Cessation is a Christian doctrine. It says the spiritual gifts of the apostles ceased after their work. That is, prophecy, healing and speaking in tongues did not continue after the apostolic age. People wonder why we don't often see the miracles and signs today that we read about in Acts. One answer is cessation. Now, if you believe the gifts are still available to the church today, you lean more toward continuationism. The gifts continue.

In Wesleyan terms, cessation and continuationism are doctrines of a "less essential nature." They're not anything we should let our disagreements divide us over. In today's text from Acts 19, we might see a way we can harmonize both ideas, albeit incompletely.

Paul came across a group of disciples. Someone had baptized them "into John's baptism." In other words, someone told them about the need to repent and recognize God's redemptive act in Jesus. Great! But Paul asked about the Holy Spirit, and this group had not even heard of it.

Imagine that for a moment. What would be missing from your experience with God without the Holy Spirit?

Some time ago, I did some research and registered on an academic website. I was looking for resources on John Fletcher, the early Methodist leader. That search and registration put my name into a system. Since then, I've gotten emails, almost daily, asking if I'm "the John Fletcher that wrote...." Apparently, there are some pretty smart and gifted John Fletchers out there. Each time I see the email subject line, I think to myself, "No, I'm not that John Fletcher. I'm just me."

Did anyone with Peter have that kind of thought about themselves? Peter said things like, "God shows no partiality," and "that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name" (Acts 10:34; 43). I imagine someone thinking, "yea, but not me. He's talking about other people." But Peter had learned the lesson himself. The forgiveness of sins and abundance of life God promises is for all people. Even people who don't think they're worthy. Even people others don't think are worthy.

It surprised some that God's gift of the Holy Spirit would be "poured out" on gentiles. Even gentiles. They're those people. Those people who don't know how lost they are.

It turns out we're all just as lost.

I haven't checked, but this feels like a rare moment in scripture. Is this the only time someone else demands baptism for another person? Think of those gentiles who may have felt not as connected or as gifted by God. Peter "ordered them to be baptized" (Acts 10:48). But he wasn't demanding they subject themselves to something they weren't sure about. Rather, he was demonstrating God's outpouring. It was for all people. Even those people others had questions about.

Have you taken in the wonder that God's Spirit was poured out on you, too? Yes, you. Even you. You may not have the spiritual credentials you feel like others have, but did God say you had to? You're you and the Lord has always wanted to draw you into a life guided by the Spirit.

Stay blessed...john

The incarnation of Jesus only means as much to us as we're willing to share it. That is, if everything we celebrate at Christmas is true, that God came to us in the form of a child, that reality must become a part of our shared experience. We share the experience of God with us in worship, of course. But we're also called to share that experience beyond our sanctuaries and holy meeting places.

When many of us Christians talk about sharing, our first thoughts go to sharing a message. Something we know about who Jesus is and what he did. Now, yes, we have a message. Jesus is Lord is a powerful affirmation. Plus, how can anyone believe in Jesus without hearing of him (Romans 10:14)? But the incarnation was more than a message, wasn't it? It was the beauty of seeing God's grace and truth with our own eyes.

You and I weren't there to see and hear Jesus tell stories or perform miracles--I would've loved to see the reactions when he flipped tables. Still, we know and experience God's presence with us in many ways. And one of the most important ways is when we share it.

Luke tells us Jesus was at Simon's house. Did Simon ask him to go there? I can imagine him insisting. His mother-in-law was sick, after all. Jesus healed her and she began to serve everyone. Then Luke tells us people with "various kinds of diseases" and "demons" came to Jesus. While we can imagine some people going on their own, notice what Luke says. "All those caring for any who were sick....brought them to him" (4:40).

People brought people to Jesus. By doing so, whether they realized it or not, they shared the incarnation. Likewise, you and I bring people to Jesus, not just a message. We bring the incarnation when we pray for healing with those in need. When we encourage those who are suffering. When we stand with those in trouble or who are oppressed.

Yes, "how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news" (Romans 10:15)! And how powerful it is when people share God's presence and bring people to Jesus.

Stay blessed...john

A.W. Tozer noted, "What is needed desperately today is prophetic insight. Scholars can interpret the past; it takes prophets to interpret the present."

Reflect more on that quote and you can discern what prophecy is. It's not fortune telling. Instead, it's understanding and seeing how what's happening today may impact us later. Not everyone can see that, mind you. Most of us are comfortable with what is. Maybe that's why there's always a tense relationship with our prophets.

