Called by God? Part 1: Salvation

Introduction: I often hear people say that they felt, “Called by God" to describe a decision they have made. Sometimes I hear that and shudder, thinking, “That’s so cliché, do they really even know what they mean?" Or maybe on an honest note, “Do I really know what it means to be called?” So the question is this: “What is it to be called?” As I have studied the Bible I found that it mentions the word “Calling” 700-plus times. We will learn that its meaning is in relation to three things: Salvation, Sanctification and Service.

In this Blog Series, I will post a blog on each of the subjects of God’s calling in the area of Salvation, Sanctification and lastly in Service. In each of these areas there appears to be combination of His divine plan and an element of our human responsibility to respond. Let us first explore what "Called By God" means in relation to our salvation.

We are called in our Salvation: When we look at the Bible, God acts first! He makes the first move in the creation of man and the redemption of man (Gen 1-3). He created, He sent and He saves! The Bible states that we were chosen before the creation of the world (Eph 1:4). We are a people like Israel, chosen and elected for Salvation. This idea “calling for our Salvation” is considered to be a Calvinistic view. Calvinism teaches that God from eternity past has chosen some to experience the gift of Salvation. This is often referred to as the doctrine of predestination. Regardless of ones specific view on Calvinism; the idea of “Receiving a calling for ones Salvation” is fairy clear from what read in scripture of God’s people through out history. God calls His people unto Salvation.

Scripture References:
• He chose us before he created the world (Eph 1:4)
• He predestined…He justified. (Rom 8:30)
• He calls us out of darkness and into His light (I Peter 2:9)
• He chose us, we did not choose Him (John 15:16).
• For it is by grace we are saved not by works, and this is not of ourselves (Eph.2:8-9).

Closing Comments: My professor Dr. Hannah said it best, "The truth of the gospel is not that I have come to Him, but that he came to me." We see then that the element of our human responsibility in salvation is simply our response to God’s first action to us. Our salvation doesn’t hinge on us, but it hinges on Him to prompt our hearts and our will to respond to his gracious offer. Hannah, clarifies by saying, “God, through His grace, boosts the will, strengthens and stimulates it, so that the will itself, without any coercion, will desire the good. Man does not save himself, nor is he saved against his will.” Therefore we see as St. Augustine did that it is “Neither the grace of God alone, nor he alone, but the grace of God with him.”

Questions for Discussion:
1.Is God prompting your heart through conviction and pain to want to know him more? Could He be calling you to experience Salvation? If so email me. ryanr@imagophoenix dot org
2.If salvation is not dependent upon you, how does that make you feel?
3.If we were the ones to obtain salvation, then would we also be the ones who could loose it?
4.If He is the one to grant salvation to us, then couldn’t He be faithful to secure it?
5.If the gospel is about Him coming to us--- not us to Him! How does that influence your understanding of God’s relationship to mankind?

The Night Christ Was Born

The night Christ was born, humanity met divinity. The soul felt its worth, the thrill of hope, a weary soul world rejoiced. You could hear the Angels voices it was a divine holy night when Christ was born. As I recall the stories of Jesus birth, I find that the humble are those of faith.

-Mary humbly by faith received the promise of bearing the responsibility to rear God’s son

-Joseph humbly by faith agreed as well and chose to take the hard road of social ridicule and continue to love Mary and lead the family

-The Shepherds humble in nature were the first to hear the news. They were one of the lowest of all working classes and yet God choose to them as the first recipient of his message!

Why all this? I believe because the humble are willing and wanting. They are open and available for help. The humble are aware of their need and desperation's for something beyond themselves, being fully aware of their inconsistencies and inabilities. These humble people in the times of Christ’s arrival were long awaiting the prophetic promises of Old Micah 5:2. They were waiting for this gift. The greatest gift humanity would ever receive, Salvation, God in human flesh.

Prayer
Lord, I pray that we would sense the joy of our salvation and be in worship this season. May we be humble people who receive you with open arms, thank you Father for your Son Jesus Christ, His life, death and resurrection.

