Epistle for August 9, 2002
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Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation August 9, 2002
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In This Issue:
A Message from Dr. Scarborough
Personal Disciplines for Spiritual Growth
Sermon: Psalm 77:1-20 & Psalm 47:1-9
Bible Study: I Thessalonians 2:1-20
Personal Growth of the Minister
Certified Biblical Counseling Courses to be Offered
A Message From Dr. Curt Scarborough
Beginning August 1 the FreeWay Foundation is offering a special series of conferences for pastors entitled "A Pastor's Personal Devotional Life." Every other Thursday, we will meet to consider two of eight chosen "Personal Disciplines for Spiritual Growth," from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Christian Civic Foundation Building, 3426 Bridgeland Dr., Bridgeton, MO 63044.
On Thursday August 1, I introduced the series with a 30-minute theme interpretation on "Fasting & Prayer." Dr. Gary Taylor then spoke on his personal involvement in fasting and praying.
On Thursday August 15, we will meet to study "Singing and Praising." Rev. Dan Hite, Pastor of Christian Family Fellowship, Wentzville, MO will be our guest presenter. (An outline of my studies on singing and praising follows.)
On Thursday, August 29, we will meet to study "Reading (God's Word) and Meditating." Dr. David Claybrook, Pastor of Christ Church, St. Louis will be our guest presenter.
On Thursday, September 12, we will meet to study "Receiving and Journaling." Rev. Jim Carter, Pastor First Baptist Church of Ferguson will be our guest presenter.
Personal Disciplines for Spiritual Growth
by Dr. Curt Scarborough
1. Fasting: at least one meal each week.
Matthew 6:16-18; Matthew 17:20-21; Isaiah 58:3-7
2. Praying: confession and intercession, "without ceasing" . . .
at least three times daily, using the Model Prayer.
Psalm 55:17; I Thessalonians 5:17; Matthew 6:9-13; I John 1:9
3. Singing: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs . . .
making melody in your heart continually.
Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; James 5:13
4. Praising: speaking words to magnify the Lord,
at least seven times daily.
Psalm 119:164; Psalm 150:1-6; Hebrews 13:15; Revelation 19:5
5. Reading: God's word daily . . . through the Bible annually.
II Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12
6. Meditating: daily on the spiritual truths and implications
in each chosen Scripture passage.
Psalm 19:14; Philippians 4:8
7. Receiving: the Holy Spirit's fullness, enlightenment,
revelation, renewal, refreshing, and power daily.
John 14:26; Ephesians 1:17-19; 5:18; James 1:5; I John 2:27
8. Journaling: daily writing personal reflections, revelations,
experiences, and spiritual applications.
Deuteronomy 17:18-20; Jeremiah 30:2; Habakuk 2:2
My Song In The Night
(Psalm 77:1-20)
I. Concentration: on the sufferings of God's people
1. I cried out to God with my voice, v. 1.
2. In the day of trouble, I sought the Lord, v. 2.
3. My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing, v. 2.
4. My soul refused to be comforted, v. 2.
5. I remembered God and was troubled (rather than finding peace), v. 3.
6. I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed, v. 3.
7. I am so troubled that I can't sleep or rest ("You hold my eyelids open")
and things have gotten worse so that I can't even speak, v. 4.
II. Meditation: on what God's people should do in such times of trouble
1. Consider the days of old . . . the years of ancient times, v. 5.
2. Call to remembrance "my song in the night," v. 6.
3. Contemplate within my heart upon the words and works of God, v. 6.
4. Cause my spirit to make diligent search for spiritual enlightenment, v. 6.
III. Meditation: on my questions about God in my "song in the night"
1. Will the Lord cast off forever? v. 7.
2. Will He be favorable (extend grace) no more? v. 7.
3. Has His mercy ceased forever? v. 8.
4. Have His promises failed forevermore? v. 8.
5. Has God forgotten to be gracious? v. 9.
6. Has God in anger shut up His tender mercies? v. 9.
7. ANSWERS: NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!
IV. Revelation: on the proper actions to take in one's "anguish" (v. 10)
1. Remember the power of God, vv. 11, 16-19.
2. Recall God's miraculous deliverance in days past, vv. 11, 20.
3. Meditate upon all the words and works of God, v. 12.
4. Talk to others (testify; witness) about God's deeds:
(1) God is great, v. 13 (3) God strengthens His people, v. 14
(2) God does miracles, v. 14 (4) God redeems His people, v. 15.
V. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Offer up prayers and supplications to God when troubles come.
2. Consider God's omnipotence and His miraculous blessings in the past.
3. Meditate upon God's words and works, seeking spiritual enlightenment to
perceive His plan and purpose for my life.
4. Joyfully sing my "song in the night," witnessing to others about God's
everlasting grace and mercy.
Clap Your Hands, All You Peoples!
(Psalm 47:1-9)
I. Concentration: on verse 1
Here all nations are commanded to clap their hands and shout triumphantly to
God with high energy and joyful enthusiasm. Although some Christian groups
discourage this kind of expressive worship, God has built into mankind the
almost instinctive urge to clap and shout when they experience victory.
II. Meditation: on the reasons for clapping and shouting
1. Because the Lord Most High is awesome, v. 2.
2. Because God reigns as King over all the earth, vv. 2, 7-8.
3. Because God is victorious over His enemies, v. 3.
4. Because God gives a spiritual inheritance to His chosen people, vv. 4, 9.
III. Revelation: on singing praises to God with understanding (vv. 6-7)
Verse 6 repeats "sing praises" four times . . . emphasizing the
importance of engaging in continuing worship of God.
Singing praises "with understanding" implies:
1. That it is possible to praise God without understanding.
2. That it is possible and worthy for us to open our minds and hearts to
God during worship . . . allowing Him to speak to us.
3. That, as Paul wrote in I Corinthians 14:15, "I will sing with the spirit,
and I will also sing with the understanding," . . . meaning that he
praised God with thought and contemplation as well as with emotion.
4. That we should think upon God's character and works as we praise and exalt
Him: His love, His power, His majesty, and His protection ("shields," v. 9.)
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Enter into worship of God with clapping and shouting . . . with high energy
and joyful enthusiasm.
2. Focus my praises upon my awesome, victorious, benevolent, reigning
Heavenly Father.
3. Praise God "with understanding" . . . with thought and contemplation;
with spiritual meditation.
4. Expect God to come to "inhabit" my praises (Psalm 22:3), as I listen for
His Spirit to speak to my mind and heart.
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"People are as happy as they make up their minds to be." Abraham Lincolon
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As a Mother; As a Father
(I Thessalonians 2:1-20)
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Paul wrote of his humble, sincere ministry to the Thessalonians, vv. 1-6.
2. Paul claimed to be both a mother and a father to them, vv. 7-12.
3. Paul reminded them of their conversion experience, vv. 13-16.
4. Paul revealed his longing to see them . . . his "glory and joy" vv. 17-20.
II. Observations: on God's purposes for a mother and a father
1. The mother's purpose - through self-sacrifice, to develop children who
strive for the highest and best in character and lifestyle as mature Christians.
2. The father's purpose - through hard work and example, to develop children
who are achievers . . . who will "Be all they can be!"
III. Meditation: on the characteristics of a godly mother
1. Gentle (v. 7) = kind, amiable, quiet, patient, tender.
2. Nursing (v. 7) = nurturing, caring, holding, comforting.
3. Cherishing (v. 7) = holding dear; treating as someone special.
4. Affectionately longing (v. 8) = love-yearning; craving the highest and best.
5. Imparting her own life (v. 8) = attitude and practice of self-sacrifice.
IV. Meditation: on the characteristics of a godly father
1. Labor and toil (v. 9-10) = family support; physical effort to secure
necessities for the family.
2. Example (v. 10) = of devotion, justice, and character.
3. Exhorted (v. 11) = advise strongly, earnestly admonish, reprove, correct.
4. Comforted (v. 11) = encourage, cheer, inspire, console.
5. Charged (v. 11) = to lay upon another a task, a command, a trust, an
expectation; to challenge to faithfulness and achievement.
V. Revelation and Applications:
1. God is like both a mother and father to us.
As a Christian, I need to comprehend this spiritual relationship.
2. The characteristics of a godly mother emphasize intimate, cherishing, nurturing
love expressed by a yearning for children to live lives of spiritual sensitivity.
As a Christian, I need to exhibit these same traits toward others.
