Refreshing Your Faith – “Survey Says!” - Part 2

Thanks to all the subscribers to this “Serving and Sharing” blog who responded to my question! I asked, “How can we avoid – or recover from – a stale, dry, and weak spiritual life? What works for you that may help others of us? What does the Word of God tell us about refreshment? I’d like your ideas for ways that Christians might refresh their faith or even prevent it from becoming stale.”

Jesus often slipped away to the mountain to pray alone, and He instructed His disciples to “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while” (Mk 1:35; Lk 5:15-16; 6:12; 22:39-46; Mk 6:30-32).

The video of the sermon I presented after hearing from you is available here:

Refreshing Your Faith - Cory Collins

https://youtu.be/WCEOU2dcWw4

Though I did not have time to share all the responses in that message, all of them are included in two posts, this one and the previous one with the same title. I have edited several, partly for clarity and partly for anonymity.

• Service to others.

• Vacation with family taking time to rest, read, pray and refocus.  Also going somewhere quite to fish, pray and refocus.

• For me it takes praise songs and sharing in small groups. 

• Fellowship with Christian friends (there is so much “out there” to keep your eyes off God). --- Bible study - every time you see something you have not noticed before or maybe thought of it in a different way.  Man has not changed since the beginning of time and evil is all around us in such subtle ways (TV programs, advertisements, movies, newspapers and newscasters, modern novels and yes, schools)  We are being told the Bible is no longer relevant and whatever makes you happy is ok and that God loves us.  Yes, God loves us, but He is not going to put up with unrepented sin.  Even some churches here have gay couples worshiping with the congregation.  Young people are living together without marriage, not attending worship and not bringing their children to worship.  Churches do not want to “step on toes”, not be “politically correct” and have the Word of God as written in the Bible preached to them.  People want “feel good” sermons. Sin has no stigma in our world.  What will be for the future of our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  We can only pray, pray and pray.  God is in control and we can only trust in Him and his Word.

• We attend Polishing the Pulpit in August, spend a couple weeks in the summer door knocking, go on foreign mission trips, go to singings and work VBS. Just trying to attend each service with Christians keeps us going.  Don’t know if this will help!  Hope so!  My most difficult part is maintaining the discipline to study every day!  Any ideas for that???  I will do great for a week or two, then miss days!!!

• I try to pray and meditate through trying times in a quiet, peaceful environment when possible, even if it is just sitting on the back porch listening to the sounds of nature and enjoying the beauty of the handiwork of God. Regardless of how doubtful I may become at times, I always reflect back on how fortunate and blessed I am and when things seem really down, I try and put myself in someone else’s place and that helps put things back in perspective. My Granddad, who was uneducated and worked hard as an auto mechanic, used to always tell me, “Son, you think you have it bad.........well, just look around yourself long enough, and you’ll realize just how blessed you truly are.”

• I pray, I act, and I pray and give thanks. I ask my wife what we should be thankful for. It never gets old. It never gets stale. I talk to faithful people. They share their secrets for great marriages, financial maturity, and spiritual maturity.

• Use the words of a hymn as an outline for prayer and thanks. I was looking at the words by Wm Mackay, who gave us the hymn, “Revive Us Again.” He praised the Lord for: The Son of Thy Love, The Spirit of Light, The God of all Grace ... then concluded with the prayer: Revive Us Again; fill each heart with Thy love; May each soul be rekindled with fire from above. Hallelujah! Thine the glory; Hallelujah! Amen! Revive us again.

• I refresh my faith through devotionals using the Bible app, I sometimes make weekly plans to have prayer at the same time daily and going to conferences has helped to refresh or restart my spiritual journey. 

