Tim Keller's Final Message to the Church

Like so many pastors, my life was influenced by the teachings of Dr. Tim Keller, who passed away on May 19th at 72 from Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. I remember being entranced back in 2008 by how Keller connected Christ to every passage and story in the Bible. His track record as a church planter in Manhattan was unparalleled and undoubtedly will further influence Christian leaders for generations to come.

Redeemer Church posted the following today:

Last November the leadership of the Redeemer family of churches decided to host a gathering of congregants from all of our churches called Redeemer Night. We scheduled it for May 19. In God's good providence it was the day Tim Keller went to be with his Savior. Redeemer Night suddenly took on new meaning. Tim was asked several weeks ago by our network pastoral leadership team to share a few thoughts on video about his vision moving forward for our network of churches and ministries. What had not been anticipated was that it would be his final word to the congregants of our five Redeemer churches. We share it with the hope that it will encourage and strengthen all who view it to love and serve Jesus in whatever context you find yourself.

For what it’s worth, here are the three final points of Keller’s message for Redeemer Church and beyond.

Three Bits of Advice from the Book of Jeremiah

1. Live on the Razor’s Edge. “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29:7, NIV).
   
   What razor’s edge? The Babylonians took the Jews to Babylon to destroy their culture and faith as they were assimilated into Babylon. Some Jews said, ‘Let’s stay outside so that we don’t lose our identity.’
   
   Keller (direct quotes): “But the Lord says to them, ‘I want you to move into the city but I want you to KEEP your identity. I want you to increase in numbers and to keep your faith but at the same time to engage. I want you to seek its peace and prosperity… I want you to love it.’ That’s the razor’s edge. Engage, but at the same time, be different. Don’t assimilate and just pick up all the views of the culture, but don’t stay out, keep your skirts clean, denounce everybody, no. Live on the razor’s edge.”
   

2. Invest, Don’t Just Consume. Just before Israel goes into exile, we see these words in Jeremiah 32: “My cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.’ I knew that this was the word of the Lord; so I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel… For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land’” (Jeremiah 32:8-9, 15).
   
   Keller (direct quotes): ”See, right now if you live in Ukraine — in eastern Ukraine — would you buy a piece of property? Probably not. Why? Because you don’t even know if it’s going to end up in Russia… It would be a terrible investment.
   
   And that’s exactly what Hanamel is asking Jeremiah to do…. Jeremiah says, ’I know what God has said. Yes, there will be a conquest. Yes, there will be an exile… But I will bring the people back.’
   
   Look, don’t just come here to consume. Don’t just come to New York to say, ‘I just want to get this on the resume, have an exciting church experience…’ Invest here. Jesus Christ said, ‘I will build My church.’ He doesn’t say, ‘I will build My church EXCEPT in big cities.’ So invest in the church. Invest your time. Invest your — yes — invest your money. Invest your life.”
   

3. Forget About Your Reputation. “Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not” (Jeremiah 45:5).
   
   Keller: “Genesis 11 tells us that people tend to go the city to make a name for themselves. They get excited, they’re going to do well in their work. And by the way, ministers very often come to New York City to make a name for themselves. Just letting you know that. Y’know: ‘I’m a minister in New York City, I’m cool, I’m going to do well here.’
   
   Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not. Don’t worry about your reputation. Don’t worry about your credentials. Don’t make your ministry success your identity, so if things don’t go well you feel like just another failure and you freak out. People, don’t make getting a big name in New York City your main thing. Lift up Jesus’ name. Hallowed be Thy Name. Forget yourself. Forget your reputation. Do what you can to lift up God’s Name.”

Jeff Deyo on LeaderShift

 Jeff Deyo is a worship leader, author, pianist, songwriter, speaker, and professor. He is known internationally as the former lead singer of the Grammy-nominated, Dove Award-winning group, Sonicflood, and lives to help people grow closer to God.

It was a real thrill having Jeff Deyo on the podcast this week. His music is the soundtrack to my Calling from back in 2000 and meeting him was a true joy.

The guy is the real deal — authentic, oozing with joy and ready to pray at a moment’s notice. Listen to my conversation with Jeff Deyo on LeaderShift, wherever you get your pod’s OR watch at YouTube.com/JonathanHerron.

• Listen on Apple Podcasts

• Listen on Spotify

After Acts: How The Apostles Peter & Paul Died

Original Article by Ian M. Giatti

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Why do we know so little about the deaths of arguably the two greatest apostles in the Bible?

It’s a question that has stymied scholars and laypeople alike, one that seems to run counter to the multiple accounts of deaths in Scripture ranging from figures such as Judas, the most notorious apostle, to seemingly less significant figures like the sons of Korah in the Old Testament or Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts.

But astoundingly, the Bible says nothing about the deaths of Peter and Paul.

As Jordan Smith, lecturer of Biblical Studies at the University of Iowa, points out, the deaths of Peter, Paul nor any of the other apostles are recorded in the New Testament.

According to Smith, our best source of information on the deaths of Peter and Paul are from extra-biblical sources, most of which contradict others on a number of details, including approximate dates and locations of their deaths.

