Sociedad de Jovenes Weekly Encouragement Letter

 "Look Unto Jesus"

Dear Sociedad de Jovenes Youth Leader,

            I am glad God has called you to be a partner in youth ministry with me. I pray for you that during these 40 day journey through Prayer and Bible study, you will catch God’s vision for your life and for every youth in our local church. Below you will find some ideas and thoughts that the Lord has given me to help us “transform” sociedad de jovenes from just a program, to a ministry. Thank you for taking the time to read this. May God bless you greatly this new week!

I.     New Youth Music Minister and Pianist

I just contacted Abraham Soto, our new youth pianist. Apparently, he did not go to Montemorelos yet, so I have invited him to be the Sociedad de Jovenes Official Youth Pianist from now on. We are going to help him with a love offering each month, and he will come every Friday night to practice (or Saturdays 1 hour before sociedad de jovenes), and every regular Sociedad de Jovenes Sabbath to play the piano. Yesterday was a friendly reminder that we need to practice and prepare the song service a week in advance, and we would like to sing youth songs, praise songs, and contemporary songs, even some in English. I am asking Yanet Santamaria and Carlos Linares to help us. I really believe that if we have a strong music and song service, we can attract the youth that are just walking around outside the church because they find the corritos and songs we sing very boring (sorry to speak the truth). Our goal is to reach the jovenes.So here is the plan guys:

II. New Idea for Sociedad de Jovenes

1. Close the balcony every Sociedad de Jovenes Program (regular, meaning non-campana, or other non-regular sociedad de jovenes Sabbath, like ministerio de damas, ministerio de oracion), although maybe we need to do it every Saturday. People sit away from each other, and church is meant to help us experience fellowship and community, but some people just want to come to church and sit in the back or balcony and not be bothered. But remember, it is our church and program, so if they come, they have do adapt to our rules, friendly rules, to help them experience fellowship and community in church.

II. Special Weekly Segment

We need to have a "special" segment that defines sociedad de jovenes. We must pick one and start next week. Something what will cause people's ears to itch so that they will want to come to sociedad de jovenes. Here are two possible ideas:

a) Have three different families (father, mothers, children. ages 10 and up) participate in memorizing the 7 different verses of the adult matutina (Plenitud en Cristo" by Alejadro Bullon). then at the beginning of Sociedad de Jovenes, we have all three families come up the platform, and we ask them to recite the seven verses, or we ask one person to recite them all (7!). We can have three judges: Pastor Oscar, Myself, and Lillian Ortiz, Rebekkah diaz (or two women leaders who know the Bible). They will be our judges. When all three families go, then the judges will choose a winner (the family that did it best), and give them a prize. a home gift, gift certificate for the family, etc. That is sure to be a great one.

b. Every Saturday morning, we have like an air machine during the announcements (like the lottery numbers machine), where we choose a verse for the day, of several hard verses that people generally don't understand, have read, or some that we need to understand better. We can call it "Decifrando la Biblia" con el Pastor Salvador Garcia or something like that. We choose the verse, read it during the announcements or right before the sermon, and we invite people to come at the time we are supposed to start. if 5pm then we start at 5pm if there is 1 person, 5, or 50. Remember, our goal is to have 300 youth there. Yesterday, we had like 5 only. Where are the rest? Let's pray for them. Then suppose we choose the verse, John 15:1: I am the vine, you are branches ...". We would have a picture on powerpoint of a vine with branches, also have live plant in the front of the church, then read the text and go word by word until we understand what the verse "really Means". I think people would like this one too! WE can start next week too!

c) We can have a family spotlight each week. I will personally go to a different family each week, and visit them, get pictures from them (I'll scan them there at their house on my printer and laptop), and then on Saturday morning, we give a little snippit of the mini-report. No more that 20 seconds. Then in the afternoon, we present a 3 minute little report through pictures on who the family is, where they come from, what they do for a living, where they go to school, or something like that. We can even ask that family to participate with the prayer, juego biblico, y oracion.

III. 300: An Army of Youth ... Our Dream and our T-shirts!

Remember that crazy guy "Gustavo" that told us last year we could not reach 100 jovenes for Jesus? I know he was wrong, and he spoke the "devil's words" to discourage us. The question is, "Do we really believe we can reach 100 youth who are active in church and serving Jesus?" I do! ... Since January, we have lost the vision of the "300: An army of youth." So, let's start it up again. Next week, let's all bring our t-shirts to church and wear them in the afternoon for the sociedad de jovenes concert. Are you ready to relive the passion and dream God has given us? During these 40 days of Devotions, we can really see God blessing and changing our lives and he wants to do the same with the youth!

IV. We need to attract youth More

I have realized that adults come to church on saturday afternoon, because they know then can't stay at home and watch tv and just sleep because it would be a "sin." So they come to Sociedad de jovenes, even if it is boring. Not so with youth. They want something that is dynamic, fun, entertianing, and yet instructional, information. They want to leave sociead de jovenes saying, "Hey, that was fun, and I learned something to day! I bet if I come back next week, I can learn some more!" ... That's what we want guys. Let's not just try to please the adults by singing coritos and himnos (Sorry to say it so bluntly). Let's sing songs that jovenes like to sing (even in English) and let's speak in English if we have too because that is their language. You know it is true! Don't believe anyone that says that 2nd and 3rd Generation hispanics can be reached without speaking in their language. If they speak English, guess what? Then speak to them in English? We'll talk more about this later. Honestly, let's try and think outside the box, but first, let's pray, and the youth there first.