Stephen spoke prophetically and his hearers killed him. He asked, "which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute" (Acts 7:52)? Jesus said something similar (Matthew 23:30). Ask Elijah the prophet about this reality (1 Kings 19:10). Even Bob Marley wondered, "How long shall they kill our prophets, while we stand aside and look?"

The forces of power and authority don't want to hear from God. That is, of course, unless God speaks to their favor. But speak out against them, even in truth, even in the faintest way and they easily sour against you. It happens in every generation, and it isn't limited to high offices or governing bodies. Some of our bosses and many of our relationships work the same way.

But truth needs to be spoken.

Jeremiah the prophet had an important word of God to speak to the people. It wouldn't be an easy pill for them to swallow. But the prophet must still speak. Prophets must speak. Jeremiah dictated to a scribe, Baruch, the words he wanted the people to hear. He did this because he was "prevented from entering the house of the Lord" (Jeremiah 36:5). There's question as to what prevented him.

The consensus is he wasn't under arrest. But, perhaps, there was a ceremonial aspect that kept him away. Maybe there was something in his spirit that prevented him. I'm inclined to wonder if he was still in trouble for a faithful sermon he gave earlier (Jeremiah 5 & 7). It's plausible because when the king finally hears what Jeremiah has dictated, he wants the prophet and the scribe arrested. Thank God prophets find their voices and courageously say what needs to be said.

Now, it's on us to become people willing to listen. Willing to unmoor ourselves from the comfort and security of what is so that we can know the true grace and truth of God. A prophetic word isn't for you to like or find inspiring. It's to help you see the truth before us. Listen to our prophets.

Stay blessed...john

As a pastor, I'm guided by Ephesians 4. The reminder there is that the Holy Spirit has equipped the church. Among all God's saints, some carry the designation as apostle, prophet, evangelist, teacher or pastor. Whatever the title, the work is the same. To "equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." So, if you've ever wondered to yourself (or to someone else) why I did what I did, I guarantee you I thought it was a good way to equip you.

And what is the work of ministry? What does it mean to build up the body of Christ?

Most of us can't help but think of getting more people to show up Sunday morning. While there is nothing wrong with that desire, let me point you to more ancient signs of ministry and growth.

In Luke 4, Jesus officially begins his ministry by reciting a passage from Isaiah. The portion he shares in the synagogue that day is powerful enough. He declares God's Spirit has prepared him to bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

But let's consider more of what Jesus may have had in mind. He would have surely recalled the rest of the prophet's words. That God's Spirit would also lead him to be a comfort to people. To bring joy and strength to others. Because of God's anointing, people's lives would be rebuilt.

Whether you look at Isaiah's words or use Jesus' interpretation of the prophet, notice the action. The Spirit calls us and leads us to action for the betterment of each other. God's Spirit, then, is no mere Sunday-morning feeling. It is an outpouring that leads us to love and care for one another. As you follow the Spirit's guide to that end, our work becomes blessed works of ministry. 

Stay blessed...john

I was in a meeting with several other pastors. One of them began talking about someone they once knew from their church. What was impactful was that the pastor hadn't mentioned the congregant's name. And I had forgotten we both served the same church. As it turned out, who the pastor was speaking of is who came to my mind as the pastor's story unfolded. With great joy I remembered the person they were talking about. I could affirm everything said about that beloved saint. So much so, I've included a story about them in a sermon before.

That saint is no longer with us. But their witness is.

Who knows what people will choose to recall about us, either before we die or after. Hopefully, though, we'll have shown everyone enough of the love of God that it'd be impossible not to mention our faith in Jesus and his love.

Disciples have reputations, after all. They always have. In the 18th century, calling someone Methodist implied they were too enthusiastic about their religion. That's not quite the reputation they tend to have today.

But go back to even Jesus' disciples. In Luke 5, Pharisees question Jesus by questioning the witness of his disciples. John the Baptist's disciples and those of the Pharisees had a reputation for fasting and praying. Apparently, Jesus' disciples did not.

The Lord used the occasion to emphasize the new thing God was doing through Jesus' life. The disciples were merely following the way Jesus opened for them.

We like to preach and testify that Jesus is the way. That's great, but also remember Jesus is our way. Jesus is my way. If Jesus is who we profess him to be, then our lives must reflect who he is. His way of life must be our way of life. My way of life.

Stay blessed...john

The preacher stood before the congregation and said, "There's good news and bad news. The good news is we have all the money we need to meet our budget. The bad news is it's still in your pockets."