“For instance, did you know that we have fifteen different versions of the deaths of Peter and Paul — four of Peter, five of Paul, and six of Peter and Paul together — all written by the sixth century?” writes Smith. 

Here’s what we do know: Paul is still alive preaching in Rome at the end of Acts, and at some subsequent point in time, both he and Peter were executed by Nero. Their deaths have traditionally been linked to 64 AD, during a period of persecution against Christians, who Nero blamed for the Great Fire of Rome.

According to Roman historian Tacitus, the fire began in July of that year in the Circus Maximus, the ancient Roman stadium, and burned for five days.

Nero, who some accused of ordering the fire to be started, “substituted as culprits, and punished with the utmost refinements of cruelty, a class of men, loathed for their vices,​ whom the crowd styled Christians,” wrote Tacitus in his Annals.

But for Smith, the idea that Nero blamed Christians for the Great Fire is “highly unlikely” since they weren’t a “large and distinct enough group yet in Rome in 64 CE to provide a believable scapegoat.”

“For instance, in his correspondence with the emperor Trajan in 112 CE, Pliny the Younger mentions that he has encountered accusations against a group that he knows nothing about that were called ‘Christians,’" he wrote. “Trajan’s reply reveals that he has not heard of this group before, either. 

“This would not be possible for a group that less than 50 years earlier Nero infamously blamed for the Great Fire in Rome.”

Smith says there are two lingering traditions associated with the deaths of Peter and Paul: Peter was supposedly crucified upside down “because he felt he was unworthy to be crucified in a manner similar to Jesus,” and Paul, a citizen of Rome who could not be lawfully crucified, was executed by beheading instead.

While there are a number of different versions of Peter’s crucifixion account, Smith says it wasn’t until the sixth century History of Shemon Kepha the Chief of the Apostles that we’re told his request to be crucified upside-down was for the purpose of dying while “symbolically kissing the place of Jesus's feet.”

Early Church fathers Origen and Jerome are said to have depicted Peter’s death as a tradition of “humility,” according to Smith.

As for Paul, Smith says one account of his death “bears a strong resemblance to the story of Eutychus in Acts 20.”

Smith writes, “A servant, perhaps cupbearer, of Nero fell asleep in a window listening to Paul and fell to his death. After he was raised from the dead by Paul, the resurrected servant upset Nero by acknowledging Jesus as the ‘eternal king,’ leading Nero to discover that many others among his own [bodyguards] were Christians.”

While details vary in later retellings, Nero is said to have ordered the Christians arrested and Paul beheaded, according to Smith.

He believes, despite the various later accounts of the apostles’ deaths, any mention of them in the canonical list appears to have been “a conscious decision” made by the early Church.

“Perhaps the idea was to focus only on their lives,” Smith wrote. “Maybe it is because by the time the Gospels were written, the Apostles had dispersed and the stories of their deaths were unknown. 

“Or, maybe the anonymous Gospel authors simply didn’t think that any of the death traditions could be trusted, and excluded them for this reason.”

It's not clear what Smith meant by "anonymous" authors, since we have known since the first century the identity of each Gospel author:

• Matthew was written by the apostle Matthew, also known as Levi;

• The author of Mark, the second Gospel account, was Mark the son of Mary, Barnabas’ sister;

• Luke, a physician who was close to the apostle Paul according to Colossians 4:14, 2 Timothy 4:11, and other texts, authored the Gospel of Luke; and

• Early church tradition strongly and consistently identified the Apostle John as the author of the Gospel of John, who repeatedly refers to himself as the "disciple whom Jesus loved."

Ultimately, is the manner of how the apostles died relevant to 21st century Christians?

Darrell Bock, senior research professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, told The Christian Post the fact that some apostles gave their lives for the faith is important.

"It shows they truly believed in what they preached about Jesus," said Bock. As for how they died, the idea that Peter was crucified upside down because he did not feel worthy of dying exactly how Jesus did says a great deal about the humility of this apostle."

It Came in the Mail

It arrived tonight and now it feels real!

Chasing this lifelong dream came during a long season of relational drought. Here’s what I learned: Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you CAN’T chase your dreams. Naysayers and gossips miss out on the miracle and not worthy of your attention. Pursue your calling wholeheartedly and focus on the future.

“Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus.” (1 Timothy 1:14, MSG)

Easter Weekend at Life Church

LIFE CHURCH'S EGG DROP on ABC12 NEWS

I was a live guest on our local ABC affiliate talking about Easter at Life Church.

For what it's worth, here's the interview --

HELICOPTER EGG DROP 2023

Our Easter event was a huge success!

Thank you to the thousands who came out and joined in on the fun.

A special shoutout to our dedicated volunteers who made it all happen!

10 YEARS OF LIFE CHURCH

““I will build my church — and the power of death will not be able to overpower it!”
”

— Jesus in Matthew 16:18 (TPT)

Ten years ago today, my family took a deep breath and cannonballed into the unknown by launching weekly worship experiences... the birth of the church we love!