V. Drastic results demand a drastic commitment on our behalf

I think all of our youth leaders, beginning with the youth pastor, then the youth elders, youth directors, youth sub-directors, youth secretaries, need to realize that God is asking us for a greater commitment than we perhaps have had up until now. Youth ministry is not just part time or just when we feel like it. It's a 24/7 life commitment. I want us to be committed to praying, preparing, planning, and presenting awesome programs that will transform the life of the youth. We are moving there ... and By God's grace we are going to get there this year. We have 10 month left this year 11'. If we haven't done it yet, let's fall on our knees and ask God to give us a heart and a passion for youth that are literally going to hell because they don't know Jesus as Savior, Lord, and Friend. They are lost in drugs, sex, gangs, movies, television, internet, pornography,music, friends, and yet they come to church, but nothing happens in their life week after week. God is working to reach them every second of their life, and he is asking us to be his hands and feet and mouth to minister to these youth. To call them, visit them, and just be their friend and mentor. We can do this guys, with a greater commitment to God, and to aim for excellence in all that we do. Nothing more, nothing less.

VI. More Games and Dinamics to get the jovenes there

I've noticed that when we use things like Bible Jeopardy, who wants to be a millionaire or others, we have great participation, and people enjoy it and learn. The youth are are there, and they participate. We need more of this. From time to time, we can have a concert, a talent show, and a guest speaker to preach on an important topic for youth or the church, but we need to have an order of program that is not set in stone, but that guides us to getting the youth there and up on stage saying or doing something.

So here is a suggested, notice the word suggested again, order of service for Sociedad de Jovenes.

VII. Suggested Order of Service (Not mandatory; be Creative)

1. Prayer time: We spend the first 20 minutes of the service (meaning we start 20 minutes before the actual time. So if we announce it at 5pm, at 4:40p, we start to pray. We pray with anyone who is there: 1, 5, or 10 people).

2. Awesome song service with live music (we have hired an official youth pianist, Abraham Soto), he will start next week if possible, with songs that are contemporary in spanish and one in English. Abraham will be there every Saturday 2 hours before to practice with the singers. We want them to practice for at least 30 minutes, so that they can sound really good. We need to do a better job in this area.

3. Welcome: Make it creative.

4. Prayer: Again, be creative. Have people write requests on pieces of paper, or sheets of paper on the walls, etc.

5. Ice Breaker, Bible Game, or Interaction activity: This is where we get the youth to come up and participate. Remember that part of what we are doing is not just presenting a program, we are training and preparing the youth to be leaders by participating. Ask some who are not in the directiva to help out with something. When it is your program, you don't have to do everything by yourslef.

6. Offering: Giving is an act of worship, so let's give people an opportunity to give back to God.

7. Tema/Surprise/Something of substance: Here is where you get creative. As we visit and call the youth each week, we will discover what they are struggling with, then choose a topic accordingly. Invite a guest speaker, show a video, have youth give a testimony on something related to the tema. Make it something of substance. when youth leave, help them to feel that it was worth their time and that it has helped them to be there.

8. Final Song: Let it be a happy song. It can even be our theme song for that day. Let's sing it and be glad.

9. Closing Prayer: Ask an elder, or youth leader, or a youth to come up and pray. It doesn't always have to be the pastor either. God listens to anyone with a sincere and honest heart.

10. Announcements: Please let's have only the youth director, sub director, or secretary for that day's program have the announcements. Put them on powerpoint or on video. Or have the pastor do it. Don't have the pastor say something from the pulpit, and then someone add something from a cordless mike who is not the person making the announcement. Let's be organized and do a better job!

Those are some of my ideas so far, remember that we will meet this Friday at 7pm. I will be praying for you. Do continue to read the 40 day devotional and call your prayer partner. Blessings!

With Love,

Your Youth Pastor,

Sal Garcia

Here is Your Word for Today: "You and Jesus = Success"

Here is your Word for today:

"Two are better than one,
   because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
   his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
   and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
   But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
   two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12

Thought for the Day: In our marriages or relationship with God, when we make Jesus a part of our relationships they are much stronger than without Him. Determine to make Jesus a part of your family with your spouse and children, and your relationship with God. For the saying is true after all, "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."You, your family, and Jesus are the formula to a lasting family relationship. You and Jesus are the formula to having success in your spiritual relationship with God. After all, Jesus himself said, "Without me, you can do nothing." Invite Jesus into your life and relationships today.

Prayer for the Day: Dear God, May you be in going out and my coming in. May You go before me and after me. May You go Above me and Beneath me. May You go to  my right and to my left. May Jesus be at the front and center of my life today. I invite You into my life and into my heart. May I no longer live or walk alone. May Jesus be the sticky glue that keeps my family and my spiritual life together. Thank you. In Jesus' name. Amen."