• 1) Having a meaningful ministry to be involved in and/or look forward to.  For me, it’s my writing and teaching Ladies’ Bible Class at _______ and occasionally speaking for ladies’ retreats, etc.  For [my husband], it’s his teaching in the schools throughout the world, knowing he’s contributing to the training of preachers and building the kingdom; also, he’s teaching a regular class on Wed. evenings at ______.  He also stays energized by the correspondence with teachers he works with via the phone and with those throughout the world via email. 2) Thinking back over our life/ministry and remembering the challenging situations God has brought us through as well as being extremely thankful for the amazing work He has brought us to be able to do in His kingdom.  We both think gratitude to Him and giving Him the glory for whatever has been accomplished through us keeps us from being too self-centered, which can definitely hurt our faith.  So, we try to remain God centered--astonished many times at what He has allowed us to do when we think about where we came from, etc. 

• I am a preacher/teacher, and I have a friend who is a preacher/teacher.  When I discover something interesting in my Bible study, I just stop by his office and we talk about it.  We both find that enjoyable, and in sharing our perspectives, it helps our scholarship.

• My best resource is the people around me.  Two of the elders and I fish together on a regular basis.  I can spend a day on the water with them and come home physically tired — but spiritually refreshed.

• Simple things. Visiting the sick and shut in. Having INFORMAL breakfast, lunch or dinner with the Brethren. Surprise text of encouragement. Brother or sister emailing a Biblical question and seeking wisdom. Men and Lady teacher sharing lesson plans and ideas. Getting into a disagreement and the reconciling together. Simple things. Makes me feel like we are progressive and “forward planning”. Looking towards Heaven in our actions of UNITY. 

• Going to church and hearing your sermons.  I am reading a devotional book that refreshes my faith. I wake up every morning knowing Jesus saved my life during my surgery.

• You know, God is right all the time.  Romans 10:17!  When my faith wavers, I know I have not been in His word as I should.  So, I have to dedicate time and effort to get back into studying my Bible.  It really is that simple for me.

• As you may well imagine, each of us is going to find different ways to renew our Spiritual Energy and Vigor, using the talents and skills the Lord has seen fit to give to use to His Glory, helping the lost to find Salvation, and sustaining us  in a world of temptation and darkness. --- As you know, for the past 7+ years I have been blessed to have an avenue to extend my Lord’s Day morning worship by bringing a full service to the residents of a senior living facility. I can tell you, even when I was facing my serious medical issues over the past 1 ½ years, when I stood before them on Sunday at 12:30, the Lord sent down a burst of energy and power that enabled me to preach His word, Lead Songs praising His name, and offer prayers on behalf of those attending our worship. This opportunity to refresh my Spiritual being has been expanded through God’s power, by being able to tach a bible class every Thursday morning at the Conservatory as well. --- Words do not express how much better I felt, in the midst of my illness, seeing the residents’ smiles, watching the tears flow down their cheeks because God’s word touched their souls, feeling their hugs and hearing their words of Love expressed at the end of the service and bible class. It was as if I am plugged in to a Giant Heavenly Battery that gives me all I needed to make it through. --- Much like the closing verses of Romans 15, the church at Keller and those who are saints at the facility, enable me to find new energy and strength every time we are together to carry on in His service preaching the Gospel even though many times it is to those who do not believe, or even oppose the word, that we can all enjoy mutual refreshing and enjoy God’s peace because we have done what we have done according to His will.

• One way is to do something that I am somewhat fearful of. For example, the first time I went to ______ Prison to teach, I had some reservations and anxiety. But, I said, “ I had rather die trying to do what I should than to face God having not even tried.” Now I look forward to going, and say, “I tried my best.”

• Perhaps one of the most noticeable things that refreshes my faith is fellowshipping with like-minded Christians. Spending time with, talking with, hearing good brothers and sisters own passion for the Lord or even their struggles ignites a deeper concern for the work I’m involved in. We need the brethren’s encouragement and that is certainly one effective way that helps my faith feel refreshed.

• As for ‘refreshing’ our faith...I meditate on the faithfulness of God to His promises. I recall the apostle’s words that ‘while we were enemies...while we were sinners’ Christ died for me. I read the psalms and listen to people like David express their frustrations in life yet manage to hold on to their faith as they remember God’s faithfulness. I look at the congregation around me and I see so many people suffering in ways I can only imagine and I see their faith, their perseverance, their determination to make it through another day. It is humbling.

