God had created and cared for. God reveals the skewed priorities of Jonah's heart.

In this, Jonah serves as a mirror for our hearts...the people of God. We have our own. Our grades. Or job problems. Or someone is slacking on our group project. Or our sports teams. Such joy and anger over such small things. Consider what God thinks of these things in our lives. We get so worked up over what happens on a field, over our grades, and what happens at our job... But God is concerned with those who do not know their right hand from their left. Who do not know where life is found. Who are not saved. Those who are lost.

That is the gospel. God seeks to save that which was lost. This is what our lives are for. We are to advance the gospel with our lives. God prioritizes the lost, therefore the people of God should prioritize the lost and the city. Harvie Conn and others speak of ministry to cities. (Tim Keller and Manny Ortiz)Ronald J. Sider speaks of evangelical flight from the city. What kind of priorities do you have? That of a child of God? Or a self-seeking atheist? If you move based on schools or restaurants, then you're acting as a non-believer.

Turning a Prophet, Turning a City

[Johan 3:1 - 4:5]

Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you." So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish."

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the LORD and said, "O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live." And the LORD said, "Do you do well to be angry?"

Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city.

{Rev. Dwight Yoo}

Repentance is About Turning

In verses 1-3, God pursues Jonah through a storm, pagan sailors, and even a sea animal. We are pursued by God to turn from our idols whether they be family, career, money, self-satisfaction, or personal desires. When we see Jonah's repentance, it certainly looks like the right attitude, but we will see that it is a very shallow repentance.

Consider that when Jonah preaches... the city, the entire city repents. Jonah doesn't give a gospel presentation, he just speaks of God's judgment. He speaks a word of judgment to a hostile and violent people. And the entire city, from greatest to smallest, puts on sackcloth. The repentance of the city was immediate, sudden, and complete. Even the animals fasted.

This is a rebuke to the Israelites. Their repentance was always partial. Every time the people repented, there was always something held back. The high places, the places of idols remained. They were the chosen people of God. They knew his word. Yet the pagans turned to God all the more even without so much of God's word.

This is also a rebuke to us, the followers of Christ. We know the incarnation of God's word, Jesus. Yet we repent so much more like Israel than Nineveh. Yet we take sin so lightly. We wonder how close we can get to sinning... without getting burned. We put off dealing with our sin. We are so slow to turn from our sin.

God's voice hurls storms and quiets them, sends fish to swallow men and vomit them out, calls nations and peoples to repentance... and they obey. Yet we do not listen to Him. We should be harsh with our sin, because we have a forgiving, patient, and loving God. We have a God who turns from judgment to forgiveness.

Repentance is Required and Mercy Needed, for the Religious and Irreligious

When the city of Nineveh repented, Jonah was angry and displeased. Jonah was a prophet of God, a preacher. What preacher goes to preach and is displeased when those he speaks to... turn to God? Jonah hated Nineveh. But more than that, Jonah hated something else. He hated something about God. Jonah could only see that Nineveh, a city of violence and hostility, was forgiven and let off the hook. He was angry that a city of torturers, violent people was let off because they said sorry. How is this fair? Jonah is religious. He thinks that God should bless those who are good and do good things. We should get what we deserve for our good works. That is what religion says. Bad people deserve bad things to happen to them. It is the older son in the story of the prodigal son. They consider all they have done and they trust in their good works and how they lived. But even though they do all this good works outside, inwardly they are still lost and far from God. Jonah needed to repent of his righteousness. He needed to see that the world is not separated into good and bad people. The world has one group, sinners. The only difference was that some hide their sins better than others. Jonah forgot his sinfulness before God. Jonah has gospel amnesia.

Gospel amnesia looks like this. We accuse God of being unfair to us. We demand things of God. We refuse to forgive, especially our enemies. We forsake the poor and downtrodden. We think others should pull themselves up by their bootstraps. We demand of others, what they've owed us.

Gospel thinking looks like this. When bad things happen, we admit that we deserve worse. When people hurt us, we remember that we've hurt God much, much more. When we see people who are in need, we know that this could be us. We had no choice about the circumstances of our birth and our family and how rich our surroundings are. God has placed us into our jobs, by His grace. All the good things in our life are by His grace.

Repentance leads to revival

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you." - Psalm 51:10-13

God did not save us for ourselves. He saved us for Him. When we turn anything and everything to Him, God can work through us. Revival starts when the people of God repent. Not just a bit, but totally and completely surrendered to God.

A Prayer From the Gut

[Jonah 2]

Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, saying,

"I called out to the LORD, out of my distress,
and he answered me;
out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
and you heard my voice.
For you cast me into the deep,
into the heart of the seas,
and the flood surrounded me;
all your waves and your billows
passed over me.
Then I said, 'I am driven away
from your sight;
yet I shall again look
upon your holy temple.'
The waters closed in over me to take my life;
the deep surrounded me;
weeds were wrapped about my head
at the roots of the mountains.
I went down to the land
whose bars closed upon me forever;
yet you brought up my life from the pit,
O LORD my God.
When my life was fainting away,
I remembered the LORD,
and my prayer came to you,
into your holy temple.
Those who pay regard to vain idols
forsake their hope of steadfast love.
But I with the voice of thanksgiving
will sacrifice to you;
what I have vowed I will pay.
Salvation belongs to the LORD!"

And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.