Life: 101 from Your Life Coach Sal Garcia

You have one live to life. I have one life to live. Everyone has one life to live. All around us, people are struggling, succeeding, and failing at living their lives to their fullest potential. Where do you find yourself today? Are you satisfied with your life? If you are a teenager, you have your future ahead of you. High School, College, Grad School. The job, education, and training your receive will help you to have "tangible" and "material" stuff. Things like, clothing, cars, and a home or property. Yet all of these things don't define who you are. Look at yourself in the mirror today, and ask yourself, "Who am I?" Am I living up to my God given potential. If you feel you are not, then it's never to late. Start today, to live as though you have already achieved your wildest dreams. If you want to be a doctor one day, then start thinking like a doctor today and care for people's life and health and relieve the pain of suffering humanity. If you want to be a lawyer one day, then be honest and ethical in your life and thinking today, and uphold justice and peace in your life.  If you want to live for Jesus for all of eternity as one of his followers,  then start to live with with Jesus and to think with Jesus today by entering into a personal relationship with Him. You can reach your potential. You have been put on this earth for something. It's your purpose and your destiny. No one else can fulfill it for you. Only you can. 

So how about it? Live not to please others, but only to bring a smile to God's face. You know that God has your picture in His wallet in Heaven, right? He sees your face everyday, and He longs to help you fulfill your divine destiny. The only way to discover it is to get on your knees and face and pray, "Lord, Lead me to my destiny!" You have to open God's Word, the Bible, and read it and study it as never before. It's God's Love letter to you. Every one of your days has been recorded in God's Book for you. Your agenda, your mission, your purpose for every day of your life is right there. So how about it? Just walk across the room, fall on your face and knees, and open the Book of all Books, the Bible. In it, you will discover God's purpose and plan for your life every single day. That's something you can't afford to live without. You can live without a boyfriend, without getting married, without a car,  without a vacation house, or a six figure income. However, you can't afford to live without God in your life. You have tried living your life on your own up until now. How about living your life with God instead of without Him? Just going to church and socializing will not help. You can't get connected just by going to to church, any church. You need to take the time in your life each day to say something to God, and to allow God to say something to you too. He has Your picture in a frame, and He has hand-picked an agenda for you today. How bad to you want it? Do you just want to live your life like "whatever", or do you want to live your life "Like God would want you to?" The choice is yours. What will it be? 


Prayer: "Lord, Lead me to my destiny. Here I am on my hands and knees asking for more of you and less of me in my life. I need to know why you've put me here on earth. I desire to do your will, oh God. Please, grant me today your love, your grace, and your mercy and compassion to live my life today as you would want me to live. Help me to discover my purpose in life today, this week, and this year. And I promise that when you lead me to my destiny and purpose, I will give you the honor and glory for doing so! In Jesus' name, Amen."

 Bible Texts: Jeremiah 29:11-13: Matthew 6:33; Psalm 139


Thought for the day: "Not the world, nor money, nor fame, nor education, but only God can lead me to my destiny!"




From your Life Coach,

Sal Garcia

What is the True Gospel? Why Bother?

 

What is the True Gospel? Why Bother?

With so many Christian churches today and so many denominations in the Christian world, someone might be tempted to ask think, “The Gospel? Why every church and every denomination believes in the same Gospel. There is only one Gospel, right?” Well, that is what this first of a series of twelve studies on “theological hot potatoes” called “Jesus, the Gospel, and the Church: Why Bother?” is all about. I hope that you will join me for entire series. In case you have forgotten, here is the list of titles for the series:

What is the True Gospel?

Why does the church exist today?

Is obedience necessary in order to be saved?

Christian Standards and Norms and Gospel?

What about Church Tradition? 

Are Tattoos, jewelry, and adornment always bad?

Is the church a holy place? 

Are pastors more Holy than regular church members?

Is music, dancing, and clapping in the church ok? 

What about Vatican Council II and Peter Wagner’s Three Waves of the Holy Spirit? 

Is there anything wrong with Joel Olsteen, Rick Warren, and the Mega Church Movement? 

Is the Seventh-day Adventist Church the remnant church of Bible prophecy or should be look for another Church?

Two important Principles

At the outset, I want to lay down two important principles that will help us in our study and journey together. The first is time is of essence. Today, most people live in a rapid and fast paced environment, and claim to not have enough time even to read the Bible and pray. I believe in the goodness and honesty of people, and if they only had more time, I really believe more people would study, pray, and seek out a more personal relationship and friendship with God. In fact, because today we “are so busy”, we are confused on many subjects that are plain and clear if we would just “have more time” to study and research them out. These twelve short studies will be quick and to the point. We will not beat around the bush, or try to avoid offending someone or some group of people. Be advised that if you are not open to the Holy Spirit’s leading, and open to the unexpected destination where the Bible, the writings of Ellen G. White, and Common Sense may take us on this journey, you might as well close this email, blog, podcsast, or web browser . This journey is not for the many or the fearful, but for few and the fearless. If that is you, I’m glad you’ve joined me on this journey.

