Christ Church

Kirkers Read 05 – A Vibrant Gospel

Ben Zornes on

The Gospel of Mark was likely the first written record of the life and ministry of Christ; it is likely that Peter was a primary source for Mark. One thing that doesn’t always come through in English translations is just how active and vibrant the narrative is. Mark clearly wants to get across the activity and agency of Christ. Jesus was “at work.” This is not a mere “retelling.” Mark wants us to see Jesus moving and doing. Jesus is a real man who is not passively responding to things that happen to Him; He is in the driver’s seat, performing His ministry as a servant to the sick and suffering of Israel.

This is important when it comes to His death and resurrection. He is not passive, even as He is being tried by night, nailed to a cross, and buried in a grave. Jesus is the active character in it all. Ultimately this shows us what Jesus said elsewhere, “No man taketh [my life] from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father (John 10:18).” Jesus is the servant, come to heal mankind’s disease. But He comes not as a sad puppy waiting for attention before acting. Jesus is the instigator of all the events that come to pass. Including––most importantly––His redemptive work.

We’ll read Galatians at the end of the week. As you read this epistle, read it as Paul’s case for which way the vote should go at the Jerusalem Council. What was in question at the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15 was whether Gentile believers needed to be circumcised in order to become Christians. Paul clearly thought that requiring this would be tantamount to undermining the entirety of the gospel. Galatians was written very much in the midst of all the debate and lead up to the council. We can be grateful for his defense of the liberty from the law which Christ won for us, and that our salvation is in no other than Christ and Him crucified.

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Kirkers Read 04 – A Successful Commission

Ben Zornes on

We wrap up the Gospel of Matthew this week, and––as mentioned before––Matthew is keen to show Christ as the promised King of Israel. The Gospel presents Jesus to Israel as King, and then shows them reject Him as King, but we see Christ’s Kingship being vindicated by the resurrection and ascension. His final words, often called the Great Commission, are a prime example of Jesus’ attitude regarding His own resurrection. He considered Himself King above all kings, and having been given all authority.

Now, we ought to realize that earth and all dominions have now been given into the hand of the risen and ascended Christ. There are only two options for how Jesus’ appropriation of that authority. He could either abdicate it and never actually employ His power to accomplish the redemptive end for which He died; or He could actually exercise it. The Great Commission shows us that Christ intended to conquer the world which He had been given dominion over, and He intended to conquer it successfully.

We ought to call it the “Successful Commission.” He has all authority and so there is no power which can withstand His reign over history. He will redeem the world through the good news of His atoning work. This ought to give us––as ambassadors of Christ––great confidence. We are sent out to proclaim the victory of our victorious King. We aren’t rallying for votes, hoping we can at least get a majority, we are announcing the conquest.

Finally, a brief word on Colossians, which we will read at the end of this week. Paul didn’t plan the church of Colosse, nor had he ever met the people there. However, he had heard that Jewish zealots were wreaking havoc amongst the believers there. Paul wants to emphasis the importance of their faith and baptism into Christ as the symbol which designates them as the people of God, not the ceremonies, symbols and shadows of the Old Testament. One other thing to note is how far these Jewish zealots had drifted from true faith, especially in the description at the end of Colossians 2:16-23. Faith in the promised Christ was the whole point of the Old Testament Christ, now, in the New Testament age, it is faith in the Christ who came that saves us.

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Summer Bible Challenge #4

Becky Pliego on

¡Hola, hola! Welcome to week 4 of our Bible Reading Challenge, friends. In His kindness, God has continued giving us hunger and thirst for His Word and in His goodness, He has not let us go unsatisfied. He feeds us, and like a good Father, He wants us to be well nourished and strengthened! So as we have been coming to Him, He continues to give us more of Himself on the pages we read. How wonderful is this?

This week we will finish reading the gospel of Matthew. Picking up on chapter 13 we will start reading the parables Jesus told. Don’t miss the purpose Jesus tells us He had when He spoke in parables, and don’t be surprised to see that it was not to make things more understandable, but actually to hide meanings from men “whose heart had grown dull.” This is huge because it is an important reminder to us that when we read the Bible we are not reading just another book. No, the Bible is God’s Book and unless the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see and ears to hear, we won’t understand. This is very encouraging, because our understanding of the text doesn’t depend on our IQ level, it depends solely on God’s grace to enlighten our eyes so that we may understand and believe.

