After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. (John 17:1-5)

 
As Jesus arrives at the final moments of his life before the crucifixion, we see a steely determination to finish the task. Will it be difficult? Yes. Will it be excruciating (lit: from the cross)? Most definitely. In his divinity, Jesus wants this to happen, but his flesh must learn obedience through suffering. He prays, “Now is the time, Father. Glorify me that I may glorify you.”

The glorification of which Jesus speaks is most assuredly the crucifixion. We may struggle to see the crucifixion as glorifying, but it is the magnum opus of events in the biblical account. All the prophets and the Law pointed to the reality that the Son of Man - the eschatological divine King of Daniel 7 - must suffer and die, and from that death would spring newness of life. Jesus implores the Father, “Now is the time.”

The result of such glorification is, in part, authority. The Good Shepherd has the authority to seek and to save the lost, and to hold fast and close those the Father has given to him. He uses this authority not to seek his own self-interest, but instead leverages it for humility that he might gift eternal life to his beloved. Philippians 2:6-11 beautifully paints the portrait of Jesus’ earthly ministry:

Who, being in very nature God,
  did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
  rather, he made himself nothing
  by taking the very nature of a servant,
  being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
  he humbled himself
  by becoming obedient to death—
  even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
  and gave him the name that is above every name,
  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
  in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
  and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
  to the glory of God the Father.

What is the eternal life to which his sheep look forward? It is knowing him, knowing the Lord, knowing as we are fully known. Eternal life is so much more than clouds, harps, and singing. Eternal life is relationship restored, knowledge unveiled, to be known as we were meant to be and to know God in his divine eternity.

The cross is the culmination of the work that Jesus came to do. He did everything else the Father had charged him. He healed the man at the Pool of Bethesda, raised Lazarus from the dead, called the pharisees vipers, and cast thousands of demons from the man controlled by Legion. All this Jesus did, and more, but no more than his Father told him to do. After all, the Son only did what the Father was doing, only said what the Father was saying. With a life of obedience the Son glorified the Father, and the Father loved the Son.

The cross will make God’s people, by grace, what the Son of God is by nature. Because of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, his people taste his glory and share in the divine essence that existed before the world began. We become eternal beings. We, creatures of the dust, become spiritual beings. This is the great miracle of the resurrection - that which is fading away might become eternal; that which was scooped from the earth might become divine.

As the divine Son of God would co-mingle with man in the hypostatic union, now we, the Man of Dust, co-mingle with the divine.

Why is thankfulness important, even of bedrock importance, to the Christian life? Paul says that if we can fight against grumbling, we will shine like stars in the midst of a crooked generation. Here is just a brief list of ways in which thankfulness is foundational to being a disciple of Jesus.

Recognition of God’s Goodness:
Thankfulness acknowledges and appreciates the goodness of God. It is a response to the benevolence and generosity of the Creator, recognizing that every good and perfect gift comes from Him (James 1:1

Counteracts Entitlement:
Cultivating a thankful heart counteracts a sense of entitlement. Instead of expecting blessings as a right, thankfulness fosters a humble acknowledgment that everything we have is a gift from God's grace.

Deepens Relationship with God:
Thankfulness is a relational currency with God. It deepens the connection between the believer and their Creator, fostering intimacy and trust. Gratitude reflects an awareness of God's involvement in every aspect of life.

Shifts Focus from Circumstances to God's Character:
In challenging times, thankfulness helps shift the focus from circumstances to God's character. It acknowledges that even in difficulties, God is sovereign, loving, and faithful. It reflects trust in His plan and purpose.

Enhances Worship:
Thankfulness is an integral part of worship. When believers express gratitude, they engage in a form of worship that goes beyond rituals. It becomes a lifestyle that glorifies God and recognizes His worthiness.

Transforms Attitude and Perspective:
A thankful heart transforms attitude and perspective. It enables believers to view life through a lens of appreciation, finding joy in the midst of challenges and seeing opportunities for growth and learning.

