Good Questions! Reflections on questions the Master asks.

"What are you looking for?"

Buchanan, Mark. (2006). The Rest of God. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.

"Prayer, before it's talking, ought to be listening. Before it's petition, it should be audition. Before it calls for eloquence, it requires attention. God speaks. We listen. Prayer's best posture is ears cupped, head tilted toward that Voice. And what does the Voice speak? More often than not, a question." p.190.
"So a key attitude of prayer is listening, and what we listen for most are God's questions. ... For this Sabbath Liturgy, find any one of the questions God or Jesus asks... Ponder it until you hear God asking you the question personally. And then ponder it until you can give an answer." p.191-192. 

Jesus communicated with His followers as a teacher, speaking in parables, and relating the Kingdom of God to examples from their everyday experiences. Jesus also taught by asking good questions. His questions drew people into His stories or challenged their cultural world views and caused them re-examine the foundations and convictions of their faith. 

My goal is to examine the questions that Jesus asks in the Gospels and personally reflect on their meaning for my life, as well as, the insights they may give toward outreach within my community. It is my hope that these Biblical questions will provide a foundation for specific questions that will help our congregations identify outreach opportunities within their communities. Furthermore, it is my desire that these questions will guide us into a deeper understanding of our mission and calling to proclaim Christ to the world, beginning in our own backyard or with our next door neighbors.

The Gospel of John
John 1:29-34 (God’s Word, Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society, www.godsword.org)
²⁹
John saw Jesus coming toward him the next day and said, “Look! This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
³⁰ He is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘A man who comes after me was before me because he existed before I did.'
³¹ I didn't know who he was. However, I came to baptize with water to show him to the people of Israel.”
³² John said, “I saw the Spirit come down as a dove from heaven and stay on him.
³³ I didn't know who he was. But God, who sent me to baptize with water, had told me, ‘When you see the Spirit come down and stay on someone, you'll know that person is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'
³⁴ I have seen this and have declared that this is the Son of God.”

John was listening to the voice of God. John saw the Spirit come down on Jesus. John was watching for the sign of the Holy Spirit that would come down and reveal the Son of God. After Jesus was baptized by John, the Spirit descended on Him and John recognized that this was the One, that Jesus indeed was the Son of God.

Our time of prayer begins with a reflection on the Word of God. We read and respond to the questions that God asks of us. John had listened to God's instruction and waited for Jesus to be revealed to him, so he could in turn reveal Jesus to his followers. John was a sign post pointing out the direction to the Son of God. His followers were looking for a savoir and John pointed them to The Savior, Jesus Christ.

When these disciples started to follow Jesus, they were asked: "What are you looking for?" They answered "Teacher, where are you staying?" Jesus replied, "Come, and you will see."

John 1:35-42 (GW)
³⁵
The next day John was standing with two of his disciples.
³⁶ John saw Jesus walk by. John said, “Look! This is the Lamb of God.”
³⁷ When the two disciples heard John say this, they followed Jesus.
³⁸ Jesus turned around and saw them following him. He asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means “teacher”), “where are you staying?”
³⁹ Jesus told them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went to see where he was staying and spent the rest of that day with him. It was about ten o'clock in the morning.
⁴⁰ Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two disciples who heard John and followed Jesus.
⁴¹ Andrew at once found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”).
⁴² Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at Simon and said, “You are Simon, son of John. Your name will be Cephas” (which means “Peter”).

What am I looking for?   Peace, rest, financial security, love, material comforts, acceptance, or work that fulfills my passion.
What am I looking for in Christ? 
Do I really know why I am following Christ?
Am I like the disciples, seeking a good leader or teacher, for the sake of their name, much like those who follow political candidates for the sake of the excitement of being involved in something greater than ourselves just for the sake of covering up our own inadequacies or insecurities.

To follow Christ is to leave everything behind and trust in Him. The disciples didn't know what they were getting in to. Jesus didn't tell them everything right away. Jesus simply answered "Come, and you will see." To follow Jesus is to start on the journey. Come along, lets see where Jesus leads us. Trust in Him. He is trustworthy. He is the Son of God.
I'm not sure I know what I'm looking for, but I am sure that it will be revealed to me as I am going, as I am walking down the road with Jesus. So my journey begins again, trusting that God will show me what He wants me to see, and redirecting my thoughts to explore those things that I should be looking for.

