Darrell Six

Lamenting Toward Hope

Lamenting is not despair; neither is it complaining.  Lamenting is a priceless practice to help us move faithfully through hard times.  How can we incorporate this practice into our contemporary lives?

Should Christians Suffer (pt. 2)

At the end of 2019, I was invited to share with a group of students "what the Lord was saying for 2020."  

These are some additional thoughts on what it means (and what it doesn't mean) to participate in Christ's sufferings.

Should Christians Suffer?

At the end of 2019, I was invited to share with a group of students "what the Lord was saying for 2020."  

This is part of the teaching from that evening.

Every Crisis Is an Opportunity!

Due to the coronavirus the Religious Affairs Bureau required all churches to cancel their meetings.  En lieu of meeting together on Sunday morning, we encouraged the XICF family to meet in small groups in homes.  This sermon was delivered to the XICF family via WeChat.

Every crisis is an opportunity for the goodness of God to invade the earth!

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

James 1:2-3

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

Much More!

As much as Adam's sin brought pain, suffering, brokenness, a curse and death into the world, MUCH MORE does the work of Jesus bring healing, wholeness, blessing and life!!!

What does the "much more" of Jesus' reign look like in our every day lives?  What does it mean to be "saved by his life"?  What is our salvation and how can we receive God's provision to enjoy Him to the fullest today?

Romans 5; John 17:3; 1 Tim. 2:15; Ga. 2:20; Col. 3:3; Ro. 6:8; 7:4 

Helping Friends Deal with Life Issues pt. 1

If you have friends, then you probably have friends with issues!  How can we help our friends experience the abundant life offered by Christ?

All the brokenness we carry from Adam (i.e., from being human) can only be healed in Christ.  The entrance of God’s word brings light (Ps. 119:130; Ps. 119:105; Eph. 5:11) and illuminates the path!  Understanding spiritual darkness and light gives us a framework for helping others understand the underlying causes of their brokenness.

When the students in Manthanos//Kairos asked about helping friends deal with serious issues, I offered some thoughts- presented in the acronym "KALIMBAS." 

KALIMBAS:

1. Keep in step with the spirit (Ga. 5:25; Jn. 5:19; 15:5)

2. Address the brokenness of the heart (Pr. 4:23; Jer. 17:9; Ro. 5:12; 3:23-24)

3. Let them take responsibility for themselves (Jn. 14:1; Ph. 4:4-8)

4. I can’t change anybody (Ez. 33:1-6)

5. Mind - Win the war for the mind (Jn. 8:31-32; 2 Cor. 10:5; Ro. 12:2; Ro. 8:6; Is. 26:3)

6. Body - Discipline the body (1 Thes. 4:4; 1 Cor. 9:27)

7. Alert - Stay alert!  I must watch myself (1 Cor. 15:33; Ga. 6:1; 1 Tim. 4:16; Lu. 21:34; Pr.16:18 )

8. Support, but separate when needed (Jn. 6:66; 1 Cor. 5:9-13; Ga. 6:2)

There may be times when we're trying to help others that we ourselves need to ask for help.  We shouldn't hesitate in such cases to get others involved.  God made us a Body so we could support one another (Ga. 6:2)!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Always give thanks for everything! Eph. 5:20

Thankfulness is a shortcut to joy!  God wants our joy to be full, so He invites us to live a life of thankfulness. 

When we give thanks we must be thankful TO someone!  This reminds us what we are created for.

Awestruck Astonishment (Delighting in Fearing pt 3)

The fear of the Lord is an amazing gateway to intimacy with God as well as key to being integrated human beings and understanding our place in the universe.  I invite you to journey with me.

"The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant." (Ps. 25:14)

“Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecc. 12:13)

If God has already put the punishment for our sins onto Jesus, then why should we fear him?

The fear of the Lord is to be so awestruck by how powerful, beautiful, majestic, holy and pure God is that we fear being anything that is incompatible with Him; not because we dread His punishment, but because we are so enraptured by His splendor and omnipotence that we only desire to be like Him: we abhor anything that is opposed to Him and turn away from everything that is contrary to His goodness and glory.

What Are You Most Afraid Of? (Delighting in Fearing pt 2)

What are you most afraid of?  How does that affect your behavior?

We're all tempted to subdivide our identities: be one person at home, another at work or school, another at church, another with friends.... Perhaps understanding the fear of the Lord can help us be whole, integrated and authentic.  

In this episode we continue to seek to understand the fear of the Lord and drink deeply from this fountain of life (Pr. 14:27).

Rejoice with Trembling: Delighting in Fearing pt 1

After he sinned, Adam was afraid of God (Gen. 3:10), but Jesus delighted in the fear of the Lord (Is. 11:3)!  So what's the difference?  

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” (1 Jn. 4:18)

If God has already put the punishment for our sins onto Jesus, then why should we fear him?

The fear of the Lord is to be so awestruck by how powerful, beautiful, majestic, holy and pure God is that we fear being anything that is incompatible with Him; not because we dread His punishment, but because we are so enraptured by His splendor and omnipotence that we only desire to be like Him: we abhor anything that is opposed to Him and turn away from everything that is contrary to His goodness and glory.

The fear of the Lord is an amazing gateway to intimacy with God. 

"The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant." (Ps. 25:14)

I invite you to journey with me.

“Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecc. 12:13)