• When my faith weakens, I try to recall the many ways God has blessed us thru the years. When God seems to ignore my cry for mercy, He opens a door I did not know was there. These stories have happened many times in my 75 years. He is faithful to those who love and obey Him.

Refreshing Your Faith – “Survey Says!" - Part 1

Thanks to all the subscribers to this “Serving and Sharing” blog who responded to my question! I asked, “How can we avoid – or recover from – a stale, dry, and weak spiritual life? What works for you that may help others of us? What does the Word of God tell us about refreshment? I’d like your ideas for ways that Christians might refresh their faith or even prevent it from becoming stale.”

Jesus often slipped away to the mountain to pray alone, and He instructed His disciples to “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while” (Mk 1:35; Lk 5:15-16; 6:12; 22:39-46; Mk 6:30-32).

The video of the sermon I presented after hearing from you is available here:

Refreshing Your Faith - Cory Collins

https://youtu.be/WCEOU2dcWw4

Though I did not have time to share all the responses in that message, all of them are included in two posts, this one and the other one with the same title. I have edited several, partly for clarity and partly for anonymity.

• Psalms 46:10—Be still and know that I am God. I make myself be still. Then I pray. I remember all the times God has specifically helped me. I remember what he has done for me. I remember His promises. And I thank Him for everything He has done in my life.

• Every morning I say to myself, ”What if this is the last day of my life?” And I feel that helps me stay grounded in fellowship with God the holy trinity. I hope it does. 

• I find getting involved in a new in-depth Bible study (KSBS* classes, different Bible class, online Bible study), challenging myself to dig deep in a particular book of the Bible that I’m not as familiar with / or haven’t studied in a while. Reading Psalms and personalizing it, and/or reading the gospels at the same time in as close to chronological order as I can get. Keeping a prayer journal, especially noting the various ways and means God answers every prayer. Also, preparing Bible lessons to share with others is a great way to freshen my faith, you can’t teach what you don’t learn and practice. *KSBS – Keller School of Biblical Studies

• Take a mission trip.  If you can’t take one, help fund one. Pray for one.  Write a missionary an encouraging letter. Make a list of people who need a visit. Get a partner and see them one by one. Audit a course at a Christian university. Read a biblically-based book. Start a prayer journal. Start your own quiet encouragement ministry. Commit to one encouraging act toward another believer each day. Give yourself permission to go beyond one per day. Make a list of the 10 most encouraging people you know. Take each to lunch or do something to spend a bit of time with each of them. Help someone. Doesn’t matter at what level. Just help someone who needs help.

I like listening to old gospel quartet music while I research church history and think on how hard it must have been for those who sacrificed so much in the past.

• Here’s what seems to work for me – teaching. I’m on the teaching rotation at ___ church, and I teach adults classes as well as a class for those who are either non-Christians or those new to faith.  Teaching keeps me in the Word.  Honestly, when I don’t teach, I tend to get lazy in my quite times.   Teaching keeps me engaged in God’s word and continues to challenge me in my Christian growth. However, I do know that most Christians do not feel qualified to teach (that’s another sermon; teaching has many, many faces).  To broaden the teaching scope, I would expand this thought to “serving” others.  Serving others gets us out of ourselves and into the lives of others.  It takes the focus off of me and places it on someone else, and for most, that feels really good and gives the sense of purpose.  Eph. 2:1-10 provides wonderful encouragement on the mercy, grace and riches of God, reminding us we were “created for good works”.

• Always striving for daily reading/studying the word and prayer. Listening to sermons from the brotherhood in other congregations. Staying in contact with other Christians (especially those that are strong in the faith), asking them to help me and/or pray for me. Getting involved in ministry and serving others. Usually when I’m feeling weak spiritually it’s because I’m more focused on me, so serving others takes focus off me. Being thankful and counting my blessings daily is so important and praising God for them. Asking God specifically to fill me with his Spirit and revive me so as to better serve Him.

