Under the Arch http://thinklings.org/members/underthearchOne Man - One Church - Antioch Community Church In Waco, Texasen-usTue, 17 May 2011 13:06:19 +0000Bloo v 1.35http://thinklings.org/images/bloo_logo_200.pngUnder the Archhttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearchHolinessAt Antioch we list holiness as one of our core values. My prayer (which, admittedly, I don't pray consistently [...]Tue, 17 May 2011 13:05:46 +0000Erichttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/holinesshttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/holiness
What that means practically is an all-consuming love for JESUS that teaches "us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age ..." (Titus 2:12).

So the germane questions are:

- What does it mean to practically deny ungodliness?
- What does it mean to deny worldly lusts?
- What does it mean to live soberly?
- What does it mean to live righteously?
- What does it mean to live godly?

I believe the Spirit provides those answers as we walk with Him and listen to His voice and as we submit to biblical doctrine expounded by those He's placed as our elders, pastors, and mentors.

I'm moved by Jimmy's constant emphasis on John 15, with the exhortation being that if we abide in Christ, and His word abides in us, we will consistently walk out His will for our day-to-day lives.

The epistles, I would add, are often didactic in nature. "Live life this way," Paul often says (though not exactly in those words). For example:

But as for you, speak the things that are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things -- that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works, in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility ... (Titus 2:1-7


Those are specific examples of specific character traits that Paul wanted Titus to continually teach. I pray we at Antioch hear Paul's exhortation well, that we may all walk in the fullness of His word. ]]>http://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/bloo.rss20.php?comments=1&post_id=6441Spiritual AuthorityI wonder what exactly that is and what it means for the 21st Century evangelical church? Ostensibly, [...]Tue, 19 Apr 2011 03:12:52 +0000Erichttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/spiritual-authorityhttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/spiritual-authority
Ostensibly, "authority" is what gives our pastors the right to get up in front of 3,000 people on Sunday mornings and deliver messages from the word. That's encouraging because I see the love of God and the character of JESUS in each and every one of our leaders.

I'm still, though, pondering what the idea of authority means (beyond it's Sunday morning context) and how it should impact daily life.]]>http://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/bloo.rss20.php?comments=1&post_id=6417Some Clarification On A Previous PostI was honored to receive an email from Nate Bobbett, who's the Antioch pastor who delivered the message [...]Wed, 13 Apr 2011 03:15:28 +0000Erichttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/some-clarification-on-a-previous-posthttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/some-clarification-on-a-previous-post referred to below.

Nate had a few explanatory comments on the message he preached, and Antioch's position on the Lord's Supper:

Antioch officially stands on a doctrinal continuum somewhere between Calvin and Luther - when it comes to The Lord's supper. We believe there is power and there is presence. But officially, we would say that there is not actually Jesus' body in the elements. ...

And personally I am comfortable with believers taking different stands on this issue. Of greater importance is that we come together with reverence, and that we come together often around the Lord's table, recognizing his great power and presence in this sacrament!

Part of my response:

I think we're all growing and mindful of the fact that even if it's not the literal body and blood, it certainly is a holy sacrament -- and an incredible honor.
]]>http://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/bloo.rss20.php?comments=1&post_id=6410The SacramentCommunion this morning was something special. More than usual, I really felt the presence of Christ as [...]Mon, 22 Nov 2010 04:41:28 +0000Erichttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/the-sacramenthttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/the-sacrament felt the presence of Christ as I took the elements. I'm thankful for the grace of God via His presence in that holy sacrament. Thank you, Lord.

]]>http://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/bloo.rss20.php?comments=1&post_id=6253The Sanctity of BaptismBaptism is a big deal. It's a bigger deal, I think, than the average evangelical thinks it is. It's [...]Sat, 30 Oct 2010 15:38:48 +0000Erichttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/the-sanctity-of-baptismhttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/the-sanctity-of-baptism
It's a bigger deal, I think, than the average evangelical thinks it is. It's not an afterthought. It's not a glorified seal-the-deal-on-becoming-a-Christian type handshake. And it's not a mere formality. It's being buried with JESUS, only to be raised from the dead! The Bible says we are "buried with Him in Baptism, raised to walk in newness of life."

With that said, I have to say I'm often grieved by the way we do baptisms at Antioch. They're most often done at the beginning of a service, while late-comers (including myself sometimes!) are still filing into the sanctuary. Often times while the baptism is being administered, you can hear the low hum of idle chatter emanating from the back of the sanctuary, where the aforementioned dawdlers are still greeting friends and attempting to procure seating before worship begins.

