Jeremy Hoover

This audio picks up on my blog post from last week questioning whether preachers spend too much time in lesson prep and not enough time in actually serving people--individually and in groups. In this 3 minute audio, I explore Jesus' statement about his mission--he came not to be served but to serve.

This is a commentary on Matthew 21-25.

Jesus' teaching, though in parabolic form, is actually quite scandalous. Calling the nations to judgment is something long looked forward to by the Israelites. Their attitude, both throughout the Old Testament and into the New, was to look down on the nations and to look up to...themselves. After all, they were the recipients of God's grace; they were the ones called to be God's people through their father, Abraham; they were the ones led out of Egypt by Moses into the promised land; they were the ones given the law; they were the ones given God's glory in the Davidic lineage; they were the ones who merely needed to wait out the nations until God sent his promised messiah and lord in David's line to free the people and rescue them for God.

Yet, when the nations are gathered by Jesus (the Son of Man; the King) they are separated by him. They are not separated by nationality or ethnicity. Rather, they are separated as though they were animals—they were separated into two types, two camps. They were separated based on deeds done or not done; not by perceived value; and not by categories decided by nationality, religion ("law"), or lineage ("children of Abraham").

These separation criteria find fulfillment in judgment. The reason for separation is clear—not everyone did the will of their Father, which was surprising to some who looked to improve their religious lot in life. They were separated to be judged. Those who loved Jesus received eternal life. Those who didn't love Jesus received eternal punishment. It's that simple.

How did they love Jesus? By serving the least of his brothers and sisters; because in doing so, they served him. How did they dis-love Jesus? By not serving the least of his brothers and sisters; because when they overlooked them because of their own self-importance, they overlooked Jesus.

But how did Jesus arrive at this teaching? It has been building. Jesus didn't get here in his teaching without precedent.

His teaching began to take on a different, sharper tone once he reached Jerusalem and knew that his life was coming to an end. As he operated within Jerusalem and looked toward the end, he taught that the kingdom of God is about simple, childlike faith and fruit-bearing actions and activities (Matt. 21:15-22). He talked about the great reversal in God's kingdom which is centered around him, where many who think they should be involved completely miss their opportunity, while many who would expect to be left out are in fact both invited and welcomed in (Matt. 22:1-14).

To those who claimed to be concerned about the law (even while they tried to trap Jesus in his teaching), Jesus said that love of God and neighbor fulfill all the commands of the law (Matt. 23:34-40). He condemned hypocrisy by calling out the Pharisees and teachers of the law for leading others astray with their teaching that is focused on obedience of the law for its own sake rather than to please God (Matt. 23).

Finally, he brought it full circle—Jesus taught about his own coming (Matt. 24). The key is to be prepared and diligent, doing good to those you influence (Matt. 24:42-51). Jesus then amplifies this teaching in a series of parables (Matt. 25). First, five virgins who were to be part of the wedding banquet missed out because of failure to pay attention and plan for contingencies (Matt. 25:1-13). Second, one servant who was given money by his master to do good with missed out because he became fearful of his master and failed to use the resources given him to increase his master's reach and kingdom (Matt. 25:14-30). Third, the cursed (who were very surprised to find themselves considered as such) found themselves condemned for failure to search out and serve the least of the King's brothers and sisters, whom he shared solidarity with (Matt. 25:31-46).

We are to live in God's kingdom, being watchful, attentive, diligent in good, using the resources God has given us to serve and love the least among us. By doing so, we serve and love our master, Jesus.

In this introduction, I outline Acts and develop six major themes that are in Acts.

Below, download a PDF of Introduction to Acts or read the document in this post.

Download an MP3 of Reminders to Repent.

Repentance is one of those elusive topics we consider from time to time. Although we often view repentance as a feeling, Jesus teaches us that repentance is about choosing him and drawing closer to him. In this sermon, learn 5 different ways of understanding repentance and be drawn closer to God as a result.

What are your thoughts about repentance? Please leave them in the comments.

While traveling to Montana last week, we knew we were going up in elevation but it didn't become visibly obvious until we hit the mountain ranges in Wyoming and Montana. Sin and disobedience are a lot like this: we don't know we've arrived at such a sorry state of sin until it is visibly obvious. We need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, casting off sin and distraction, to be elevated with him (Hebrews 12:1-2).

This post continues my look at biblical leadership. Previous articles include Must All Elders Teach? and Biblical Leadership is Exclusive.

One of the words used to describe biblical church leaders in the New Testament is "overseer" (1 Tim. 3:1). Traditionally, we've understood the word "oversight" to refer to physical matters (the legal, financial, and operational concerns of the church) sometimes referred to as the ABCs--attendance, buildings, and cash.

While this emphasis has truth behind it, is has also led to an over-emphasis on physical things, meetings, and the "order" of/within the congregation. Relational shepherding has taken a backseat, sadly, in many of our churches. Sure, we may refer to our leaders as shepherds (instead of elders, overseers, pastors, or bishops), but they typically do less shepherding and more overseeing.

But what is oversight? In his excellent book, Emerging Elders, Ron Clark states that the role of the elders is to tie together both oversight and relational shepherding. Oversight is much more than administration; it is modeled on God's oversight of his people, Israel (in the OT), and seen in Jesus' leadership of people (in the NT; John 10).

Clark discusses four categories of oversight that he draws from God's and Jesus' examples of oversight: accountability to the God and the church (Ezekiel 34:10); awareness of people and movements within the congregation (Acts 20:28); visitation of members to identify problems and build awareness of ministry needs (Acts 20:31); and empowerment of members to grow in maturity and ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16).

Oversight is relational. Certainly, physical needs and administration are part of oversight. Sometimes administrative tasks can be delegated to competent people within the congregation (deacons, perhaps) as an act of empowerment. Sometimes meetings are useful to discuss how to bring greater awareness of people's needs to the elders.

But oversight must begin and be maintained relationally.

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? How else can elders engage in relational oversight?

Too often, church relationships contain conflict. In Philippians 2:1-11, the apostle Paul teaches us how to overcome conflict and live like Jesus by working for oneness with one another, looking to others' interests first, and becoming obedient through service.

Sermon: How to Have the Mind of Jesus

Update: Sermon MP3 added on 3/15/2010

Too often, church relationships contain conflict. Paul teaches us in Philippians 2:1-11 how to overcome our differences and live like Jesus by working for oneness with one another, looking to others' interests first, and becoming obedient through service.

Review the sermon outline and slides ahead of Sunday's worship service to begin thinking about how you can develop the mind of Jesus in your own life.