Reflects the Gospel:
The core message of the Gospel is a reason for profound thanksgiving. Believers are called to be thankful for the salvation and redemption found in Jesus Christ. Thankfulness becomes a natural response to the transformative work of the cross.

Strengthens Community:
Thankfulness is contagious and strengthens Christian community. When individuals in a community practice gratitude, it fosters unity, encouragement, and a positive atmosphere. It creates a culture where believers support and uplift one another.

Witness to the World:
A thankful Christian life serves as a powerful witness to the world. In a culture often marked by dissatisfaction and discontent, a grateful believer stands out, showcasing the transformative power of faith in Christ.

Prevents Complacency:
Thankfulness prevents complacency and fosters a continual pursuit of God. It keeps believers engaged in a dynamic relationship with Him, seeking to know Him more deeply and live in alignment with His will.

Thankfulness is not just a positive emotion; it's a transformative and foundational aspect of the Christian life. It shapes the believer's relationship with God, their perspective on life, and their interactions with others, ultimately reflecting the love and grace of God.

God can’t wait for you to join Him in Scripture and discover how relevant it is to what you’re going through today. Time in His Word is always beneficial because it’s transforming us to be more like Jesus.

“The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63b, ESV).

Here are three Bible reading plans to choose from, so you may select one that best fits your needs.

My (Pastor Bill's) Discipleship Group plans to do the 5x5x5 Plan together and discuss it over text throughout the week. 

Navigators Bible Reading Plan

You may remember, if you’ve journeyed with us before, the Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan. We’ve refreshed this plan, now known as the Navigators Bible Reading Plan (CLICK HERE) so you can adapt it to your Bible study needs.

Here are five reasons our “Navigators Bible Reading Plan” might be your next step to deepen your time in God’s Word:

• Provides flexibility with our new and refreshed format, you can begin whenever you like. You don’t have to wait for January 1 to start this plan; you can start whenever you like.
• Offers three to six free days per month. You’ll have 25 readings each month, which provides the space to catch up, if needed. Or you can return to passages where you want to spend more time.
• Adds variety in your daily readings as you daily journey through the Old and New Testament, offering four scripture passages daily. No more dragging your feet through a section of the Bible you find difficult to understand before you can move forward.
• Adapts to your Bible study needs. Does reading the entire Bible this year feel like too much? This plan promotes creating sacred space for you and the Lord to spend time together.
• Strengthens your next steps. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105, ESV). Through His Word He will illuminate the path in every area of your life.

The Book-at-a-Time Bible Reading Plan

The Navigators Book-at-a-Time Bible Reading Plan (CLICK HERE) takes you through the entire Bible in one year, providing two readings for each day.

• The first reading alternates between Old and New Testament books with the Gospels spread throughout the year. The second reading takes you through a chapter of the wisdom literature and Isaiah.
• You can begin at any point of the year.
• Each month consists of twenty-five readings. You’ll have a few extra days each month to meditate more deeply on something that was significant to you in the past week, to catch up on missed readings, or to revisit favorite passages.
• If reading through the entire Bible in one year looms as too large a task, you can alter the plan to meet your needs. For example, you could read the first reading this year and the second reading next year.

In the year ahead, ask God each day to speak directly to you from the Scripture portions you read. Be expectant, and let your continual exposure to God’s Word reshape your attitudes and behavior as you gain a better understanding of every part of His written testimony to us.

The 5x5x5 New Testament Bible Reading Plan

Read through the New Testament (CLICK HERE) in 5 days a week, 5 minutes a day.

5 minutes a day | If you’re not used to reading the Bible daily, start with this easy to use tool to read a chapter of the New Testament in 5 minutes a day. This reading plan will take you through all 260 chapters of the New Testament, one chapter per day. The Gospels are read throughout the year to weave in the story of Christ all year long.

5 days a week | Determine a time and location to spend 5 minutes a day for 5 days a week. It is best to have a consistent time and a quiet place where you can regularly meet with the Lord.

