This year, the Fourth of July feels are going to be over the top – we made it to 250! Before the grumpy theology cops start asking if a pastor should be holding a Bible and waving the American flag at the same time, I’ll give you my position on that early. Yes – most assuredly, yes. We have a lot to be grateful for as citizens of the Kingdom of God who temporarily call the United States of America our home.

Freedom was God’s idea first.

Americans are obsessed with freedom – it’s basically our love language and spirit animal all wrapped up in a red, white, and blue bundle of awesome. We fought a war to get it and fought several more to keep it. The idea of liberty shows up early and often in our founding documents. It’s on our money, chiseled on our monuments, and is the subject of approximately 97.4% of all country music songs. There’s nothing wrong with that (although we can debate the merits of country music) – freedom matters, and it’s still worth defending and celebrating.

As good as the freedom is that we experience as Americans, it’s only a shadow of a greater freedom. As Paul wrote in Galatians 5:1, “For freedom, Christ set us free.” He wasn’t talking about political freedom, but the freedom followers of Jesus have from the weight of sin and death, and the freedom to love, serve, and bear the burdens of people God places in our path.

American freedom allows you to say what you think, worship according to your own convictions, and pursue the life you want without the government getting in the way. That’s incredible – a lot of places in the world still don’t enjoy that. But the freedom Jesus offers goes much deeper. It cuts through all the external stuff and literally transforms us from the inside out. Jesus told us how to get it – it’s only available through Him. Jesus said, “So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free” (John 8:36).

So when you’re standing in your yard tonight, hoping that Roman candle your kid is about to light up doesn’t set your neighbor’s roof on fire (we’ve all been there), I hope this truth visits you: the liberty you feel as an American is a gracious gift from God, but it’s also a preview. It’s a foretaste of the deeper freedom He offers everyone, in every nation, through his perfect Son.

Blessings and responsibility.

Freedom is a gift, and gifts like this were never meant to be enjoyed privately. Paul told the philosophers in Athens that God “determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live” (Acts 17:26). That includes you, me, and the other 342 million Americans who happen to live in one of the freest, wealthiest, most Christian-resourced nations in the history of the planet.

None of that is an accident. It’s the design of our sovereign God.

Since I almost got squished by a U-Haul truck in a Walmart parking lot this morning, let me use my harrowing experience to make a point. Think of our stewardship of our God-given freedom this way: imagine God giving you a moving truck with a full tank of gas. The freedom we have as Americans is the truck. The nations still waiting to hear about Jesus are the destination. We have more fuel (Bibles, teaching tools, technology, access) than any generation of Christians in human history has ever had. It’s time to get behind the wheel and start moving.

Jesus told His first followers, “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). We tend to read that and think “the ends of the earth” means somewhere inaccessible by anyone not led by a team of sherpas. Jesus meant those places and everywhere from here to there, which tells me that the freedom you and I enjoy comes bundled with a passport.

There are still places on earth right now where followers of Jesus gather in secret, where owning a Bible is a crime, and where saying the name of Jesus out loud could cost someone their life. Meanwhile we’re free to preach it from any street corner we choose. That sounds like an invitation. Freedom and mission scale together. Much is given, so much is expected (see Luke 12:48).

So how do we celebrate?

Simply put, we celebrate with hearts full of gratitude as we thank God for the country He’s placed us in and with open hands as we offer what we have been given to a world in need.

At Generations Church, we’re doing whatever it takes to help people find, follow, and serve Jesus, both in Orlando and from Orlando, out into the world. Our nation’s 250th birthday is a perfect moment to recommit to that. Pray for persecuted believers. Give toward missions that are smuggling hope into hard places. Have a Jesus-centered conversation at your cookout tonight instead of just arguing about whose carrot and apple salad recipe is best (may I lovingly suggest that nobody needs raisins in anything).

