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Elliot (right) and Nick

Let Jesus Be Your Righteousness – Outline

Alright, it’s communion time, which means we’ll be reflecting on the cross of Jesus and what it means for us.

A lot of people get up here and talk about their past, and the most powerful testimonies we hear are from those who rose up from the wicked lives they once lived. With me, that’s a bit of a problem. I grew up in a religious family, who always taught me to avoid those things. Not that I didn’t have my vices–believe me, I had them, but not many of them led to what would make for great stories or powerful testimonies. The truth is, I always prided myself on my track record for avoiding sin (or at least, what I considered to be the ‘big’ sins) and I had already taken comfort in my faith, even the so-called ‘faith’ from before I was a disciple. Even my friends who knew who I was before would’ve described me as “righteous”. That was my biggest vice, though. My righteousness.

It’s not every day you hear righteousness described as a bad thing, is it? I, by all means, thought I had what it took to be righteous. I thought I was doing what it took to be saved! You know–”do good things, and you’re okay!”

Appreciating the cross was a big challenge for me. My whole life was spent thinking: I’m a good enough guy! I can handle this! I’m on top of things, I’m doing great! Today, I’m gonna talk about someone who had a pretty similar attitude, someone much much more pious than I’ve ever been: Job.

Job… Is an intense book… It gets really intense right around the end. Guess where I’m gonna have you turn to?
Let’s turn to Job chapter 40.

Most people know the gist of who Job was and what happened to him, but for those out there who don’t, here’s a refresher: Job was this AWESOME dude, totally followed God’s law, and never veered away from it. One day Satan visited Heaven and presented God with a wager:
‘You know, Job’s a pretty righteous fellow now, but take away all he’s got, and he’ll curse you to your face.’
To which God replied: ‘Let’s find out!’
After that, Job went through all sorts of trials–his family was murdered, all his possessions were stolen, his health failed him, he got boils on his skin… most people know that Job passed the test, but they don’t often remember the great toll it had on him. His health went from good to worse, and his faith went from GREAT to terrible… He never rejected God, but he thought God rejected him. He never cursed God, like Satan thought he would, but he became VERY bitter.. So much so, that he began charging God with unfairness. Like, he’s been such a righteous guy, who does God think He is to treat him this way?

God appeared on the scene and rebuked the pride RIGHT out of Job, and we’re gonna pick up, right in the middle of it:

Job 40:6-14
Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:
“Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.
“Would you discredit my justice?
Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
Do you have an arm like God’s,
and can your voice thunder like his?
Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.
Unleash the fury of your wrath,
look at every proud man and bring him low,
look at every proud man and humble him,
crush the wicked where they stand.
Bury them all in the dust together;
shroud their faces in the grave.
Then I myself will admit to you
that your own right hand can save you.”

That’s what appreciating the cross is all about, guys. Your own right hand cannot save you. Job learned this at a cost: he was the most pious man on the face of the earth, but when the going got rough, he held onto his righteousness more than his faith in God! During his sickness his friends, rather than comforting him, instead told him ‘Well Job, all this bad stuff is happening to you, because you must have sinned.’
Job said ‘NO! NO! I’VE KEPT MYSELF FROM THAT! I’VE BEEN GOOD MY WHOLE LIFE, I DON’T DESERVE THIS! I WANT TO CONTEST MY CIRCUMSTANCES WITH GOD! DO YOU HEAR ME, GOD!!? THIS ISN’T FAIR!! I’ve done EVERYTHING right, and you’ve repaid me with THIS??!? I HAVE REMAINED RIGHTEOUS! AND BLAMELESS! I AM A RIGHTEOUS ANIMAL!!’