The Second principle is one that was made famous many years ago, and is used in other fields of research and study: “Keep it simple." Forgive the offense, but it’s nothing personal, just a saying that contains an important truth. Simplicity is paramount in grasping the subject matter. I hope that even little children, ages 6-12, will be able to grasp and understand the clear teachings and conclusions that we hope to arrive at. So are you ready? Grab your Bible, your concordance, your favorite drink, and sit in your favorite chair because we are beginning a journey together that may take us to an unexpected destination and to a new way of looking at Jesus, the Gospel, and the Church. Let’s go! Let the journey begin!

The Gospel

The world Gospel comes from the Greek word “euangellion” which means good news or good report. It the Greek word used to describe a messenger who was sent before the arrival of a King or important Civic Leader to let the people now that an important person was coming to town. The Gospel is the good news and good report of what God has done for us in the person of Jesus Christ. If you grab a Bible, you can use any version you use, I recommend the New King James Version or the New International Version for purposes of this study. A paraphrase Bible, like the Message, or New Living Bible, or the Clear Word will not be sufficient. A copy of the Andrews Study Bible might even be better! (cheap plug!). A quick Bible concordance search on the word “gospel” in the New King James Version will yield 101 results. Of those 101 results, the best Bible verse that defines what the Gospel is, is 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

^“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

It’s always dangerous to build your belief or theology on just one text or a few isolated texts. Make sure you look at some of the other texts that mention the world Gospel (Good news, Good report, or message) in the New Testament. However, this one text tells us that the Gospel is able to save us if we “hold fast” to that word which was preached to us. In just a few short verses, four to be exact, the apostle Paul gives us the sum and substance of the Gospel. Here it is, are you ready? 

First, it consists of Christ dying for our sins “according to the Scriptures”. His death fulfilled the prophecies regarding the manner of his death, and pointing forward to His death as a sacrifice, substitute, and payment for sin (Isaiah 53; psalm 22). 

Second, the Gospel or good news consists of the fact that Christ “was buried and … rose the third day according to the Scriptures.” The Gospel is not something new or something that the New Testament writer invented. The Old Testament point forward to the death of Jesus. Christ burial and resurrection on the third day were in fulfillment on the Old Testament prophecies. Amazing! Stories like the sacrifice of Isaac by His Father Abraham, the Experience of the prophet Jonah in the belly of big fish for three days and three nights, and the Promise of Messiah and Savior in Genesis 3:15 were all fulfilled in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In a simple outline form the Gospel looks like this:

1 Corinthians 15:1-3

The Gospel is:              A. Christ died for our sins

                                     B. Christ was buried

                                     C. Christ rose again the third day

                                     D. According the Scriptures. 

It is evident that Gospel of Good News consists of what God has done for us. We do not find any human part or role in the Gospel except the act of faith and belief. Paul says “^“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.” Evidently, one needs to have faith and belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for it to be Good News. Atheists, Agnostics, and Skeptics don’t see the story of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus as Good News or Gospel, because they choose not to have faith, belief, and trust in Jesus and the Bible.

What Jesus did for us in dying for our sins, being buried, and rising the third day according to the Scriptures is the Gospel. Nothing more and nothing less. You can try to add to it, and many have done so. You can try to subtract from it, and many have. But when you add or take anything from the simple Gospel taught by Jesus Christ Himself and His Disciples, then you end up with no Gospel. You end up with something that isn’t Good news or a Good Message. If you add anything to the Gospel in the form or human works, obedience, or penitence, then you don’t have any Gospel because you have to earn and work your way to Heaven. If you subtract anything from the Gospel, like Dan Brown in his infamous and infidel work “The Davinci Code” and others like “Holy Blood, Holy Grail” have done by claiming that Jesus was just a regular human being who didn’t on the cross for the sins of humanity, nor was buried, nor resurrected the third day according to the Scriptures, then you end up with no Gospel or Good News. Humanity is still lost in their sins, and there is no hope of eternal life or life after death. The Devil is smart too, because He tries to get people to buy into either one or the other idea. The sad thing is that almost everyone has bought into the Devil’s lies. He says, “Jesus death on the cross for your sins isn’t enough. You have to obey the commandments, do good works, and penitence in order to be saved.” He also says, “Jesus didn’t really die like the Bible says He did. He was just a good man who had a mistake of identity and thought He was the Son of God, when in fact He wasn’t. He didn’t really die, since Judas Iscariot actually was the one who died on the cross. Instead, Jesus married Mary Magdalene has a holy seed that exists today. That is the real truth” the Devil whispers into the ear of the eager and accepting masses today.

When you first become a Christian, a follower of Christ, you need to understand, accept, and believe the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today, there are way too many counterfeit Gospels going around as if they are the real thing. Thankfully, the bible helps us in our confusion. A simple way to understand the Gospel is illustrated by two popular ways of presenting the Gospel. The first is called, “the Romans Road”, because it uses Bible texts mainly found in the Book of Romans.

"The Romans Road"

The "Romans Road" begins by reminding us that Humanity is sinful and hopelessly lost without God.

Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

If matter weren’t bad enough, The "Romans Road" goes on to tell us that the punishment for sin is an eternal death. A death from which there is no return. Not an everlasting death, in the sense that people will be tortured and burned throughout eternity, but a death from which there is no hope of ever coming back to life. The first half of the verse contains this sad assessment of future of unrepentant and sinful humanity.

Romans 6:23a, “For the wages of sin is death."

A wage is what someone earns for working. When your boss is sin, and you work hard at sinning, then your wage or salary is death. However, when you choose to believe God and accept Him as your Master and Lord, then there is a beautiful gift that is given to you instead of the punishment of death.

Romans 6:23b, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

When we choose to believe in Jesus Christ as Our Savior and Lord, and choose to follow God instead of the Devil, God gives us eternal life as a gift. In fact, it is a FREE GIFT. It seems God knew there would be confusion on this subject, so in Romans chapter five, He tells us three times that the salvation from sin and eternal life are a free gift.

"But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many." Romans 5:15

"And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification." Romans 5:16

"Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life."Romans 5:18

If it is free, that means you cannot add anything to it or earn it by working. It is free, with no strings attached. Pretty amazing, huh? Next we discover that this free gift is given by grace through faith to everyone who believes. Notice Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians 2:8-9

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Grace is God’s unmerited favor, which means that He freely chose to give us salvation and eternal life when we could never earn it or deserve it on our own. It’s a gift.

And finally, the Romans Road leads us to 1 John 5:11-13. Here again we are assured of God’s grace, love, and security as we continue to believe, accept, and trust in Jesus completed work of salvation for us on the cross.

1 John 5:11-13

“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

It is by believing in Jesus that we receive eternal life. We can have the security and confidence of eternal life right now at this moment, and don’t need to wait for Jesus to come or for our names to come up in the judgment. We are safe in Jesus now, if we have the Son. To have the son, means to have a saving relationship with Jesus as Savior and Lord. I say, “I have a son” or “I have a wife”. What I mean is that I have a relationship with my son, and a relationship with my wife. “He who has the Son has life.” IF you have a faith relationship with Jesus you have eternal life right now.

One Gospel, Not Many

In the Bible, there is only One Gospel. The "Romans Road" is one way to present the Gospel. Let me share with you another way that you probably haven’t seen before. I borrowed it from the Good News Unlimited Ministry, but rest assured, it’s in the Bible.

1. The Gospel is completely of Grace

Ephesians 2:8-9

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

The gospel is completely of grace and not by man’s doing or achievement. Are you starting to feel small and insignificant when it comes to God’s Salvation equation and math? I sure hope so!

2. Man is sinful

Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

3. As a result of man’s sin, He deserves to die.

Romans 6:23a, “For the wages of sin is death."

4. God is just, therefore he must punish sin.

Exodus 34:7, “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”

God justice requires that sin be punished.

5. God is love, therefore He want to save man and rescue Him from eternal death.

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

6. Jesus Christ died for ours sins and purchased a place for us in Heaven.

Colossians 2:13-14, “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

Through the death of Jesus Christ, God is able to forgive us of our sins, demonstrate His love, and uphold His Justice.

7. Faith is the key to Heaven

Acts 16:31, “So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Belief in Jesus is the key to Heaven. You can’t be saved by what you do, but only by what Jesus has already done for you. God’s gift of salvation truly is a free gift with no strings attached!

 The Gospel, why bother?

As we have seen in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, the "Romans Road", and in the Gospel as Good News, The Gospel is more all about What God has done for us already, and not about what we can do for ourselves in the present or future. With that said, let’s us remember that the Gospel is not contrary to God’s Law or Ten Commandments. The same apostle Paul states that the Gospel and Law are both

Romans 3:31

“Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”

Romans 6:1-2

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

You see according the Bible, the purpose of God’s Law or Ten Commandments is to bring us to Jesus Christ for salvation, and once we are saved, it is meant to keep us living in harmony with God and with each other.

Galatians 3:24-25

“Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”

James 2:8, 10-12

“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well … For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.”

Here James, Jesus’ brother, reminds us that Ten Commandments are a Law of Liberty for those who have been freed from the condemnation and slavery of sin. Their new master and Lord is no longer sin, but Jesus. The Ten Commandments and God’s Laws are the Laws of liberty, and fences for the free. To the child of God who believes in Jesus, the Ten Commandments function as boundaries to help us live in harmony with God and with mankind. Obedience to the Ten Commandments are not a means of salvation, but the fruit of salvation. You don’t have to be good to be saved, but you do have to be saved to be good.

Final Thoughts

We need to remember that the Gospel is truly Good News. It includes not only what Jesus has done for us on Calvary by dying for all of our sins, but also what Jesus wants to do in us by His Holy Spirit. I once saw a poster in a girls dormitory in college that said, “God loves you so much He doesn’t want you to stay the way you are. He wants to make you more like Jesus every day!” The truth of the Gospel is that it includes not only what Jesus has already done for us in providing our full salvation through his substitutionary death, but also what Jesus desire to do in us to prepare us for Heaven. One is called justification, the work of a moment. The other is called sanctification, the work of a lifetime. One is instantaneous, the other is a life-long process. However, both are a gift from God, and a result of His Grace. And no wonder, because no matter how close we walk to Jesus on the earth, when He returns a Second Time, He will have to speed up can complete the work of sanctification in our lives when He takes us to Heaven. 