I'd rather see baptisms not happen at all on a typical Sunday morning, until we have a dozen or more people ready to be baptized, and then make the baptisms the centerpiece of a special service. It's too big of a deal to not be taken seriously. ]]>http://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/bloo.rss20.php?comments=1&post_id=6228CommunionIt looks like our fellowship is in the middle of a theological paradigm shift, and I don't think that's [...]Sun, 17 Oct 2010 17:27:37 +0000Erichttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/communionhttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/communion
Since I started reading church history religiously in 2004, I've lamented the fact that certain branches of the Protestant tree tend to ignore the Lord's Supper. Our non-denominational Antioch stems from a Baptist background, and at most Baptist churches I've encountered, Communion is only observed on average once a quarter. It seems the leadership at Antioch is planning on delving into the Lord's Supper with more consistency.

Nate Bobbett delivered the message and spent some time talking about how the church throughout history has viewed the Lord's Supper. With regard to how often the meal should be taken, he quoted the Didache, Tertullian (I think), Augustine, Calvin, Luther, and Zwingli. He even covered transubstantiation, consubstantiation, and other views with regard to whether the elements are literally the body and blood of our Lord or not. What's Antioch's view? I don't know. His explanation seemed ambiguous to me. I think what he communicated was that the elements are "somehow" the body and blood, but didn't seem to go so far as to say they are literally His body and blood.

It's going to be interesting to see how all of this works out practically. I am liking this new emphasis, though. ]]>http://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/bloo.rss20.php?comments=1&post_id=62125,000Looks like we're headed inexorably toward a new building. That's a good thing. Jimmy said he thinks God [...]Mon, 04 Oct 2010 12:43:56 +0000Erichttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/5000http://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/5000
I think Antioch is officially a "megachurch," but one of the things that's great about it is that it has a small, intimate feel to it. (Of course, many in the shoulder to shoulder herd at the 10:15 service probably wouldn't agree with me.)

Should know something in January about a new building project. Personally, I hope we don't have to buy Autozone to get it done. It's nice having an auto parts store practically on our campus. :-) ]]>http://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/bloo.rss20.php?comments=1&post_id=6194Quick Sunday Morning ObservationAs I watched the throng roll in to the 10:15 service Sunday morning, I was amazed at how much of a mission [...]Wed, 22 Sep 2010 02:32:49 +0000Erichttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/quick-sunday-morning-observationhttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/quick-sunday-morning-observation http://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/bloo.rss20.php?comments=1&post_id=6175I Am Of ChristJimmy's message this morning focused heavily on 1 Corinthians 1:12: "Now I say this, that each of you [...]Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:17:59 +0000Erichttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/i-am-of-christhttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/i-am-of-christ
How many of us, he queried, would say, "I am of John Piper," or "I am of Beth Moore," or "I am of Mark Driscoll"? The example that got the most murmurs among the congregation was, "How many of us would say, 'I am of Antioch'?"

Jimmy's picture of a tightrope walker, keeping his eyes on a fixed point, was a good illustration. While we can learn and draw from many sources, our eyes and hearts should be fixed on the author and finisher of our faith, JESUS. His message had a ring of ecumenism in it, and I've been a big fan of ecumenism for the past few years.

Jimmy also told an intriguing story about meeting William P. Young, the author of The Shack, while on an airplane ride. I've had theological issues with The Shack, and Jimmy alluded to certain theological concerns he had as well, but the point of the story was to say that we tend to be less judgmental of people once we get to know them, once we get to know their story. Apparently Young and Jimmy had a good chat, and Young was able to share his heart to let Jimmy know where he was coming from on many of the issues he wrote about in The Shack.

That makes me think of a story in Stephen R. Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey was traveling on a subway with another man -- a stranger -- and that man's two unruly children. The children were apparently hellions, running amok while the father sat there motionless. Covey become agitated and confronted the man. The man replied, something to this effect, "We just got back from the hospital where their mother died. I don't know how to handle it and I guess they don't either." Covey's mindset toward the man changed immediately, he called it a paradigm shift.

So to sum up what I got from this morning's message: We are of Christ, no one other. ]]>http://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/bloo.rss20.php?comments=1&post_id=6154My Testimony: The Holy Spirit Via C.S. LewisI remember being on my bed, finishing up C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity for the first time. That was 1994; [...]Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:20:58 +0000Erichttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/my-testimony-the-holy-spirit-via-cs-lewishttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/my-testimony-the-holy-spirit-via-cs-lewis Mere Christianity for the first time. That was 1994; I was 17 years old. In my childhood I was introduced to Lewis through his Narnia series, but Mere Christianity was my first foray into deeper Lewisian waters -- I was not disappointed.