• There are several ways that I try to keep a fresh faith: regular Bible reading and study, fellowship with other Christians, and working in various church events, such as leading in Bible camps and youth activities. However, the most effective way to keep a constant faith is prayer. My faith is never stronger than when my prayer life is at its best. Prayer keeps me in tune with God directly, and puts my faith in Him above all else.

• Have Bible studies with other Christians so we can be strengthened by the Word and each other. Being involved in evangelism. Seeing others being transformed by the gospel is the biggest one in my opinion. 

• I have found that teaching 6 months on and 6 months off (to study) works very well. Going on mission trips with other members will inspire growth and also cause you to count your blessings. 

• I take Sunset classes for credit to ensure I’m in the word deeply, always learning and growing. I grow tremendously from men who mentor me and men whom I am now mentoring. These relationships include personal evangelism studies with friends, coworkers, and neighbors; men from support groups; and men from church. The power for me comes from fostering deep, transparent relationships that go beyond the small talk, sports, and politics to our most intense struggles. Being in the trenches of the battle ensures I am always being stretched and maintain awareness of the reality of the spiritual warfare all around us. I seek out people who have specialized knowledge like Christian counselors, successful evangelists, and worship leaders and glean whatever I can from conversations with them. I take advantage of intensive training opportunities like Singing Schools and hymn writing workshops to grow in skill and ministry.

• When I get “Spiritually Dry” I do a study of the miracles and parables of Jesus. I also read Philippians to pep me up. 

• Two things — I sing hymns and other Christian songs. I have difficulty memorizing Scripture locations but can sing practically any song a leader might select without needing a book. It encourages me to really know and think about the words. Also, I often think about Christians in North Korea. The nature of the country fascinates me (in a sad way), and makes me “get with it,” realize how good I’ve got it and how much has been given so much is required.

• Truly the Word, read it, calms my soul and refreshes it at the same time.  I am so thankful for the Bible and how it has everything I need for life.

• 1. It takes conscious effort. I get so caught up in day-to-day work that it’s quite easy to lose perspective. That’s why going to worship is so important. It’s why being conscious of the significance of communion is so important. 2. Read the Bible. It’s amazing what’s there when I dive in. 3. Pick your friends carefully. Solid Christian friendships will feed the soul. 4. Don’t forget to pray. It is probably the most refreshing thing I do. 5. Get out in nature. I spend too much time cooped up inside at my desk. But when I get out in Percy Warner Park and take a walk, the evidence and beauty of God is all around. Those are just some simple thoughts that came to mind. I hope it helps.

• I keep a constant response of thanksgiving to God for various wonderful ways He has blessed me - for the beautiful morning, the gorgeous colorful plants I have growing on my patio, the beautiful butterflies that have been drawn to my yellow flowers. And I thank God continually for the answers to prayer I have received - that my sons love God, love their families, and are using the talents He has given them in their church congregations. If I receive a prayer request, I immediately go to God in prayer for that person or for a family. I praise God continually for the blessings my families bring me. --- When my oldest son was 4 or 5, one of our dogs got out and couldn’t be found. My son and I prayed that God would help us find Marty. Afterwards I prayed to God that his answer would be “yes,” that Marty would be found and that would help build my child’s faith and love for God. Two weeks later, some men mowing the fields north of Addison Airport in Dallas found Marty in that field, a long way from home.  They responded to the ad we had placed in the newspaper, and we got Marty back. He was hurt but was taken to the vet, and he recovered. We all praised and thanked God for His answer to our prayers. I am so very thankful for the strong faith my sons have in God, and for the faith they are instilling in their children, my wonderful grandchildren. --- I try to have Bible reading and continued thanksgiving to God. These are essential to keeping me focused on God and my faith. Looking for ways to help others and/or encourage others. 

• One of the best ways to keep faith from growing stale and to stay alive in the Lord is through teaching the Good News to others. There are few experiences more satisfying, more invigorating, than to be a part of someone’s conversion, to look anew at the faith through the eyes of someone who is just now discovering it. Being on the front line of the gospel keeps us sharp spiritually, helps us deal with the real-life issues that others are facing, and helps us to give the proper value to the precious blood which purchased our salvation at so great a cost.