5 ways to dig deeper | Pause in your reading to dig into the Bible. Below are 5 different ways to dig deeper each day. These exercises will encourage meditation. Try a single idea for a week to find what works best for you. Remember to keep a pen and paper ready to capture God’s insights.

1. Underline or highlight key words or phrases in the Bible passage. Use a pen or highlighter to mark new discoveries from the text.
2. Put it into your own words. Read the passage or verse slowly, then rewrite each phrase or sentence using your own words.
3. Ask and answer some questions. Questions unlock new discoveries and meanings. Ask questions about the passage using these words: who, what, why, when, where, or how. Jot down your answers to these questions.
4. Capture the big idea. God’s Word communicates big ideas. Periodically ask: What’s the big idea in this sentence, paragraph, or chapter?
5. Personalize the meaning. Respond as God speaks to you through the Scriptures. Ask: How could my life be different today as I respond to what I’m reading?

A passion of Revolve is that we want to be people of the Book. We NEED the Bible. It is our spiritual food—likened or compared with bread and milk. It is our guide—a lamp for our feet and a light for our path (Ps 119:105). It is our highest and final authority for “…the rule of faith and life” (1689 1.2).
We NEED to know the Bible then since, as Christians, all of our beliefs need to be ruled/guided by biblical wisdom. With the New Year soon upon us, it is often a time when we reevaluate priorities and set goals our reading of the Scriptures being included. Broadly, there are two approaches to reading through the Bible: familiarity or intimacy. Familiarity is reading larger sections of the Bible and a “quicker” pace; Intimacy is reading smaller sections and “slowing” down to think and reflect about the passages read. Each approach is profitable and good.

• PROPOSAL: Whatever approach you normally lean towards (familiarity or intimacy) commit to the opposite approach for 2022. For myself, that means switching to a plan that focuses on the intimacy approach.
  If you’re in need of recommendations don’t hesitate to reach out!

Continuing with our focus on reading, only after your commitment to immersing yourself in the Bible whether for familiarity or intimacy, is an encouragement to dive into theological reading. Now don’t let “theological” intimidate you. It is simply a fancy way of saying that you are reading about a topic with/from a God-centered perspective. That could be any topic from being a student, to motherhood, to government or to studying about God himself. Again, this is assuming a consistent habit of being in the Bible. Looking back at our Spurgeon quote the challenge is to “live in the Bible” while only to “visit many good books''. The inspired Scriptures must always take priority. However, if we’re honest, much of our time can be consumed by lesser things and entertainment. So, often a lack of theological reading is not from a lack of time, but from lack of discipline.

• PROPOSAL: Set a goal to visit a theological book (or books) for 2022. This can be done individually or with a group. A few recommendations are:
  ● the 2nd London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) – an incredibly rich summary of the Christian faith from a Baptist perspective. A modern English version can be found at Founders Ministries. A pocket sized version can be found at Banner of Truth publishing. Also, can be found free online at https://www.the1689confession.com/
  ● “None Greater” or “Simply Trinity” by Matthew Barrett – great books that summarize Classical Theism which is what the majority of the church has believed about God
  ● Commit to at least one of the Elder-led book clubs

[1] Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. [2] And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: [3] “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. [4] And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. [5] Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. [6] And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. [7] Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. [8] And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” [9] And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

[10] And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. [11] And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, [12] so that

“‘they may indeed see but not perceive,
and may indeed hear but not understand,
lest they should turn and be forgiven.’”

[13] And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? [14] The sower sows the word. [15] And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. [16] And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. [17] And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. [18] And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, [19] but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. [20] But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 

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“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” This is the message that we see in Mark 4 and the parable of the Sower. In Jesus, we have the Word Incarnate, God made flesh, the Word of the Father spoken to mankind, and he is almost pleading with his audience, whom he knit together in the womb, to listen and hear what he has to say. 