So, fire off those fireworks with your fellow Americans. Cry a little when you hear “God Bless America,” because I probably will. But also remember, with a nod to F.S. Key, as you see the rockets’ red glare tonight, every act of celebration for our nation’s freedom is pointing to an even greater freedom – the perfect and complete freedom Jesus offers to all who place their faith in Him.

Happy 250th, America, and happy forever, church.

I’m not referring to the freedom that seventh graders are introduced to in civics class, even though that matters a great deal. I was hit with what has become the expected freedom that I have to be in a different state for a couple of days, to be a grandfather, to see my granddaughter’s face light up when I make her a bowl of ice cream that makes it seem like ice cream is a food group (I’m committed to doing the long-term research on this), and to sit quietly next to my grandson while he sleeps, thinking about the world he will experience.

This is the freedom that those in our country’s military have fought for, bled for, and in too many cases, died for.

The reality is that freedom is expensive. Someone paid for our future with theirs. That’s incredibly costly.

Our nation’s founders understood this deeply. For example, John Jay wrote, “No power on earth has a right to take our property from us without our consent.” This wasn’t a position cultivated in theory – Jay recognized that freedom was something that had to be actively preserved, not something we expect to inherit without having some skin in the game. While John Jay was talking about property rights, there’s a deeper principle at work – freedom requires sacrifice from those who are willing to stand watch while everyone else sleeps.

These days, we largely enjoy lives that are unthreatening. That leaves us emotional space to complain about traffic and argue about whether pineapple belongs on pizza (it absolutely does, but I respect your wrong opinion). We have the luxury of trivial concerns because someone else is bearing the weight of ensuring our safety.

There’s a paradox in the Bible that addresses this. The Apostle Peter wrote, Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 1 Peter 2:16, CSB.

We live that paradox as followers of Jesus who live in the United States of America. We might think that freedom means being able to do whatever we want, but Peter reminds us that true freedom isn’t emancipation from everything. Instead, it’s the freedom for something. It’s the freedom to serve a purpose larger than ourselves. True freedom, according to the New Testament, means that there is freedom to do what is right^.

Service members who fought and died for our freedoms understood this. They willingly gave up the freedom to be anywhere else because they knew that freedom requires guardians. They voluntarily forfeited their own liberty to secure ours

Sacrifice isn’t loss, it’s a choice. Actually, it’s love that has been expressed. As we honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom, we acknowledge that their sacrifice didn’t just purchase our geographic or political freedoms, but also our ability to pursue everything that makes life worth living.

I’ve become convinced that there’s something about the American spirit we need to recover. Of course we’ve missed the mark a few times over the last 250 years, so we can leave those missteps in the past, but I believe that we will be better today if we realign ourselves with the ideas of gratitude and hopeful optimism for the future.

Those in generations before us understood something about freedom at a deeper level because many of them had physically fought for it. Those who were able to come home were builders. They planted trees in their yards knowing they’d sit in the shade of them twenty years later. They invested in their churches and communities. They believed America’s best days were ahead, even when immediate circumstances seemed tumultuous. They expressed gratitude in how they treated their neighbors and cared for those in need.

Holding my ten-day-old grandson, I find myself hoping for the same things every parent and grandparent wants – freedom for the people I love to hear, understand, and practice the teachings of Jesus. I pray that these little guys grow up in freedom, free to follow Jesus with the entirety of their lives.

Because today is Memorial Day, although I hope this feeling never escapes me, I'm deeply grateful that this hope isn’t out of reach. It’s attainable because of the sacrifice of those who served and continues to be so because there are those who are still standing watch. 

So let’s be grateful. In my case, the freedom to be a grandfather, to watch a two-year-old discover the world, to hold a newborn baby and smile as I think about his future and dream about his future – these are not rights. They’re gifts, purchased at great cost.

To those who have lost a family member in service to our country, may God bless you with comfort. For those who serve, thank you. For the rest of us, let’s live in a way that honors the sacrifice of those who lost their lives for our freedom. Believe in and work for a better tomorrow. Teach the next generation what freedom actually costs and what it’s worth.

Because real freedom is worth all of it.