{Rev. Dwight Yoo}

Let's stop and consider... it's hard to believe that people can be swallowed by a fish and this guy is praying?! This is ridiculous. So lets have a word about miracles in the bible. Noah's Ark has been lambasted by Bill Maher. But consider this... the entire framework of Christianity rests upon a set of miracles. Jesus was born of a virgin birth, lived a virgin life, and then died and was resurrected.

Consider the words of Tim Keller:

"when studying a natural event, the scientist must always assume there is a natural cause. That is because natural causes are the only kind its methodology can address."

"There would be no experimental model for testing the statement:'No supernatural cause for any natural phenomenon is possible.' It is therefore a philosophical presupposition and not a scientific finding."

It takes faith to believe that there is no supernatural cause. If there is a God who made all of nature and the universe, it is easy to believe that He could also suspend natural laws with such power and ability.

God uses distress to revive and rescue us

Sheol is the place of the dead and separation from God. It is the Hebrews' version of hell. He was drowning. The deep waters means more than just literally deep waters. It implies chaos. Jonah is in living hell, in utter chaos. He's going through all of this and then Jonah remembers God. Jonah started in a deep sleep in the ship. God woke him from his physical and spiritual slumber. As Jonah was plunged into all this chaos, Jonah prayed to God. And God sent salvation... not in the form of a boat, not in a person, but rather in the form of an enormous fish. It is in the belly of this fish that Jonah realizes this. That God was the one who sent the storm and sent the fish. God was the one who sent the deep difficult distress.

God is patient in the process of transforming unwilling servants

Jonah prays to God. God hears Jonah's prayer. God commands, and the fish spits out Jonah. Jonah prays this prayer of repentance. He recognizes God as the one who saves and also the one who calls the shots. Jonah is grateful and thankful during that prayer. But notice that there is still tension between what God calls us to and what Jonah wants. This is found throughout the psalms. There is both a question if God really cares as well as a small voice of faith that God is good and loving. There are times where we are genuinely grateful and thankful. But this is interspersed with times where we question, we second-guess, and we whine & complain.

Grace for Rebels

[Jonah 1]

Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me." But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. So the captain came and said to him, "What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish."

And they said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us." So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, "Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?" And he said to them, "I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, "What is this that you have done!" For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

Then they said to him, "What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?" For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. He said to them, "Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you." Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. Therefore they called out to the LORD, "O LORD, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you." So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.

{Rev. Dwight Yoo}

Everyone knows the story of Jonah. It's a rather short book and we use it often for Sunday school. But it is still a rich book.

The rebel heart in Jonah is the rebel heart in us all

Jonah was a prophet of God. God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh. We'd expect that every prophet would respond by going to Nineveh. But instead, he gets up and goes to Joppa in the opposite direction. He plans to get on a ship to go to Tarshish... which some people believe was in Spain... far, far away from Nineveh. It is clear that Jonah is in clear rebellion to God. But as a prophet, Jonah knew that God could not be escaped. Jonah was a believer and he knew all this. This book was given to believers, you and I, for a purpose. There is no room for self-righteousness or smugness in our lives. For those who go to church regularly and serve the church, this book is for you. When we sin against God, we are rebelling. Whether it is porn, not forgiving, choosing a career for our fulfillment, not being His ambassador/witness... we choose what we want over what God tells us to do. At the root of it, we are all rebels. There are two types of rebels. There are overt rebels: defiant atheists, drug addicts, and drunkards who live as they wish... There is also religiously coated rebellion. They may go to church, they might even tithe... but they raise themselves above God. They think God owes them for their service and what they've done. It is the older brother in the story of the prodigal son. God's will is bent down to our own will. What would your response be if God told you to drop everything, literally everything and go to China, Iran, Saudi Arabia... places where sharing the Gospel could cost us God knows what. If we are honest with ourselves, we can come up with so many excuses not to do it. We would run. This is what God asks of Jonah. Nineveh is the land of his enemies. God knows what awaited Jonah there.
Consider also that there is a downward spiral to Jonah's path. He goes down to Joppa. He goes does into the ship. He lies down into a deep sleep. Jonah, a prophet, runs from God and goes to sleep during a raging storm. It is a reflection of Jonah's spiritual state. He is asleep and does not hear God. Rebellion dulls us to God's voice. And you know what happens? A pagan sailor comes to awaken Jonah. It is ironic that an unbeliever is the one who calls to the believer to "Arise!", in echo of God's call. Not only is Jonah affected, but the people around him are at risk as well. These sailors were minding their own business... but because of Jonah, their lives were now at risk in this horrendous storm.

God always gets His way

"The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." - Proverbs 16:9

This storm is not a coincidence. God hurled it. So what happened? The sailors start hurling the cargo overboard... trying to save their lives. And then Jonah admits his fault. He tells the sailor to hurl him overboard. But they are soft-hearted! They attempt to row back to shore instead. Consider the irony... Soft-hearted pagans trying to save a rebellious believer. Not only that... but they also prayed to a god that they did not know. After they hurled Jonah overboard... and the storm quieted, the sailors learned to fear God and offered sacrifices to the LORD. Even in rebellion, Jonah witnessed to these pagans... without meaning to. Jonah was running from Nineveh... because he didn't want to witness to pagans.

Consider those who run away from God. This should give you hope. No matter how they run and curse God. If God has set His heart upon them... God gets His way.