Lewis' words struck a chord with me. The "latent Christianity" (his words) that infused the world of Narnia, was now blatant Christianity. His words pierced me and illuminated me; the Holy Spirit stirred me through his words.

I think the word epiphany would describe my thoughts and feelings as I finished the book. I'll never forget the last three paragraphs:

Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favorite wishes every day and death of your whole body in the end: submit with every fibre of your being, and you will find eternal life.

Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead.

Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ, and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.

Yes, epiphany.

For the next couple of years, I ate Lewis' books. I digested them. They became part of me. To this day, I count Lewis as a friend. I feel like I know him personally.

Within a year of reading Mere Christianity I was submerged into the Holy Spirit culture of Highland Baptist Church. I was still a sinner, living a double life in so many ways, but several forces were chipping away at my soul: My childhood faith, my newfound love for C.S. Lewis, and the stirrings of the Holy Spirit within my heart. I was incubating.
]]>http://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/bloo.rss20.php?comments=1&post_id=6146The Arch I love driving down Waco Drive and seeing the Antioch arch on the horizon. I remember when we first [...]Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:30:07 +0000Erichttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/the-archhttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/the-arch

I love driving down Waco Drive and seeing the Antioch arch on the horizon. I remember when we first bought the building there was talk of taking the arch down, or putting a Jesus Loves You sign up there, or something -- anything but actually keeping it. After deciding to keep the arch as is, it's become part of our church culture. It's now an indelible sign -- a sign that many in our community readily recognize. A sign that reminds us of God's banner over us, and His love for us.

How many times over the past 10 years has the arch been featured in media photographs, reports, magazine articles, etc.? Quite a few. People remember the arch and are drawn to its visual appeal. And hopefully when people think of the arch they think about the believers who gather every week under the arch in order to hear their Rabbi's heartbeat.

I love the arch. It makes me feel at home.

It reminds me of JESUS.]]>http://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/bloo.rss20.php?comments=1&post_id=6137LG Discussion On The Word That Changed The WorldWith many Lifegroupers still out for summer activities, Lifegroup was an intimate affair tonight. We [...]Wed, 25 Aug 2010 05:10:47 +0000Erichttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/lg-discussion-on-the-word-that-changed-the-worldhttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/lg-discussion-on-the-word-that-changed-the-world
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I know some translations say that grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts (e.g. the ESV says, "training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions ..."). Webster defines grace as "unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration and sanctification." So it seems grace -- God's unmerited favor -- is the vehicle God uses to allow us to walk in holiness, as we deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. The truth is, we can't deny jack squat without His minute-by-minute grace.

Some of the LG discussion tonight centered on Paul's salutation of "grace to you" to the Corinthian Christians. My thoughts were that Paul is not flippant, and if he tells someone "grace to you," then he really means it. And, as we know, 1 Corinthians was addressed to the Corinthian believers but also to "all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours" (1 Corinthians 1:3).

I'm thankful for that little word that's loaded with significance, and I'm thankful that our Lord was full of grace (John 1:14). Grace changed the world. ]]>http://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/bloo.rss20.php?comments=1&post_id=6128My Testimony: A Double Shot Of BianchiI became a Christian when I was very young, something like seven years old. As I mentioned previously, [...]Tue, 24 Aug 2010 04:43:35 +0000Erichttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/my-testimony-a-double-shot-of-bianchihttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/my-testimony-a-double-shot-of-bianchi
When I was still in high school, circa 1993 or 1994, I decided to visit my brother David at Baylor. I had heard about this wacky church he was involved with (Highland Baptist) and I was curious. Back in the day David was chummy with Jeff Bianchi and he was able to get us into a morning worship time at Master's Commission. I had never experienced anything like that before: People on their faces before God, praying fervently, repenting, giving words of encouragement, and submitting fully to the Spirit of JESUS. My spirit was drawn to the fire, but my flesh was repulsed. I remember Jeff shared something with the group to this effect: "The Spirit of God is upon everyone in this room." I thought, Does that mean me? I had gotten so used to doubting my salvation, that I thought there was no way the Spirit of God was upon me in any way whatsoever.