What I’ve noticed over the last couple of decades in ministry is that people don’t just stumble into a relationship with a church family. Over the last month, I’ve worked to understand the path that God uses to draw people into a church, build them up through discipleship, then send them out as missionaries from a family of faith. When we adopt this pathway, we get to be key players in one of the most hopeful and rewarding adventures imaginable – helping people find their place in God’s family.

Let me be clear – this is not a marketing strategy or any attempt to perform the work of the Holy Spirit. Instead, this is a biblical and practical roadmap for how we must faithfully steward the harvest God wants to bring.

Here are the six steps of how people connect with the church:

Invitation: Opening the door.

The journey of faith starts with an invitation. It always has, and it always will.

Think about it – how did you first hear about Jesus? Most likely through someone who cared enough and was intentional enough to tell you. We see this in the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry – Philip invited his friend Nathaniel to come and see Jesus for himself (see John 1:43-49). A personal invitation is still the most powerful evangelism strategy in existence.

Why? Because it works. When someone you know and trust says, “I’d love for you to come to church with me this Sunday,” something changes. It’s not just an event to attend; this is a shared experience with a friend.

A burden of personal invitation is that people are watching us. They’re scrolling through our posts, looking at our values, trying to figure out what we’re all about. As followers of Jesus, noticing the pattern of faithful living found in Scripture, we need to be known for what we’re for, not just what we stand against.

The world is drowning in negativity. What if our presence, both in person and online, embodied the hope of the gospel? What if people saw us championing grace, truth, and compassion, available only through the transforming power of Jesus? What if they could tell that we genuinely love people and believe God can change anyone?

That’s the kind of church people want to be part of. That is made available through an invitation, and it’s up to each one of us to fulfill the commission given to each one of us by Jesus.

Here are three ways you can put this into practice right now:

• Text someone right now and invite them to church this Sunday morning. Promise to take them out to lunch afterward as a way to say “thank you” for giving it a try.
• Give a friend one of our invitation cards – these work best with a conversation and invitation, but it gives your friend some information about our church and is a visible reminder of your personal invitation. Fill out this short form and we’ll set some aside for you to pick up on Sunday.
• Send someone a link to the “What to Expect” page on our website – it will answer questions your friend might have about church which will make it easier for them to make the decision to show up on Sunday. You can find this page at gogenerationschurch.com/new

People: A welcoming presence.

When someone walks through the doors of the church for the first time, they’re nervous. Guaranteed. They’re wondering if they’ll fit in, if they’ll be judged, or if anyone will even notice them.

That’s where you come in. Not just the pastoral staff or members of the guest services team. You, as in every single person in the church.

We need to be welcoming and intentional. That means making eye contact with people, learning names, asking questions, and seeking to become a friend for the sake of someone’s eternity.

As we have been praying for God to bring a harvest (you’re praying for that, right?), we then keep our eyes open for opportunities to help those people find Jesus.

God is calling us to live as missionaries, even in the church building. I pray that we develop the eyes to see that the person hanging out by the coffee bar might be one conversation away from meeting Jesus.

That perspective and welcoming presence changes everything.

The mission of Jesus is found in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost”. After His resurrection, He told His followers, “As the Father has sent me, I also send you” (see John 20:21). Jesus’ mission is ours, too.

Here are two ways you can put this into practice right now:

• Prayerfully consider joining the Guest Services team. These are the welcoming and helpful people who greet guests on Sunday mornings and answer questions at the end of service. In reality, these men and women are the first people that our guests meet on their way to meet Jesus. You can sign up here.
• Serve as an online host for people who watch our services online live on Sunday morning. Church online hosts are on the front lines of ministry. They are the first ones to share a kind word, to pray for people as they share requests, and help them discover how to begin a relationship with Jesus. Don't worry about the technology or even the amount of Bible knowledge you have - we're happy to train you so you can be part of God's design for our church, doing whatever it takes to help people find, follow, and serve Jesus. You can sign up here.