Philippians 1:6: 

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” 

Sanctification, the process of making a person righteous and more life Jesus is also a gift. A free gift. It is God’s work. We only give God the opportunity in our lives and respond in repentance, obedience, and faith, but even those things are gift’s of God. Notice these last two promises.

Acts 5:31

“Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.”

Philippians 1:12-13

^“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”  

There you have it! The Gospel. Never forget it, and as we study some controversial topics and hot topics, remember that your salvation is secure in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. As long as you stay in a faith relationship with Jesus, He promises you eternal life now, and a life forever with Him in Heaven.

Be Blessed!

~ Pastor Sal Garcia

Jesus, the Gospel, and the Church: Why bother?

Jesus, the Gospel, and the Church: Why bother?

Have you ever asked yourself what wearing a suit and tie, men not being permitted to have long hair, women wearing makeup or painting their nails, listening to music with percussion instruments, wearing a wedding ring or jewelry, women wearing provocative clothing like miniskirts, short dresses, or halter tops, sleeveless dresses, women not being allowed to wear pants but only dresses, women not being allowed on the platform or stage during the worship service only during Sabbath School, women frowned upon for putting highlights in their hair or dying their hair a different color, Only singing hymns songs because they are the only type of songs that God “approves” of, no clapping or applause, and no jumping for joy but instead remaining quiet and silent as the only real sign or reverence has to do with following Jesus Christ and worshipping God on the Seventh-day Sabbath?

What is the Gospel? What constitutes the true Gospel? Is it just Jesus and Him crucified? Or is the true Gospel Jesus plus “something else”? What is the experience of a Christian really like? How much of what appears to be the Gospel of Jesus Christ is actually not? Is the Christian lifestyle a prerequisite for being “saved”, or is the Christian lifestyle the natural response of a person who is already “saved”? Is my salvation dependent on my obedience or is it dependant wholly on faith? How much of what we do at church is truly biblical? How much of what we do at church is cultural, and how much is based on tradition? Is tradition always bad? Am I lost if I reject my church’s tradition, even if that tradition makes certain members feel it identifies us as the remnant church of Bible prophecy? What constitutes the remnant church? What about texting and emailing during the worship service? Is the modern church just like the Old Testament Earthly Sanctuary? Is there an Outer Court, a Holy Place, and a Most Holy Place? Can women participate in a divine worship service? Can a woman preach? Can a women be a pastor? Is the Pastor and Minister like a priest in the Old Testament? Do the pastor’s prayers ascend higher to heaven and do his prayers get heard by God before everyone else’s? Why do youth either tend to become just like their parents, or exactly the opposite in their religious life? Is being strict and rule-oriented in your religious experience good? Is being grace-oriented and loving bad? Why do youth leave the church when they reach their late teens and become legal adults? What is missing in their religious experience? Why don’t they come back even after they discover that what the world offers them is temporary, fleeting, and non-satisfying? Why don’t they just come back to church? Why do they choose to stay in the far country instead of just coming back to the Father’s House? Isn’t church the place where people should meet and learn about God, be accepted just as they are, and be able to find God? Why aren’t thousands of people coming into the church right now to find God? Doesn’t God love them and want them to join to church? Is the problem with God, is the problem with how we “do church?” What does Vatican Council II have to do with the way we conduct church services today? What do the teachings of Charismatic teacher Peter Wagner and the Three Waves of the Holy Spirit have to do with how some church are doing church? Are seeker services ok? Are sermons that are Gospel-Lite and Motivational and Self-help ok? Why don’t we hear more sermons on the “Blood of Jesus” on Television and the internet? Why do some church stear away from preaching a gospel of a suffering and crucified Savior and opt for preaching sermons on positive thinking, self-improvement to achieve wealth, and “how to live your best right now” instead of preparing to live your best life in the future in heaven when Jesus comes back? In so many words, we want to answer the question, “Jesus, the Gospel and the Church: Why Bother?

I would like to invite you to join me on this journey trough this maze of confusion and enemy mines that seek to prevent us from reaching a biblical and reasoned answer. If you truly are interested in following Christ instead of following only tradition. If you are truly interested in becoming a Christ follower instead of just a Christian by name. If you want to discover answers to questions you always wanted to ask but were afraid to, join me in this series “Jesus, the Gospel, and the Church: Why Bother?”

Together, we will be confronting some of the most difficult, misunderstood, and challenging Bible topics. These are in fact hot potatoes for some. However, we intend to find honest answers for honest seekers. We will use the Bible as our main textbook and use the science of hermeneutics called exegesis instead of the popular false approach commonly used called eisegesis. We will also look at what Ellen G. White has written on the topics, look at church history, and use our God-given common sense. All together, we hope to come out on top with our faith having been placed upon the true Gospel and not a counterfeit Gospel. There are only two pre-requisites necessary before embarking upon this journey.

