12. Small groups demonstrate that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts! Two Small groups raised over $10,000 to dig a well in Uganda and in the process impacted hundreds of people. Their efforts even made the evening news on television!

13. Small groups provide an ideal setting for fulfilling the “one-another” passages. “Be devoted to one another; honor one another; live in harmony with one another; love one another; accept one another.” (Romans 12:10, 16; 13:8; 15:7)

14. Small groups give us the opportunity to contribute to and build into others’ lives. My wife and I had the amazing privilege of filling in as surrogate parents for a number of young men and women when we lived in Alaska. I think especially of some young women who had deep father-wounds that were impairing their relationships with men. Our small group setting gave us the opportunity to demonstrate for them what  a marriage looks like when we’re following Jesus.

15. Small groups are simple! I started leading my first small group when I was 19—I had no idea what I was doing! But we met together, studied the Word, prayed, and cared for one another. (My wife, Linda was part of that small group! So I guess you could argue that this is yet another reason to join a small group!)

©2012 Rob Fischer

7. Small groups follow Jesus’ example with His twelve disciples! Jesus chose twelve men…that they might be with Him…(Mark 3:14)Jesus spent time with many others too, but he focused on the twelve. There is a limit to the number of people we can impact deeply with our lives. Small groups provide a great environment in which to influence and impact a few deeply.

8. Small groups are one of the most effective means of caring for others! (Small groups are our first line of defense at Southside Christian Church!) Late last fall, a family in our church lost a family member in a tragic farm accident. This family’s small group rallied around them providing love and meals. Additionally, their small group mustered over 50 volunteers to come to their farm to finish fencing in their land before winter set in.

9. Small groups offer spiritual partnership! Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” We all need that sharpening, that honing that takes place in deep relationships! Next to the Word of God, I’ve personally found spiritual partnership to be the single most powerful lever in my life for bringing about spiritual transformation.

10. Small groups provide us with ways to bear one another’s burdens. Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” A great way we carry one another’s burdens is by praying for each other and this occurs hundreds of times weekly in our small groups!

©2012 Rob Fischer

In the Lord’s Prayer we are asking Him for strength to resist temptation. The New Living Translation renders it, “And don’t let us yield to temptation.” Another way to put it might be, “Lord, please lead me out of and away from the things that tempt me!” Jesus warned His disciples on the night He was betrayed, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) As we’ve seen elsewhere in this prayer, we are dependent on our heavenly Father and in this case, we’re dependent on His strength to resist temptation.

Where does temptation come from? The Scriptures point out at least three sources of temptation: the world system, our own fleshly desires and the devil (see 1 John 2:15-16; James 1:14; and John 13:2). The world and its ways are contrary to God. There’s nothing mysterious about this. The world calls good what God calls evil; and it calls evil what God calls good. Abortion or the killing of unborn children is one sober example of this horrible distortion.

One significant way in which we are led astray by the world is through others who aren’t following Jesus. Paul warns, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33) The world offers enticements that lure us away from God’s pure character toward lewd and baser things. The world cries out to us, “Come run with us.” “Everybody’s doing it!” “No one will know.” “It’s fun, try it!” “It doesn’t hurt anyone.”

Clearly, a second way we are led into temptation is through our own fleshly desires stimulated by greed, lust, envy, jealousy, and pride. The Bible refers to this as, “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” (1 John 2:16) James explains, “Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:14-15) Because our flesh is weak, it’s so important that we ‘feed’ our spirit with God’s Word, fellowship and prayer.

Finally, some temptations come from the evil one, the devil. Jesus was tempted by the evil one, yet He resisted his temptations and did not sin. Peter warns us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” (1 Peter 5:8-9) The devil wants to trip us up. He wants to foil God’s plan to transform us and make us more like Christ. He lies to us in much the same way he lied to Adam and Eve in the garden.

Coming back to the Lord’s Prayer, we ask God to help us resist temptation and to protect us from the evil one. This prayer presupposes that we will obediently avoid such situations that would place us in harm’s way. In other words, don’t go to places where you know you’ll be tempted. Don’t hang out with others who are constantly trying to lead you into temptation. And in some situations where temptation simply appears unannounced, we must flee! We must not flirt with temptation, but flee from it! We’re told to “Flee from sexual immorality!” (1 Corinthians 6:18) “Flee from idolatry!” (1 Corinthians 10:14) Flee from the lure of riches. (1 Timothy 6:11) And “Flee the evil desires of youth.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

“Father, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

©2011 Rob Fischer

As we read or pray this prayer, it would be easy for us to see our “daily bread” or the “forgiveness of our debts” as the focal things, but they aren’t. The focal thing in this prayer is God and our relationship with Him. When we express our need to Him for bread and for forgiveness, we interact with Him in a way that cultivates our relationship with Him and acknowledges who He is. God is not merely the “bread-Giver” or “Forgiver,” He is our Father. “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11)

I also recently heard someone claim that if one is “in Christ,” then that person is already forgiven all past, present and future sins and need no longer ask forgiveness. This statement is an attempt to reduce our relationship with God to mere dogma or theology. Think of this in terms of relationship instead. If a husband says, “I don’t need to tell my wife I love her, she already knows that,” he is depriving his wife and himself of the expression of and cultivation of their love relationship. The same is true for us if we say we don’t need to ask God forgiveness.