Experience: Jesus-centered and God-honoring excellence.

We’re finally ready to talk about what happens when people actually show up.

Are we ready for them?

I’m not talking about perfection – I’m talking about intentionality. Are our ministries giving their best? Is our facility welcoming, not just functionally adequate? Can people actually find where they’re supposed to go, or do they feel like they need a map and a tour guide?

The truth is that excellence honors God and serves people. When we’re not prepared, we’re communicating to our guests that they’re not worth the effort. But when we’ve thought through the details – when the kids’ ministry prioritizes safety while teaching kids about the God who created and loves them, when the music reflects the glory of God, when the teaching is clear and comes directly from God’s Word, when our facility is clean and the signage is helpful – we’re saying, “We’ve been expecting you. You matter here.”

Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people”. That’s our standard, not comparison with other churches, and not just good enough. Instead, we structure every experience at Generations as an act of worship to Jesus.

When people experience that, they know they’ve encountered something different, something sacred. They feel like they’re part of something significant. They feel valued. And they’re much more likely to return.

Spoiler alert: A team from Generations Church is making plans to renovate the first floor of the education building to make it an amazing environment for children and their families. I can’t wait to share the details with you soon!

Here’s a way you can put this into practice right now:

• Serve with our facilities team. We’re all volunteers in service to our amazing God, and the men and women who serve on this team, alongside our professional cleaning service, make sure the yard looks great, that the Bible study rooms are functional, inviting, and cozy, and the auditorium is ready for guests on Sunday. You can sign up here.

Systems: Following up well for the sake of discipleship.

This is where a lot of churches drop the ball, including ours. Someone visits, maybe even fills out a connection card, and then... crickets.

We need systems. Not to be mechanical or impersonal, but to be faithful.

Are we following up well? When someone visits, do they get a personal call or text from someone thanking them for being our guest? When someone tells us they want to know more about Jesus, do we have a clear and accessible next step for them?

This is much more important (and complex) than utilizing church management software. This is about helping people live, grow, and serve in Christ. Are we intentional about discipling people to grow in their relationship with Jesus and live out the commission He’s given them?

Jesus didn’t say, “Go therefore and get people to attend church” (though that’s important). He said, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you” (see Matthew 28:19-20).

That requires systems – we need to have clear pathways for people to move from curious to convinced, from convinced to committed, then from committed to called. This isn’t accomplished through scattered groups – we accomplish this through strategic discipleship for people of all ages.

As we provide good systems, we’re saying, “Your growth matters so much that we’ve created clear paths to help you move forward in your journey with Jesus.”

Mission + Vision: The “why” and “where” behind everything we do

People need to know why our church exists. Several years ago, a church member asked that very question. The answer he was given was, “It’s the Baptist Faith and Message”. Yikes.

It’s not our denominational affiliation, although I appreciate the cooperative and mission-minded nature that we enjoy as members of the Southern Baptist Convention. A vision isn’t a building campaign or our traditions. What are we trying to accomplish for God, by God?

At Generations Church, our mission is to do whatever it takes to help people find, follow, and serve Jesus. That’s the “why”. The “where” of vision looks like us creating environments where people of all generations can discover and live out the life for which God created them (that’s why our next project is updating our facility for children and student ministries). The vision God has given to us is much more detailed than that – you can find a detailed vision statement here, you can watch it on YouTube, or listen to it on Spotify.

To that end, we recognize that Christianity is a team sport, that we are the Body of Christ – we need each other to realize the mission and vision God has given to us.

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained” [the last part is translated in the KJV as “the people perish”]. Biblical, compelling, and clear vision is what God uses to keep His people focused and motivated.

As we begin to embody that we exist to make disciples who make disciples, to reach our community and the world with the gospel, to grow believers into maturity, to send people out on mission, everything changes. We’re much less likely to function as spiritual consumers and live as spiritual contributors. To borrow from a very famous speech, we stop asking, “What can the church do for me?” and start asking, “How can I join what God is already doing here?”