God is gracious in our rebellion

Isn't it good that the book of Jonah doesn't end with being swallowed by a fish? Run from God and end up being fish food. God hurled that storm to awaken Jonah. God had the fish swallow Jonah to save him. God has every right to be angry. When we sin, God has every right to ask us who we are... God can tell us that we are dust... we are a mist. God has every right to hurl fury and wrath at us for our defiance. But the gospel tells us instead of wrath, Jesus comes to the land of the enemies of God... and God hurls his anger and fury at His son and sentences His son to death. So that now, God hurls only grace at us. He will stubbornly hurl His love and grace at us until we are fully His.

Redeeming Sex: Let's Get Practical

[Various Passages]

{Rev. Dwight Yoo}

Today, we will get practical. Maybe a little too practical... some of us might get uncomfortable.

For married couples

Sex is about servanthood

"Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control." - 1 Corinthians 7:1-5

Don't deprive the other of sex except by agreement. We are not our own... rather they are one flesh and belong to one another. To withhold sex from one another without mutual agreement is defrauding each other. The heart of marriage is not to demand things from the other. It is to love and serve the other. The attitude behind this is not of demanding conjugal rights... but rather one of serving. This is also one of the main reasons that masturbation is wrong. Masturbation is self-seeking pleasure, it is not serving the other. Sex is not about fulfilling our desires and urges. It is not about satisfying our demands/desires. When sex is selfish, it becomes an act of mutual masturbation instead of an act of love. That kind of sex is destructive. Even when the couple is married. Selfish sex is destructive.

Good Sex Starts Outside the Bedroom

One of the concepts we discussed is that sex is a representation of the oneness that a couple has achieved. When a couple feels close spiritually, emotionally, and mentally, they will have a good sex life. The way to fix a bad sex life is not in the bedroom. They need to stay close and not feel withdrawn or distant. They need to reconnect as friends, on dates, and doing the things they did when they were courting. Speaking words of love and appreciation. That is the way to a good sex life.

Sex should make us appreciate Jesus more

"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

When we experience the joy of sex, it is a signpost to the one who's love is incomprehensible. Every great love song could apply to God's love for us.

For Singles


Honor the boundaries God has established reserving sex and all forms of physical intimacy for marriage.

Consider the fact that rivers runs fastest and is most powerful when it is constrained. The design of sex to be reserved for marriage is for a reason. The sharper boundaries empower sex to be better. Not only sex, but foreplay is also reserved for marriage. Foreplay is like an on-ramp... it gets us up to speed to have sex. If you are not planning on having sex, you should not be having foreplay. If you are not planning on going on a highway, you have no business being on an on-ramp.

"But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints." - Ephesians 5:3

Guard against entertaining lustful thoughts and actions that follow

The average age of marriage has increased. The challenge for Christians is greater than ever. But the standard is clear.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." - Matthew 5:27-28

It is ok to notice someone is attractive. That is normal. But when we dwell on them, that is a sin. There is a difference between temptation and sin. The standard is not only physical, but it also applies mentally. We are constantly tempted by the sexually charged culture we live in. Don't entertain lustful thoughts... it is easy to say. But this is a serious struggle. It feels nearly impossible. Boundaries alone are insufficient.

The battle begins in the heart.

"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander." - Matthew 15:19

We cannot fight sin by changing the behavior. There is a sin behind the sin. For those who look at internet porn and masturbate, there is the sin of sexual immorality. But behind that is something else, perhaps there is someone who's life seems out of control and nothing is going right... the act of porn becomes a measure of peace and pleasure. The battle is in your heart.

The war is already won.

Be reminded, that war is already won. Sexual sin brings with it an enormous amount of guilt. This guilt can really cripple us. But the gospel shines in this.

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - Romans 8:1

There is a little legalism in all of us. We think we have to earn it back. When we've fallen, there is no condemnation. God is not angry and scowling. God sees us through Jesus. Sin makes us want to cover up in shame. But the blood of Christ covers all of our sin... God still loves us perfectly.

"So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." - Romans 6:11

Keeping in mind the grace we have in Christ, we consider ourselves dead to sin. We should get back up and fight again. Sin is like a chicken with its head cut off. It is still running around, but it is dead. When Christ died, He conquered sin and death. We keep failing and falling into sin, but it is the flails of a dying foe. Christ has already struck the deathblow. We get up and fight sin because we know it is already dead. It is just a matter of time.

Recognize that fasting from sex makes you appreciate Christ more

Consider the fact that Paul says that fasting from sex to devote time to prayer is permissible. It is saying that focusing on Jesus is recognizing He is the bread of life. When we abstain from sex, it is to focus on the true bread... the true life-giver. It is to look at that which sex points to... the one who satisfies and gives us ultimate joy. Consider the reason why we fast during Lent. There is a bad way to fast and there is a good way to fast. As we fast from sex, may we draw closer to Christ.

Sex and the Allegiance of Your Heart

[1 Thessalonians 4:1-18]

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

{Rev. David White}

According to scripture, the only acceptable expression of sexual intimacy is in a committed relationship of marriage. This was a radical teaching back in the Greco-Roman times. Pagan worship often involved prostitution. Men had mistresses, concubines, and wives... all for different purposes. In the passage, it is not rebuke, but rather he is calling them to radical obedience to God. Paul tells them that this is from God, not from Paul.

Our sexuality is a reflection of our inner spiritual life.