God comes down in a storm and says: ‘NOT WITHOUT ME, YOU’RE NOT! LISTEN UP JOB! You feel so good, about how good you are… but you still need Me, and that’s NEVER GOING TO CHANGE!!
I’m the Creator! I determine what the weather does and where the animals go. I was there in the beginning, and I’ll be there when it ends. I know what’s best for you, and it’s ME.
You’re miserable though you’ve done nothing wrong, but are you the center of the universe? You feel like it’s unfair that you’re in pain? Well guess what? SO DO I. That’s why I’m gonna go down there, and be hung on a cross for YOUR SIN… When I’ve never done wrong. Then you tell me I don’t know how you feel. Tell me I’m unfair then, when I save you from real pain! On that day, you’ll know where TRUE righteousness comes from. It comes from ME.’

Turn to Romans 3.
And sadly, that’s not where I was. I believed in God, and I sincerely knew that Jesus died and rose again, but I hadn’t made that the center of my life. I didn’t appreciate the damage my sins–even the little ones–had done.

In Romans 3:9-12 (NIV)
What shall we conclude then? Are we any better ? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. [10] As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; [11] there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. [12] All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

I was in a place where my friends called me nice, said I was happy, and believed I was good. I, too, felt the same confidence about myself. In many ways, that was the scariest time of my life, because I felt no need for change.

I mentioned earlier that I had my vices, but the biggest one was my attitude of “I can do this myself” Guys, I want to challenge everyone here, if you’re in a place where you feel like “I’m good” study the bible with us. I have no doubt in my mind, it’ll be the best decision you ever make. I know, because I was there, too. I was one of those people that would say ‘No no, I’m good.’
It wasn’t until I saw the Kingdom, that I realized that’s not the case. I even believed in God, and Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, but I made light of my sin through the idea of ‘Oh, I’m forgiven. Listen–I believe, and that’s good enough to cancel out my sin.’
When I saw the Kingdom, that was God telling me ‘LISTEN UP, ELLIOTT! You feel so good about how good you are, and that’s what’s killing you. The scary part, Elliott? It’s what’s killing me, too.’

Guys, this is the blood of our God… this is meant to be a reminder of the blood of the only One who could save us from ourselves. What right do we have to think we’re good in the face of this?

This is a time to remember who we are, and who we were. It’s a time to hold, in a tangible way, the FLESH and the PRICE He paid for us. We can remember the crucifixion any time, but this is a time God wanted us to have, to hold this memory in our hands and take it in… With that, we can know that our faith is in the right place–in remembering the salvation that JESUS offers to US, and paid the price for, with His flesh, and His blood.
Let’s pray!

Lisa Has A Great Victory In Chemical Recovery Ministry

At the age of 13, I began a habit of sneaking out of my parents’ home with a whiskey bottle in hand, stolen from my father’s basement. This would start a vicious cycle of heavy drinking and many unfortunate consequences that followed with such a lifestyle. I mastered the art of leading a double life. I continued to fool people into believing that my life was all that it had appeared to be, but when night would fall, I would proceed to engage in the abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs in a manner not usual for a girl so young.

This lifestyle went on for 12 long years. I became a single mother at age 21, had my share of physical and mental abuse-filled relationships, as well as participated in immorality in shameful amounts. I managed to continue the façade of the professional and successful life, as I had graduated and began my career in the court-reporting field, a dream I had aspired since the age of 12. Although I was successful in that aspect, the failed relationships and stresses of life led me further into more persistent drinking binges, which led to more severe consequences.

At the age of 25, while a part of many of my business endeavors, a bright young woman shared her faith with me, which led to my becoming a disciple in 2003. Immediately I quit smoking cigarettes and drinking completely. After three years of being a disciple and after having married in 2004, I had come to the point where I thought I could handle having a casual glass of wine with my husband. I justified it because I was aware that one drink was not a sin, but there was something inside of me, when I would drink just one glass, that would scream for me to drink the whole bottle. I allowed myself to live in denial and drink a few glasses here or there for the next two years.

Within the first year of being on the mission team to Chicago, I joined the first Chemical Recovery (CR) group that was started. It was a long six months of intense emotion, personal growth, and a development of very deep convictions. I had realized that when Jesus said in Luke that if we do not give up everything, we cannot be his disciples, that what He considered my “everything” was to finally give up all form of drinking any alcohol at all. Although permissible, it was not beneficial for me. Not only could it be physically damaging to me, but it could and would have become the spiritual death of me.