The Usage of Alochol by Mark Driscoll

Do you suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused? Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we then prohibit and abolish women?"
– Martin Luther

"Mmmm . . . beer." - Homer Simpson

Historically, God’s people have greatly enjoyed alcohol. In the European world one of the most Christian drinks was beer. Saint Gall was a missionary to the Celts and renowned brewer. After Charlemagne’s reign the church because Europe’s exclusive brewer. When a young woman was to marry her church made special bridal ale for her, from which we derive our word bridal. Pastor John Calvin’s annual salary package included upwards of 250 gallons of wine to be enjoyed by he and his guests. Martin Luther explained the entire reformation as “…while I sat still and drank beer with Philip and Amsdorf, God dealt the papacy a mighty blow.” Luther’s wife Catherine was a skilled brewer and his love letters to her when they were apart lamented his inability to drink her beer. When the Puritan’s landed on Plymouth Rock the first permanent building they erected was the brewery.

As feminism grew in America during the turn of the 20th century the women’s suffrage and prohibition movements were the practical results of a feminine piety that came to also dominate the church as more women became pastors and the church became more feminine. Some denominations began to condemn alcohol as sinful and the Methodist pastor Dr. Thomas Welch created the very “Christian” Welch’s grape juice to replace communion wine in 1869. The marriage of Christianity and feminism helped to create a dry nation that put out of business all but the largest brewers who were able to survive on near beer and root beer which explains why today American beer is largely mass produced, watered down, light on calories, and feminine in comparison to rich and dark European beers. The resurgence of micro-brews is helping to overcome the great loss and resurrect the art of brewing.

Lastly, some Christians foolishly argue that such terms as new wine and mixed wine in the Bible speak of non-alcoholic wine. But, new wine can still intoxicate according to Scripture (Isaiah 24:7; Hosea 4:11; Joel 1:5), and mixed wine refers to special wines where various wines are mixed together and/or mixed with spices and does not refer to wine cut with water (Psalm 75:8; Song of Songs 8:2). God refers to pouring out the wine of His mixed wine on His enemies which does not mean He will dilute justice (Psalm 75:8). The only time such a practice is mentioned in the Bible is in regards to merchants who cut wine with to rob customers (Isaiah 1:22). The Bible speaks of grape juice (Numbers 6:3) and if God meant to speak of non-alcoholic wine he would have used that word to avoid confusion.


All Bible believing Christians agree that drunkenness is a sin.

The Bible is abundantly clear that drunkenness is a sin (Deuteronomy 21:20; Ecclesiastes 10:17; Matthew 24:29; Luke 12:45; 21:34; Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 5:11; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Peter 4:3).

The matter is so serious that no priest was to drink alcohol while performing their duties (Leviticus 10:9; Ezekial 44:21) though they could consume while not working (Numbers 18:12, 27, 30), no king was to drink while judging law (Proverbs 31:4-5), an elder/pastor cannot be a drunkard (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7), and that no drunkard will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:10; Galatians 5:21).

Sins associated with drunkenness include incest (Genesis 19:32-35), violence (Proverbs 4:17); adultery (Revelation 17:2); mockery and brawling (Proverbs 20:1); poverty (Proverbs 21:17); late night and early morning drinking (Isaiah 5:11-12); hallucinations (Isaiah 28:7); legendary antics (Isaiah 5:22); murder (2 Samuel 11:13), gluttony and poverty (Proverbs 23:20-21); vomiting (Jeremiah 25:27, 48:26; Isaiah 19:14); staggering (Jeremiah 25:27; Psalm 107:27; Job 12:25); madness (Jeremiah 51:7), loudness combined with laughter and then prolonged sleep (Jeremiah 51:39; nakedness (Habbakuk 2:15; Lamentations 4:21); sloth (Joel 1:5); escapism (Hosea 4:11); depression (Luke 21:34); and staying up all night (1 Thessalonians 5:7).


Prohibitionists wrongly teach that all drinking is a sin and that alcohol itself is an evil.

Psalm 104:14-15 "He God makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate-bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man . . ."

John 2:1-11 is clear that Jesus first miracle was performing over 100 gallons of wine at a wedding party

Matthew 11:19 "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."


Abstentionists wrongly teach that drinking is not sinful but that all Christians should avoid drinking out of love for others and a desire to not cause anyone to stumble.

Hosea 2:8 "She has not acknowledged that I was the one who gave her the grain, the new wine and oil, who lavished on her the silver and gold-which they used for Baal."

1 Timothy 4:1-5 "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."


Moderationists rightly teach that drinking is not a sin and that Christian conscience must guide each person.