We may ask others "What are you looking for?"
How can we help you find it?

May we walk with you for a while?
May we engage in spiritual conversations with you?
May we be so bold as to point you to the Son of God as He has been revealed to us in God's Word?
May we explore the life of Christ together with you?

May we invite others to follow Christ's invitation, "Come, and you will see."?.

BOLD Christian Outreach Ministry is dedicated to helping others find ways to share their faith with those whom God has already placed in their lives. 

BOLD Christian Outreach Reflections from Psalm 18

Sub title: The Lord rescues … He is my Savior.

“I love you, O LORD, my strength.

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my Savior,

my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the strength of my salvation,

my stronghold.

The LORD should be praised.

I called on Him, and I was saved from my enemies.” Psalm 18:1-2

(God’s Word, Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society, www.godsword.org)

This is a Psalm of praise for the LORD who answers prayer! This is a record of promises kept, a reflection of gratitude, a personal journal (blog) of David the king of Israel. In this Psalm, David shares with us a personal testimony of the many ways the LORD responded to his requests for help.

In our reflection on outreach promises and on the challenge of outreach ministry in general, this Psalm provides us with hope and encouragement, because we can be certain that the LORD will redeem those who call on His name.

Just look at the list of actions that the Lord takes to rescue David from the grip of evil, death, and destruction.    

v6  He heard my voice…and my cry for help…

v9  He spread apart the heavens and came down…

v10  He rode … and he soared …

v11  He made the darkness his hiding place…

v13  The LORD thundered in the heavens. The Most High made his voice …

v14  He shot his arrows and scattered them. He flashed streaks of lighting and threw them into confusion.…

v16  He reached down from high above and took hold of me. He pulled me out of the raging water.

v17  He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, because they were too strong for me.

v18  …the LORD came to my defense.

These are action words. Our God is a God of action! David knew it and David reflected on it. David gave thanks to God for being a God of action; for being active in his life.

When I try to take on too much or try to do the work of ministry on my own --- I FAIL. Big time!!

When I try to share my faith on my own --- I am crushed!

When I try to be something I’m not --- I am torn apart!

But when I am real, when I am honest, when I am humble, when I am acting in submission to God; He speaks through me.

v27  You save humble people…

v28  O LORD, you light my lamp. My God turns my darkness into light.

When my message is about Jesus Christ, when I trust God to put the words into my mouth; God uses those words to bring salvation to those who hear them.

God has saved me! He has turned my darkness into light.

I will never forget how dark the darkness can be. Jesus rescued me from the darkness of my sin and has turned on the light in my life. I know that the promises of God are true because they have become true in my life.        

v30-32  God’s way is perfect! The promise of the LORD has proven to be true. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. Who is God but the LORD? Who is a rock except our God? God arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

If you are looking for GOD, you will find him in the LORD Jesus Christ. He is the rock of Salvation. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Salvation is NOT found in any other. Jesus will take your sin away and replace it with His righteousness. He will turn your darkness into light.

If you are looking for encouragement to BOLDly share your faith, read this Psalm and follow David’s example. Take note of all of the ways God has responded to your requests for help. Thank and praise Jesus for the actions He has taken to rescue you from the traps of Satan and the darkness of sin in your life. Ask Jesus to give you the strength and words to share your testimony with others.

Remember, in your Christian outreach ministry, the LORD will work faith in those who call on Him.

(All scripture references used in this blog are taken from God’s Word, Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society, www.godsword.org)

BOLD Christian Outreach Reflections from Psalm 17

Sub Title: The eye of God

"I have called on you because you answer me. Turn your ear toward me. Hear what I have to say. Reveal your miraculous deeds of mercy, O Savior of those who find refuge by your side from those who attack them. Guard me as if I were the pupil in your eye. Hide me in the shadow of your wings. Hide me from wicked people who violently attack me, from my enemies who surround me.

