Chiangmai Christian Fellowship

Chiangmai Christian Fellowship

In this two part series we are looking at the plan to implement Covenant Community at CCF. In part 1 we examined what it mean for the Church to be a community. The Church is, by definition and by its very nature, a community of those who are followers of Christ. Salvation comes by grace, through faith in the finished work of Christ, apart from the Church. But, our spiritual growth and maturity can...

Chiang Mai is a very unique and strategic place for an International Church like CCF. It is also a rather complex context in which to “do Church.” I have been here for over 15 years, and as the founding Pastor of CCF, I have been wrestling with how to lead CCF in a way that is Christ honoring, and effective in serving the community here for the past 14 years. I am still learning, and still trying...

One of the great truths of the Christian faith is that there is forgiveness for our sins, and that by God’s grace. But, it is very possible to greatly misunderstand this truth in one of two ways. First, we reduce God into some kind of vending machine who dispenses forgiveness without any personal interest: we sin, we deserve His wrath, we push the “ask forgiveness” button, and grace falls from hea...

Evan as Yahweh is giving Moses the details of the covenant - how they are to worship Him, the people break the covenant by worshipping an idol image. God’s right and just response is to destroy Israel, but Moses intercedes on behalf of the people and turns away God’s wrath. But, that does not fix everything. They may yet live to see another day, but the covenant relationship is broken, the people...

The blueprint for worship, the plans for the Tabernacle, and all its furnishings, as well as the process for anointing the priests and offering sacrifices, has been given in detail to Moses. Every part and function of the Tabernacle is a picture or “copy” of the heavenly temple, and points to the ultimate worship of God’s people who draw near to Him by the blood and High Priesthood of Jesus, and b...

Chiangmai Christian Fellowship

In an era when everyone can serve God, either on a part time, volunteer basis, or in full time vocational ministry, it is probably hard for us to appreciate the unique role of a Priest or Levite in the OT. They were essentially the only ones permitted to serve God in any capacity. Consequently, they formed a very exclusive group among the Israelites. What exactly was the role of the priest, and gi...

Chiangmai Christian Fellowship

In chapter 27 all the pieces of the Tabernacle come together and we can get a more comprehensive view of what worship is to look like for Israel. Since it is a copy of things in heaven, it is not only a model for the worship of the Jews, it is a pattern of worship for all who seek God. So, what do these details about furniture, curtains, and an oversized BBQ grill tell us about what worship is and...

Chiangmai Christian Fellowship

Now that the Israelites have been saved by God, by His might and grace, and as they have entered into a Covenant relationship with Him and have sealed the Covenant agreement through sacrifices and a fellowship meal in His presence, the last thing to be discussed is how they as a community are to worship Him. What was worship to look like for them? What was to be the point or goal of worship? How w...

In Exodus 24:12­25:22 God gives instruction to Moses on how he is to receive donations for the temple and build the ark that is intended to hold the “testimony” or commandments given to the people from God. This document’s purpose was to define the relationship and it was to be carried with the people in the ark wherever they would go. These instructions begin to lay out a blueprint for worship wi...

The Israelites had experienced God’s mighty salvation from slavery in Egypt, and His glorious power in bringing them to Himself at the Mountain of God. They had really done nothing on their side, it was all God’s doing. They had been saved by grace. But, there is so much more that God intends to do for the nation, for His people. His plan is to bring them into the Promised Land, to conquer all the...

This passage is a typical OT sandwich pattern where one key truth is sandwiched between two others. The are all important, but the one in the middle is central and key. In this case, the central idea is verse 13 - “Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips." In short, it means worship God alone, without exception!...

What is justice? Where does it come from and what is its end goal and purpose?  Justice is both getting and giving what is deserve based on God’s standard of right and wrong. This is very different from the modern definition of Justice as the “theory by which fairness is administered.” A standard based on who God is, His very heart and character. In this passage justice is described in four differ...

One of the amazing realities of being human is that we are able to contemplate and ponder our own value and worth. But, it is not simply an idle curiosity with us, for not only can we ponder our worth, but we need to feel that our worth is significant. Our sense of who we are, our identity, our ability to find joy and happiness are all tied up the question of our own worth. But, this is presenting...

In the time of the exile, the only form of religion involved the worship of idols. People worshipped local gods with power over specific forces of nature by creating an image to represent that god and then by performing the right ritual or ceremony, something of that god came into the image. By offering sacrifices to the image they hoped to get the god to help them. Yahweh, the Great I am, rescued...

What are the 10 commandments and how do we 'use' them? They are most commonly  understood as a moral code, as a way to determine if you are good enough. But, If that is the case, it is a very faulty moral code! The problem is that we have failed to understand their intended purpose and design. The 10 commands were not given as a standard for evaluating one's individual goodness! Instead, the 10 co...

At Mt Sinai God's spells out the promises, claims, and obligations of His covenant with Israel. The requirements are summed up in the great command to love God with all your heart and soul, and loving your neighbors as yourself.  They are explained with more specific detail here in the Ten “Words” (commandments). These principles are then applied to a wide variety of life situations in the 601 law...

The story of the skeptic Thomas illustrates what an elusive thing faith is. Can a person simply decide to believe something? Is it possible to 'will' faith into being? How is it that we come to accept something as true, when it seems impossible or highly unlikely? Thomas could not believe that Jesus was alive unless he could actually touch the scars in His hands and side. Jesus granted his wish, b...

In Exodus chapter 19 the Israelites arrive at Mt Sinai, the Mt of God, just two months after being set free from slavery in Egypt. Upon arriving, it becomes clear that this has been their destination from the beginning, and God now reveals clearly what has been His purpose all along - to invite them into a covenant relationship with Him, where they would be His special, treasured people, and He wo...

We all want to feel that our life matters to somebody, that there is some purpose to our existence, and that we are special to at least one person who matters to us. This is why meaningful human relationships are so vital to us. Everyone needs friends and "loved ones" who value them. On the other hand, the people who make us feel the most valued can also cause us the most hurt. If they fail us in...

There are many reasons why people burnout in life. Bad habits, working too much, and trying too hard to live up to everyone’s expectations are all factors contributing to burnout. But, for people serving God and involved in ministry a risk factor that can lead to burnout is that we love people and want to help them. This is exactly what happened to Moses. He was a leader who cared deeply for his p...

As followers of Christ we are called to be His witnesses, meaning that we are to tell others the Good News about Jesus and what He has done for us. But, is it really possible to convince another person that their ideas about God are wrong, and that the Bible is right? The growing resistance in the modern world to the exclusive message of the Gospel and the threat of the Gospel in Buddhist, Hindu,...