According to this passage, how we steward our sexuality reflect our allegiance. How we convey ourselves sexually tells how we are spiritually... Does our sexuality show how we are set apart by God? Scripture tells us that to be a Christian means we are bought by the blood of Christ and we are set apart for God. When Paul calls Jesus LORD, he is saying the He owns us... body and soul.

Sex is an incredible force to be handled carefully.

God has designed sex to be incredibly pleasurable. Unfortunately, our hearts want to be able to have sex when we want, how we want, etc. Paul says that people who live according to our passions don't know God. When we have sex outside of God's boundaries, we experience a splintering of our souls. Sex no longer gives the same pleasure... we become calloused. The pleasure decreases as we seek it out more and more...

"Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity." - Ephesians 4:17-19

For those of us who are having issues with sexual immorality, consider this. If you are not having problems, God is expressing his wrath. When God presents us with the consequences of our sin, that is God expressing His love for us. You are living as one who disregards God. If God loves you, He will convict and discipline you.

God is saying that there is a holy way to control our genitals. God is also the one who put all the nerves in our genitals. He was the one who created the orgasm and called it good. Consider our God is a God of pleasure. But sex is not life-giving.

There is a deeper reality behind sex.

We are a called people. The Holy spirit has been given to us. He has given us a part of Himself. We are joined with Him. Even at it's best, marriage and sex is pointing to Someone greater. It is pointing to one who can give us rest, fulfillment, and joy. Sex that has no boundaries... makes lust insatiable. Marriage is not a cornucopia of sex... but we will be satisfied.

God's Design for Sex

[1 Corinthians 6:12-7:2]

"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh." But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

[Rev. Dwight Yoo]

Sex is found in our top 10 music. our movies. advertisements. Our culture is overboard in their practices in regards to sex. Friends with benefits. This is clearly not God's design & intention for sex. We need to be the light in our culture. We need to deal with sex with graciousness, seriousness, and love.

Biblical Principles on Sex

1) Sex should be celebrated as good, but not worshiped as god.

In Corinth, there were christians who were trying to justify sleeping with prostitutes. This sounds ridiculous, but there's a reasoning behind this. Greek thinking believed in dualism. There is a spirit and a body. There is low value in regards to the material and the body. The things of the body doesn't matter. Sexual urges were like an itch. If it itches, scratch it. But Paul rejects this thinking. He says the body belongs to God. Then he goes on to talk about Jesus' resurrection. Why? Because in the resurrection, Jesus was PHYSICALLY resurrected. With scars and everything. The resurrection was not only spiritual which flies contrary to this Greek view of dualism. So both spirit and body are sacred. Flesh is not just some sort of shell for the spirit, but rather tied to the spirit. So sex is a sacred and good creation of God. There is beauty and joy in sex. It is not a dirty thing. It is not a vulgar and base thing. "Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight..." - Proverbs 5:19 It speaks of a husbands delight in his wife.

But there are those who look too highly upon sex. God should reign supreme over sex. We should find our greatest satisfaction in God, not sex. The Screwtape letters speaks of what happens when we turn from God to sex as ultimate: "An ever increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure..." We try all these new things to make it more pleasurable. We try different things... maybe even invite other people into our sex life. And there is ever less returns for all that work. Sexual urges become our master and we become slaves. Just like any other addiction.

Sex is only to be enjoyed in marriage between a man and a woman. That is how God designed it to be. We should submit to Him in sexual matters. This is a hard sell in our day and age. To tell people that God wishes to limit their freedom. They want to do anything they wish.

"The pleasures and goodness of sex are heightened, not lessened by proper restraint, in the same way the Colorado River is made more powerful by the walls of the Grand Canyon. The very narrowness of the river's channel there makes for a greater river. Farther south, as the river flows through the deserts of California and Arizona, it is shallow, wide, and muddy, even stinky in spots. Wider boundaries diminish the river; sharper, stronger, and narrower boundaries strengthen it. Less is more." - Sex and the Supremacy of Christ

2) Sex is for Procreation, Pleasure and Bonding

Some religions say that sex is solely for procreation. How do we know? The book of Song of Solomon. There is no reference to childbearing and procreation. It is about sexual pleasure between a husband and wife. It is also about bonding between the couple. It is the physical expression of the oneness of a couple spiritually and in thinking. It is a covenant renewal. A renewing of the promise of marriage between husband and wife.

Sex outside of God's boundaries is cheapened, demeaning and hurtful...

As the body of Christ, we bring Jesus into any distorted sexual act we do. It is like we are taking Christ's hands and doing sinful vulgar things. This should not be.

It also cheapens the other party. C.S. Lewis puts it this way: "when we say of a lustful man prowling the streets that he wants a woman. Strictly speaking, a woman is just what he does not want. He wants a pleasure for which a woman happens to be the necessary piece of apparatus. How much he cares about the woman as such may be gauged by his attitude to her five minutes after fruition, One does not keep the carton after one had smoked the cigarettes." Sex without strings demeans the other person. They are simply a vehicle for your lust.

When sex is done wherever and with whomever, it loses it's bonding power. The act is no longer one of love, but rather just a simple act.

Christians at Corinth were arguing that food and sex were the same thing. But Paul says that we sin against our own body when we commit sexual immorality. What does this mean? Consider this. When we eat something, lets say we overeat... we overeat so badly that we puke our guts out. No one mentions it 4 years later. No one questions whether we are forgiven over that. But sexual immorality is quite different... it has a greater cost to those who commit it.