"I will see your face when I am declared innocent. When I wake up, I will be satisfied with seeing you."

Psalm 17:6-9, 15 (God’s Word, Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society, www.godsword.org).

In this psalm David goes before the LORD with a heavy heart, men are hunting him down and treating him like a criminal. He is on the run, hiding out, a fugitive with a possible bounty on his head. He has few allies that he can trust. Everywhere he turns, every encounter he makes is a risk to his safety. David finds himself surrounded by greedy people, who, for the sake of financial gain, would turn him over to his enemies (quite possibly King Saul).

Have you been there? ...caught between a rock and a hard place? ...with no-one to trust and no foreseeable way out? Or maybe you know of someone who is there; they are filled with desperation, discouragement, depression, emotionally empty, or financially ruined.

If so, then this psalm is for you and for them. There are two promises of salvation in this psalm. David prays, "I have called on you because you answer me." David's faith in God has a track record. When he was a boy herding sheep, the LORD protected him and his sheep. When David fought Goliath, the LORD gave him the victory over the giant. David is not without hope. He knows that the LORD can and will deliver him. In the LORD, his Savior, David will find rest.

The second promise relates to eternal life. David knows that his salvation is in the hands of the LORD and that he will be declared innocent by the mercy of the LORD; for those who place themselves at the LORD's mercy shall receive it. So David concludes his psalm with these words of comfort, "When I wake up, I will be satisfied with seeing you."

Paul said something similar when he stated, "Whether I live or die it is all gain." We cannot lose in Jesus Christ, our LORD and Savior. With Paul and David we can boldly say, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." We have this promise, in the mercy of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, that those who call on His name shall receive forgiveness of their sins and the assurance of eternal life.    

P.S. Just a footnote to add… “Guard me as if I were the pupil in your eye.” Our eyes are important to us. We take measures to protect them. Skiers and swimmers wear water proof goggles. Carpenters and construction workers wear specialized protective glasses. A welder wears a helmet with a heavy dark glass window to protect his or her eyes from the burning bright light of the electrical welding arc. I’m sure you can think of many other examples, but the point is that, eye protection is very important for the safety of our eyes and the future of our sight. Sometimes we take our sight for granted, but to lose it could totally change the way we live out the rest of our days on the earth.

David calls on God to protect him as if he were the pupil of God’s very own eye. The request is bold. The request indicates trust and relationship, closeness, a sense of belonging to God, of being a part of His body. And that theme is picked up in the New Testament by Paul when he spoke of us being the living body of Christ, the eyes and ears, the mouth and nose, the hands and feet, all those parts that serve Christ here on earth. Jesus Christ lives in us as we live in Him. He provides for us and protects us as if we were His very own. His death and resurrection provides us with the ultimate protection against sin, death, and the devil. He values us as He would His very own eyes. That thought fills me with a great sense of peace.

As you tell others about Jesus Christ, we can be confident that He will listen to their pleas for mercy. He will forgive them and call them His own. He will treat them as He has treated us. He will value them as a member of His own body. And He will be waiting for them in heaven when they leave this world behind.

We can count on God's mercy and salvation. That is what David did! When everything else is stripped away – every material possession, everything that might give us security, meaning, or identity (all those false idols in our life), nothing is left but God's promise to be merciful and grant us salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. God rescues the broken hearted. The humble He does not despise. Those who call out to Him for mercy are saved! We can BOLDly count on this outreach promise as we share the good news of Jesus Christ with others.   

BOLD Christian Outreach Reflections from Psalm 16

Subtitle: When God speaks, David listens.

When God speaks through David, are we listening?

"My body rests securely because you do not abandon my soul to the grave or allow your holy one to decay." Psalm 16: 9-10. (God’s Word, Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society, www.godsword.org).

Jesus died and rose from the dead before His physical body began to decompose. He was dead. We know this because of the watery blood that flowed from His side when He was pierced with a sword. He was wrapped up in a burial garb and placed in a tomb on the first day of His death just before the sun set. He remained in the tomb throughout the next day, which was the Sabbath day. However, He rose on the morning of the third day with a fully restored physical body.

