Dear Friends,
Let’s do a thought experiment this week.
Let’s say that you are a High School quarterback. And it has always been your dream to start one day as a D1 quarterback, playing in the SEC
And let’s say you get a phone call one day from Ryan Silverfield. Do you know who Ryan Silverfield is? He’s the new Head Football Coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
And Coach Silverfield said “son, we’ve seen you play, we’d very much like you to become a Razorback. We want to offer you a scholarship. We believe there is a good chance that you can start for us in your first game as a freshman.”
“What we’re offering you is a guaranteed, four year, no cut scholarship. You sign up with us, you’re in. You’re guaranteed a place on the team and four years of tuition free college.”
It’s your dream come true. You and your family are excited. You commit to the program and they have the big signing ceremony at your high school. Your friends are cheering and high fiving you. This is what you’ve always wanted.
In June, you get a call from the coaching staff. They tell you you will need to show up for practice on a particular day in late July. You arrive and learn there drills they want you to run. It’s hot. And you look at the coaches and say “those drills look hard. I’ll pass.”
The coaches are stunned. “I thought you wanted to be a Razorback,” they say. “I thought you wanted to play football.”
And you say “I signed up for the benefits, not for the work! I’m here for the games and the NIL money. Not for all this practice stuff!”
And that becomes your pattern. You start to skip practices. When you do show up, you get bored with the drills.
That’s your pattern during the summer.
Now, do you think the coaches will decide to start you in the opening game? For that matter, if you keep skipping practices, do you think you’ll ever get called into a game?
You may wind up on the team. You may keep your scholarship and earn a degree.
But when it comes to your time as a football player, your lack of practice will leave you ineffective and unfruitful as a part of the team.
This is the point the Bible makes in 2 Peter 1, the passage we’ll be looking at on our men’s retreat next weekend.
Peter begins his letter by reminding his readers that God has granted to them all that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called them to his own glory and excellence. He says that God has made them partakers of the divine nature. He has given them promises for this life and hope for the life to come.
Then he gives his readers a list of character qualities they should pursue and add to their faith. Virtue. Knowledge. Self-control. Steadfastness. Godliness. Brotherly affection. And love.
“If these qualities are yours and are increasing,” he says “they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Any kid who loves football does not join a time to be on the sidelines. Young men who love football want to be in the game. They sign up to play, not to ride the bench. They know the work is hard, but for the prize set before them, the endure the pain.
But I have to wonder if there aren’t a lot of people who responded to the gospel because of the benefits, not because of a love for Jesus. When they found out following Jesus can be hard, they gave into the little voice in the back of their heads saying “I didn’t think I was signing up for work. I thought being a Christian was about grace, not works. Can’t I just coast, spiritually?”
Peter’s assumption about his readers is that they want to be fruitful and effective as followers of Jesus. He’s assuming they joined the team because they love the Lord, not simply because they wanted to cash in on His promises.
To be fruitful and effective, he says, you start with the foundation of your faith. That foundation must be in place. Without it, whatever you try to build will get washed away when hard times come.
But on top of that foundation, Peter says, we must build our lives by seeking to cultivate godly character. Without it, we will be unfruitful and ineffective. We won’t make it into the game. We won’t be useful in the Master’s hands.
The promise of heaven should be a motivation for us to surrender our lives to Jesus. But it shouldn’t be our only motivation. We signed up for more than heaven. We signed up to follow Jesus, to be His disciples.
In fact, if someone asks the question “Can’t I just coast spiritually?”, my question is “Is that really what you want to do? Is your goal to do the bare minimum necessary to qualify as a follower of Jesus?”
There were some classes I took in college where my only goal was to get a passing grade and check the box. I didn’t really care about what the professor was teaching. I wasn’t there to learn.
Character development, spiritual growth, sanctification, growing in holiness and godliness – these are aspects of our Christian experience that are a central part of what it means to be a follower of Christ. If we love Him, we make it our aim to pursue these things.
Peter says that if we are failing to cultivate these qualities, it is evidence that there may be deeper issues with our spiritual health.
Tom Schreiner says "If members of the church are living immoral lives, they bear witness that forgiveness of sins means little to them. Those who treasure being forgiven live in a way that pleases God."
As you look at your life and think about what it means to be a follower of Jesus, would you say you are on the sidelines? Or in the game?
God is calling all of us to grow in godliness so that we can be effective and fruitful in His service. OUR NEW MORTGAGE
This week, we signed the papers for our new loan on our building. Instead of owing more than $1.1M, thanks to you, our loan is now $500,000 – and based on our projected monthly payments, we are expecting to pay off the remaining balance in fewer than 7 years.
Thank you again for your generosity!
D-NOW WEEKEND IS THIS WEEKEND!Please be praying for our students as they get ready for their D-Now weekend, which happens this weekend! Pray for God to be at work as they learn, serve and enjoy time with one another!
SPRING MEN'S RETREATOur Spring Men’s Retreat is next weekend. And there are still a handful of beds open for those who are looking for a great 24 hours of fellowship, time in God’s word and a dose of fun mixed in.
You’ve been putting it off, right? So go ahead and register now (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=2ba0a3ba52&e=fbb0a4052b). LEADERSHIP IN THE LOCAL CHURCHOur next men’s Leadership in the Local Church gathering happens next Thursday night. And whether you’ve attended any of the previous classes or not, you’re welcome to join us.
A VERY SPECIAL DATE NIGHT
We have a big night coming up in two weeks. A date night. And it’s a night you don’t want to miss.
We’re bringing in some special guests – Jim and Carol Shores.
We’re focusing on our marriages.
And we’re designing a special night that gives you a perfect opportunity to invite another couple to join you for a date night. Maybe go out to dinner together first. Then head to church for dessert and the program.
The cost for us is $25 per couple. But any couple you bring from outside the church can come for just $10 (have them use the promo code friend when they register to get the discount).
Here’s the registration link (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=4c9f5cbaec&e=fbb0a4052b).
I promise, this will be a night that you will enjoy. And a night that will make a difference for your marriage.
Let’s fill the church that night!
ANNUAL CHURCH BUSINESS MEETINGSunday, March 22, all church members are invited to attend our annual Church Business Meeting. We’ll update you on ministry plans and objectives for 2026, review our finances and budget for this year, answer any questions you might have – and enjoy a slice of cheesecake together for old time’s sake!
READY FOR SUNDAYHere is a preview (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=04c5b16c1e&e=fbb0a4052b) of the songs we’ll be singing together this weekend.
Don’t forget – our Gospel Way Catechism class will happen Sunday at 8:30 am. Everyone is welcome as we preview he upcoming catechism questions and answers.
For 2000 years, God’s saving work in the world took place almost exclusively among the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But Jesus changed all that. This Sunday, we’ll see how God brought His message of grace to people who had been in spiritual darkness for centuries, and drew them near to be part of His family on the earth.
See you in church!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Bob
Resource Info