That's an old preacher joke. I'm not sure I've ever told it before. But what if I told you your church already has everything it needs to be faithful and fruitful? Would you believe me? Could you believe me? No joking! Your church has what it needs.

Of course, I'm not talking about money. We put ourselves into these financially tight situations. I'm not sure God will always get us out so easily. Besides, for most churches, more money won't solve our issues. It's a mere band aid.

But what we do have is what God promised. The Holy Spirit. And the Spirit continues to steer our hearts and minds toward a more Christ-like focus. There's a line in the opening of 1 Corinthians that caught my attention today. Paul says to the Corinthian congregation, "you do not lack any spiritual gift" (1:7).

Oh, that didn't mean the church didn't have problems. The apostle was just getting started writing. But they didn't lack the spiritual gifts they would need to reimagine a faithful ministry. To reawaken a fruitful ministry. And the same is true for you and your church today.

What we lack is communication and engagement. We often encourage people to take spiritual gift inventories to discover their gifts. Instead, let's better communicate the gifts we see in each other. Too often, we pigeon hole people to do things we want them to do that we think need to be done. Instead, give one another a chance to put their gifts to work for God's glory and the church's growth. Let them see where God leads.

Hear me when I say, You have the spiritual gifts your church needs. Ask God to show you how to engage them and see the glory of God shine through.

Stay blessed...john

So much about our faith in God and discipleship comes down to choice. First, and foremost, of course, we understand that God has acted. The Lord is Creator of all. In Christ, God has redeemed us and the Holy Spirit sustains us. Everything begins and ends with the Alpha and Omega. Even still, we choose to believe that. We choose to accept the reality of those truths.

As we choose to live in imitation of Christ, we make other choices every day. Choices about what kind of follower we're going to be. What priorities we will pursue. And how we will live out our love for God. Yes, there are commandments. God expects obedience. But there is always choice. Remember Joshua's famous line: Choose you this day whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15).

Romans 12 outlines this faith choice. It opens with a reminder of God's mercy and a call to respond to who we know God is. If we do, there is a transformation that can take place in our minds. And the Holy Spirit guides us to live with God's church in unity and faith.

The second half of the chapter reads like commandments. There are dos and don'ts. But they are all choices. For example, people fake love all the time and glorify what is evil. A Christian heart, though, chooses to let love be genuine and hate what is evil. Read through verses 9-21 and notice the choice you have to live in faith.

This passage is one I point to often. If you want to know how your discipleship is going, if you wonder if you're growing in grace and truth, read it. Can you say your life today reflects what you read?

Now, it may not be you'll be perfect with every verse. But are you making more faithful choices today than you did before? If so, praise God! If not, make different choices.

Stay blessed...john

Here's how The Message translates Jeremiah 3:23: "All that popular religion was a cheap lie, duped crowds buying up the latest in gods."

People often criticize translations like The Message Bible. I suppose paraphrasing scripture doesn't sit well for some. But I appreciate the attempt to connect our modern understandings to ancient hearts and struggles. What we discover is that we're not all that different. People are people and people will be people.

The NRSV translates the same verse like this: "Truly the hills are a delusion." And the NKJV says, "Truly, in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills." Would you have picked up on the idea of popular religion from those readings? Without further study, I wouldn't have.

So, what is the point of the text? The people, seemingly, recognized they had turned from God's way. They understood what God wanted from them and even for them. But they sought another way of being. It felt better to pursue idol worship and practice of the hills. That is, people would set up worship in literal high places. Mind you, most of these places had nothing to do with the worship of God. The people realized, then, their religious pursuits amounted to nothing. Nothing faithful, that is.

Today, you and I don't have those kinds of high hills. Oh, but we have high hills, don't we? Today's popular religion is full of them. 

These are the personal and communal pursuits that don't bring us to closer communion with God. They have the opposite effect. Whether we actually realize or seek to justify our high hills, they will prove to be empty promises.

Thankfully, there is a faithful promise within the people's recognition of who they have been. It's the same promise you and I can count on as well. The Lord says through Jeremiah, "Return, O faithless children, I will heal your faithlessness." Or as The Message says, "Come back, wandering children! I can heal your wanderlust!"

Stay blessed...john

There's kingdom work. And there's church work. When those two combine, faithful and fruitful ministry grows. To be sure, though, you can have one without the other.