How did David know that this would happen? Was David just expressing wishful ramblings?

David states in an earlier verse, "I will praise the Lord, who advises me" (vs. 7). He spoke what the Lord told him to speak! David trusted in the Lord. He followed the Lord's lead. He walked knowing that the Lord was beside him. He knew that with the Lord beside him no one could defeat him. Not even death! David understood that his relationship with the Lord was an everlasting relationship. The Lord was David's true soul mate, the One who would never abandon him.

This relationship is also ours through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus made this possible by his death and resurrection. The promises made to David are also for all who are transformed by God's Word through the power of the Holy Spirit.

How should we respond? We can go about our daily tasks BOLDly proclaiming the risen Christ and trusting in the fulfilled promises of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the risen Lord and Savior of David. 

A personal prayer: Thank you Jesus, You died and rose to pay the price for my sins. In You I know that I will have eternal life. Help me to share this good news with the confidence that comes from knowing that You keep your promises. As David wrote words of truth that came from You, help me to be BOLD as I reach out to others with your promise of salvation. Amen.

**Go to peterkeyes.efoliomn.com for more ideas and Bible studies on Christian outreach ministry.                 

BOLD Christian Outreach Reflections from Psalm 15

Sub Title: The tent of meeting.

BOLD Christian outreach promises from the book of Psalm.

How can unholy people come into the presence of a Holy and Righteous God without being consumed by fire?

David asks, "Who may stay in Your tent?"

            "Who may live on Your Holy mountain?"

He answers, "Only the pure and righteous."

So how can we sinners stand in the presence of a Holy God?

At the time of David in the Jewish tradition the priest prepared themselves for entering into the presence of God by ceremonial washing and through the offering of sacrifices. They sprinkled blood on the altar and on their garments, and then they sprinkled blood on the people to remove the guilt of their sin. This was to make them righteous in the sight and presence of a Holy God. But this ceremonial cleansing was only symbolic and it had to be repeated over and over again. However, when Jesus, who was without sin, died on the cross He became THE sacrifice that paid the price for the sins of all people for all time, past, present, and future. By allowing Himself to be beaten and crucified on a cross He satisfied the demand that was placed on all people as a result of their inborn sinful nature. He made it possible for sinners to come into the presence of God by covering them with a robe of righteousness. This robe is a covering of blood (Jesus Christ's blood); the blood He shed in payment for our sin. It is given to those who believe in Jesus Christ.

Those who trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins are given just that, complete forgiveness of their sins. They become the adopted children of God. Their sins are covered by Jesus’ blood and they are brought into the presence of God as forgiven and redeemed children.

To answer David’s question, only those who have had their sins forgiven will be able to stand before God in His tent of meeting and to come into His presence on His holy mountain. This privilege came to those who believed in the promise of a Messiah and now comes through faith in Jesus Christ, who is the promised Messiah. Because Jesus has paid the price for our disobedience, we are now able to stand before God with our sins forgiven.

When we come to worship God do we take this privilege for granted?

Do we still stand in awe of Jesus Christ and what He has done for us?

Do we come out of reverence for God and all things sacred?

Do we have a healthy sense of fear, love, and respect for God and for what He has done for us?

Or

Are we going through the motions of worship out of duty or obligation?

Are we putting on a show for others?

Are we living the life of piety on the outside, but rebellious and unrepentant on the inside?

Are we taking God's love for granted?

Our faith will be regarded as God's approval of us who believe in the one who brought Jesus, our Lord, back to life. Jesus, our Lord, was handed over to death because of our failures and was brought back to life so that we could receive God's approval. Romans 4:24-25 (God's Word)

Now that we have God's approval by faith, we have peace with God because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done. Through Christ we can approach God and stand in his favor. Romans 5:1-2 (God's Word).

Since Christ's blood has now given us God's approval, we are even more certain that Christ will save us from God's anger. If the death of his Son restored our relationship with God while we were still his enemies, we are even more certain that, because of this restored relationship, the life of his Son will save us. In addition, our Lord Jesus Christ lets us continue to brag about God. After all, it is through Christ that we now have this restored relationship with God. Romans 5:9-11 (God's Word).

