Dear Friends,
Alistair Begg, in his new book about the fruit of the Spirit called We Will Be Changed (https://us.list-manage.com/d6a7RTOzB7Y?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf), tells a story that drew my attention in his chapter on joy:
A patient suffering with brain cancer in a hospital had, as you might imagine, endured a seemingly endless series of tests and treatments that left him weak, in pain and without his hair. One of his nurses added this note to his chart so the next shift would be alert to not only his physical condition, but also his mental and emotional state. “The patient,” the nurse noted, “is inappropriately joyful.”
I’m sure the nurse was simply being diligent in her work. Perhaps this man was in a delusional state. Maybe a psychiatric evaluation needed to be ordered. Had this man lost touch with reality? Did he no longer grasp the reality of his condition?
In the eyes of the attending nurse, the experience of joy in the midst of this man’s suffering didn’t compute. The circumstances surrounding this patient were not circumstances that would inspire joy.
The person who passed this anecdote along to Alistair commented that since she had heard about the nurse’s notation on her friend’s chart, she had made it her goal to be inappropriately joyful as well.
“The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,” the Bible tells us, “but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).
Author Jerry Bridges confesses that his life had often lacked joy. “For a number of years the virtue of joy was not very evident in my life nor very high in my value system. As far as Romans 14:17 was concerned, I considered myself a man of peace, and I felt I was seeking after the ethical righteousness that is referred to in that passage. But I really hadn’t given much thought to the importance God places on the fruit of joy in our lives.
“Then one day as I was reading through Romans 14, I realized that God was not satisfied with only righteousness and peace in our lives. Paul tells us very plainly that the kingdom of God is a matter of not only righteousness and peace, but also joy. Furthermore, I learned from verse 18 that without joy, my life was really not very pleasing to God
“The fact is, only Christians have a reason to be joyful, but it is also a fact that every Christian should be joyful” (emphasis added).
I had to pause when I read that. Is God asking us to live our lives in denial of our circumstances? Does He expect us to paste a plastic smile on our faces and pretend to be full of joy in spite of what’s happening in our lives? And what about the Psalms? There is a whole lot of lamenting going on in that book of the Bible.
The more I considered those questions, the more I could see why we should be people whose lives are characterized by joy – not always, of course, but as a general pattern of life.
But how do we get there? How do we experience and express joy while we plod our way in a fallen world?
The first step on the road to joy is to call to mind regularly and be overwhelmed by the good news of what God has done for us in Christ. The reality that our sins are forgiven and there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ should flood our souls with joy and gratitude. Seeing the work that the Holy Spirit is doing in us to conform us more and more into the image of Christ should be a source of great joy, as we continue becoming the new creatures we are in Christ. And the fact that we have a hope and a future, living eternally with God and with our brothers and sisters in Christ, with no pain, no darkness, no sorrow or sadness forever – that promise from God should overpower whatever your current, temporary circumstances might be.
With that said, the reality of life in a fallen world means that we have to fight for joy every day. On days when the sun is shining and all is well with the world, it’s easy for our mood to be elevated. But when the darkness comes and we’re facing pain or uncertainty or hard conditions, joy is often far off. We have fight to get it back.
That’s what the Psalms of lament show up.
David cries out to God, asking him to restore the joy of his salvation (Psalm 51:12).
He reminds himself that sorrow may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).
“You have put more joy in my heart,” David tells God, “than (the pagans) have when their grain and wine abound” (Psalm 4:7).
“Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy (Psalm 5:11).
“You make known to me the path of life;” the Psalmist writes in Psalm 16:11. “in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
“Why so downcast, O my soul? Put your hope in God” (Psalm 42:5)
What we see modeled in these verses is the Psalmist, and ultimately the whole congregation of God’s people, resetting their minds and hearts. They are choosing to find their hope and joy in God and not look for it in the up and down events that make up our lives.
I like the term “inappropriate joy.” I’d like to be known for that. I’d like that to be true of me.
Alistair Begg writes “It is that it is possible to know a joy that is not touched by the circumstances of life and is therefore inappropriate to—or inexplicable by—what is going on right now. That is why joy may be experienced when we are facing illness, or dealing with bereavement, or facing redundancy —when circumstances are difficult.”
I’m contemplating the subject of joy for a reason. It was a year ago today that our beloved friend Tim Friesen’s life on earth came to an end, and his life in heaven began.
I miss him.
I still expect to see him on Sunday. I still have the impulse to want to tell him about things that are happening in our body. As we worshipped together on Easter Sunday this year, I was struck by how much Tim would have loved our service and how thrilled he would have been seeing so many people praising God together. As we’ve heard new members sharing their testimonies in recent months, I’ve thought about how the stories we’ve heard would have brought tears to Tim’s eyes.
