Darrell Six

The End of the World and Sex Conference Pt 01

A few weeks ago we had our Manthanos//Kairos Spring Advance.  Our theme: the end of the world and sex! (Sounds like a pretty fun conference, right?)

ALL Joy and Peace in Believing! (C, K, C pt 12)

I know I’m not walking in the fullness of the New Convent when my prayers start, “God, I’m so sorry. . . .”  When I’m feeling guilty and I’m focused on what I haven’t done (or the wrong I have done), basically I’m at the center and it’s all about me.

When I’m walking in the revelation of the New Covenant, my prayers usually start something like this: “Father, thank You so much. . . .”  He's at the center and it's all about Him.

If you’re like me, not applying an understanding of the covenant you have with God in Christ will cause you to miss out on the provision of joy and peace God has made for us.

I encourage you to change the way you think and align your thinking with God’s! 

This is the final episode in our series Christ, Kingdom and Covenant.

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.

Galatians 5:4

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

What's the Deal with All the Talk of Blood in the Bible? (C, K, C pt 11)

Sometimes in our modern world, talk of blood seems sort of barbaric, primitive or just yucky.  Yet blood is critical to life.  Perhaps then we shouldn’t be shocked that God’s covenant with us is made in blood.  

Let’s do our best to shake off the cliches and the song lyrics we know by heart and consider carefully: why blood?  

This is the eleventh episode in our series “Christ, Kingdom and Covenant” and our third episode on covenant.

Lev. 17:11,14

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, No person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood.

“Any one also of the people of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth. For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life.

John 6:51-56

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

Mt. 26:27-28

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

John 6:51-56

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

John 19:30

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Colossians 2:13-14

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Hebrews 9:22

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews 10:4

For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Hebrews 4:15

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 10:1

For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.

Acts 20:28

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Romans 3:23-25

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

Romans 5:9

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

1 Cor. 10:16

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?

Eph. 1:7-9

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will

Eph. 2:13

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Heb 10:19-22

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Heb 13:20-21

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 1:18-19

you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

1John 1:17

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Rev. 1:5, 6

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Mark 14:24

And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

Luke 22:20

And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Hebrews 13:20-21

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Out With the Old . . . (C, K, C pt 10)

When’s the last time you enjoyed you some Deuteronomy?  Get ready: this is awesome!

God gives us an awesome contrast of our covenant with the covenant God made with Israel at Mt. Sinai.  Pure goodness.

Deuteronomy 5:22-28

Hebrews 12:18-24

2 Cor. 3:6

Jn. 4:21-24

Ro. 7:5-6

Jeremiah 31:33

Romans 2:29

Galatians 6:15-16; 3:7

Ephesians 2:11-19

Romans 4:15

1 Timothy 1:8-9

Ezekiel 26:36

Mark 2:22

 

 

God's Agreements with Humanity (C, K, C pt 09)

We continue to dig into these “churchy” words: Christ, Kingdom and Covenant.  What is a covenant?  Why should we care?

“We exist as the people of God because He has made and kept promises to His people.” R.C. Sproul  

The covenants of God are how the dominion of God is administered on the earth.  Happily, we have ancient records of God’s covenants with humanity preserved for us!  This is supremely useful to help us understand why we exist and how we should be in the world.

Genesis 1-11 

Numbers 15:32-36

Galatians 4:21, 5:3

Romans 4:15; 5:13

A Great Tool for Small Group Leaders (Trevis Upchurch) (Ideas for Small Groups pt 03)

Trevis Upchurch leads the small group ministry at Xiamen International Christian Fellowship (XICF.org).  From a small Kentucky town, Abba has taken Trevis all over the world: Near East, Far East, Africa!  A US military veteran, high school teacher, school principal, husband, father, college ball player... someday I'll have him back to tell some more stories of how he has experienced God's goodness!

On this episode Trevis shares a great tool: Discovery Bible Study.  The week after Trevis taught me how to use DBS I began using it to lead a small group and it was awesome!  A fantastic tool for anyone, but especially someone who wants to lead a small group but isn't sure where to start.

Here's a link to more DBS tools: http://dbsguide.org.

Life Under God's Reign Be Like . . . (C, K, C pt 8)

What is God’s government like?  Jesus told lots of stories to help us understand!

Multiple time Jesus says, "The kingdom of God is like. . ." and "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like . . . ."

Ironically, Jesus told these stories to conceal the Kingdom as much as reveal it (Mt. 13:13)!  “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ (Lk. 8:10)

May our eyes see and our ears hear!

“I will open my mouth in parables;
I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.” (Mt. 13:35)

“To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables," (Mk. 4:11)

At Manthanos//Kairos we had a good time acting out these stories of Jesus that conceal and reveal life under His reign.  Here we do a "light speed" review of these stories. :)

Mt. 13:31-33

“The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

"The reputed son of a carpenter instructs a few simple fisherman in a new dispensation destitute of world incentives, but full of self-denials, sacrifices, and suffering, and he tells them that in about forty years it should spread over the entire world.  It spreads accordingly, and in defiance of the bigotry of the Jews and the authority, power and active opposition of the Gentiles, it is established, within that period, in all the countries into which in penetrates.  Can anyone doubt that the prediction and its fulfillment were equally divine?" (George Peter Halford, 1805)

Col 1:23

the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Mt. 24:14

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Mt. 24:34

Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Mt. 10:23

When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Mt. 13:44-45

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Mt. 18:23-35

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Mt. 22:2-14

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Mt. 13:47-50

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mk. 4:13-14

And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word.

Mk. 4:11

“To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God. . . .”

 

Ideas for Leading a Small Group pt. 02 (Chris Wang)

In my first ever long-distance interview, I talk with my lifelong friend Chris Wang! 

Chris R. Wang is a graduate of Stanford University and Fuller Theological Seminary. He has lived in major metropolitan centers all over the world “making disciples as he goes.” I’ve had the privilege of knowing Chris for almost 30 years! We went to the same middle school and high school and attended the same church during those years. More than anyone I know, Chris has always esteemed and pursued deep, genuine Christian community.  He seeks to journey with others together on the path of True Life. He and I had talked a little bit about his experience with small groups. I hope our discussion will encourage and inspire others to enjoy God’s life in authentic community with others. Enjoy!

Questioning in God's Kingdom (C, K, C pt 7)

What does it look like to be committed in the Kingdom of God when we still have questions? 

Lk. 20:1-8 (9-19)

Jude 1:22

Mt 18:6

Mk. 10:14

Mk. 3:5

Jn. 12:28-29

Mk 8:11-12

"God's goodness in my life so far . . ." (Alex Pham)

Manthanos//Kairos volunteer Alex Pham shared part of his story at a party a few weeks ago.  It was awesome.  I wanted to have him on the podcast so anyone who missed it could hear how Alex has experienced God's goodness.