When we sin, we need to confess our sins, humble ourselves before God and ask His forgiveness. Sin rifts any relationship. Forgiveness repairs that rift. Theologically we know that God will forgive us before we ask Him, but experientially we need to ask Him. We need to express our sorrow over sin and resolve to love and follow Him. This is all necessary for a healthy relationship. (See 1 John 1:9.)

But there is a second part of this prayer of forgiveness. We’ve already asked for God’s kingdom to rule in our hearts and lives. One of the ways we live that out most fully is by forgiving others when they sin against us. We want to be like our Father, who is loving, long-suffering and forgiving. Can we really expect Him to forgive us if we refuse to forgive others? In fact, shortly after this prayer, Jesus commented, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

A friend who discipled me many years ago coached me to “keep short accounts” with God and with others. What he meant was to attend to our relationships in such a way that we would never be harboring ill-will toward someone or withholding forgiveness from someone. In this same spirit we pray to our heavenly Father, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

©2011 Rob Fischer

Imagine God’s kingdom, a kingdom in which there is no sin, evil or anything wicked. Our world today is polluted and permeated with sin and evil. God will one day renew the earth and set up His eternal rule. The apostle John, seeing and hearing a preview of God’s coming kingdom, writes, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

But the Lord’s Prayer is not merely looking forward to the future. There is a very present sense of longing for God’s kingdom and seeking for His will to be done. Read what Jesus said about His Father’s kingdom, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33)

We mistake this “seeking first God’s kingdom” as a matter of priorities. When we establish priorities, we complete the top priorities and move on to lesser priorities. But that’s not what Jesus is saying. “Seeking first God’s kingdom” is not an issue of priority setting, but one of singleness of heart and mind. We must learn to seek God’s kingdom in all facets of life. God does not wish to be a priority among priorities! He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the I AM. He asks us to set up His kingship in every area of our lives. No aspect or element of our lives should fall outside of His kingly rule and authority!

I urge you to pray with me, humbly and with full knowledge of what this means, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

©2011 Rob Fischer

When we pray to God, “Hallowed be your name,” we both declare that God is holy and that we desire our lives to honor Him as holy. We profane Him when we ascribe attributes or works to Him that are not holy or are inconsistent with His character. Paul warns in this regard, “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.” (Romans 1:21-23)

We also profane, rather than hallow God’s name, when we think, speak and behave in a manner inconsistent with who we are as His children. God had appointed Israel to serve as a light to the Gentiles, showing them the way to God. But through disobedience to Him, the Scriptures declare, “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Romans 2:24)

When we pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,” we are declaring and rejoicing that our heavenly Father is holy. And in the same breath, we humbly bow before Him, desperately asking Him to make us holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). To hallow His name is to glorify Him and one of the simplest ways we glorify Him is by enjoying Him. John Piper reminds us, “God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him.”

“Father, You are holy, holy, holy! May my life proclaim and exhibit Your holiness to all around me. Remove from me anything unholy or unclean. Father, You are my joy and delight! Hallowed be Your name!”

©2011 Rob Fischer

With all these men in the house, Martha was busy and distracted “with much serving.” Mary, however, was captivated by Jesus and the things he was teaching. She sat at Jesus’ feet and listened intently to him. Mary’s sister, Martha became so angry at her sister for not helping her that she scolded Jesus for allowing Mary to sit there, while she (Martha) did all the work. “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40) Jesus responded to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

This episode with Mary and Martha reveals what our attitude in prayer should be. Often, we come to God in prayer and we too find ourselves busy and distracted with much serving. Our prayer becomes all about us and what we are doing for the Lord. We may even wonder, as Martha did, why others are not doing their part—carrying their weight—for the Kingdom. We may even entertain dark thoughts about why God allows their apathy or inactivity.

Instead, we need to come before God in prayer, as Mary did, and sit at his feet and listen. When we come humbly before God in prayer with the intent to listen—to hear from him and seek what he seeks—we demonstrate a tender and pliable heart before him. We are setting our hearts aright to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

©2011 Rob Fischer

©2011 Rob Fischer

On one occasion we read that Felix, “Sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, ‘That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.’”  (Acts 24:24-25 NIV)

I find that incident very sobering. Here’s a man who was very familiar with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He would hear Paul talk about faith in Christ, righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, but instead of embracing the message about Christ, Felix was afraid. I take this to mean that Felix well understood the consequences of not trusting Christ and patterning his life after Him. He was fearful—fearful of the prospect of placing his faith in Christ; fearful that his own acts of righteousness were pitifully wanting; fearful that he did not possess the self-control available to those who follow Christ, but was controlled instead by his passions; and fearful of God’s future judgment.

Even more disturbing is Felix’s fearful response to Paul’s preaching, “Felix was afraid and said, ‘That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.’” Felix’s fear of what he was hearing pushed him to shut off the message with the excuse that he would find a more convenient opportunity. Apparently that “more convenient opportunity” never came for Felix.

For one who has not yet trusted Christ, there is no better time to decide to follow Him than today, right now. A more convenient time will never present itself again. For those of us who follow Jesus, we need to ensure that we are following “the Way” of Christ. Does talk of faith in Christ (really trusting Him daily), of righteousness (right living), self-control and the judgment to come disturb or frighten us? If we do find those issues troubling, then we need to simply come to Christ humbly and in submission to Him.

In Revelation 3:19-20, Christ invites His wayward followers, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” For us too, there will never be a more convenient time than today!

©2011 Rob Fischer