Keys to a Vibrant Devotional Life

Just as in any other relationship, our relationship with the Lord hinges on how much time we spend on and devote to it. If we neglect our earthly relationships, they deteriorate, wither, and, occasionally, die. If we neglect to spend time daily and weekly on our relationship with our heavenly Father, we will grow cold toward Him and run afoul of the danger of not being able to hear His voice and feel His leading in our lives.

This daily time spent on developing our relationship with our Lord is frequently called a “devotional” time.  Some believers are led to think that if they “do their devotions” consistently, they will grow. I don’t believe this to be true. For many, devotional time quickly becomes a spiritual box to check off each day. Bible reading, like anything else, can be done in a perfunctory, superficial, and cursory manner, benefiting little. This is especially true in environments where the Christian is guilted into attempting to bite off more than he or she can spiritually chew. For instance, if one is consistently spending time around Christians who boast and brag about how many times they’ve personally read through the entire Bible, one can begin to feel quite inadequate and, as a result, endeavor to read through the entire Bible, front-to-back/Genesis-to-Revelation, in a short period of time. I’m betting that a fatal stall occurs somewhere around the middle of Leviticus.

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Reflections on the Gospel

1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous ….

Among others things the gospel assures us that Jesus lived the life that we failed to life and died the death that we deserve to die. Believing this, assures us that we need not live with the burden of trying to achieve our own righteousness to earn God’s favor, nor do we need to live with fear of God’s judgment for our sin.

In his active obedience Jesus, as the second Adam, performed and fulfilled all the righteousness that is required of humanity. It was this righteous life that Jesus offered as a sacrifice for our sins. Since he was the only human being not deserving of death, the death that he died was a willing and efficacious offering for those who deserve death.

Now, being released by the cross from the burden of achieving our own meritorious righteousness, we are set free to pursue a joyful, non-meritorious righteousness motivated by the desire to love and emulate the One who has brought about our rescue from sin’s penalty and power.

Now, being released by the cross from the fear of God’s judgment for our sin, we are lovingly overwhelmed with a sense of God’s holiness justice, mercy, and grace so that we live with the deepest reverence for the One whose holy grace has reached down to us.

Thank YOU for the cross!

“God of Wonders” – Worship led by Tim Davis

Agreeing To Walk Together: What Does Amos 3:3 Really Say About Biblical Separation?

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (KJV). Who can argue with that limpid question? I do not know if I have ever heard an exposition of this verse in its context. What I have heard is a call for separation from believers in Christ based on a lack of agreement in some area not remotely connected with the prophet’s concerns.

Amos 3:3 has been abused to reinforce an idea of separation which cannot be supported by the text of Scripture. The argument often runs along these lines: “You and I disagree and therefore we cannot walk together. We might agree on the fundamentals of the faith, but we disagree on music styles, Bible versions, standards of modesty, church polity, etc. and the application of degrees of separation.” A priori to this line of reasoning is that in essence one of the two has reached the “right” position and agreement is required in order to walk together (i.e., fellowship). Amos 3:3 raises a number of questions about the interpretive integrity of its use to support questionable applications of biblical separation.

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Amazing Grace

On Saturday morning I spoke at a funeral service attended mostly by very religious people. I shared with them the relationship between Ephesians 2:8-9 (“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast”) and the well known hymn Amazing Grace (“Amazing grace, How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I was once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see”).

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Outreach in Drexel Park – John Davis (Part Two)

Lead pastor John Davis speaking at a pre-launch outreach and fellowship with the core group of Grace Church of Philly at Drexel Park in University City, Philadelphia on 09-19-2009.

Outreach in Drexel Park – John Davis (Part One)

Lead pastor John Davis speaking at a pre-launch outreach and fellowship with the core group of Grace Church of Philly at Drexel Park in University City, Philadelphia on 09-19-2009.

An Introduction to Christianity

An Introduction to Christianity

Dr. John P. Davis

Presented to my Moslem friends at TAMEF (A Turkish Moslem Organization)

Let me say at the outset, how much I appreciate the sincere desire of Turkish Moslems to be friends with Christians. A true friendship is one in which you can discuss your differences and even retain your differences while being friends.

Friends cannot always reconcile their differences. Friends can disagree over politics, aesthetics, personal choices, worldviews, and religion and still be friends. As we discuss Christianity and Islam, it becomes clear that these belief systems represent two distinct ways of thinking about God, about sin, and forgiveness. As a Christian, I believe that Christianity is the true and only way to know God and to live with him forever. So, let me give you a brief Introduction to Christianity.

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Evangelism and Discipleship in a Post-Everything World

These are some scattered reflections on doing ministry in a post-everything world:

a. Do evangelism and discipleship in the context of community.

b. Make your conversation with pre-Christians and young Christians more like a slow dance than a war.

c. Recognize a post-everything’s need to belong before he believes.

d. See evangelism as a wholistic process, not just the “saving of souls.”

e. Realize that though Jesus is the only way to God there are many roads to Jesus.

f. Rediscover that appreciation of beauty often precedes acceptance of truth.

g. Our evangelism must show that the “meta-narrative” of Scripture is one of compassion and not the abuse of power. 

h. Since suffering is a universal for all human beings, we must show how the biblical message best answers the questions of suffering. 

Our calling to minister in a post-everything world should evidence the following:

1) openness to the task,

2) a curiosity in another’s story,

3) an empathy that is willing to laugh and cry with others,

4) a willingness to wait for an invitation,

5) a desire to create a place for provision, where we deal with the harm of living in a fallen world.

Finally, if we as Christians will minister effectively, we must recapture playfulness and humility.

What might a gospel-centered worship service look like at Grace Church of Philly?

Welcome to Grace Church of Philly – Today we gather in the name of Jesus Christ to worship him who loved us and gave his life for us. Please join us as we sing about the greatness of our God.

1. Adoration (recognition of God’s greatness and grace)
   

   Sing – How Great is our God (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl1k_Q1n-QU&feature=PlayList&p=FBFA602E6C01B00D&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=5)
   

   Sing – Glory to the risen king
   

2. Confession (acknowledgment of our sin and need for grace) Please remain standing as we read a portion of God’s word that reminds us of our need of his grace.
   

   Isaiah 6:1-5
   

3. Assurance (affirmation of God’s provision of grace)
   

   Sing – My Hope is built on nothing less
   

   I believe in God the Father, Almighty ..
   

4. Thanksgiving (expression of praise and thanks for God’s grace)
   

   Sing – How Great is your love!
   

   Testimony of God’s Grace
   

   Sing – Hail to the King!
   

5. Petition and Intercession (expression of dependence on God’s grace)
   

   Prayer of Intercession
   

6. Instruction (acquiring the knowledge to grow in grace)
   

   Message from God’s Word
   

7. Communion/Fellowship (celebrating the grace of union with Christ and his people)
   

   Lord’s Table
   

   Worship in Giving
   

8. Charge and Blessing (living for and in the light of God’s grace)
   

   Sing – Not to us (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFlwKpQmmFQ)
   

    

   Benediction: 2 Thess 2:16-17
   

 Endnote: The items in bold are included to show the structure of worship but are not part of the worship service.