I have since joined the CR ministry as an assistant and have decided to share my convictions and story with many young women who struggle with the enslavement to this form of sin that can ultimately take not only physical life, but spiritually lead the whole world astray. I have been fortunate in the last three years to see many CR graduations and lives “saved” from this horrific epidemic. The CR ministry has been a large contribution to my personal working-out my salvation with fear and trembling, and I believe that without this powerful ministry, I would not be here to tell my story today.

Christine Feldmann (right) with Denise Chiappetta

“I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word.
I recounted my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees.
Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders.
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law.
I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on our laws.
I hold fast to your statues, O Lord; do not let me be put to shame.
I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” – Psalm 119:25-32

I felt like I was a fairly good person when I first visited the Chicago International Christian Church. However, when I heard Chris Broom preach the word, I realized I was actually breaking God’s laws. That made me feel terrible. Chris referred to those who sinned on Saturday, but then came to church on Sunday feeling righteous. That was me. I knew it was hypocritical to disobey God’s statutes during the week and then to sit in church on Sunday and expect all to be right with the Lord. It made sense that I needed to confess my sins, repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. That was absolutely the only way to salvation. I so wanted to be right with the Lord.

It was not easy giving up my old life. That meant changing my lifestyle completely. I knew my decision would alienate some friends and family. In Luke 14:26, Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple.” It was clear to me I had to make God the center of my life. That meant putting Him before myself, my family, and my friends.

The night before my baptism (October 18, 2009) I wrote in my journal, “Thank you dear God for making me uncomfortable in my comfort zone, which lead me to be open to seeking You and Your graces.”

As a new disciple I am so grateful to be studying the Word daily. Now I know what I was doing wrong; now I can be obedient. It feels good to be free from the shame of my old sins. However, the Christian life is not without challenges. Some family and friends are uncertain about my new faith. Some believe the Bible is not the word of God. I become frustrated with them, and wish my faith would simply rub off on them.

In my despair, I have turned to my sister disciples who have encouraged me to be patient with the non-believers in my life. They have told me to seek what is in the hearts of non-believers to see where the objections might be coming from; to find some common ground with them; and relate their fears or concerns to my own initial fears and concerns. And to ask them to church or to study the Bible with me so they can know for themselves. I must also realize that this is a process. After all, my own conversion did not happen over night.

But ultimately, I rely on the Lord for guidance. I pray daily that He show me the best way to disciple others so they may know and love Him the way I do. And I re-read Matthew 28: 16-20, “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”

Christine Feldmann, 2009

Overcoming Battles
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:37-39

This scripture from Romans gave me courage and hope to go on during times in my life when I needed to know it most that I was a conqueror through Christ. Had I been more faithful at certain times or known Christ earlier in my life I would not have made some of the mistakes that caused grief in my life. Thank God I did become a disciple of Jesus. I had just gotten out of the Air Force in 1988 and enrolled in Art School in Cincinnati. I had been searching for answers. I was in a lot of turmoil at that point and had almost lost my Mother. I think God was preparing me to need him. He would bring me to my knees to get me to pray to him. And I was met by someone at this time in art school who invited me to a Bible Talk group. I began to study the Bible and thought it was awesome that so many people my own age were studying together like this. It really impressed me. I grew up in a Catholic church where only the older people were the regulars at church. So I continued to study and was baptized a month later.

The cross meant to me that I didn’t have to attend all those religious ceremonies and do all the rituals like the worry beads to get to heaven. I know now that Jesus’ pain on the cross replaced all that and that I don’t have to put myself through misery. Because of his death on the cross I am free to respond to him out of love and thankfulness instead of drudgery.

