Does your family have a baby book? My mom made one for me, and I would sometimes pull it off the shelf and enjoy reading stories about my birth and early childhood. Along with pictures, my mom wrote out what day and time I was born, how tall I was, how much I weighed, the name of the hospital, the nurses on duty, even what movies were popular at the time.

Eventually, other details and mementoes were added. There was the little wrist band from the day I was discharged from the hospital. There was a snip of blond hair from my first haircut. Early school projects were added as well. I loved flipping through the book because I could honestly say, “this is my story!” I was there when it happened of course, but was too young to understand. By looking through this scrapbook, I could learn more about myself and others God used in my life.

In a similar way, Colossians 2:8-15 is like a spiritual baby book, chronicling the details of your rebirth. It explains where you came from, what life was like before you were saved, and the transformation that occurred when God saved you.

For some, the event happened like a lightning bolt. Bam! God got your attention, you believed and surrendered to him, and immediately you felt different. For others, you may not have fully understood right away what was going on. Maybe you can’t put your finger on the particular day God saved you. It took time as God softened and changed your heart. But you can honestly say, “Now I believe.” For some, it was a radical moment when you were “circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands.” For others, it may have felt like a process, even though technically conversion does happen at a point in time.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Who am I?” “Where did I come from?” This passage gives the answer. It’s wonderful to go back and be reminded of how it all began to get you to where you are today. And if you haven’t yet surrendered to Christ or repented of your sins, this passage explains who you could be, and who you should be.

I preached this passage back in July at Calvary Church and recently uploaded it to my podcast. You can now watch or listen to the sermon below…

Thanks for listening! For a complete list of sermons and Bible studies, please visit the Sermon Page on my blog.

Other links:
Calvary Church Youtube channel
Calvary Church sermon podcast
Calvary Church website
Feed My Sheep podcast

This morning was our monthly all ministerial staff meeting, and the main item on the agenda was to talk month by month through the remainder of our 2023 ministry calendar. There’s a lot going on at Immanuel, and it felt fitting that not 24 hours after Easter, we were already talking about the next big opportunity to invite neighbors on campus and tell them about Jesus. July 4th Fireworks, August Movie Nights, Harvest Festival, and Christmas Tree-lighting Celebration. All of these are already in the early stages of prayer and preparation.

As we looked ahead, I reminded staff what we’ve been seeing lately in the book of James. That it’s good to make plans, but we will only carry them out “if the Lord wills” (James 4:15). I also challenged them we could put on a lot of great events and activities, but they need to be done in a spirit of love. This is our greatest witness to a watching world. If we have not love, our biggest event is still just a “noisy gong and clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1). Love is like a good marinade. It needs to soak in deeply to add flavor and enjoyment to every bite.

Here’s a great quote from Mack Stiles on the importance of love in our evangelism and event planning:

“If you are a part of a healthy church that has a culture of evangelism, you are a part of the greatest way of evangelism ever known…We are dealing with a deeply spiritual, biblical concept. Jesus said, ‘By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another’ (Jn. 13:35). A little later, during the same time with his disciples, he prayed that they would be unified, ‘so that the world may believe that you have sent me’ (Jn. 17:20-21) Jesus says the love we have for one another in the church is a statement that we are truly converted. And when we are unified in the church, we show to the world that Jesus is the Son of God. Love confirms our discipleship. Unity confirms Christ’s deity. What a powerful witness!” (Evangelism, p. 63).

This is equally important for both church leaders and church members. So as we look back and give thanks for what God did on Easter weekend, and as we look forward and make plans for the rest of 2023, let us remember our greatest witness is doing all things in love to the glory of God!

I’m preparing the introductory lesson tonight for our new Christianity Explored class, and I had to ask the question, “Why are we doing this? Why are we starting a new evangelistic style class?” My mind immediately went to Matthew 4:19 where Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus left us here to be fishermen.

I took the above photo in 2000 on a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and got to see how fishermen did it in the first century, usually casting nets. It occurred to me that fishing is like evangelism in a number of ways…

1. If you don’t have a fisherman, you don’t catch any fish. (Rom. 10:14-15)
2. We must go to the fish; they don’t come to us. (Matt. 28:19-20)
3. Fishing is hard work. It’s dirty, it’s messy, and tiring. (1 Cor. 15:10-11).
4. Fishing requires patience. Don’t expect instantaneous results. (2 Tim. 2:24-26)
5. You need training to become a good fishermen. These men learned from the best! (Matt. 4:19)
6. You’ll make mistakes, but you’ll get better over time. Don’t give up! (1 Tim. 4:15)
7. Fishing was usually a group activity. You don’t have to do it alone (Luke 10:1-12).
8. You have to look for the fish. Go where they’re at. Be wise and a little cunning (Matt. 10:16)
9. Remember that God provides. He draws the fish to himself. (Lk. 5:4-7; John 21:1-8)

How can we grow as skilled fisherman in the new year? What’s one thing you’d like to do better?

Today, our nation grieves the loss of Baptist evangelist Billy Graham, who went home to be with the Lord Wednesday morning at the age of 99.

Dr. Graham was a towering figure during the second half of the 20th century, even playing an advisory role to many of our Presidents. As President George H.W. Bush said, “Billy Graham was America’s pastor. His faith in Christ and his totally honest evangelical spirit inspired people across the country and around the world.”

Dr. Graham had a direct impact on my life as well. He was the instrument God used to lead my dad to Christ back in 1969. Were it not for Graham’s ministry, perhaps my dad would have never heard the gospel and I wouldn’t know Jesus today.

In 2004, my wife and I had the privilege of attending Billy Graham’s last crusade on the west coast — at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. It was like a step back in time to the old tent revival days, complete with George Beverly Shea singing “I’d Rather Have Jesus” at age 95. What a voice!

As we waited for the evening’s festivities to begin, I marveled at the massive crowd and variety of cultures assembled in the name of Jesus. I was reminded several times of the scene in Revelation 5 where we are told “myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,” indeed, “every created thing” (Rev. 5:11, 13) will gather together to worship our blessed Lord.

Natalie and I were particularly impressed how Dr. Graham’s sermon was saturated with scripture throughout. I will forever be indebted to this man, and praise God he has now entered his heavenly reward. Here is an article by Steve Lawson with much more on the man and his ministry.

Dr. Graham finished his race, and over the next few days, we will hear stories of his legacy. Now it is our turn to carry the powerful torch of the gospel to a whole new generation, “that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD” (Psalm 102:18).

Another great evangelist, the Apostle Paul, said it best of Billy Graham: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:15)