Everyone knows the modern church is experiencing a dilemma. Communities around our local churches have changed in ways we didn't prepare for. At speeds we tried to ignore. The larger culture has moved away from the church at its center. That has impacted church attendance, church programming and everything else in between.

Often, we talk about these changes and dilemmas in terms of loss. Indeed, time and circumstances have changed much in our lives, personal and communal. And that can hurt.

That's a reason to appreciate scripture's notion of pruning. Maybe we aren't losing as much as God is pruning away. When God prunes, it's for our growth.

So, now, as God's church, we find ourselves wondering what to do next. One thing we must be certain to do is learn to distinguish what is kingdom work and what is mere church work.

A common pitfall of modern church leadership has been the focus on preserving the church institution. When we plan, we want to know, Will this help our church? Will our church benefit from this? Little else seems to matter. By ourselves, we probably can't help but think that way. But with the Spirit's help, we can see more faithfully.

All that to say, if your first focus is kingdom work, church work finds its right place. If your first focus is church work, church work takes over. Kingdom work often suffers, if it's not altogether ignored.

Simon, the former magician baptized in Acts 8, saw the power of God "through the laying on of the apostles' hands" (Acts 8:18). He asked to receive "this power." Not the power of what God was doing, but the power to be able to do what the apostles were doing. Read that story again through the lens of kingdom work and church work. It often feels like what we often do today falls in line with what Simon was trying to do.

Stay blessed...john

"Good eye!"

That's the encouragement echoed countless times around Little League ballparks. You hear it when a batter doesn't swing at a bad pitch. Never mind that, often, they don't swing because they're nervous or scared. But the idea is your good eye kept you from swinging at a bad ball. You still have a chance to make a good play.

I have no idea what kind of athlete Jesus was. But he had something to say about having a good eye.

"If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but if it is unhealthy, your body is full of darkness" (Luke 11:34). This wasn't a random bit of spiritual wisdom. The Lord directed it to a growing crowd filled with a generation he called "evil."

Why?

When he healed a mute person, some people responded with amazement. Others, though, said he was the possessed person. And they demanded another sign from heaven (11:15-16). Jesus told them something greater than what happened in Nineveh with Jonah was happening right before them. But their unhealthy eye kept them from seeing it.

So, how is your eye?

Are you less amazed at God's power than you once were? Does the love of God seem less exciting or illuminating? If you find yourself "going through the motions" of faith, that might be a sign to pray for a good eye.

John Piper once said, "There are many bright things in the world that keep us from seeing the true light of Christ—just like city lights keep you from seeing the stars." A good eye, then, means we have seen what God has done in Jesus. We see what God is doing in Jesus.

As you pray, ask God to show you the true light and truth of Christ. Pray with wonder and joy at the work of God. You're still at bat.

Stay blessed...john

Psalm 106 offers a national confession of sin. "Both we and our ancestors have sinned" (106:6). Reaching through his peoples' history, the psalmist acknowledges what we read in scripture. Israel is full of contradiction. Saved by God only to turn from God. For about thirty verses, the psalmist recounts various episodes of this. It's a reminder that Israel's faithful memory was always short.

The psalmist also includes God's faithfulness in this confession. Even though the nation proved unfaithful, "for their sake he remembered his covenant (100:45). God will always show compassion.

What is missing, though, is a telling of the psalmist's sin. Yes, he includes himself and the people he knows now among those who have sinned. But he only reminds us of Israel's past sin. He never fills us in on how he and his people have sinned today.

Or has he?

We don't need his record of wrongs laid out before us to know they're probably in line with what we read in the Bible. In so many ways, no matter what our sins are (yes, ours), they're nothing new. Certainly not to God.

We should include our sin and confession because like the psalmist and his people and like his ancestors, our faithful memory is poor. Yours. Mine. And ours. Most of us, I imagine, would say we are trying to do and be better. Praise God! But don't you think that was true of others before us, too? Of course.

So, as we read how the people of God failed God, we aren't only learning something about them. We are acknowledging something about ourselves, too.

When you read how the Israelites sinned against God, you can see how what you are (or aren't) and what you do (or don't do) is nothing new to God. God's people today share the same struggles with faith and obedience as all God's people have.

The good news? God will always show compassion.

Stay blessed...john

Deborah, the prophet, seems to call into question the course of Barak, the military leader (Deborah 4:9). The prophet told Barak to take his men into battle and the enemy's army would fall. Barak responded, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go" (4:8).

So, we assume "the course" Barak took was to only follow Deborah's charge if she went with him. He would still be victorious over his enemy. But "the honor" of the battle would go to someone else, a woman who drove a peg through the enemy's head.