To be continued in Refreshing Your Faith – “Survey Says!" Part 2.

Refreshing Your Preaching - Heritage Christian University - Alumni Days 2018

Fresh preaching begins with a refreshed preacher – refreshed by the presence of God, the Spirit of God, and the Word of God.

Come clean with the Lord. Confess your own sin, weakness, staleness, and anything else that may have come between you and Him. Ask Him to refresh you before you seek to refresh your preaching and its effectiveness with others.

Heritage Christian University Alumni Days – Cory Collins

To watch the video of this class:

https://www.facebook.com/HeritageChristianUniversity/videos/2071996809507389/?hc_ref=ART-mSFx7vPvX-p-lmyIyXuffE4HnMeRdwda49myRwUq8wBWkcImfEmztY9jj20slLo

To see videos of other sermons:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu4zUK_ahzdiU15PL6dcAXA/videos

To see thumbnails of all posts on this blog:

​https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CoryCollinsServingAndSharing

Song – “Create in Me a Clean Heart.”

Ps 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. 7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.

Now see the result – 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.

Remember how Jesus called His disciples away privately, so that they could be refreshed.

Mk 6:30 The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) 32 They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.

You cannot give anyone anything more than – or different from – what you first are and what you first have. So first refresh your faith, hope, and love by being with Christ. Fresh preaching comes from a fresh preacher.

Remember how Jesus Himself often found refreshment by being with the Father. Mk 1:35 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

Think of your original desire and decision to preach the Word of God. Refresh your preaching as you would refresh your marriage. Remember what you found attractive and appealing. Recall why you began preaching initially. Renew your vows. Revive your honeymoon. Identify the things that have made it stale and have threatened its vitality. Address and eliminate those things.

Let us preach as if Jesus died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back tomorrow! Come see, go tell – Matt 28

Let us preach as if we just discovered and bought the treasure hidden in the field! Matt 13:4

Let us preach as if we just found something most precious that was lost! In Jesus’ teaching, when the sheep, coin, and son were found, in each case there was an announcement to others, then a celebration to follow. Luke 15

Let us preach as if we just emerged from a dark, dingy, pit into a world of light! 1 Pet 2:9

Let us preach as if the world is starving, and we have the bread! 2 Ki 7:8 When these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they entered one tent and ate and drank, and carried from there silver and gold and clothes, and went and hid them; and they returned and entered another tent and carried from there also, and went and hid them. 9 Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent; if we wait until morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let us go and tell the king’s household.”

Let us preach as if we hold in our hands the most powerful, life-changing, death-defying instrument in the universe – the Word of God! Proclaim God’s Word expectantly and let it flow through you and work! Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do (to whom we will give account).

Let us preach as if the world is on fire, and we are called to the rescue!

Let us preach as if we are on fire, and the world is watching us burn!

Let us preach as if we have been commanded not to preach! As if we cannot help it! Acts 4:20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 1 Co 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.

Now let’s talk about some practical ideas for refreshing your preaching.

Feed your spirit on the Word – soak as a sponge – perhaps read from an additional translation. My mentor said, “You have to put more in your reservoir than you draw from it, lest you run dry.”

Preach what excites you, what grows out of your own study and prayer.

Preach what you need to hear.

Preach what you certainly know and truly believe. Do not preach your doubts or cause others unnecessary issues with their faith.

Preach what you will enjoy preparing to preach. Maybe a brief series on archaeology, called “Eureka!” Or on angels, or Islam, or “Questions Jesus Asked.” My current series – “Keys to the Kingdom – the Sermon on the Mount.” I have identified 15 qualities that Jesus described. I am starting with an introduction, then attitude, influence, self-control (anger and lust), and faithfulness (marriage and truthfulness).

Outline Scripture. Divide it into thought units. One of my mentors kept a Bible and a notepad beside his bed. He would not go to sleep without outlining a passage or chapter each night.

Study inductively. (Let me know if you want more specifics on this.)

Keep taking courses – in person, online, by correspondence – that refresh you.

