Theology 101 – Page 2

Is there any life apart from Christ?

2021-07-04T17:54:47+00:00By Sam Ford|Note to Self...and Others, Theology 101|

In Philippians 1.18b-26, It is clear that Paul has the expectation that his experience will result in his deliverance. But, his definition of deliverance is freedom from prison OR freedom from his life. Either way, his greatest hope is that he will not be ashamed in life or death. In fact, Paul sounds torn between what he feels is better. Not that he really has a choice in the matter, but he has a great desire to stay and work for Christ but an equal (or even greater) desire to be with Jesus. For Paul, to LIVE IS CHRIST TO DIE IS GAIN. I wonder what it really means to “live as Christ?” To live "as" Christ seems to mean more than just asking "What would Jesus do?" all of time. Perhaps we aren't to ask questions at all but, rather, preach to ourselves constantly through our daily life what Jesus [...]

The True Samson Gets What We Deserve

2017-03-28T06:04:36+00:00By Sam Ford|Re:Sermon, Theology 101|

**Taken from Judges 16.22-31: The Faithful Death Samson gets what he deserves. Samson reveals what WE deserve. Samson represents every sinner, each one of us. Left to ourselves, we will love the world in rebellion and end up blind, bound, and in bondage our sin. Unless we turn from our sin, we will die in them, because the wages of sin is death and God is faithful to his promises to judge. But God is also faithful to his promise to bless. God is merciful and gracious—he withholds what we deserve and gives us what we don’t. Even though mankind, even though you and I have cut off our devotion to God, God has not abandoned us. On the contrary, God pursued us by sending his Son Jesus Christ—the true Samson to save us. He is the ONLY one every born who didn’t deserve it. We deserve to die like [...]

Basic questions you might not have biblical answers to

2021-07-04T17:59:24+00:00By Sam Ford|Random Thoughts, Theology 101|

A small group of men and I are going through a basic discipleship class (@6am on Friday mornings!). In the past, I have might have viewed much of the content in the book we've chosen as too basic, too simple, or too elementary. That is until I read verses like Colossians 2.6-8 and realize that it's these basic principles, the ones that we first learn as "newly planted" believers, that help us grow: 6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. The study we are going through does what I have often failed to do as [...]

Searching for Community not Fellowship

2021-07-04T17:59:41+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Note to Self...and Others, Theology 101|

http://vimeo.com/30891621

I enjoy listening to Francis Chan's heart. His words challenge me to be more concerned about moving on mission and less concerned about standing in community. I appreciate how he, and men like David Platt, approach the Word of God with simplicity. They just want to do what it actually says and not complicate it with what we (or others) think it says.

Literal Jesus

2021-07-04T18:00:14+00:00By Sam Ford|Culture and Christ, Theology 101|

I love the disciples of Jesus. The gospel narratives (unlike much of church history) never give us a picture of a group spiritual giants faithfully following Jesus and taking in every word without question, On contrary, they give us a picture of men who are regularly confused, even disturbed, by many of the "strange" things that Jesus said. More than that, they are often trying to find ways to interpret what Jesus meant--because taking it literally would just be downright nuts. A good example is when Peter, James, and John are coming down the mountain after experiencing the transfiguration of Christ in Mark 9.9-10: And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. I [...]

Loving Jesus and Loving like Jesus

2021-07-04T18:01:13+00:00By Sam Ford|Re:Sermon, Theology 101|

I have determined that when it comes to loving others, I feel that I have not loved faithfully. I have loved conveniently, comfortably, levelheadedly, even thoughtfully, but I am not convinced that I loved faithfully. For the most part, I live a very safe life, devoted to the love of myself and my stuff. 1John 4.7-16 challenged me this week as someone who claims to be in love with Jesus. A deep spirit-led introspection has led me to ask some hard questions of myself like: Is there a difference between a "Christian" and a true disciple--and which one am I? If I suddenly stopped loving God (as I confess I do), would my life look any different? If I stopped suddenly loving people (as I ought), who would feel the absence of my love? Needless to say, last week was a tough week as I realized that, for most of [...]

John’s 10 Test Questions for “the spirits”

2021-07-04T18:01:31+00:00By Sam Ford|Re:Sermon, Theology 101|

John begins chapter 4 of his first epistle by telling the church to test every spirit that teaches. Up to this point John has shown how BELIEF in certain things demonstrates spiritual maturity. Now, he is going to show how UNBELIEF in certain things also demonstrates spiritual maturity. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 4.1 John reminds his the church that we live in a world full of both true and false prophets proclaiming different messages. And every one of these messengers has a spirit behind them, either the Spirit of God or the Spirit of the Devil; the Spirit of Christ or the Spirit of the Anti-Christ; the Spirit of Truth or the Spirit of Error. If we are not careful to test these spirits, we may find [...]

10 Questions to Find the Idol You Worship (If it is not Jesus).

2021-07-04T18:01:45+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Note to Self...and Others, Theology 101|

Below are 10 thought-provoking questions. Questions like these powerful tools to help us discover the false idols in our heart. There are good and bad answers to these questions. If you want to discern the rightness or wrongness of your answers, check the textbook--the Bible. 1. What is the one thing, or person, you fear losing most? Beyond sadness, how would you feel if that thing or person were gone tomorrow? (What would such a loss do to your life?) 2. What gives you purpose? Where do you find your identity, significance, and meaning in your life? (What role, job, responsibility, talent, title, or position makes, or would, make you most proud of yourself?) 3. What is success? How will you know if your life is a success or a failure? (Who has proven to have a "successful" life in your view?) 4. What gives you hope for the future? What, [...]

Monday’s Obscure Bible Passage: 2Corinthians 4.5

2021-07-04T18:02:02+00:00By Sam Ford|Re:Sermon, Theology 101|

"For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants." - 2Cor. 4.5 I greatly appreciated Kevin DeYoung's recent blog post on "Celebrity Pastors". Reading 2Corinthians this morning reminded me how tempting it is for a pastor to get off track, and for a church to follow him there. I have experienced first hand the evil tendency to adopt a "savior-complex" and begin to believe that you can save everyone...or anyone for that matter. More often than not, this begins as a well intended effort to love hurting people all while failing to admit your own weaknesses and limits. Then there are other pastors who assume a more dangerous position. It's not that they are trying to love like Christ too much, it's that they are trying to assume his job--to in fact be Jesus. In a recent sermon about "anti-christs" [...]

Controlled and Governed

2021-07-04T18:03:11+00:00By Sam Ford|Note to Self...and Others, Theology 101|

This is going to be a bit of a ramble... 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 2Corinthians 5.14-15 When Jesus saves someone, His Spirit comes to dwell in their heart. As Galatians 2.20 says, "It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me." The life of Christ in that person is not dormant--it is active. And, as Paul writes, any action that occurs is controlled by the love of Christ (God's love for me), not for (My love for God), that has come into our hearts. 1John 2 says that this amounts to leading us to walk in the light and imitate Christ. [...]