What stood out to me the most (besides my own sin) after studying was that I had never been baptized after repenting of my sin. I was baptized as an infant and thought that was OK. Even after it was mentioned to me that infant baptism is invalid I persisted that it was valid until I understood it from the scriptures. Something else that stood out to me was that I had not regularly shared my faith with people. Once I made it over the hump of having to be baptized I took the plunge! The music played at that service on the day of my baptism was awesome: “I Got My Mind Set on You” by George Harrison. I identified with the lyrics on that one because it talked about how we have to use time and money to do it, to do it right. Also “Eye of the Tiger” was played. These were excellent songs. I never knew rock and roll could be played at a baptism. Awesome! The hardest things were ahead but looking for peace in God’s word brought me through and will continue to as well.

I am appreciative for the patience that God has had with me and continues to have with me. I have gone through many battles and hard times as a Christian: some because of my own sin, others because of my commitment to Christ. Before I was a Christian drinking was a part of my past. I had to give this up for Christ.

I have also had many struggles in the area of purity. This was a problem in my life before and after I became a disciple. However after becoming a disciple of Jesus I have had more power to obtain victory and now stand committed to total purity for Christ as a single.

Another testimony to God in my life since becoming a Christian was in the area of health. At one point in my life I gained a lot of weight, maxing out at 235 pounds. I was motivated to loose weight and started going for prayer runs. Over a period of 5 years I lost 70 pounds and am now down to approximately 180. God has given me many victories. As a disciple, the greatest thing I have enjoyed was studying the Bible with many different people and baptizing someone while in Louisville, KY. I am grateful that this is the mission here in Chicago as well: to seek and save the lost.

In 2003 I had left the fellowship while living in Louisville after a letter was published that spoke out against legalism in our movement of churches. Although I agree we did need to repent of some legalism, I went too far and fell spiritually, returning to my old sin and getting a divorce. It took me about a year of being a slave to my sin before I made a call to a brother to help me to get back on my feet spiritually. Shortly thereafter, I was restored to a great relationship with Jesus again.

So far, the fruits I have enjoyed the most being here in the Chicago International Christian Church have been peace and joy, although it has not been all easy. I am now attending school at the Illinois Institute of Art Chicago. So far I am receiving a 3.7 which is the opposite of how I did in school before I was a Christian. I am so thankful for the church here, especially Chris Broom for encouraging me to move here. I’m also indebted to Seth and Amy Drew for letting me stay with them after I moved here as well as Dave Cadell for letting me stay at his place for a little while. I am grateful to Joe Chiapetta for encouraging me to move here also as well as the help he has given me spiritually.

More than anything coming back to God and joining the Portland family of churches meant a return to evangelism and working out my salvation again. Having this second chance to serve the Lord with strength and renewed commitment has meant everything to me.

Marc Hill

“Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 4:6

Growing up I was never close to God. I thought that being good and obeying the rules was enough. When I hit high school I was like most other freshmen: curious about what was ahead. My freshmen year was a year I never would forget for many reasons. There are two events from this period that would define the rest of my life. The first was meeting one of my new teachers, Mr. Chris Adams. He would be the first person to ever open the Bible with me.

The second of my defining moments would be the death of my father. After he died, I did not know where to turn. Like most people in the world, I also didn’t know what to do. I chased after many different things to try to forget the pain and anger I was feeling. I played sports, wrote music, chased after women and went to parties, yet still I could not escape the deep sense of emptiness in my heart.

Then in May of 1999, my brother and I started to study the Bible. I began to believe the scriptures and soberly understood that I was not a true Christian. However, my anger at God for allowing my dad to die would stop me from going any further. I watched my brother get baptized and wondered, “how can he be okay with what God has done to our dad?”

Thereafter I slipped deeper into chasing women, using them as objects and having no respect for them. I started drinking and using many different types of illegal drugs. Fighting, cursing and hatred ruled my life and made me the self-serving evil person that I had became.

In the Spring of 2001, I had to be able to afford these self-serving habits, so I started to sell drugs. Not surprisingly, my drug usage increased. This grew hand in hand with my hanging out in all the wrong places with all the wrong people. It was a quick yet temporary effort to fill the emptiness in my life.