We will read about the two times Jesus fed crowds of thousands. Let me share with you that every time I read those I think of this BRC and how it started. It was born from a small idea, yes, but you know what was the “behind of scenes” of this whole thing? The Father saw you and had compassion on you. He knew many were starving and He wanted to feed each one of you. So what came next? Orders from our Lord. Put this plan together, spread the word, invite women to join the banquet,  encourage them to come and sit and join the feast. No one will go away hungry. Not one. And so here we are, all of us, enjoying this banquet and filling our baskets with bread to give to our children, our neighbors, our friends, so that they can taste and see how good our God is and then come and sit themselves and eat with us at the table. This is how the Kingdom of God will continue to grow, more coming, more eating, more being satisfied with Christ alone. Ah! Taste and see how good the Lord is to us!

Get ready to turn pages and be amazed at the stories we will be reading this week. Use your imagination, see the scenes Matthew is describing for us, read and think on what a gift it is that we can actually read about the life of Jesus Christ. Sisters, we are actually reading the words He spoke when He was walking among us. We are reading the life of the Messiah, we don’t have to imagine a Jesus, we can know Him because He has given us the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit to teach us all things. What a privilege, right?

We will read of the death of our Redeemer on the cross, but we will also read of His resurrection. Don’t read it lightly. This are the events in history that have the power to change your own story. The application? Repent and believe. Believe that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is sufficient to cleanse you from all sins. Only in Christ there is true hope, only in Christ can we find true freedom.

On Friday we will read the epistle of Paul to the Colossians. Chapter 1 is wonderful to read after a gospel. Try to read and remember what we read in John 1 and in the first epistle of John. So many connections that will bless your soul!

Those of us doing the extra readings will be reading Philippians twice and Titus. I will just limit my comments to this, please pay attention to Phil. ch. 2:16 and its immediate context. Notice how there is no other way for us to “live as lights in the world” in the “midst of a crooked and twisted generation” except by “holding fast to the word of life.” Running in vain starts the moment one starts neglecting holding fast to the word of life, and who wants to run in vain? To live a vain life? Take the Book and read it and hold fast to each word written in it.

J.C. Ryle rightly wrote, “Let us read our Bibles reverently and diligently, with an honest determination to believe and practice all we find in them. It is no light matter how we use this book. Eternal life or death depends on the spirit in which it is used.

Above all let us humbly pray for the teaching of the Holy Spirit. He alone can apply truth to our hearts, and make us profit by what we read.”

So why don’t we take his advice and pray with the Psalmist, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” Ps. 119:18 ESV

Under His sun and by His grace,

Becky Pliego and the Christ Church Ladies Fellowship

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Kirkers Read 03 – The King Has Come

Ben Zornes on

As we wrap up Revelation, notice that the concluding chapters focus in on a triumphant church. Throughout the cycles of judgement in the middle chapters we are being led to see that the bride of Christ will emerge triumphant through all these trials. She triumphs, because her King has triumphed. He is the rider on the white steed, a sword coming from his mouth, with the name King of kings and Lord of lords emblazoned upon him.

The book ends with a marriage, and it is fitting that John concludes the book with covenantal blessings and curses for those who would add or detract from this book. It is this covenantal language that should help us understand that what Revelation presents is a reiteration of what we read in the Mosaic Law, in places like Leviticus 26. Those who break the covenant of grace will find the seething wrath of God pursuing them, and ultimately God will execute vengeance upon those who trample upon this covenant. However, He provides precious promises of perseverance and peace for those who remain faithful. Of course, it is only by being born anew, in Christ, whereby the church is presented radiant and glorious. Don’t miss the covenantal nature of Revelation.