Wine is spoken of as both good and bad in the same verses (1 Samuel 1:14, 24; 25:18, 37; Joel 1:5,10).

Apart from good feasting alcohol in Scripture is rightly used for communion (Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18), medicinal purposes (Proverbs 31:6; 1 Timothy 5:23), and Old Testament worship (Numbers 28:14).

Proverbs 3:9-10 "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine."

Ecclesiastes 9:7 "Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart."

Psalm 104:14-15 "He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate-bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart."

Deuteronomy 14:26 "Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice."


At Mars Hill Church, we ask that everyone act according to their conscience when it comes to alcohol consumption. Because of past sin, some who have had problems with alcohol may need to abstain for fear of stumbling into old sinful habits. For those who enjoy alcohol with biblical moderation, we recommend using discernment when providing hospitality for others who may have conscience or addiction issues. Best of all, we look forward to the day when our Lord and Savior will prepare for us a redeemed feast with wine:

"On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." - Isaiah 25:6-9

Worship Leaders for Imago Dei

Looks like we found some worship leaders! Not too long ago, I prayed that God would really show me that he was behind this church planting vision. I asked for Him to rain down his blessings by helping us find people that might want to team up with us! No kidding, that day I got a phone call about a young man that was wanting to move to Phoenix for music school and wanted to partner with a church to lead worship!!! Over the last several weeks I have met with Brad Byrd and his fiancee Samantha from Cabot, AR to explore this partnership. God has been good to us, bringing us awesome people from different places. Brad and Samantha are proven leaders that love jesus and love others. Imago Dei is off to a good start with them!

The Seven Stages of Church Planting

This is a process that has been developed from Fellowship Associates. It's simply one way to look at the season and life of a church plant. My hope is to share this with others to encourage and educate and inform our ministry partners. Here are the Seven stages!

1.Preparing, 2.Gathering, 3.Evaluating, 4.Launching, 5.Developing,
6.Influencing and 7.Reproducing.

Right now Imago Dei is in the preparing stage. I (Ryan) am working hard to do four things in the preparing stage. 1) Communicate Clear Vision, Find Competent Leaders, Gather Committed People, Raise the Financial Support needed for the first year. We have already identified a worship team, and youth and children coordinator. We are currently looking for Communities Pastor, and Operational Pastor, along with many other families that would move into the city to take up jobs and serve in the church.

Please connect with our social media to help spread the word about our church plant coming to Phoenix.

Starfish and the Spider Church

The whole discussion of our church being a Hybrid between the two Missional and Attractional Church models came about over time. But it was a recent book that really fueled my thinking and helped me establish a language. The title is called the "StarFish and the Spider" The premise is that, "If you cut off a spider's head, it dies; if you cut off a starfish's leg it grows a new one, and that leg can grow into an entirely new starfish. Traditional top-down organizations are like spiders, but now starfish organizations are changing the face of business and the world."

This book coupled with a few other great reads like Organic Church by Neil Cole and Clusters by Missiologist Mike Breen really shaped my passion to see the church function in a whole new way. At least a new way that I have never been a part of.

Anyways, the video series you are going to see will have like 8 videos or so that will unpack how we will follow a similar pattern and philosophy in ministry to maximize creativity and gospel contextualization in as many culture as possible! Seeking to take the best of both worlds and be a Hybrid.

Coexist in Culture?

Jesus teaches us a powerful truth about how Christians are to co-exist in their culture with non-Christians when he teaches the Parable, "The Wheat and the Weeds

"The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared."- Mt 13:24-25

What's interesting is that Jesus asserts that the weeds shouldn't be pulled out, rather he urges that both the good seed (wheat) and the bad seed (weeds) be left to grow together. Why?
Well because they would both die if they were pulled to early. The roots are still tender, so He urges the farmer to leave them till harvest. Jesus further explains the parable:

"The one who sowed the seed is the son of Man (Jesus) The field is the world (culture) and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom(Christians). The weeds are the sons of the evil one, (UnChristians) and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels." - Mt 13:37-39, (Parenthesis mine).

The main point Jesus is making, is that we are in world but not of the world. (Jn 17: 15-17). We are to learn how to Coexist in our culture, yet remain strong and pure until he returns! We are Wheat in the weeds and our job is not to pull out the weeds but to live among them!