What a tragedy to be face to face with the Author of Life and to have his words rebound off your heart. It makes us realize that simply hearing what is true is not enough. The Scribes and Pharisees had been listening to truth for most of their lives, but even what they had would be taken away (Mark 4:25). After all, truth is pointless if it is not received. This is why Jesus spends time analyzing the varying soils of a person’s heart.

In this parable Jesus is the Sower of the seed (as are any of his followers who proclaim his truth), and the gospel is the seed. As the sower goes out, his seed falls on four types of soil, and only one type leads to fruit.

The first soil is compared to that of a path. A path, nestled between or in the midst of a farmer’s field, is compacted from foot traffic. The soil is hard, not necessarily because it is a different quality than the soil around it, but because it is too frequently walked upon. One could easily say that this is “busy soil” - soil that is too readily trod to receive anything. For our part in it, we are all too familiar with busyness in our world. There are times when truth comes at us like a surgeon, but if we are too busy, it will appear to be like any other white noise of a busy street.

The second soil is that which springs up quickly, like grass that plants itself on your patio in between bricks. The grass will grow quickly (quicker than your attempts to sow grass seed on your lawn!), but once the sun comes up the grass will wither and die. Trials, in the right soil, result in growth, but in the wrong soil reveal the root to be immature and weak. Many people in this life have an emotional experience with Christ without surrendering to him. Then, when difficulties come their way, they throw Christ off as if he were a cloak, convinced it was all a sham. The only thing that was a sham was their faith - a faith without surrender, without depth.

The third soil is that among thorns and weeds, which Jesus says are the cares of life, or literally the “distractions of the age” as well as the deceitfulness of wealth. This is, perhaps, the most deceptive of all soils. As the weeds hide in the soil until the plants start to grow, so these distractions and worries seek to choke us out and destroy us unaware. We are distracted by so many things from the news to soccer games with the kids. None of these things are, in and of themselves, bad or wrong, but they can become distractions and worries. As someone famously said regarding wealth, “We buy things we don’t need to impress people we don’t like with money we don’t have.” Our hearts, settling for the affections of lovers less alluring than Jesus, stumble into waste and fruitlessness

The fourth soil, however, bears fruit. It is soil that is receptive to hearing truth and receiving truth. It wants to grow, wants to be watered, and wants to be fostered. It will first bear fruit of character and then bear fruit of good work in accordance with the Word of God because this is the way the kingdom grows. It stars like a seed, but grows into a tall tree.

The point of this parable is not to determine, necessarily, who is or is not born again (though we could make some wagers for sure). The point is this - he who has ears to hear, let him hear.

[1] The word that the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet:

[2] “Declare among the nations and proclaim,
set up a banner and proclaim,
conceal it not, and say:
‘Babylon is taken,
Bel is put to shame,
Merodach is dismayed.
Her images are put to shame,
her idols are dismayed.’ (ESV)

Observations: So begins the prophecy given to Jeremiah by the Lord for Babylon, that nation that had exiled Judah and committed such atrocities. Jeremiah is commanded to declare among them - openly and publicly - that their nation will fall and their god will be put to shame.

It almost seems ironic that, after being a voice of terror to the Judeans while telling them to surrender to the Babylonians, Jeremiah now publicly proclaims the Babylonian's demise as well. We read this and forget that God commands him to proclaim it and not to conceal it. At what cost? Hated by his own countrymen already. Hated by the Babylonians. Beloved by the Lord.

God is dealing with issues far larger than Jeremiah’s personal feelings and laments. He is dealing with kingdoms and covenants, with nations and promises. He is dealing with sin and death, righteousness and judgment. He is setting the stage for the Messiah, and working to undo a much larger exile.

That is not to say that God is simultaneously aloof and distant from Jeremiah’s plight. On the contrary, he is the God who prevents even a sparrow from falling without his leave. He is the King of Kings who will wipe away every tear from the eyes of his covenant people.

He is both transcendent and intimate at the same time.