3) Sex is a Sign-Post

Sex teaches us something about God. "Sexuality is designed by God as a way to know God in Christ more fully." Sex is known as "knowing someone" The literal translation of the interaction between Adam and Eve was this: Adam KNEW Eve. And she conceived. God wants to know us. Not as friends. Not as acquaintances. But as a husband knows his wife. He wants to know us fully naked before one another. When heaven comes and we are standing before God, we will realize that which sex has been pointing us to all along. We will no longer need sex nor will we need it. The passion, the fulfillment, the joy, and the consumation... That is a small picture of what happens we were finally arrive Home.

Redeeming Marriage: Dysfunction & Divorce

{Various Passages}

[Rev. Dwight Yoo]

In today's day and age, there are many broken and functionally dead marriages. Kevin D. Young's outline was used as the structure. Our church does have a stance, let us know.

Major Principles on Marriage

God designed marriage to be lifelong - Matthew 19:4-6
Divorce is not ALWAYS sinful. - Matthew 19:7-8
Divorce is permitted, but not required on the grounds of sexual immorality - Matthew 19:9
Divorce is permitted, but not required on the ground of desertion by an unbelieving spouse. - 1 Corinthians 7:15
When the divorce was not permissible, any subsequent remarriage results in adultery - Matthew 19:9
In situations where the divorce was permissible, remarriage is also permissible.

This is only an overview. If you have questions, please speak to me or one of the elders.

Now for those who have divorced and have just learned they have not done so biblically... God forgives. You are not fated to live life as a second-class citizen. God covers over the gravest of all sins.

For those of us who are not divorced, do not vilify those who have divorced. We are all sinners before God. Do not make divorce some sort of special sin or landmark issue.

For those who are married or planning to marry, I have a recommended read: When Sinners Say I Do.

Practices for Building a Healthy Marriage and Preventing Marital Breakdown.

1) Prioritize YOUR own sin. - 1 Timothy 1:15

When conflicts happen, consider your own heart in light of God's view of our sin... and the example of Christ. We are not supposed to compare to our spouse. We are supposed to see our own sin first.

A Set of writers were asked to write on a topic... "What's wrong with the world?" One of the clearest responses comes from a Christian apologist and writer... "Dear Sirs, I am. Sincerely, G.K. Chesterton"

2) Recognize and repent of Ruling Desires (James 4:1-3)

When circumstances come and you do something, it was because this was already in your heart. While there are plainly sinful desires, there are some desires that are not inherently sinful. But when we take normal non-sinful desires and make them demands, they become sinful. Good things that become ultimate... can only be idols. They have displaced God. When these demands are not met, we judge and subsequently, punish our spouses. Punishment can come in the form of stonewalling, withdrawal, and lashing out. We need to recognize that what we seek does not deliver the satisfaction and fulfillment we desire... only God delivers this.

Redeeming Dating: A Biblical Approach

{Rev. Dwight Yoo}

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:2

Dating according to how the world does it is not good, it is not healthy. But many Christians do it, it is hard not to. We get this perspective from music, from movies, from all these different forms of media. It starts to become normal for people to have sex while dating. It starts to become normal for people who are dating to move in with each other and test things out. But what is normal for Christians? It is the gospel. We are to look at culture through the lens of the Gospel. The Gospel should be used to critique the culture, not the other way around.

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. " - Ephesians 5:15-17

Critique of the American style of dating

1896 - Dating was introduced as a lower class euphemism for prostitution
1900 - Calling was the main word used for this. A young man would talk to her parents if interested. In the context of being in her home, with her parents.
1920's & 1930's - With the invention of the car and the advent of going out to restaurants. People went out with the car and there was a loss of protection from the home.
1960 - Sexual Revolution. The rise of "Free love": sexual orgies, homosexuality, the pill, etc.
1970 - Abortion comes on the scene.
Now - Sex is no longer associated with marriage. Dating is not necessarily going to end in marriage. There is even sex without dating: friends with benefits.
Within 100 years, this is how far we've gone from God's original design.

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." - Genesis 2:24

A man should commit to marriage to one woman, his wife. And then he should leave behind the single life... and become one with his wife. Spiritually. Physically. Emotionally. Now, people want the benefits of marriage without the commitment. The entwining should happen after marriage. The short-term benefits are far outweighed by the long-term pain.

What's the bible's approach?

On one hand, dating is not mentioned in the bible. Dating as we know it only happened in recent history. Biblical concordance has no listing for dating, boyfriends or girlfriends. Historically, families arranged marriages.

But the bible does provide principles...

6 Principles For a Christian Approach to Dating

Christian Dating Has Marriage as the Goal

There is no such thing as dating for fun. Hanging out and getting to know the opposite sex should only happen when they are trying to determine whether they should marry.

Christians Can Only Date Christians

Christians should only date those whom they can marry. Christians are told not to marry non-Christians. Some Christians think that missionary dating is fine. But how does this make sense? How can a missionary, one who's heart is on God's will, date someone who does not want to please God? Putting yourself into that situation is harmful.

Christian Dating Keeps Christ at the Center

We don't begin dating to fill some sort of void. We recognize that Christ is our complete fulfillment. We recognize that all that we have, including dating & marriage, is a blessing from God. We should have thankful hearts for what God has given us through Christ.