I promise to do a better job of communicating the vision consistently because we cannot dishonor God by missing the “why” and the “where” as His body.

Calling: This is the place where you belong.

We finally get to the place where we celebrate the results of God’s promised harvest. It’s found when someone says, “Generations is my church. This is where God has called me to serve and grow.”

But the tough truth is that most people leave before they reach this step.

They connect initially, maybe even get involved for a while, but then life gets busy or someone hurts their feelings or they just drift. And we lose them. The body’s ability to minister is affected and we lose the full potential of our impact.

How do we keep that from happening?

First, by helping people discover their calling within this church family. We’re not going to be concerned about just filling roles, but genuinely helping people identify their spiritual gifts and find meaningful ways to use them. When people are serving in their sweet spot, they get invested. They develop relationships. They experience the joy of being used by God.

Second, by creating a culture of commitment. It is the foundation of biblical ecclesiology when we help people understand that faithfulness matters, that the church isn’t a buffet where you pick what you enjoy and avoid what you don’t, but a family where you show up even when it’s hard. We’re teaching them something about the character of God, the one who never leaves or forsakes us (see Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5) is the same God who tells us not to neglect gathering together (see Hebrews 10:25).

Third, by addressing hurt quickly and biblically. Yes, the church is full of broken people who sometimes hurt each other. We will have honest conversations that lead to genuine reconciliation as the ultimate goal. When people see that the church can weather storms and come out stronger, they’re more likely to stay.

Fourth, by constantly connecting people to Jesus. It’s not our programs, facilities, or community that causes people to stick around, as wonderful as those things are. It’s Jesus. “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life” (see John 6:68).

When people are encountering Jesus, they realize that this isn’t just a good church. It’s the place where God has called them. It’s home.

Living in this hopeful reality.

I am hopeful about the church. Not naively optimistic, but sincerely hopeful – primarily because I’ve seen this pathway work. I’ve watched people go from skeptical visitors to all-in disciples. I’ve seen lives transformed by the power of the gospel.

It starts with us being faithful in these simple, yet profound steps.

So, let’s invite people with confidence, motivated by love. Let’s welcome them warmly. Let’s create excellent experiences that point people to Jesus. Let’s build systems that facilitate spiritual growth. Let’s cast compelling vision. And let’s help people discover their calling within this church family.

Our motivation is found in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance”.

God wants people to connect with His church. He wants them to find their home in His family. What should excite those of us who are already here is that He’s inviting us to participate in that miraculous and hopeful work.

Let’s build something worth inviting people to. Let’s be the people worth knowing.

Let’s create the environment where God will do what only He can do – transform lives through the power of the gospel.

The harvest is plentiful. The workers are you and me. And the Lord of the harvest is faithful.

Let’s get after it.

Seriously, an iced, half caff, ristretto, venti, four-pump, sugar free, cinnamon, dolce soy skinny latte is not something any of us really needs, but I’ve been known to knock back a grande peppermint mocha (calories: 330) to get the day started.

Lately, I’ve had several people ask questions about different Bible translations. While the number doesn’t come anywhere near the 80,000 mark, there are several good translations available. Why are there so many? Which one should you choose?

Excellent questions, and I’ll do my best to answer them, but I need to caution and encourage you before we dive in. First, I understand the love of and loyalty to a particular translation. Do not be dismayed if your favorite translation does not make the top of the list–my goal is to share some observations and insight from biblical scholars. Secondly, it’s more important for you to interact with God’s Word than for you to worry about having the best translation. Let’s trust the Holy Spirit to illuminate the Bible as you read, regardless of the translation.

(Note: While there are some awful paraphrases out there, the paraphrases and translations discussed in this post are good choices for devotional reading and personal study unless otherwise noted.)

Why translations?

The simple answer is because very few people are Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek language scholars. The majority of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew (a TINY percentage was written in Aramaic) and the entire New Testament was written in Greek. So, if you’re going to be able to read the Bible, you need a copy in a language you can read.