Think homiletically. Use the “seed card” idea. Observe, as Jesus did (birds, sheep, grass, fish).

Vary your preaching. A preaching friend includes each month one sermon to inform, one to inspire, one to convict, and one to convert.

Collect illustrations, quotations, facts, stats, and stories – meat on the bones.

Do your own work. Read and listen widely, but borrow sparingly. Do not take shortcuts, and do not cheat yourself and the church re: preparation.

Do what fits you and what you do best. Be confident. Be yourself. Improve yourself, and be the best “you” that you can be.

Yet stretch yourself. Fewer or no notes. PowerPoint or not. Visual aids.

Speak to new groups. Expand your range. Accept every invitation you can. Imagine and create wider exposure. I’ll prepare a 15-lesson series and anticipate presenting it at Yellowstone Bible Camp in Montana, where I go as a week-long adult teacher from time to time.

Connect with your listeners – in homes, in small groups, on social media. Listen to them before they listen to you. Know their needs, circumstances, challenges, hopes, dreams, etc.

Identify your eager, expressive, attentive listeners. Establish eye contact and rapport with them as you preach. Get their feedback.

Associate with people who refresh you. Do not feel guilt for spending more time with them; you need them! Paul noted that Philemon was a “refresher” of the saints, and Paul requested that refreshment. Phm 1:7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. Phm 1:20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

Ask for ideas, questions, and concerns – regular Bible Question Night.

Form a think tank, including various generations and life circumstances.

Ask your own questions and collect responses for special occasions like Mother’s Day and other lessons as well. I preached two series from 1 Cor. I called 1 Cor 1-8, “Because You Belong to Christ …” and asked people to complete that sentence. Then I called 1 Cor 9-16, “Because You Belong to Each Other …” and asked people to complete that sentence as well. I incorporated some of their responses in the various messages that followed.

Ask your listeners, “What do you think are the marks of fresh preaching?”

Ask other preachers, “How do you keep your preaching fresh?”

Preach energetically and enthusiastically.

Note current events – sports, politics, economy, scandals. There is now a movie in the works on Samson. His mother will be played by Lindsay Wagner, the “Bionic Woman.” I’ll use that in a new parenting class that I am preparing. “There are no bionic parents!” “How would you like to have Samson as your son?”

Create a blog. Write your sermons so they can be posted. I will turn this presentation into a blog post. I will also share it with our monthly preachers’ group.

Video your sermons. Link to them via your blog posts.

See and share the lighter side of life – add some humor. One source is Readers Digest.

Add some human interest elements – stories, children in the church.

Provide application – from the “why” to the “what” to the “so what.”

Plan ahead – a series, which gets you thinking of fresh ideas in advance.

Keep a spreadsheet log – to avoid repeating yourself and force freshness.

Recycle, refresh, and re-energize Scriptures you have used before. Here are couple of ideas for doing that.

Create a new title. For example, when you are preaching Luke 5:1-11, a standard title might be, “The Miraculous Catch of Fish,” or, “Jesus Calls the Disciples.” Instead you could choose a fresh title, like “Let’s Launch out into the Deep!” or, “What’s Your Net … Worth?” A fresh title may help you approach a familiar text in a fresh way.

Create a new outline. For example, when you are preaching Luke 7:36-50, which I often title, “A Savior Who Touches Sinners,” you could outline it as …

An Unlikely Invitation – 7:36

An Unwelcome Guest – 7:37a

An Unusual Outpouring – 7:37b-38

An Unfair Assumption – 7:39

An Unequal Comparison – 7:40-46

An Undeniable Connection – 7:47

An Unimaginable Relief – 7:48-50

Preach from a Bible book you have not used in the last year or more. I discovered awhile back, after reviewing my spreadsheet log, that I had not preached from Lamentations in quite some time.

Share the pulpit with coworkers, missionaries, preachers in summer series, and elders. Last Sunday night our youth and family minister preached. This Sunday while I am away, one of our shepherds will preach. In the evening our new minister for our college-age group will preach.