Christian Dating Keeps Commitment Ahead of Intimacy

People believe in "test drives" but there's a problem. We are not cars. There should be a commitment before the intimacy. This is not only sexual intimacy, but also emotional intimacy. People who are dating should spend enough time to get to know each other, but there should be enough distance to guard your heart.

Christian Dating Involves Community

There was a time when women would not meet a man alone without the community. We underestimate our sinful hearts. We need accountability from the Christian community. We need to limit the time that we are alone with each other. You invite the counsel of those who are close to you.

Christian Couples Put Each Other Ahead of Themselves

"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." - 1 John 4:10-11

How are we to love one another? Like Jesus loved us. We are to put our comfort aside. We are called to put the other's benefit above our own. We are to put the other person first. We should be concerned with the other first. The world makes it a bargaining table. They only care about someone because of what they give. They manipulate each other to get what they want. In Christians, this is how it should look. Men should put her holiness above their hormones. Men should protect their women's purity and holiness. Women should edify and encourage their men. They should know that men's desires are easily inflamed and so dress conservatively.

Here's what the Gospel tells us:

God loves us as we are. But He also won't leave us as we are.
Even when we've failed a lot in our relationships and in dating, God restores and heals us. God empowers us to change and live differently. Our theology can supersede our biology. God gives us grace to live rightly.

Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: Profile Pics

[1 Peter 3:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-33]

"Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered."


"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband."

{Rev. Dwight Yoo}

This is a set of snapshots. Not a really in-depth analysis of manhood and womanhood. What you will notice is that these qualities can be found in each gender, but it is more important for each gender to have these qualities.

Ladies first. I've read alot of books for women. Here's a few examples, Let Me Be a Woman. Radical Womanhood.

Godly Womanhood

1) An attitude of SURRENDER - By virtue of God's given role of helper, there must be a posture of surrender.

"Unlike Eve, whose response to God was calculating and self-serving, the virgin Mary’s answer holds no hesitation about risks or losses or the interruption of her own plans. It is an utter and unconditional self-giving: “I am the Lord’s servant. . . . May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38). This is what I understand to be the essence of femininity. It means surrender." - Elizabeth Elliot

Surrender is not a passive action. True surrender & submission is active. It is like a Christian's submission to God. It is a desire to know God, to serve Him, and understand Him.

2) FAITH

All Christians have this. But for a woman to submit to men, REQUIRES FAITH. Men of God are far from perfect. "wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won..." Married women are called to submit to their husbands even when their husbands are not Christian. This submission is not from trust in the man, but trust in God. This tempers a wives' submission. To follow a man needs a strong faith and a fearless heart. It is to trust in God even when your husband makes a stupid decision and to disagree in a respectful and gentle way.

3) GENTLENESS

"Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious."

Our culture tells us that women can only find their worth in their physical attractiveness. When women believe this, you'll fall victim to body image issues and standards of beauty. And even if you win a man with just looks, know that it is the only thing that holds him. And we all know that we will age and looks will fade.

I'm not saying to purposely look ugly. Men appreciate beauty. But if your only focus is on physical beauty, you will lose out.

"I love strong women! I think they are magnificent testimonies to Christ. Because if they are complementarian – which I hope they are at our church – then they are combining things the world can’t explain. They are combining a sweet, tender, kind, loving, submissive, feminine beauty with this massive steel in their backs and theology in their brains! I grope for ways to celebrate and articulate such magnificence in women." - John Piper

4) Nurturing

Whether women have children or not, they are called to nurture. It is part of the nature of womanhood. There is an inherent nurturing spirit in women.

Godly Manhood

1) Commitment to Lead

God has called men to headship. They are initiators. They are not supposed to lead in every area of life. But they are supposed to take the main role of keeping the family safe, provided for, and spiritually healthy. Men are to lead the way.

2) Biblically-grounded and Spirit-led

Men are to lead, but not for their own desire. They are to lead under God's authority. There should be biblical and godly conviction about your decisions. You need to know the word of God. Are you biblically informed enough to address things like fertility, homosexuality, where to live, and everyday decisions?

A man who is not biblically informed and spiritual mature, if he is a leader will lead you away from the heart of God. He will lead you where his own heart desires.

3) SACRIFICIAL LOVE

A man is called to servant leadership. He puts his wife and the church above his own desires. He says no to hobbies to do right by his family and the church. This type of heart expresses itself in courtesy. Chivalry comes from a heart of sacrificial love. Men may lay it on thick when they are dating. But when they get married, all this can go out the window. If you want to know whether this sacrificial love is real, look at how he treats others; his friends, people around him, especially his mom.

4) Enduring

A godly man endures and perseveres. He sets his feet in the way and does not stray. In spite of impatience, complaining, and ridicule... He does not give up. A godly man does not quit on his wife, his family, or his church. This is not from pride, but it is from the way Christ lived His life.

Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: Redeeming Our Roles

[Ephesians 5:21-33; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16]

"submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband."

"Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God."

{Rev. Dwight Yoo}

Does the culture of the world shape your view of relationships or does God shape them?

We live in a time where people want to minimize the difference between men and women. Gender differences don't matter... other than the plumbing. Sexuality is a choice. If we want, we can change genders. This is the voice of our times. We are free to do as we wish.