Now, let's question Barak's response and reflect on whether it was faithful or not. Was he showing trust in Deborah's calling and faith in God? He didn't say he wouldn't go to battle. Only that Deborah had to go with him. Or was he doubting what God said through her? That would suggest Deborah took the greater step of faith by going with Barak.

Maybe it was both.

Perhaps he questioned his abilities and only needed the encouragement of someone else stronger. In this case, Deborah proved capable.

Flash forward to the New Testament. In Hebrews, the writer calls Barak to mind for future generations. He is among the examples of faith the Hebrews community can look to for encouragement for their lives.

I'd like to think God wasn't afraid of Barak's doubts or insecurities. Deborah wasn't either. So, God used her to show him a way of faith. And since she did, Barak's life became an example of faith for others.

And I'd also like to believe we all would want to do the most faithful thing there is to do all the time. Maybe we will. Maybe we won't. Or maybe we just need a little encouragement first. I won't tell you to fall prey to your doubts or insecurities. But I will say God can still move through you with them. Choose faithfully. Or choose to rely on someone else's faith, if need be. Either way, you can trust in God's call for your life.

Stay blessed...john

Apparently, you could've discounted Paul's presentation. But you couldn't deny the power he preached. By his own admission, the apostle didn't go to Corinth to wow anyone with his words. He didn't prop himself up as the prominent teacher and Christian so many of us regard him as. Instead, he kept making tents, and relied on the "demonstration of the Spirit and of power" God gave him.

And what was the result? There's no denying that a church grew. Yes, that church would grow to have issues. Big ones, too. After all, it wasn't a perfect church like yours. But the church was growing.

The church would keep growing if it kept its focus--or refocused--on the proclamation Paul gave them: Jesus Christ and him crucified. Now that's a presentation. No matter what the world thinks of Jesus, the world thinks of Jesus when they see a cross.

That's God's wisdom on display. Yes, Jesus came to teach us the marks of God's kingdom. But his life is also the outpouring of that kingdom. Through him, we see God's "hidden mystery" revealed. Human wisdom, as Paul called it, wouldn't rely on crucifixion. Human wisdom often relies on dominance and self-centeredness. We'll make a way our way.

But Christ crucified showed God's way of self sacrifice, devoted loved and obedience to God.

I imagine Paul would wonder about our presentations. To say nothing of the issues that still linger in today's church that did in the Corinthian church, he'd wonder what we're doing. He'd have something to say about our large screens, lighting effects and comfortable pews. There'd probably be a separate meeting for us preachers. He'd gripe about our over-the-top illustrations. I suspect he'd tell us what many of us already see. We're losing the message in the presentation. We're focusing a lot on human wisdom, and losing sight of God's great wisdom in Jesus.

Look for the presentations around you. They're everywhere: on the radio; apps; billboards; books; Facebook; even Sunday morning. Let's not allow God's wisdom to take second place to our wisdom, our way of doing things or our presentations.

Stay blessed...john

I've always enjoyed a good movie. Well, not always. At one point, I learned something that disillusioned me for a bit. Apparently, there are six, maybe seven, basic story plots. Consider any movie or novel genre you want. No matter how different the characters seem or what's unique about the setting, we've already seen it. The story itself is not new. It's following a basic, human story telling trajectory we've heard in every story.

That made watching movies a little boring for me. You already knew what was going to happen once you figured out which plot it was.

Well, whatever plot structure it falls into, I started watching movies again. I learned to love hearing new takes on the old stories. We all do. That's why we keep watching and reading. Now, that's part of the joy of watching--seeing what a creative mind can do with something we already know.

I've met a bunch of Christians who aren't quite fond of the book of Ecclesiastes. It's too dark or joyless. Almost depressing. I suppose we have expectations of how the Bible should sound. The book's repeated theme of vanity doesn't sound happy-clappy enough for us. Everything is vanity, vapor or meaningless because you'll never see anything new. We feel like we're doing something different with our lives, but, in reality, it's the same story every generation.

But I love Ecclesiastes. Instead of being off put by the idea, the vanity of everything puts a lot into perspective. About our life experiences, I like to say, "It's our turn." It's our turn to do what's been done so many times before by other people. It's our turn to rejoice. To mourn. It's our turn to do something with what's all around us.

We may be telling and living the same life stories. But it's our turn to do so. That's exciting enough to be inspired by the meaningless of it all.

Stay blessed...john