Just like childbirth it was messy, scary, and even a little bloody... yet what emerged is beautiful and bringing Life to the Great Lakes Bay Region.

We started by renting theater and classroom space at Saginaw Valley State University. 

It was a herculean task setting up and tearing down our portable church environments every week, but we got it done (even in Michigan winter!).

When you start something new completely from scratch, EVERYTHING is HARD... but it's worth it.

For the past ten years, we've lifted up Jesus, inspired our region, and seen lives transformed by God's amazing love.

To date, we've seen three hundred and fifteen people baptized at Life Church -- Holy Wow!

Every number has a name, every name has a story, and every story matters to God.

As I’ve said for years at Life Church, every person matters!

Healthy Things Grow

In November 2014, we opened the doors of a former Golf Mania as our main worship facility and suddenly became kites in God's Hurricane.  

By February 2015, in the middle of Michigan winter, we ran out of space and began adding additional worship times!

New Locations

In March of 2017 we stepped out in crazy faith by becoming One Church in Two Locations: Saginaw and Midland!  

We became the very first multi-site church in the Great Lakes Bay Region.

Our rapid growth continued with young adults and families from across the region discovering new life in Christ at Life Church.  

A Movement of Changed Lives

In 2018 we broke 1,200 in attendance and baptized 60 new Christ Followers.

Outreach Magazine & LifeWay Research recognized Life Church Michigan as one of the Top 15 Fastest-Growing Churches in America (September 2019).

Then 2020 hit, a year that closed our campuses and delivered a near-fatal blow to our labor of love. In late 2020 we reopened our doors in Saginaw and began rebuilding home.

Today we are a thriving, scrappy church for people who don’t always like going to church. Heading into our tenth year of ministry, we are focused on working like it depends on us and praying like it depends on God.

Reflecting on 3 Years After COVID

Three years ago today I sent our Life Church staff home due to this great unknown, COVID-19.

We had just celebrated Life Church’s Midland Comic-Con event success and I had just returned from a briefing at The White House.

Sending our team home that day, I could not have known all the change and tumult that awaited our church family in the coming months.

Online worship became the norm. We did five Drive-In Easter services that April. By September, everything I knew was sadly gone: friends abruptly disappeared and blocked my family online, the entire staff curiously quit one by one, and I was left holding the place I loved together by the skin of my teeth.

What’s remarkable to me is that none of this took God by surprise. You cannot surprise the Master. In John 13:19 Jesus says, “I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.”

When life feels out of control, God remains firmly in control. Everything that happens to you in life has passed through the sovereign hands of God and is ultimately for your good.

That doesn’t mean that life can’t hurt sometimes. Trust me, Amber and I received deep educations in 2020 on betrayal and heartache.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4, “At first there was no one I could count on to faithfully stand with me—they all ran off and abandoned me—but don’t hold this against them. For in spite of this, my Lord himself stood with me, empowering me to complete my ministry of preaching.”

When the earth shakes, the Lord stands firm. When life doesn’t make sense, I can choose to trust in a God who does and who is working behind the scenes for my good.

While our family’s life now looks radically different than it did three years ago, I am thankful for a God who remains faithful and just regardless of passing troubles.

I am thankful that our faith is grounded in the concepts of forgiveness and reconciliation, and that it is never too late to become who you might have been.

Whatever your life looks like today, choose to persevere. Choose to believe the best in people and allow love to cover over all sins (1 Peter 4:8).

Trust in the Carpenter-King and see what God can do through you.

Do You Have the 8 Values That Make a Leader?

1 YOU NEED COMMUNITY YOU CAN BE VULNERABLE AND AUTHENTIC WITH
​If you can start to get a place where you’re honest with yourself and others, you can grow and develop. 

2 GREAT LEADERS SEE MORE THAN OTHERS SEE & THEY SEE BEFORE OTHERS SEE
This doesn’t mean they’re smarter than other people, it just means they can see the bigger picture, quicker. 

3 A GOOD THOUGHT WORKS AT THE END JUST AS WELL AS THE BEGINNING
It’s not about being heard first, its about serving people. 

4 IF YOU’LL HELP PEOPLE GET WHAT THEY WANT, THEY’LL HELP YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT
It’s not about recruiting people to yourself, but leading them into their passion. Put people first! 

5 A GREAT LEADER HAS A FORCEFUL WILL AND A HUMBLE HEART
Leaders don’t get distracted with what’s around them but carry an appreciation for who’s around them. 

6 THERE’S A FINE LINE BETWEEN MOTIVATION AND MANIPULATION
Manipulation is leading for your advantage, motivation is leading for OTHER’S advantage. When you lack values with people, this gets backwards.

7 IT’S ABOUT THE COMPOUND OF CONSISTENCY & VALUING PEOPLE
Focus on getting better daily. The anticipation of helping people will keep you in the game!

8 YOU'RE NOT DOWN, YOU'RE EITHER UP OR GETTING UP
Don’t let failure define you. Failure is momentary, and a sign that you’re moving!

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LAUGH YOUR MASS OFF

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