But we believe that God has made us men and women for a purpose. That there are differences and God designed them. There are those who think they can do as they wish with no repercussions. But that is not how we should do it. We should act with respect to God's design of the sexes. We were designed differently and we have different roles to play.

Some may find this offensive. But God is the designer and the LORD. The word is true. Can we consider God bigoted? Can we consider God flawed in His design?

Thesis

God created man to be the head his own family and God's family, the church.
God created woman to be helper in her own family and God's family, the church.

This is the complementarian view. (The opposing view is the Egalitarian view. The egalitarian view assumes that man and woman used to be equal, but in the Fall, man was given headship. But Paul always refers to Creation--before the Fall!)

Clarifying Statements:

1. This was God's good design from the beginning.

Egalitarians think that male headship is a result of the fall. They think that this is the result of sin. God created Eve as the complement to Adam. Adam was created first and is called to lead and love Eve. Headship is not domination. True headship is a serving mindset. There is also a different failure of headship; the lack of leadership and apathy. It is the total absence of male leadership. This is for you, men of the church. There are women looking for a man to lead. This is your call to step up.

2. Both men and woman are under submission to authority.

Head-covering? Clothing means something. You get a sense of people by the way they dress. Back in those days, when men had long hair, it meant he was a homosexual. For a woman to have no head-covering meant that she was either sexually promiscuous or a lesbian. The woman who wore a head-covering was showing respect for her husband. To have no head-covering was saying that she rejected submission to her husband. This is why Paul called the lack of a headcovering shameful.

But here's the thing. Both men and women are under authority to Christ. Men are given authority and responsibility to lead his wife and household. Men are not supposed to just order around their wives to do whatever. Their authority is delegated from God. Men are to lead them as God would desire... not as they would selfishly desire.

3. Male headship does NOT mean that women are inferior -- they are equal.

Woman was created later. But women are NOT inferior. How is this so, you may ask? We are equal, even though we have different roles. There is a hierarchy, but there is still equality. While the leaders of this church have different roles, we are all equal... whether we are elders or pastors.

4. Male headship does NOT mean that women are not needed -- they are vital.

Adam needed Eve. Eve needed Adam. Eve was Adam's perfect complement. When women are weak, men are strong and where men are weak, women are strong. It is not independence but interdependence. This is how we are designed. The work of the home and the church is a partnership. I've been recently reading a book on the role of women in the church called Feminine Threads. Women's contribution to the ministry is vital.

5. As we each play our part, we display the beauty of Jesus.

Jesus covered us and protected and cherished us. He protected us at his own expense. He's humble and caring and patient. That is the type of leadership men are called to.
Even if others may consider it old-fashioned, it is beautiful to see us playing our parts well.

Prayer of Faith For the Community

[James 5:13-20]

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

{Rev. Dan Whang}

This is the wrap up for our James series.

Call for the Individual to Pray

"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray."

This is not a command. It assumes that one will pray. Are you going through tough times because you are a Christian? because you are trying to live a life of faith? It is an exhortation for prayer. This is not necessarily a prayer for the tough situation to go away.

"Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise."

Cheerful doesn't mean a celebrating spirit. But rather having peace of mind, peace with God... as one who is content in the midst of severe trials. Are you able to find joy in times of trouble? This is the cheerfulness meant by the verse.

Call for the Community to Pray

"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him"

The sick should be prayed over. We should ask for the LORD to raise him up.

"if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven"

But there is also a spiritual connection. Sometimes, God uses sickness to reveal our sin. Not always, but we need to be mindful that God may be showing us our heart. This also needs to be prayed over.

Promise of Results ins Prayer

We are told to pray for each other when there is sickness, there is peace, or there is sin.

"the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."

"confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed."

The prayer of faith is not a prayer without doubt. It is a prayer rests on the person of Jesus and His power. I want us to picture the father of the demon-possessed child. "I believe; help my unbelief!" It is not our righteousness that brings power to our prayers. It is dependent upon Jesus' righteousness. He is the one who constantly intercedes on our behalf.

We must remember the root reason why we pray... to save. "whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."

Wealth: Beware of It, Be Wise With It

[James 5:1-6]

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.

{Rev. Dwight Yoo}

To those who don't want to hear another message about money or to those who think they don't need to hear it, you need this message. Be willing to be confronted with blind spots, hidden sins, pride, and our unwillingness to learn.

James is a book on faith. It talks about what real faith looks like. This text is saying that our faith is reflected in how we spend out money. James is very harsh to both Christians and non-Christians. There are non-Christians who were oppressing the poor and powerless. There were also Christians being oppressed. This passage speaks to both of them.

Three reasons the wealthy are condemned

A foolish trust in fleeting wealth

Earthly wealth is fleeting. There's no guarantee that we will keep it. It is foolish to hoard earthly treasure knowing that God is coming. American culture tells us otherwise. It tells us MONEY is what you need. You need money to weather all the ups and downs. It will give you security. So store it up. That is the message our culture tells us. At face value, this doesn't sound that bad. But behind it is an attitude, a posture of idolatry. We devote our lives to the master called money. Both the wealthy and the poor can fall into this trap. But money cannot save us from cancer, from car accidents, from anxiety, or our marriages. We were made to trust in God, not in money.