3 Points should be considered here for the believer

Pilgrim Principle: This idea is that we have are to confront cultures evils and speak out against worldly wrongs, based upon our Biblical convictions. This principle is supported in Rom 12:2, "Do not conform to the patterns of the world" and is right, one should not conform to the world, yet we remain in the world at Jesus requests (John 17:15-16).

Ingeniousness Principle: The idea here is that the gospel message comes through the listeners own cultural lens of understanding, therefore the task of the Christian is to adapt, the message to fit culture, using language, symbols, sign and customs of the culture, so that the Gospel is clearly understood. Jesus did this continually in his teachings and Paul said, "Be all things, to all people"

In but Not of Principle: Jesus said it best, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:15-16). We are in the world—that’s the indigenous principle, yet, we are not of the world—that’s the pilgrim principle. For a more exhaustive look at this look at John Piper's Article

Again we must learn how to Coexist in our culture, yet remain strong and pure in our convictions, not compromising the gospel, but living in and around those that most need it!
We are Wheat in the weeds and our job is not to pull out the weeds but to live among them!

Missional Theology Rooted in the Godhead

A missional theology should be rooted to the Trinity. Mission is woven into the character and nature of God himself. Within the trinity, we see that God sent his son, (cf John 3:16). The Father and the son send the spirit, (cf. John 14, and Acts 2). Finally we see that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit send us his people to proclaim the message of the kingdom.

This kind of theological understanding of who God is and who we are as "sent people" should empower us to be missional minded. As Dr. Young (President of Denver Seminary) once said, "To have eternal life is to be a missional believer." This is a paraphrase of his statement but it's getting the point across that there is a mandate for all People, In all places, In all times! This is not only a NT reality found in the Great Comission (rf. Mt 28). but also a reality of the OT as well (rf. Isa 66).

Because the gospel is literally the power of life (cf. I Cor. 1). There is responsibility to share this message with others. Mission is the central expression of the Godhead. God sent the son,

In every city, and community around the world. We should see ourselves as the "sent people" of God no matter what field we are in. In Dallas or Dublin, we are missionaries, destined to declare and demonstrate God's righteousness to the world around us. This is missional Theology.

The Local Church Is And Is Not.

The Church is...not "Where two or three are gathered." I am sorry that scripture reference is not a good proof text for the local church. One must look to the word usage of church and discover that "church" means an assembly or a gathering, not simply a hang time with your buddy Ted! Furthermore the church has a function and specific practices that make this group of people, set apart as God's bride, a local church. Here are four fundamentals of the local church.


1.) Profession: Professing believers must be present. Pagans don't make up the church.
2.) Ordinances: Baptism, communion are a normal practice of the local church.
3.) Preaching: There is no church apart from the proclamation of gospel. The New Testament describes the church as being led by gifted people set apart for the ministry of the word.
4.) Organization: Organized for ministry: is part of the local church (Ac 14:23). So hanging with Ted at the pub doesn't count. An informal gathering of believers is considered fellowship and is good, but it's not the local church. There are gifted leaders, that help serve the congregation, empowering people. There is purpose for doing God’s will. People are organized and encouraged to be open and available for ministry to all age groups in all parts of the world.

Therefore, I would define it as "An assembly of professing Christians gathered together for the preaching of the gospel in organized way to practice church ordinances and minister to others."

Recruiting Missional Community Leaders

Our vision is to empower leaders to establish missional communities in Apartments, homes and secular spaces.

Our first step is to partner with Apartment Life to establish 5 families to serve as Cares Teams to various Apartments in the city.

Will you consider joining our team? Just visit www.caresteam.org to see the details on how this works.

Vision: Love One. Love All

Bob Marley echoes what Jesus pointed out as the most two important truths in all of scripture. I am so refreshed with Jesus teaching. In fact, I believe we we need not only look to the pastoral epistles to form our ecclesiology, but the gospels as well!

At Imago Dei Community Church our vision comes from Jesus' simple and profound statement to "Love one and to Love All." He is the Head of the Church.

