Godly conversations
Take a 30 minute sermon shared about a month ago which focussed on the two great characteristics of Jesus: “Grace and Truth”, and later present it as an eleven minute sermonette. And then, if that’s not enough, distill it even further to just four minutes!
Trust you’re blessed with this shorter version but by no means any less important.
By John Klassek
I really want to thank Bryan for his help. After returning from Malaysia a few weeks ago, Bryan uploaded some 64Gb of video to our server which he had filmed while on mission work in Africa and Asia. A tentative script I wrote was further edited by Calvin, and with the audio track finally recorded, it then took about three day’s work to finally get the six minute film to where I felt reasonably comfortable about uploading it to YouTube.
If you have a heart for mission and a desire for your brothers and sisters in Christ around the world to be blessed, then you’ll probably enjoy this short film.
By John Klassek
George was 17 years old when he was dismissed from his dream job. His employer demanded that he work Friday nights, but George wasn’t willing to compromise Sabbath rest. Though devastated at the time, this young man could not have known that embracing such a decision would in time set him on a path that would lead closer to Christ and deeper into His will. It was a defining moment.
Years later, as George experienced a greater distinct call to discipleship, a sceptical friend in the Christian community quizzed him about his understanding of Matthew 6:33. It seemed to George that believers were to “seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness, and God will provide for all those physical needs” [my paraphrase].
“Get a job that pays well,” chided his friend, further quoting the national minimal wage. What he was saying, really, in his opinion, was that you can’t rely on a literal understanding of Jesus’ words that God would provide all our needs.
But George saw it differently. That’s what Jesus had said. Surely He meant it, especially in the light of His pre-incarnate words of, “Put me to the test and see if I will not bless you”. (Malachi 3:10) [my paraphrase].
God desires that we are generous with all our resources. This is particularly true with our increase, our time, talents and desires. Echoes of this generous giving appears in the book of Acts where faithful believers, wanting to step up in service to Christ, donated their land and valuables for the sake of the Kingdom. Those who feigned generosity, who lied to the Holy Spirit, paid the ultimate price.
God’s model for generosity begins at ten percent, but a willingness to give under the terms of the New Covenant knows no bounds. That’s where, for many people, the challenge exists in the words of Jesus as recorded in the gospel of Matthew. Do we trust God with our entire lives? Can we trust Him, for example, with a greater portion of our increase? That’s a radical reliance and an extraordinary step faith. For the sake and call of the Kingdom, these are important commitments to consider.
Most of our prayers are spoken in secret, so perhaps it’s reasonable that most of our alms ought also be done in secret. Have you ever considered putting aside, for example, seventy percent of your time and resources in deployment for Christ? Of course, make sure your heart is right – there’s no room for pretenders. Start a ministry. Join an existing ministry. (In his mid-thirties, that’s exactly what George did). Do what you’re naturally gifted with, and live every moment prayerfully. Let the Holy Spirit be your guide, counsel, comfort and help.
And don’t bother trying to do the maths, for such calculations would not have helped the widow with the abundant flow of olive oil from her one small jar during those days of trial and drought (2 Kings 4). Such small steps of faith begin to reveal a powerful truth in Jesus’ words. More than we can perhaps know or understand, this is our Father’s world. He calls us to trust Him.
George may have lost a promising job early in his career, but through the experience gained his life in Christ. His initial loss was, in reality, a divine calling-card that led to a radical reliance and trust in his Heavenly Father!
By John Klassek
We’ve just returned from the International Ministerial Congress meeting of the Church of God (Seventh Day) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was a wonderfully inspiring time together with leaders from Myanmar, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, USA and Mexico.
Among the numerous presentations shared was one I titled “A Visual Culture Demands A Visual Gospel”. Our work for the past 17 years has been to share the gospel using media streaming, and I believe we’ve barely scratched the potential this has for introducing the gospel to millions and millions of people in South East Asia and beyond.
A missionary must understand the culture to which he or she is sent. To ignore the language, customs, religion and more if we’re to effectively convey and minister the gospel is to fail before we’ve started. Today’s culture is increasingly immersed in multimedia. The film industry and media generally are powerful influencers at every level of society, affecting attitudes and social mores.
