I am an intense person. I like living an intense life. I’m sorry.

No seriously – I’m sorry. So many times I have yelled from the pulpit that we need to live the intensity found in the Scriptures. I am not sorry for that statement, but for the subliminal message I was sending when I made that statement from the pulpit. I came across in a way that suggests if you’re not living the level of intensity of Greg Stewart, then obviously you weren’t sold out for Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 tells us to make it our ambition to lead QUIET lives, to mind our own business, and to work with our hands. This seems to suggest that we need to not be spastic. There is a standard within the Scriptures that is hard to attain, but we must try. Likewise, we are to lead our families, live our lives, and simply be good examples to those around us. Surprisingly simple.

In going through our current series “Clarity in the midst of Chaos” – I thought it would be good to lay out the key principles we have covered thus far.

Chapter 1: when you are in the midst of chaos, cycle through the beautiful triad of faith, hope, and love. First, label your faith. Put words to it. What must you have faith in during this time? Second, hope. What can you hope in? What do you know to be true about hope? Finally, love. The pain we experience in the midst of chaos has one strange benefit: it softens us and helps us love better and love more. We become so tender when we are hurting. We recieve love and we give love.

Chapter 2: when you are accused, become clear about the core of the accusation. Is there truth in the accusation? Be teachable. Second, when you are accused, can you use the “as you know” principle? What is that? You can deny the accusation adn say, “As you know . . .” and then go on to give proof of your actions that makes it obvious that the accusation is not true. Or if it’s partially true, you can point to the fact that you agree with it and are doing everything you can to change your character.

Chapter 3: the clarity is in relational passion. Is there anyone you are passionate about when it comes to their spiritual growth? What level of intensity do you have towards other people and their spiritual growth. Name them. Call them, email them, or write them to ask them how they are doing. Encourage them – give them verses. Tell them what God is teaching you.

What techniques have you done to stay spiritually “clear” in the midst of your chaos?

I wrote a paper for seminary that addresses the issue of the tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility.  In the paper I also walk through the gospel of John.

Click here to view the paper.

I hope it challenges you!

This week, I will be touching on the doctrine of election. As we walked through the first chapter in 1 Thessalonians, we read that Paul told those believers that he was convinced of their election of God.

The doctrine of election is frankly quite mind-blowing. Before we allow our minds to get twisted in the concept itself, let’s simply walk through the teaching of it.

In Ephesians chapter 1, there are some pretty pointed statements about the idea of election. Verse 4 is the key. It says that God “chose” us (same Greek word as in 1 Thess 1). What does it mean that He chose us? Logically, it’s the exact opposite of man choosing God.

He chose us “before the creation of the world”. This is before you and I obviously had an opportunity to sin. He chose us to be holy and blameless.

Now this is a little gray, but it is slammed home in verse 5. God predestined us to be adopted as his sons. Our destiny was set even before we were born to get saved (adopted). We are sons – the term used over and over again for the metaphor for salvation.

God chose us before the creation of world to get saved Wow.

It became obviouse to Paul that the believers in Thessalonica were adopted in light of how they responded to the gospel. It radically transformed their lives.