First, you must believe that God has answers and that He wants you to discover Biblical answers to these difficult and often avoided subjects. Second, you need to have a desire to follow God and His truth, no matter the cost. You need to make the decision right now that no matter how painful it may be to you or to others, you desire to follow God’s truth, believe it, and live it in your life. That may mean changing or adapting some of your currently held beliefs on certain topics if that is what God tells you to do. So are you ready? Are you ready to begin the journey?

Here is the list of topics:

1)   What is the True Gospel?

2)   Why does the church exist today?

3)   Is obedience necessary in order to be saved?

4)   Christian Standards and Norms and Gospel?

5)   What about Church Tradition?

6)   Are Tattoos, jewelry, and adornment always bad?

7)   Is the church a holy place?

8)   Are pastors more Holy than regular church members?

9)   Is music, dancing, and clapping in the church ok?

10) What about Vatican Council II and Peter Wagner’s Three Waves of the Holy Spirit?

11) Is there anything wrong with Joel Olsteen, Rick Warren, and the Mega Church Movement?

12) Is the Seventh-day Adventist Church the remnant church of Bible prophecy or should be look for another Church?

Five Unmistakable Truths To Live By

Five Unmistakable Truths to Live By

Truth Number One - The Second Coming


Truth? Who needs it today? In a society and generation that believes that there is 'no absolute truth" and that "what is true for you may not be true for me", God's Word flies "smack dab" into the face of such uncritical and hedonistic thinking. God's Word reveals to us that truth can be known, and gives us a blue print for where we can discover truth. John 17:17 says, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." 

According to the Bible, truth can be known for truth is contained in the pages of the Bible, and also in person of Jesus Christ. "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."(John 14:6) So how about living according to God's truth throughout 2011 and beyond. In a society with Icons such as Oprah Winfrey, who believes and support New Age teachings, and Steve Jobs, who has elevated technology to the status of "god" (heard of "ipod", "iphone", "ipad"?), why is knowing and following truth so important. Why not just pick a little here and some there and try to make it through life on whatever philosophy, world view, or self-chosen theology works for us? I mean, not all of the super rich believe in Jesus or the Bible, as Russell Simmons the rap music and entertainment mogul (with over 100 million dollars) states in his new book "Super Rich" in which he recommends reaching a "blissful state of happiness and abundance" through meditation, without the need of God or Jesus. 

Russel Simmons philosophy on happiness sounds a lot like Hinduism and the New Age: "Look within yourself to find your Christ consciousness through meditation". That would be a great way to live your life except for the following two Bible verses: 

“ The heart is deceitful above all things,
      And desperately wicked;
      Who can know it?  Jeremiah 17:9


"There is a way that seems right to a man,
      But its end is the way of death." Proverbs 14:12

No, Eastern Philosophies will not work or do the job for us, since we discovered that the teachings of Jesus go against the teaching of Hinduism, Buddhism (Sorry Tiger Woods!), and the New Age. Jesus taught that God is a personal being, that sin is real, that repentance is necessary, and that friendship with God is personal and real, and not mysterious, vague, and impersonal. 
 
So what philosophy work for us? Will looking within ourselves help us to "be happy" and reach a blissful state? We have concluded that the New Age, Hinduism, and Buddhism are bankrupt and offer no real solution to the greatest need of humanity: Forgiveness. Only Jesus Christ can offer us the peace, forgiveness, and hope that we need. 

Acts 4:12
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

1 Timothy 2:5


"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus."

John 14:6
'Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

So how about focusing on "Five Unmistakable truths" from the Source of all truth, "The Bible", to get us back on the right path of exercising faith in Jesus? After all, God's last day people will be those who "keep the commandments of God" and "have the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 12:7;14:12). Are you ready to embark the journey together?


Five Unmistakable Truths


"Five unmistakable truths from the Word of God, the the Bible, that can help revolutionize your world paradigm and perspective for the rest of 2011. What are they? The truth of the Second Coming of Christ, the truth of the State of the Dead, the truth of the Heavenly Sanctuary, the truth of the Spirit of Prophecy, and the truth of the Seventh-day Sabbath. Today, let's look at the first Unmistakable Truth, The Second Coming of Christ.


The Second Coming of Christ


There are over 2500  references or allusions to the Second Coming of Jesus throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, there are 1,835 references to Christ's Second Coming. In the New Testament, there are 318 references to the Second Coming, that is 1 out of every 30 verses. In the New Testament, twenty-three of the twenty-seven books refer to the Second Coming of Christ, and for every prophecy referring to Christ's first advent, the there are eight which look forward to Christ's Second Advent! This is the first "Unmistakable Truth" you can't afford to be without. Once you accept and believe what the Bible and Jesus teaches on the Second Coming of Christ, you will be "anchored" and ready to live as a "child of God" who awaits the "Blessed Hope" or Christ's Second Coming.


In the New Testament, the Greek Word that refers specifically to Christ's Second Coming is the word "parousia" = coming. There are two other greek words that allude and refer to the Second coming of Christ. They are the words "apokalupsis" = revelation and "epiphaneia" = appearing. While there is much confusion about the manner of Christ's Second Coming, certain things are are clear as day. Let's discover them together!