The disciples of two millennia ago understood this. Matthew wrote his testimony with a Hebrew audience in mind. Paul preached to those in Athens, understanding the Greek culture of the day. What about us, today?
May we have ears to hear where God is sending us, eyes to see the harvest ripe, and a heart and hands to minister where God beckons.
(For additional photos of the IMC meeting, please visit our gallery).
It’s surprising how many of us are mediocre when it comes to God. We’re just lukewarm, feeling quite safe on the fence.
Fence-sitting means we can allegedly have the best of both worlds. If God is true, then we’ll be on His side, but for the most part, we’re happy to go along with the crowd. Pity we forget just what Jesus says about being lukewarm!
These latest two short films challenges this indifference. It is our prayer that you’ll join us in responding to God’s love with all our heart and mind and soul and strength.
Part 2
Written and produced by John Klassek
(Elder, Film Producer, IT Support)
We’re leaving early next Sunday morning to ride our bikes across this great country. Pictured earlier this year is daughter Hannah and myself on the Avon Valley Black Dog Ride. Hannah is riding her Hyosung 650 and I’m on the Suzuki GSX-R1000.
No, we’re not going “just for fun” (although it will certainly be fun). It will also be long, hot and tiring; having said that, it’s especially nice to sleep under the stars, far away from civilisation. It’s called TAWG. Google the acronym.
Mission: We’re taking as many copies of Hope of the Resurrection with us as we can carry, giving autographed copies to people we meet everywhere. We’ve even freighted a box of books to Adelaide, so we can restock!
So, log into this blog again, and see how we’re progressing! And if you’re really game, meet us on the road somewhere.
– John Klassek
Occasionally I am asked the reasons why I wrote “Hope of the Resurrection”. Others enquire in particular about the nuances of the second resurrection.
The scriptures are quite clear about those who reject Christ, in Jesus’ day and in ours. (I had originally intended, with the editing of the 3rd edition, to write an entire chapter about hell, but decided that there was already sufficient in the book about this subject. Besides, an entire chapter on hell somewhat detracts from the overall “hope” value).
I trust that my book “Hope of the Resurrection” does not make any claims or implications that can be construed as un-Biblical. I do not believe in second-chance theology. Thanks for the opportunity to clarify this. Perhaps in a future edition and printing, I will continue to further develop any passages that may not be as clear as they ought. Thanks for your grace in this.
We can take some comfort in Paul’s statement that, “we only know in part and therefore preach in part” [my paraphrase]. (1 Corinthians 13:9)
With regard to any possible hope outcome in the second resurrection, I like the dichotomy of “near-certainty versus mere possibility”. Many of us are somewhere between the two. On the other end of the spectrum, however, are those who believe in total annihilation of all at the second resurrection, regardless of whether they’ve ever heard the truth or not. This view is somewhat hard to reconcile with the Biblical text that discusses righteous judgment. (John 5:30) It is also hard to reconcile with a loving, merciful God who paid in total the sins of this world.
Thus, I believe there can be a range of “peripheral” understandings of what many regard as somewhat “unclear”. This is where our patience and grace ought to come to the fore. Please note that I always refrain from preaching about these “peripheral” things from the pulpit – knowing that in the fullness of time we’ll all understand!
I felt inspired to write “Hope of the Resurrection” after visiting several Christian bookstores, and seeing numerous titles, such as “To Heaven and Back”, “Ninety Minutes in Heaven”, and “Heaven is for Real”. Conspicuous by its absence, I found that there were no equal books that discussed the resurrection hope in Christ. (I have since discovered NT Wright’s book “Surprised by Hope” that also emphasises a Biblical resurrection hope). But, largely, books on Heaven vastly outnumber those on Resurrection.
My book’s original intended audience was simply for the “man on the street” – folk who may have casually heard about God, and who may be seeking answers following the loss of a loved one. The book has already been read by many thousands of people since it was first published in 2010, and I am delighted to constantly receive very positive responses from people whose lives have been significantly helped.
John Klassek
A great morning’s work yesterday, filming for the upcoming resurrection film, probably titled, “The Awakening, Resurrection in Christ”. It’s been six months planning, scripting and sketching to get to this stage. It’s a prayer every moment, every step of the way.
Again, the subject of the resurrection is central to everything we believe and everything we’re becoming.