LOVE ONE.When Jesus was asked to name the greatest commandment, He replied that God is one, and is to be loved with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. We believe this is the ultimate priority of every person, to discover and foster an exclusive love relationship with God. (Deut 6:5, Joshua 22.5, Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27)

LOVE ALL. Jesus continued his answer by saying that the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor. We interpret this to mean everyone; that dignity and worth transcend beliefs, lifestyles and demographics. (Matthew 22:38, Luke 10:25-37)

Why name the church Imago Dei?

The Image of God in Hebrew (צֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים‎; tzelem elohim) literally means "image of God", this often appears in Latin as Imago Dei. We named our church Imago Dei Community Church to reflect our theological convictions. All people have an inherit value, for which all people are designed to behold and reflect God’s glory. Yet in man’s sin, the image of God has been “Defaced, but not Erased.” Therefore all people deserve dignity and respect.

Implications for the Church & Culture

#1 Encourages the church to love our culture: Imago Dei reflects a theological framework that encourages diversity within the relationships of church and our culture, regardless, ethnicity, economics, education, political or religious views etc. If all people are made in his image, then all people deserve dignity and respect, do they not?

#2 Educates believers of their covenant relationship: Understanding that we are made in God’s image and invited into a covenant relationship with Him through his son, teaches us that we have significant worth as his child, his creation, the church.

#3 Empowers the church to be about the kingdom: As stated in Gen 1:26, Man was created to rule, and reign, declaring and demonstrating His righteousness throughout the earth. Understanding ones identity and role will lead to fulfilling the churches mission, to expand the kingdom for all people, in all places at all times.

This is why we named the church Imago Dei Community Church.

The Cross of Christ & His accomplishments for those who believe

1. Provided us with power over demonic forces of evil (Col 2:15; Jn 12:31).
2. Removed the sins of those in the past (Ac 17:30; Ro 3:25).
3. Cleansed us from our sin (1 Jn 1:7).
4. Freed us from the Law we couldn’t keep (Ro 10:4; Col 2:14).
5. Gave us a sacrificial example to follow (Ro 6:11).
6. Provides a propitiation for us to God (1 John 2:2; 4:10)
7. Grants us reconciliation to God (2 Co 5:19).
8. Provides us with the redemption from our sin (1 Co 6:19–20)
9. Allowed for a substitution for our sin (Mt 20:28; Mk 10:45)

5 Reasons to Church Plant in Phoenix!

I am in Sky Harbor Airport waiting on my flight back to Dallas. I was invited by Mark DeYmaz, (pastor, author, speaker for multi-ethnic church) to a conference here in Phoenix. My time in the city and with Mark was invaluable.

After much prayer and counsel we think Phoenix would be a great location to church plant. Here are 5 reasons:

#1 Need: churches here are homogenous and seeker sensitive for the most part. People are segregated, crime is rampant, population growth presents a need for new churches and communities. There is in addition many lost, liberals and New Agers in this area of our country. It also has a large international community in the city, providing the church with a high potential to equip and send other Spanish speaking people overseas. We want to provide a multi-ethnic missional church that holds to doctrine, and biblical books in teaching.

#2 Personal Passion: My wife and I have an awakened passion and increasing zeal for this city and community. Large urban centers like Phoenix typically have small diverse Christian communities if at all. Many churches move out to the suburbs and cities are left w/o churches. We have a passion to minister to broad spectrum of people in and around these urban centers.

#3 Size/stats: It's the 5th largest city in the US. It's one of the fastest growing gateway international cities in the US. Greater Phoenix area is around 5-6 million and has 23 cities/towns in the metro area. Between 2000 and 2006 the international population grew from 656,183 to 929,083.

#4 Location: Geographically it's outside of the Bible Belt. It is in a region in which social conservative evangelical Protestantism is not the dominant influence of the culture. It's south and it's west, our two favorite parts of the country. AZ has tons of outdoor activity, which has always been a big part of my life and something I want to give back to my wife and kids.

#5 Collective Confirmation: After much despair and unrest in pursuing Madrid, we found ourselves being invited to explore Phoenix as an option. A few months ago I asked Mark DeYmaz at a conference in Dallas what city in the US had the greatest need for a missional, multi-ethnic church? Phoenix has instant response. Later that week I called Steve Snider (President of Fellowship Associates church planters group) and asked the same question. Without hesitation he said Phoenix as well! From my friends overseas to my family, to the local community in Phoenix it has been a collective confirmation of many that has led us to believe we would do well to pursue church planting in AZ.