God said, "You will be holy!"

Jesus said, "You must be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect."

We are made holy not by what we do or how we act or think. This is not about having good morals or having a set of rules that we follow. It comes as we acknowledge our sinfulness and our need for forgiveness of our sins. It comes as a gift from God as He gives us the faith to believe that Jesus Christ has the power to forgive our sins. We are given God's righteousness and are made holy though faith in Jesus Christ!

"Who may stay in your tent?"

Is this an invitation to come into the presence of God?

Is this a question based on LAW or GOSPEL?

To understand the outreach promise of this Psalm one has to understand God's desire to have all people live with Him on His holy mountain. This is not meant for the select few who are morally good (no one except Christ fits in that group.), but for all who come to realize that they are unworthy of God's grace and in need of God's mercy. The promise is carried out and given to everyone who humbly places themselves at the mercy of God. The promise is made on the basis of the one who will settle the account of our sin with God. This one is the only one worthy to stand before God. This one is none other than Jesus Christ.

The promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christ!

In Christ we have redemption and forgiveness of sins and will be able to come into the presence of our holy God on His Mountain. As we BOLDly proclaim this good news to others we can be confident that those who by the work of the Holy Spirit humble themselves before Christ will be lifted up and set on high with God.

(God’s Word, Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society, www.godsword.org).

I have also written Christian outreach related documents that can be found at http://peterkeyes.efoliomn.com

BOLD Outreach Reflections from Psalm 14

Subtitle: God is faithful even when I am not.
          Another BOLD outreach promise from the book of Psalm.

"The Lord looks down from heaven on Adam's descendants to see if there is anyone who acts wisely, if there is anyone who seeks help from God.
    Everyone has turned away.
    Together they have become rotten to the core.
    No one, not even one person, does good things.
    Are all those troublemakers, ... so ignorant that they do not call on the Lord?
If only salvation for Israel would come from Zion!
    When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice.
    Israel will be glad." Psalm 14:2-7
(God’s Word, Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society, http://www.godsword.org/).

God sees that everyone is rotten to the core.

There is only one who is righteous.
    God is with the person who is righteous.
The one who is righteous is our savior.
    He is the one in whom we can take refuge.
He is our salvation. He comes out of Zion.
    He restores the [eternal] fortunes of the people of God.

Fools deny God,
    but the righteous are made righteous through the one who saves them.
Fools do not call on God,
    but the righteous take refuge in God.
We are all corrupt.
We have all turned away.
No one does good things.

Our only help is in the Lord.
When we call on God for help He comes to our aid and provides us with salvation.
"When" is an affirmative, not an "if".
The Lord is the refuge.
The people will rejoice!!! (Joy in the journey!)
Only one is righteous – that is – Jesus Christ!
Those who call on Jesus the Lord will find refuge.

This is the message that we have to share. God will bring the repentant into His place of refuge and will forgive their sins. He will give them His robe of righteousness and the inheritance of eternal life.

David states that "No one, not even one person, does good things." vs. 3
Paul quotes these words in his letter to the Romans.
"No one searches for God. Everyone has turned away.
Together they have become rotten to the core.
No one does anything good, not even one person" Romans 3: 11-12.

This begs a question.
If no one is righteous, who is "the person" who is righteous? vs.5
    "The person" who takes refuge in the Lord?
He is the one who ... will come from Zion
    to provide salvation for God's chosen people.
He is the promised one! He is the Messiah!

The promise in this verse is meant as an affirmative.
"IF only salvation ... would come..." is followed by "When the Lord restores..."
It is a promise that will be fulfilled, not if, not might, not could come, but "When" God's timing is right.

And from our view looking back we can see how Christ come down from heaven (Zion) and lived as a righteous man before God. Unbelievers feared him, hated him and crucified him. Yet, He rose from the dead, conquered sin and death, and restored the inheritance of God's people. Salvation has come from Zion and as a result all of God's chosen ones will receive eternal life.

As you go, BOLDly proclaim Christ the righteous one, because He has saved us from the penalty of our sin.