Self-indulgence Excess

James says that they only use their money for their own comfort and pleasure. They spend excessively on their selfish desires. This is the opposite of hoarding wealth. These people fulfill their desires regardless of how much it costs. They deny themselves nothing. Shopping is normal. But the problem is really what lies in the heart... we find more pleasure and fulfillment in purchasing than in God. Idolatry again. At some point, luxury no longer matters.

Oppressing the poor

These wealthy landowners were becoming rich off the backs of the poor workers. The landowners were taking advantage of them out of greed. The poor had no power, no way to fight back. Do not in the name of greed, oppress the poor, powerless, & needy.

Generous Justice by Tim Keller

In order to provide justice, we should provide rights to the powerless. Anything that takes away rights from these, is injustice. It also means not exploiting the poor. If we do not actively share our resources with the poor, it implies that we are robbing them. This is not supposed to be a guilt-trip. For the Christian, our motivation is the gospel. Jesus came to us, the helpless. He became poor so that we could become rich. He gives us what we cannot get for ourselves... a way to heaven and eternal life. We are earning to give and share. That is the heart of Christ.

"A precious Wife, A Precious Life"

Proverbs 31:10-31

This us not just for those who are dating, nor is it solely for women to imitate. We should look at this in context of the book of Proverbs. There are two women in the book: Wisdom & Folly. This book gives all these wise sayings. And the ending of the book is a picture of what wisdom looks like. This noble wife is an example to everyone on how to live a wise life. A wise life is full of joy and blessing.

She fears the Lord.

This is what makes her life precious. This is where joy, a blessed life, and a blessing life comes from. Fearing God means recognizing who He is and that life is for God. God is the life-giver. The one who is most important is God, not us. We are not to include God in our plans; rather we should include ourselves in God's plans.

She's diligent in the details.

This women is put as an example of God's wisdom. Wisdom is about knowing how to handle the details of our mundane life. The passage covers everyday things. The original hebrew is an acrostic poem. And it spells out the entire hebrew alphabet. What does this mean? It means that this woman has it all covered. Everything. That not only would her children and husband would praise her...but God would praise her. Consider how it contrasts with the celebrity stars we think are so great. The christian may idolize the great preacher, theologian, our the martyr... But God sets this rather mundane example as praise-worthy. God is pleased with this as well. Don't despise the mundane details of your life.

She spends herself for others

She does good to her husband. She helps the needy. This is counter-intuitive. We are not called to chase our own dreams, we are called to lose it for Christ's sake. A life lived serving others is a life of worth.

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If the Lord Wills

[James 4:13-16]

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%204:13-16&version=ESV

{Rev Charles Han}

How we view the future tells us about ourselves. For those of us who have made all these plans, those with a five year plan and are do sure of themselves. Also to those who think of the future and are anxious. This passage is for you.

This passage is not telling us that making a living is wrong; it is not saying that making plans is wrong. James is saying that we are presumptuous in thinking that we are in control of our lives. He calls it evil. What is so wrong with it? We are prideful about our own ability to chart our own lives. This is practical atheism. Planning lives with no input from God. Our lives are unpredictable, how foolish it us to presume we can plan it out all for ourselves. James calls our lives mist.
How is it that mist can control life? Presumptuous. Proverbs 16:9 "Lord Willing" is not to be a superficial phrase; it is to be a posture of the heart.

On the other side is anxiety and worry. For those who are insecure, we feel like we have too figure it all out. This too is living as if God is not in our lives. Still prideful living.

So digging further than pride, presumption, and anxiety, we can find the deeper sin. It is self-centered, self-absorbed ambition.
We want to add significance, meaning, satisfaction, and achievement. Self-centered. This is the heart of the midlife crises.

For those of us who hear this message and go out to continue making plans in an atheistic manner, God will teach you personally. God does not exist for us. We exist for His glory. God is significant and we are mist.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 The gospel saves us from the need to succeed. From the need to be significant.
To live for Christ. Humble yourself and find real life in Christ.

Additional resources

"Just do something" - Kevin DeYoung
"Unmessianic sense of non-destiny" (article)

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Hope for the failures

John 21:14-19

There are people who've become paralyzed by failure. For those of us who struggle with this, there is hope.

In this passage, this hope is shown. Peter is one of the closest disciples of Jesus. He is the inner circle. And Peter fails. But look at how Jesus treats Peter...

Jesus calls us to face our failure

Jesus reminds Peter of his failure. Not just once, but three times. In front of a fire, just like where Peter failed Jesus. He makes Peter face it and own it. Peter answers humbly and tentatively. Jesus wanted to teach Peter something. Jesus asked the question in order to teach Peter something. Failure comes because we don't love Jesus. It comes because we depend on our own strength. We need to love and trust Him.

We come to Jesus because He died for our failures.

Jesus knew that Peter was going to fail. Jesus predicted as much. He knew what was going to happen. But Jesus paid for those failures. That is why we are drawn to Christ. His death paid for it all.

Jesus redeems and restores our failures

Grace is not the way the world works. Ex-cons don't really get a second chance. But look at how Jesus treats Peter after his failure. Peter is called again to shepherd and pastor the church. After the monumental failure. God restores him back to a fisher of men. The failure does not break Peter, but rather it makes him more useful for God. God takes us through failures and can make us more useful for God's purposes.

Our response

The proper response to a God who loves, forgives, restores, redeems, and loves...is to lay down our lives and submit to Him. Those who are forgiven much... Love much.

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