Also, languages evolve. Though it was written in English, my 15-year-old daughter experienced some difficulty while reading A Study In Scarlet (a Sherlock Holmes novel written in the late 1880s). These days, there are approximately 1,000 new words added to the Oxford Dictionary each year!

It may surprise you to know that even though the printing press has been around since the 15^th century, there is not a Bible translation for 1,800 languages on the planet. According to Wycliffe Bible Translators, there are 180 million people without access to any Scripture in their first language and 1.5 billion people without the full Bible in their first language.

The sources.

Sadly, there exists no original manuscript from any of the Bible’s 66 books. In the absence of an Apostle Paul original, Bible scholars must utilize some of the ancient hand-written copies of the originals (these existed long before Guttenberg and his printing press).

Remember the telephone game from your childhood? A message was whispered to one person, who then whispered it to someone else, and this continued until the last person reported the message to everyone. I don’t think we ever got the exact message at the end of the game. Since Bible translations have been taking place for centuries, it should come as no surprise that variants exist in copies of biblical manuscripts.

So what’s the solution? Simply put, earlier is better and consistency matters. To translate the Old Testament, scholars used to rely on medieval Hebrew transcripts but earlier manuscripts from Greek translations have been discovered, which are more reliable. For New Testament translation, manuscripts from the second century have been found in Egypt and in various locations in the ancient Roman Empire.

For example, when the original King James Version (KJV) was translated in 1611, scholars at the time had access to later manuscripts which contained a number of variants from earlier manuscripts that had not yet been discovered.

Before I get skewered for speaking ill of the KJV, you need to know that I grew up memorizing hefty chunks of Scripture from that translation. It’s poetic and lovely to listen to, but let me share a word of caution from Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, “the only Greek text available to the 1611 translators was based on late manuscripts, which had accumulated the mistakes of over a thousand years of copying. Few of these mistakes–a we must note that there are many of them–make any difference to us doctrinally… Recognizing that the English of the KJV was no longer a living language, it was decided by some to ‘update’ the KJV by ridding it of its ‘archaic’ way of speaking. But in doing so, the NKJV revisers eliminated the best feature of the KJV (its marvelous expression of the English language) and kept the worst (its flawed text)… That is why you should use almost any modern translation rather than the KJV or NKJV” (excerpt from How to Read the Bible For All Its Worth, Zondervan, 2003).

Types of translations.

There are three approaches to translations. Without getting too technical, I’ll introduce you to these three approaches and the most popular Bibles in each one:

Formal equivalence.

This is sometimes referred to as “word-for-word” or “literal” translation. These translations strive to maintain the structure of the original text by replacing a word from the original language to its new language equivalent. 
The upside: The modern reader can follow the original structure and grammatical patterns found in ancient texts. 
The challenge: This type of translation is pretty awkward to read in English since it uses the construction of another language. 
Popular translations: King James Version (KJV), New King James Version (NKJV), New American Standard (NASB), Revised Standard Version (RSV), English Standard Version (ESV).

Functional equivalence.

This is sometimes referred to as “thought-for-thought” translation. These translations highlight readability over the preservation of original language structure. 
The upside: The modern reader will have the intention of a text translated into easy-to-understand modern words and idioms. 
The challenge: Cultural nuances in the original language can be overlooked, and some scholars question the reliability for in-depth Bible research. 
Popular translations: Christian Standard Bible (CSB), New International Version (NIV), Today’s New International Version (TNIV), New Living Translation (NLT), New American Bible (NAB), New Jerusalem Bible (NJB), Good News Bible (GNB), Revised English Bible (REB).

Paraphrase.

Paraphrases are sometimes referred to as a “free translation,” but I believe the term “translation” should be reserved for efforts that reflect thoughtful and broad-based scholarship. Paraphrases are very easy to read and utilize modern language and expressions. 
The upside: A paraphrase will take the meaning of a passage of Scripture and attempt to express that meaning in casual, conversational language. Paraphrases make great reading Bibles. 
The challenge: Paraphrase authors often write their commentary into the translated text. As a result, original intent may be marginalized. 
Popular paraphrases: The Message (MSG), The Living Bible (LB), New English Bible (NEB).