As we transition, then, to Matthew’s Gospel keep a keen eye on how Matthew spends the first 11 chapters revealing Christ as Israel’s promised King, and then in the second half showing how Israel rejects her King. The lineage at the beginning, Christ’s temptations in the wilderness, His Sermon on the Mount, set us up to see that He is True Israel, and the promised Messiah. However, His parables which confused unbelieving hearts, rebukes of the Pharisees’ hypocrisy, and ultimately His trial by night show Israel rejecting their King. One thing to try as you read is to take notice of all the Old Testament allusions and quotes. Try to pick at least one out every day and go read that passage in it’s OT context. It is quite an illuminating practice.

Join the Christ Church Summer Bible Reading Challenge!

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Summer Bible Challenge #3

Becky Pliego on

¡Hola, hola! What a joy it has been to take up the Book of God and read it these past few weeks with you all. In the middle of our daily summer routines we have been working on doing the will of God, that is, to know Him. Have you thought about that? Since the beginning, the Father has always made Himself known to His people, He wants His people to know Him, to love Him, to obey Him. And when we come to the Word of God, we come to the exact place which God has appointed to teach us all that we need to know about Him, about ourselves, our neighbors, and this world. How are we not going to take the Book and read it? Where else can we go to find life? Our daily Bible reading is more than a discipline we cultivate, it is our life line.

I want to share today a wonderful quote from Thomas Watson on the subject of the Scriptures:

“Be thankful to God for the Scriptures. What a mercy is it that God has not only acquainted us with what His will is, but that He has made it known by writing! The Scripture is our pole-star to direct us to heaven, it shows us every step we are to take; when we go wrong–it instructs us; when we go right–it comforts us.

Adore God’s distinguishing grace, if you have felt the power and authority of the Word upon your conscience; if you can say as David, “Your word has quickened me.” Christian, bless God that He has not only given you His Word to be a rule of holiness–but His grace to be a principle of holiness. Bless God that He has not only written His Word, but sealed it upon your heart, and made it effectual. Can you say it is of divine inspiration, because you have felt it to be of lively operation? Oh free grace! that God should send out His Word, and heal you; that He should heal you–and not others! That the same Scripture which to them is a dead letter–should be to you a savor of life!” [1]

So, Friends, by grace through faith, this coming week, we will take the Book of God and read it because we want to know God, to love Him and worship Him more!

This week we will finish reading Revelation and will start the gospel of Matthew. In the gospel of Matthew, we see how the apostle tells us over and over again how Jesus is the Son of David, the Promised One who would come and sit on the throne of David forever.  He comes teaching with authority, and comes to advance His Kingdom.

Matthew wants his readers – including you and I – to see how Jesus is the Messiah. To do so he points us to many Old Testament passages and tells us how Jesus came to fulfill what the prophets had written about Him. This is actually pretty amazing because we can see also how the OT and the NT are not independent, but dependent on each other. Each of the 66 books of the Bible are the inspired Word of God and given to us to know God and His way of salvation.

In this gospel we will also see how the same themes that ran through the gospel of John and his letters, run here. God is light and we ought to walk in light. And walking in the light is not something that happens in the darkness so that no one notices. When we walk in the light others should be able to see our good works, the fruit of our abiding in Christ. So we have the Beatitudes, and we learn how we ought to walk as children of light.

If you are doing the extended reading plan you will be reading the epistle Paul wrote to the Ephesians twice in a week. Ephesians is a wonderful book to see how our walking in the light looks like. Notice that the first three chapters tells us what Christ has already done of us. And then the next three chapters tell us how we, now that we have received all the benefits of God’s work on our behalf, should walk. It would be impossible for us to obey the last three chapters if we had not first received, by grace through faith, a great salvation. Our obedience always flow from His saving work in us. And that, my Friends, is super good news!

May our prayer this week be, “Father, we trust in Christ’s work for us. Thank you because He said, “It is done!” Thank you because we who are thirsty can come and drink from the fountain of life and and without paying anything ourselves have our thirst quenched. We want more of you, Lord, so we will come to your Word to drink more and be satisfied. In Jesus name, Amen” (Prayer based on Rev. 21:6)

Under His sun and by His grace,

Becky Pliego and the Christ Church Ladies Fellowship

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