Fast-forward to the fall of 1995. I'm finally living in Waco as a sophomore transfer to Baylor. I'm at Highland's then-famous Back to School Retreat, still trying to figure out my place with the Lord among a sea of believers who are further along in the Book than I am, and obviously more in love with JESUS than me. During a morning worship session at the retreat, I was sitting down, weeping, asking God to reveal Himself to me. I was feeling lost, confused, and once again doubting my position as a child of God -- my soul felt dark. Suddenly a man put his hand on my shoulder and said, "Can I pray for you?" I said, "Sure." The man came up from behind me, so I wasn't sure who it was until he started to pray: It was Jeff Bianchi. I don't even think I officially met him back in 1994 (or whenever it was) when I visited Master's Commission. So I'm certain he had no idea who I was, and I'm sure he didn't know about what I was struggling with at the time. I remember, though, he prayed softly and simply said, "God wants you to know that His Spirit is upon you." WHAT!? I couldn't believe it. Those words were exactly what I was longing to hear, and they echoed the same sentiment from that morning at Master's Commission a year or so earlier. What's more, the words came from the same source -- Jeff Bianchi.

In many ways, that morning in the fall of 1995 was the catalyst for incredible spiritual growth over the next several years. Yes, I was still torn apart inside. I still struggled with hidden sins and I still, in many ways, lived a life of selfishness and rebellion. But I believe God marked me as His own, and He wasn't going to let me go. I didn't have a choice in the matter. As Ephesians 1:4 says, He chose me in Him "before the foundation of the world." So the decision was made long ago, that I would be conformed to the image of His Son . . .

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. - Romans 8:29 & 30
]]>http://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/bloo.rss20.php?comments=1&post_id=6125My Testimony: The Elevator VersionSo the Elevator Version of my testimony would be what I tell someone while riding in an elevator about [...]Mon, 23 Aug 2010 04:39:28 +0000Erichttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/my-testimony-the-elevator-versionhttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/my-testimony-the-elevator-version
The button is pushed.

I was raised in a Christian home. I was deeply loved growing up, but, despite that, I developed sin patterns that haunted me for all of my childhood and most of my adult life. As a result of my sin, I was in constant turmoil. I often felt unloved and incapable of anything good in my life. At times, I had contemplated suicide. I lived in constant fear, and I was a slave to sin. Finally, I repented of my sins (Mark 1:15), confessed JESUS as Lord of my life (Romans 10:9), and finally felt the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). Since that day of repentance, God has set me completely free from my besetting sins, and He's freed me to receive his grace, mercy, and love. I'm now a slave to righteousness and my greatest desire is to be with Him and to know Him.

Ding. The elevator door opens. Time's up. ]]>http://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/bloo.rss20.php?comments=1&post_id=6121Grace = Jesus ChristThis morning Jimmy began a new series. I can't quite recall the series title, but I think it's something [...]Mon, 23 Aug 2010 04:09:57 +0000Erichttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/grace--jesus-christhttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/grace--jesus-christ
The crux of the message was grace. Jimmy said, "Grace has a name, and it's Jesus Christ." Amen. The Gospel of Grace is the defining characteristic of Christianity, and it's what sets our faith apart from every other religion under the sun. As John said, "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." For me personally, I know I've been marked by God's grace: He pulled me out of a pit, granted me repentance (2 Tim. 2:25), and set me free to be conformed to His image.

I'm thankful for that. And I'm thankful for the brothers and sisters at Antioch who have walked with my family and me through all of the years and through all of the pain. I'm 34 years old and I'm finally learning that life is painful, but JESUS Christ, our great God and Savior, is all I need. He's good, and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.

I'm looking forward to learning more about being like JESUS in a Corinthian world. ]]>http://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/bloo.rss20.php?comments=1&post_id=6120WelcomeMy name is Eric Guel. I've been involved with Antioch since the fall of 1995 (in the Highland Baptist [...]Mon, 23 Aug 2010 03:27:20 +0000Erichttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/welcomehttp://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/posts/welcome Bird, a childhood nickname. I still answer to that name, and many of my close friends still default to that name when talking to me.

As far as my history with Antioch goes, I cut my teeth at Baylor Landing Lifegroups in the mid-90s, married a beautiful Highland/Antioch woman in 1997, and to this day my wife and four children all enjoy fellowship with the imperfect community of believers under the arch at 20th and Waco Drive.

The purpose of this blog is to chronicle my week-to-week life at Antioch. Truth be told, I don't have much of an agenda here. I didn't create this space in order to criticize my church (though some things I write may be construed that way), and I didn't make this blog in order to be obsequious to anyone or anything associated with Antioch. In all things, I hope this blog honors the Lord, and I hope anyone who identifies with Antioch will find it interesting, informative, and encouraging.

Welcome to Under the Arch. ]]>http://thinklings.org/members/underthearch/bloo.rss20.php?comments=1&post_id=6119