While I still grieve his passing, I do not grieve as those who have no hope. And it’s as I think about that hope, and about how our life, in light of eternity, is a vapor, the joy begins to co-mingle with the grief, and ultimately, to overcome it.
“The choice is ours,” Jerry Bridges says. “We can be joyless Christians, or we can be joyful Christians. We can go through life bored, glum and complaining, or we can rejoice in the Lord, in our names being written in heaven, in the hope of an eternal inheritance. It is both our privilege and our duty to be joyful. To be joyless is to dishonor God and to deny His love and His control over our lives. It is practical atheism. To be joyful is to experience the power of the Holy Spirit within us, and to say to a watching world, ‘Our God reigns.’”
REDEEMER SMALL GROUPS
Redeemer Small Groups will be starting back up in 10 days – the week of September 13.
If you’re not currently part of a small group, September is the perfect time to visit a few groups to find the place for you. And if you have any questions about Redeemer Small Groups, you can contact Pastor Matt: mattgurney.rcc@gmail.com (mailto:mattgurney.rcc@gmail.com)
NXTGEN SINGLES & YOUNG ADULT HANGOUT
As summer winds down, the NxtGen group is gearing up for fall. If you are college aged or young adults, plan to join with others from the church for the NxtGen fall kickoff this Saturday, September 5 at the Gurney’s house. Contact Pastor Matt for more info or if you have questions. mattgurney.rcc@gmail.com (mailto:mattgurney.rcc@gmail.com)
NEW MEMBERS CLASSES
If you’ve been attending Redeemer for a while and would like to know more about what it means to officially become a member of our church, you’re invited to our upcoming New Members Meeting on Friday night September 11 and Saturday morning September 12. You can get more information or register to attend by clicking here (https://us.list-manage.com/CldOUkA2aF9?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf).
WOMEN'S FALL GATHERING
Ladies, Monday night, September 14 is the night for the Women’s Fall Gathering – an evening filled with great fellowship and great food.
If you’re planning to attend, please let us know. Click here to register (https://us.list-manage.com/dW2SjU0C2ft?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf).
FIRST FALL ROOTS HANGOUT
The first Roots Hangout with the Perkins this fall is coming up on Saturday night, September 12. Students, have you blocked out that evening yet on your calendar? Is it on your to do list? It should be.
MEN'S FOUNDATIONS STUDY
Men – the first of our Foundations – And Why They Matter is happening on Thursday night, September 17 at 7:00 pm at the church.
Although it’s not a requirement, you’ll be helped by getting a copy of Paul David Tripp’s book Do You Believe: 12 Historic Doctrines To Change Your Everyday Life (https://us.list-manage.com/qUcVYOxFIXI?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf) before the class begins and by reading chapters 1-2 ahead of time.
The class will be highly interactive and discussion based.
FALL BIBLE STUDIES FOR MEN AND WOMEN
This fall, the men and women of the church will have Bible study opportunities.
The men will be starting and extended study through the book of Genesis. Two class times each week – Tuesdays at lunch or Thursday evenings. Here’s the info. Or click here to register (https://us.list-manage.com/OM4npynKYCP?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf).
Meanwhile, the women will be spending this fall going through the first eight chapters in the Gospel of John. The study will take place on Monday nights or Tuesday mornings. All the details can be found here (https://us.list-manage.com/yHrrwllr72R?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf). Sign up now to be part of the study this fall.
EQUIPPING COLLECTIVE EVENTS
Last month, we had Dr. Danny Hinton with us at Redeemer. He gave us an update on The Equipping Collective (formerly Downline) and shared about plans for an evening this fall with Dr. Brad Wilcox from the University of Virginia. Dr. Wilcox will be speaking on The State of The American Family. Tickets are required but the event is free to attend. You can register for tickets here (https://us.list-manage.com/POseJLdA1wU?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf).
In addition, the Equipping Collective is holding its first ever Equip Lab for adults. It’s four nights over a four week period to help moms and dads with Creating A Family Vision. Speakers at the four week lab will include popular author and speaker Dr. Don Whitney. There is a registration fee for the Equip Lab. You can learn more and register by clicking here (https://us.list-manage.com/RgQZrIISDbU?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf).
READY FOR SUNDAY
Here is a preview (https://us.list-manage.com/QngZJlARPcm?e=da31571acc&c2id=9646fad7312ad0e2da39a919ec1318cf) of the songs we’ll be singing together this weekend.
And here is this week’s catechism question and answer:
QUESTION: What Is Sanctification?
ANSWER: Sanctification is the work of the Spirit to make us more and more like Jesus. It is not the pursuit of just being yourself but the project of growing with others in the righteousness God imparts to his people.
The Bible describes Christians as men and women who are “in Christ” and who are united with Him and with each other as a result. But what exactly is it that unites us? And what separates us from those who are not “in Christ?” Ephesians 4 gives us answers to that question, and we’ll explore those answers this Sunday.
See you in church!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Bob
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