Comparison of translations/paraphrases.

I’ll list the same passage of Scripture (Hebrews 12:1-2) in multiple translations and paraphrases, beginning with high formal equivalence:

Formal equivalence

• KJV – “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
• NASB – “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
• ESV – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Functional equivalence

• NIV – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
• CSB – “Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
• NLT – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

Paraphrase

• MSG – “Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.”
• LB – “Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us. Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards; and now he sits in the place of honor by the throne of God.”

The bottom line.

Props to you, dear reader, for making it this far! I hope this treatise has been informative, but it would be a little unfair for me to provide all this information without offering my preference. I’m a fan of utilizing multiple translations for study – I like the diversity of language. My two favorite translations are the Christian Standard Bible and New Living Translation. I enjoy the scholarship of CSB (and had many of the translators as professors in seminary) and the readability of the NLT. Regardless of what you choose, make sure you’re engaging God through His Word every day.

Hebrews 4:12 (CSB) For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

I feel compelled to write to my fellow Americans on the eve of an important election. As we prepare for the cessation of hostilities in the form of political advertisements on our various screens, I hope you have yet to reach the level of rhetorical fatigue that will result in you avoiding your polling place tomorrow. Christians, the act of voting is not only our civic duty but gives us a way to fulfill our call to be salt and light in a world that is desperately in need of righteousness.

We have the Spirit of God living inside of us, which means we have, among many other gifts, the ability to approach politics and governance with both conviction and discernment. That means we bear the responsibility to couple our political engagement and biblical values. Our votes should reflect what God has taught us in His sacred and infallible Word, prioritizing issues such as the sanctity of life and the defense of religious freedoms. The ballot you cast is an opportunity to advocate for policies that align with your faith in Jesus and moves us one step closer to creating a culture that honors God’s design for His human creation.

Our involvement in politics is more than mere participation; it allows us to leverage our God-given influence while holding accountable those in office for governing according to biblical values. Faith in Jesus compels us to be proactive in shaping the culture around us. Voting is our chance to uphold the principles upon which our nation was founded – faith, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness – striving for them secondarily as we remain, first and foremost, bondservants of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are called not only to vote but to mobilize others within our communities, ensuring that our collective voice echoes in the halls of power as we, as Mr. Jefferson so eloquently wrote, “mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”

The Holy Spirit of God instructed us through the Apostle Paul to “submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.” 1 Peter 2 echoes Paul’s directive and includes our motivation for doing so – because of our relationship with Jesus and to engage with people in ways that reflect the goodness, grace, and love of the Lord. Voting is a tangible way to pursue good, advocating for policies that promote freedom for everyone. If we abstain from the electoral process, we cede our influence to those whose values may starkly oppose our own.

As we get ready for election day, remember that voting is not simply a right; it is a privilege woven into the fabric of the democracy of the nation God allows us to call our temporary home. Our vote is a testimony of our faith in action, demonstrating our commitment to a nation that honors God’s truth. Though there has been much written about the gravity of this particular election, every election represents a crossroads – a moment in time to align our choices with what God has taught us is best. Better still, our voices do not merely ring out just for ourselves but for generations to come.

My friends, I sincerely hope you will engage in the electoral process with prayerful consideration, seeking wisdom from God as you prepare to walk into your polling place tomorrow. While God will not be surprised by the outcome, nor will the person in the Oval Office ever be able to thwart His perfect plans, it is still our responsibility as followers of Jesus to stand boldly for values consistent with the Word of God.

Writing as Poor Richard, Benjamin Franklin wrote a much better version of my first sentence. He said, “We must give advice, but we cannot give conduct.” My advice, friends, is to vote. The resulting conduct is up to you.

May God continue to bless the United States of America,
John Sanders
Senior Pastor, Generations Church