From Death to Life - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Luke 9:23 And [Jesus] said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

It’s strange but true. Only when we have grasped the reality of death can we understand the meaning of life. Charles Colson in The Good Life tells the story of the great nineteenth-century Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881). This gifted author, who wrote Crime and Punishment (1866), The Idiot (1869), and The Brothers Karamazov (1880), experienced this paradox in an unexpected and dramatic way.

Enamored with French Utopian socialism, the young intellectual attended a meeting that the Russian czar believed was subversive. Because of that, Dostoyevsky was condemned to eight years of hard labor. After he had been in custody for a time, he learned that his sentence had been changed to execution by firing squad. He prepared to die.

On a bleak winter day, Dostoyevsky and his fellow prisoners were marched through the snow in front of the firing squad. As a military official shouted out the death sentences, an Orthodox priest led each man to a platform, giving him an opportunity to kiss the cross the priest carried. Three of the prisoners were then marched forward and tied to a stake.

Dostoyevsky looked on, realizing he would be next in line. He watched the soldiers pull the men’s caps down over their eyes. He felt revulsion in his stomach as the firing squad lifted their rifles, adjusted their aim, and stood ready to pull the triggers. Frozen in suspense, Dostoyevsky waited for what seemed like a lifetime.

Then he heard the drums start up again. But they were beating retreat! He watched, stunned, as the firing squad lowered their rifles and the soldiers removed the prisoners’ caps from their eyes. Moments from death, everything changed. Their lives would be spared.

Immediately after this incident, Dostoyevsky wrote a letter to his brother about the change the experience had brought about in him: “When I look back on my past and think how much time I wasted on nothing, how much time has been lost in futilities, errors, laziness, incapacity to live; how little I appreciated it, how many times I sinned against my heart and soul—then my heart bleeds. Life is a gift. … Now, in changing my life, I am reborn in a new form. Brother! I swear that I will not lose hope and will keep my soul and heart pure. I will be reborn for the better. That’s all my hope, all my consolation!”

We are certainly not endorsing this man’s theology or specific beliefs, but one thing is clear. Dostoyevsky’s near execution and the eight dreary years in a Siberian prison gave him a unique gift: the ability to see life from its end. He understood what really mattered in a way that many people never do. And this perspective equipped him to write great novels filled with incredible insights into the human condition and into the battle between good and evil.

Dostoyevsky’s novels helped keep religious faith (as he understood it) alive during the seventy years of Soviet repression. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, the dissident whose Nobel Prize-winning books exposed the repression of the Soviet gulag, took many of his cues from Dostoyevsky. Through Solzhenitsyn and other dissidents who treasured Dostoyevsky’s work, Dostoyevsky’s suffering proved an indirect but powerful force in toppling the evil Soviet regime.

When I read Colson’s account I imagined myself in Dostoyevsky’s situation. How focused my life would be, how grateful my heart would be, and how intense my faith would be, if I were literally given my life back at the brink of death. Instead I can become so caught up in the everyday routine of life and miss the precious gift of each moment.

We are not told how the murderous insurrectionist Barabbas reacted when he was taken off death row and avoided crucifixion. When the crowd shouted for Jesus to be put to death instead, Barabbas was suddenly free, though it was he who deserved to die. Did he go on as he had lived before, returning to a life of crime and evil? Or did his “near-death experience” transform his view of the purpose of his life? Did he become a follower of Christ?

The apostle Paul actually had several “near-death experiences,” one of which he described in 2 Cor 1:8–10: “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.” Paul had to identify with the death of Christ before he could connect with His resurrection. He had to “die” before he could really live.

We so easily take life for granted. Days pass, weeks slip by, seasons change, and years roll along. We float downriver as if life here will go on forever. What do we have to show for our lives? What have we accomplished? What good will we leave behind? If we knew for sure that we were going to die today – but then we didn’t – what difference would it make? Just thinking about it can make all the difference in the world in your life and mine. We are not merely living people who will one day die. We are dying people who have been given real life in Jesus Christ. Let’s make the most of it – for Him.

Rom 6:13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Cory Collins