My senior year started with the exact opposite of tranquility: I felt drained of hope. The life I was living was wearing me out. I began to wish I were dead. Something different was needed and I knew it. Living for myself was a handful of nothing and so I began to search again.

However, as the school year started, I had to deal with the consequences of my lifestyle, namely drug abuse and all the enemies I had made through street fighting. This turmoil had taken its toll on me physically and mentally. I was crushed by life, and ready to receive help.

This is why I thank God for another Christian friend of mine named Andrew Smellie. In January we were hanging out and I remember asking him, “when can I get in?” He thought I just meant when to start studying the Bible. But I meant, “when can I get into the water and be baptized?” A few days later on January 25th 2003, I made the best decision of my life, and I got baptized. I’m thankful that God called me out of the world and gave me a second chance at life. I will never shrink back to the empty life I had no matter how hard or how much heartbreak there is. For me the only way to live is as one of God’s people preaching and teaching others about him.

Gregg Biggs, 9/18/2006

“Jesus replied, ‘What is impossible with men is possible with God.’”
Luke 18:27

Pat: Before I found God, I had been married for eight years without any kind of spirituality in my life or my household. I loved my wife and kids very much but my actions were not showing that at all. Because I was very selfish, I did what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it. I worked two or sometimes three jobs. My thinking was that on my free time I could hang with my buddies, often getting drunk and missing time with my wife and very young kids.

As time went on my marriage started to take a nose dive. Because of my pride and selfishness, I could not see how much my sin was killing my family. One day following numerous fights, we had a climactic fight in the front yard of the house. Pam told me she was going to leave me. I was so prideful I thought that she was lying and I didn’t think she would really do it. But she did, and our kids suffered. I remember my so-called “friends” being over one night telling me that “I was the man!” because I still had the house. After drinking that night, I clearly remember sitting in the living room crying so hard that I began to throw up. I missed my family so much that I told God that I would do anything to have my family back. After a couple of months, Pam began to study the Bible and was soon baptized. I began to study the bible shortly after that. It was a hard road, but I knew that the only way to have my family back was to have God in my life.

Pam: One word described my thinking in my formative years: confused. I grew up watching people being controlled by alcohol and using drugs, yet then telling me that I shouldn’t. I saw people married to someone they were supposed to be in love with but instead were living miserable lives.

I got married at the age of 18. On the day of my wedding, I remember weeping as people were congratulating me, but thinking to myself, “what have I done, marriages don’t work.” But I tried to smile and lied to them, saying “I’m just so happy”. I was really terrified. Six years later my marriage had become very miserable. I selfishly worked a lot and went out of town often because I thought being able to buy “things” made me a good mother. Pat and I argued a lot. Almost everyday I would complain to him about what I thought he needed to do for me. At night, he would turn over and go to sleep while I would cry myself to sleep. Eventually, I moved out and got an apartment. I was so selfish I didn’t even consider how this would affect my kids. During this time I dated a lot, often went to clubs, and worked as much as I could. But no matter what I did, I still felt empty and alone. I didn’t know how to change.

After six months Pat asked me if I would move back home. I said yes only because I knew he was considering moving down south and I wanted a free ride. I remember driving home from work thinking, “What now, God? What am I supposed to do with my life? I have everything I dreamed about as a little girl, but I feel so empty.” God answered my prayer. A friend called me and invited me to a Bible study with some women she had met. I started studying with them and reading the Bible on my own. Three weeks later, I was baptized. My whole life changed. I no longer feel empty, confused and alone. In the Bible, I have found the answers and direction I needed for my life.

Pat: After Pam’s baptism, she was so happy. I wanted what she had. I started studying and was baptized two months later. Now everyday that I wake up and spend time with God, I feel like anything is possible. It was possible to repair my marriage and my life. It is possible to change. Our dream is to bring this same hope to the people of Chicago and the world.

To God be the glory forever!
Pat & Pam Boea