Applications: Reflecting on this chapter of Jeremiah, a few applications come to mind.

1. Obey the Lord no matter what. Surely Jeremiah’s life was difficult and tragic. He was a tool in the Master’s hand, but not always a pleasant one. He was thrown into a cistern and dragged to Egypt. He was threatened and hated by his own people. He was a man acquainted with suffering, known as the wailing or weeping prophet. Surely we see how his prophetic ministry looked forward to that of the Messiah, Jesus, and we see that no matter of suffering provides us with a pass on obedience. As Jeremiah obeyed to the end, even more so Jesus obeyed to the end. We must obey as well.
2. Trust in God’s unfolding plan. Jeremiah penned these words some 50 years (give or take) before Persia would come and attack Babylon. In other words, he didn’t see the fruition of all the prophecies that he uttered. Most certainly he, like any man, doubted at times if he was doing the right thing, saying the right thing, and if it was all worth it. Wouldn’t it be easier to just keep his mouth shut? We remember the earlier words of Jeremiah that if he did that a fire would burn within him and consume him. Jeremiah spoke because it was real in his inner being, but he believed the words God had given to him as well. He trusted and he obeyed even when the end was not in sight.

Prayer: Lord, you are the Maker and Unmaker of all things. You hold the world in your hands and are working out and revealing mysteries unseen. You are restoring that which was lost, reestablishing your created order, punishing wickedness, and celebrating righteousness. You will reign forever and ever in your rightful place.

I repent of my own insubordination and the insubordination of humanity. We reject your authority in nearly every sphere of our lives from the home to the ends of the earth. We do not obey you. We do not trust you. Yes, Lord, I experience glimmers and glimpses of these things, but I would be a fool and a liar if I tried to convince myself that I had the faith and obedience of Jeremiah. I do not, but I want to, Lord!

I ask, God, that you would teach us obedience even in the midst of suffering. Teach us to trust you through difficult times. Let us look forward to FUTURE grace and FUTURE redemption, and to groan along with all of creation who is eagerly awaiting the fruition of these things.

I do not know the plans that you have for me, my family, the church that I lead, or the greater community at large, but I want us to trust and obey your voice. We do not know what is on the horizon, but we have our faith as a sure and steady anchor for our souls. We have your word to give us unshakeable confidence in life and death because we are not our own but belong to God. Amen.

I want to be honest up front. I am very much aware that Tradition can be stifling, boring and extremely bad—most often when they, the traditions, have extended beyond their purpose, applicability or proven wrong/hurtful. With that said, I think an interesting question should be raised, namely, “What if what grounds the Tradition is eternal, unchanging truth himself?”

In the Christian worldview, we find that grounding in God. Yet, within the non-denominational movement, of which Revolve is a part of, there seems to be an allergy to Tradition. A quick scan of many non-denominational websites under the “About” tab often shows a church striving to distance itself from a tradition. All too often churches pride themselves on distinctness and uniqueness.

In Jude 1:3 the author urges his readers to “...contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” Just before that he mentions he had been “eager to write to you about our common salvation.” Yes, we have quite a few differences among local churches and they are important differences to discuss. However, should we not desire to firstly establish ourselves in the [apostolic] tradition? Should our offer to visitors on our websites not be to foster further division, as we strive to not be like church X or Y, but that we declare ourselves a part of a long, biblical tradition?

All of this to say, this is why I am passionate for the Creeds class. These short statements pack a ton of biblical truth (just ask someone who was in the first class). To return to the Chesterton quote above, we have 2000 years of fellow saints we can “give votes to” on our common salvation and the content of the faith we should contend for.

The first Creeds class looked at the Nicene Creed.

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¹ Worldview being how you view reality or the “lens” through you filter information, decisions and actions.

² I am not ignorant to the “why” of the “distinctness approach” due to someone’s potential baggage with “churchianity” or legalistic churches. However, uniting yourself to the “faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” WOULD make you distinct from those churches you’re trying to be distinct from!