Tony Kummer’s Blog

James 2:14-26

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When it comes to our faith, we all like to pretend. We assume the best. We give ourselves the benefit of the doubt. We can’t always see the true condition of our faith. We need to test ourselves in the mirror of God’s Word.

[Proposition] Because there are two kinds of faith, you must test yourself.

Let me say up front, this is not a sermon about being good in your own power. If any of us could do that then we wouldn’t need Jesus. This message is about looking for a changed heart that comes from real faith. It’s about how God’s love changes us and give us the freedom to really love other people.

So, the point is that you must test yourself. This sermon is divided into three questions.
1. What is the connection between faith & works?
2. What does pretend faith look like?
3. What does real faith look like?

Over the last few weeks, God has been showing me how much I’ve wasted opportunities in my life. He has given me great benefits including Bible College, Seminary, wise counselors, access to Biblical preaching, and a many excellent books. He has constantly strengthened my faith and brought me back to a life of repentance. Despite all this, I’ve been slow to grow in godliness and knowledge of the scriptures. There have been so many days without real prayer, and so many days without any return to my Savior. When I consider how short this life is, I wish that I had made better use of God’s grace toward me.

God is patient, as the scriptures say he is “a God merciful and gracious, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” (Exodus 34:6) His patience is aimed at securing our repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) Even our repentance is a gift that God works in our hearts. (Acts 11:18; 2 Timothy 2:25) So, I’m reminded that Jesus Christ came to save sinners. His cross has taken away my sin and his righteousness now stands in my place. God accepts me, even though I am so slow to obey.

I’ve now resolved to make better use of the time that remains. Even though I’ve floundered for 10 years, I’m asking God to make my remaining 50 years (Lord willing) more fruitful. By his grace I hope to make the best use of every opportunity. I’ve prayed that God would use my failings to show the glory of his patience.

Friends, I’m writing this letter to encourage you. Maybe you share my struggles and haven’t made the best use of all the opportunities God has given you. Remember God’s patience and seek fresh help to change. Make time to be alone with God and pray, make confession, and seek grace. He is compassionate and knows our weakness.

Ephesians 5:15-16 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (ESV)

Text: Mark 10:32-44
Sunday, January 18, 2009

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In this section of Mark’s Gospel, we see Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and to the cross. Mark records three times how Jesus predicted his own death, once in chapter 8, once in chapter 9 and a third time in our text in chapter 10. Each time, the disciples fail to understand. Each time, Jesus responds to their wrong ideas by teaching about discipleship. I’ll start reading at 10:32, but I’ll be dealing mainly with verse v. 42 – 45.

[Introduction] It was now or never, they knew it would soon be too late and their one chance would be gone. They could just imagine how Mom would take it – she would never forgive them. Lately, she only wanted to talk about one thing – her boys becoming big men in the new administration. Besides, they had paid their dues, they had been loyal, they had followed the teacher’s every step without complaining – in their minds they had earned it – they deserved it. Surely, he would pick them. Just after dinner, they had their chance. The boss seemed a little gloomy, but they were confident their timing was right. With all the boldness they could muster (and taking their mom along for backup), they walked right up to Jesus and began to make their request.

Can you imagine this scene? Jesus was making his final march to Jerusalem, he was preparing for complete humiliation – mocking, and spiting and beating and unthinkable suffering, and finally death. But his closest friends were more concerned about their glory – in this dark hour they were seeking their own interests. For 3 years they had seen his life of service, how he helped others with little though of his own needs. With their own eyes they had seen his compassion for the sick, his love for the outcast, and his continual searching for the lost & hopeless. But after 3 years of being with Jesus, they were still too selfish to follow his example of service.

How do we compare with them? Too often, we share their struggles. Even though we know that Jesus wants us to help others, but we just can’t seem to live that way. If we’re honest with ourselves, we find it difficult to put aside our own interests and put the needs of others first. Some of you have a sense of guilt because you do less than you think you should. Some of you too caught up in your jobs, or school, or family life to even notice the needs of others. In one-way or another, all of us struggle with our own selfishness.

But despite our failures and sin, God wants to help us grow in this area. Just like these disciples, Jesus wants to show us how we can become more like him. Maybe we have wrong ideas about our own importance, maybe we fail to see how much Jesus values service, maybe we haven’t understood how his death was an act of service for our benefit. In every situation, we need to see Christ’s encouragement for us to put others first. That is what I want to show you this morning: Because Jesus came to serve us, we can follow his example in serving others.

So, let’s look to this passage and see what Jesus says to selfish disciples. How can we learn to serve others? read more…

While in seminary, I learned to lie, sneak, and steal to get books. I followed the well-worn path and joined my peers in buying as many books as I could. This meant keeping the truth from my wife and even breaking the family budget when needed.

It’s gross. Looking at my shelf this morning, I wish I’d spent half that energy on actually mastering a few books. I’ve confused owning books with knowing what they say. Half of my books I’ve yet to skim, must less digest. As my palate has matured, many of those books turn my stomach.

Detox Procedure: Feed The Landfill

Over the last few weeks, I’ve pledged to throw away a tithe of books. I did not say sell or give away – I mean trash them. This is essential to the recovery process, even if you think you can make a few dollars. This is a statement, a public act of defiance against all the trash published in the name of Jesus. Don’t give them to charity or dump them off to friends. You must feed them to the landfill.

Each morning I’ve been filling my wastebasket, then I repeat the next day. I stood at my bookshelves and considered each book. Will I use this again? Do I have superior books that cover the same subject? Has this book actually helped me? I began with the low hanging fruit then progressed to some painful choices.

I’m halfway through and it’s getting easier, almost fun.

It’s easy to write people off and I seem to have a gift for it. Maybe it’s my pride, or maybe it’s part of being a fundamentalist. Either way, I am realizing how poor I am for ignoring people I disagree with. These thoughts came home with me after meeting NT Wright.

Anyone with ears to hear knows that Tom Wright isn’t a poster boy for Reformed Evangelicals. He is widely known for his new perspective on Paul. Too often he is labeled among the radical and sub-orthodox of the evangelical fold. In careful conversations his views are respected but dismissed as the novelty of an otherwise intelligent man. In the hallways of my Seminary, we slander him without hesitation. Granted, only some professors and even fewer students have really tried to understand his writings. But this doesn’t stop our mouths anymore than our ignorance of the Bible stops us from our false witnessing about it.

Today, I need a little self-rebuke. I have no right to criticize Tom Wright. In fact, my knowledge of the New Testament hardly affords me the resources to understand, much less evaluate, his teachings. Most of the time I’m a theological imposter. We’re all living in a real small fishbowl, and I just had a glimpse of the outside.

Have I rejected my beloved confessions and catechisms? No, not in the least, but I’ve found a little humility. Pray for me that I don’t lay it down somewhere and forget about it.