Gems regarding the Second Coming of Christ

The first gem that we discover from the Bible about the Second Coming of Christ is that it is the most anticipated and welcomed even in all of the Bible. For instance, notice these verses that announce, celebrate, and proclaim the Second Advent of Christ.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:1-3

while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13

Our God comes
   and will not be silent;
a fire devours before him,
   and around him a tempest rages." Psalm 50:3

Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones." Jude 14

The second coming Jesus is the most celebrated event in the Bible. It has gotten Christians excited throughout history. The question is, are you excited about Jesus coming back too?

The Manner of Christ's Coming

So how will Jesus come back? Will it be spiritually, personally, or secretly? It's true that Jesus wants to enter our heart and live in us through the Holy Spirit. However, this is not the "parousia" that the Bible writers and even Jesus referred to. It is not conversion or becoming spiritually alive as a result of accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord. Instead, the "parousia" is the literal, physical, audible, and visible second coming of Jesus in the clouds of Heaven. Let's look at the Bible texts that teach this.

Literal Coming

An important event happened after Jesus rose from the grave. He ascended to Heaven. Acts 1:9-11 records what happened at the moment of His Ascension.

"After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.  “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

The Angels who appeared the mesmerized disciples revealed the first gem regarding Christ's Second Coming. His coming will be a Real and Literal Event, and not just a spiritual coming into our hearts. What is the second gem? 

Visible 


The Bible gives us a second gem regarding the Second Coming of Jesus. Notice the following two Bible verses.

" “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
   and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
   and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
            So shall it be! Amen." Revelation 1:7

"For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." Matthew 24:27

In these clear teaching of the Bible, we discover that the coming of Jesus will be a visible event. Everyone will be able to see it, not just a select few. Therefore, His coming can not be secret or silent, for just as lightning is visible, His coming will also be visible to all mankind. Never forget this. 

Audible

How many of you love music? Loud music? Well, I have good news for you. The Bible teaches that when Jesus returns the second time, it will be the noisiest day in the entire world! Notice these verses.

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done." Matthew 16:27

At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it." Matthew 24:23

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality." 1 Corinthians 15:51-53

Talk about noisy! When Jesus comes there will be the sound of "God's Trumpet", a "Loud Command", and the "Voice of the Archangel".  That sounds a like of noise and activity to sleep through and be unaware of. There is no way that Jesus could come back secretly and silently with all of that noise. That is why Matthew 24:23 says that if someone tells you Jesus has come back and is in a certain place, "Do not believe it!" That isn't Jesus, for when Jesus returns, the whole world will know since they will both see Him and hear Him. 

Personal

Ok, Big deal? So we know Jesus is coming back in a literally, physically, visibly, and audibly. So what? I'm glad you asked that question. You see, Jesus isn't coming back just to fulfill the Bible prophecies regarding His Second Coming. The real reason He is coming back is because He loves you and can't wait to see you, hug you, and kiss you! Bear hug anyone? Jesus is coming back because personally for you! Did you know that Jesus actually prayed for you so that you will be with Him in Heaven when He returns the Second Time? Keep this promise in your heart for the rest of your life. 

 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message."John 17:20

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world." John 17:24  

Jesus is coming back for you! That is the real reason He has taken so long to come back. 2,000 years is a long time! To us, but not to God. 

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:8-9

Jesus can't wait to see you! In fact, He has your picture in Heaven. He is praying that you will give your heart to Him and surrender yourself completely to Him so that He can get you ready for Heaven. He wants to pack your bags, so that if His Coming is today, tomorrow, or one year from now, you will be ready to go when He comes. Get ready! The King is Coming Back Soon!


Conclusion

Today is the best day to get ready for Jesus' Second Coming. The invitation is made to us in God's Word.

"For he says,
   “In the time of my favor I heard you,
   and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
   I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:2

How should we prepare for Heaven today, so that when Jesus comes we will not be afraid but instead be filled with joy and happiness? 

"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Matthew 24:44

The best way to get prepared and stay prepared for the Second Coming of Jesus is to "abide" or stay with Jesus today. Have you asked Him to the Lord of your life? Have you asked Him to be the Savior of your life? It's never too late. Why not surrender your life today for the plans He has for you? 

Practical Steps

 1. Live every day as though Jesus was coming back today. Spend more time praying, reading the Bible, and telling others what you got out of the two. 

2. Develop a friendship and relationship with Jesus today! When He returns, He will say to you, "I've been waiting to see you personally. Let's go home! Heaven is waiting for you!"

3. Get rid of the stuff in your life. Simplify your life. Get rid of the gadgets and things that crowd your spiritual life. Make time for Jesus by getting rid of things, PEOPLE (i.e., boyfriends, acquaintances), or anything that robs you of your time and friendship with Jesus.

4. Let your life be a sermon to everyone who meets you that Jesus is coming again. Be nice to people, give liberally and generally to the needy and worthy causes, and have the joy of Christ's soon coming in your heart always! 



~ Pastor Sal Garcia