3. The characteristics of a goldy father emphasize a challenge to achievement
expressed by example and encouragement.
As a Christian, I need to exhibit these same traits toward others.
4. As Paul specifically wrote, these are the attitudes and actions which ministers
should have in relating to their church members.
As a Christian, I need to "mother" and "father" the less mature believers
whom God has placed in my "family."
Personal Growth of the Minister
by: Dr. David Claybrook, Pastor, Christ Church, St. Louis
Dear J.D. (Jesus' Disciple),
"This is a test; it is only a test. If it had been an actual emergency, you would have been given further instructions."
These words became very meaningful for my wife and me one summer. We suddenly found ourselves in financial difficulty: extremely short of cash. What made matters really bad was that we had no idea why we were "broke." I was frustrated, but my wife was almost despondent.
As we prayed about and discussed this with friends and church leaders we discovered that several of them were also experiencing financial set-backs brought on by unexpected expenses. What in the world was going on? The only thing that had changed was that we had just completed a church-wide "Getting out of Debt" financial seminar. All of us had renewed our committment to bring our finances into tune with God's Word. Some had decided to increase their giving to the church, other had determined to be more consistent.
As my wife and I talked with one of our leading couples we were surprised to find out they were deciding to begin tithing again. They told us that in the past every time they had become convicted about the subject and had begun, something terrible always had happened to their finances and they stopped tithing. This time they were determined to continue regardless of how great the temptation to stop. Suddenly we realized what was going on, we were all being tested. I'll never forget, my wife sat up straighter, held her head up and said, "Well, if that's all this is, a test, we can handle it if its only a test." We did, and sure enough, it was.
James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (NIV) The words, "trials" and "testing," come from two different Greek words, but both of them are variously translated "try", "tempt", and "test". It is interesting that trials are at the same time, temptations and testings. When viewed from their source, they are temptations, for the enemy's goal in our live is to get us to deny our faith and to act in disobedience. However, when viewed from God's interest, they are tests designed to strengthen our faith and make us more obedient.
Matthew 4 records that immediately after being baptized with the Holy Spirit, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (called the tempter in verse 3). These words are the same as "trials" in James 1:2 ("temptations" in KJV). Why did God send Jesus into the wilderness for testing? I think so that Jesus could begin getting the victory over the devil, prove His loyalty and pass the test. God does not tempt us to evil, but He certainly allows the enemy to "test our metal." Each fiery test, when successfully negotiated, makes us purer and stronger. When we fail, God just keeps testing us until we pass.
When all testing is completed, we will be graduated into a new status of overcomers, I believe, never to be tested in the same ways again. It's kind of like when I earned my doctor's degree from seminary. They really tested me, but now I am a Doc and you can't take that away.
J.D. I don't exactly throw a party when tested yet, but I have learned that half the battle is realizing that what's happening is a test. Remember, "Its a test; its only a test. If it had been an actual emergeny you would have been given instructions."
Your Pal,
Disciple Maker (D.M.)
Special Bulletin to All Missouri Baptist Pastors
FreeWay Foundation, in cooperation with American Association of Christian Counselors, is offering a complete 5-unit, 30-lesson training program designed to educate and equip pastors and counselors within the church. All sessions will be held at the Christian Civic Foundation Building in Bridgeton. Two options are available for this five day seminar: five consecutive days beginning Monday, September 9, or five consecutive Thursdays beginning September 19. Sessions will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The seminar features 30 engaging videotaped lectures by some of the best Christian counseling leaders and Bible teachers in the world. The workshop comes complete with course lectures, outlines, study notes, and exams . . . all designed to increase a minister's knowledge and people skills.
The 50,000 member American Association of Christian Counselors endorses this training course. Recognized as the world's largest organization of Christian counselors, AACC works to provide clinically excellent and distinctively Christian resources, services, and training to counselors everywhere.
The cost of this five-day seminar (earning 3.0 CEU's) is $225.00, which includes all AACC materials and lunches daily. In addition to receiving AACC certification of completion, persons who enroll in this seminar will receive a one-year free membership in AACC (an $89 value). Students also may earn credit hours at Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity for an additional tuition fee.
Enrollment must be made by August 15 and money paid. This will allow us time to order and receive the materials needed for the class.