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Mike Hall | June 22, 2012
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Seeing The Grand Narrative

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One of the greatest plot devices of any story is the hero who is mired in circumstances but who longs for more. We see it expressed in so many stories such as Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, The Frog Prince, etc. These stories all rest on a universal principle that there must be a greater story that is common to all humanity. This greater story can be referred to as the grand narrative.

The grand narrative is hard-wired into every human being who has ever lived. We are all created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). God’s law is also written on the hearts of every human (Romans 2:12-15). Because we have sinned against God and have separated ourselves from Him we are not who we are meant to be. We desire more. We desire redemption; a second chance (Rom. 8:22-23). This is the uber-plot or grand narrative of the universe.

If you consider the great fiction classics that have ever made their way to the big screen, they all in some way, shape, or form conform to the grand narrative. In Lord of the Rings, Tolkien (a believer in Christ), demonstrates a clear good, a clear evil, a flawed humanity struggling against evil for redemption. C.S. Lewis (also a strong believer), employs the same imagery in The Chronicles of Narnia. Even the wistful J.K. Rowling, (who professes Christianity) weaves this grand narrative into her Harry Potter novels. These stories connect and draw sympathy because they speak of a great truth that is and that many to their own detriment have suppressed.

When we teach our children we should make good use of this grand narrative to help them own their longing for God. We can nurture that longing by dealing with reality through the lens of the Gospel. We should help them confront unpleasant things knowing that God’s grace is sufficient and that He is all wise, all loving, all caring, and all good. As a parent who wants your kids to love the Lord, you should be encouraged because the truth is on your side.

The best story ever told is true and the ending is out of this world!

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Mike Hall | December 23, 2011
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Fear Not I Bring The Gospel

angel Picture yourself in a field outside the small, Judean town of Bethlehem. Your job is to tend sheep. About the only excitement you ever experience is the occasional stray wolf looking for a lamb chop.

Then one night as you and your friends sit out by the fire watching for predators, something truly startling occurs. The sky begins to burn brightly as if it is on fire and then angels begin to descend. Even the best and bravest of us would be freaking out.

So what would it take to calm you down? What thing could these heavenly beings say that would put you at ease? Well, when this scene that I just described actually occurred over 2,000 years ago, the message was pretty straightforward, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

Fear not, that part seems pretty self explanatory, but what about the rest? What was this news and why was it good? To answer that question, you only need look in the mirror. Man is born with a nature that is totally corrupted by sin. We are separated from the creator who made us because we have rebelled against Him. We are lost in the darkness without any light to show us the way back home.

Then enters one man. But He is no ordinary man. He is the very Son of God, come to earth in the form of a baby. His mission is to live a sinless life, die a horrible death, and pay the sin debt that we rightly owed so that if we receive His forgiveness and claim His sacrifice by faith, then we can be welcomed into His family. We can see that light. We can find our way home.

This is what made that evening in Bethlehem so many years ago so special. The message of the angels was a message of hope. A message of deliverance. They might as well have said, Fear not, for I bring you the gospel. The word gospel means “good news” and it was indeed good news that they brought.

I hope that you will ponder this good news and receive it if you have not already. Then you like the shepherds will have the best reason to glorify and praise God.

Merry Christmas from Clapham Community!

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Mike Hall | November 22, 2011
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For This I Am Thankful

praying handsIt is only natural this time of year for people to pause and think about the things for which they are thankful. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I try to express my gratitude to the Lord everyday. There is, however, something special about Thanksgiving that really causes me to reflect on my blessings.

If I took the opportunity to list all of the things that the Lord has blessed me with, this post would be too long to read. Instead, I want to focus on one particular blessing that surpasses all the others. The one thing for which I am most thankful is that God has given me Himself.

I have spent many seasons of my life focused on things that I wanted and didn’t have or on things that I thought were important but turned out to be a disappointment. In all of this distraction and frustration God has always been there speaking softly, sometimes just whispering, calling me back to Himself. He knows that our greatest need is for Him, not what He can provide us, but Him and Him above all. It is this sweet and mystical union with Him that makes food tastier, relationships meaningful, laughter deeper, and life purposeful.

Scottish theologian and pastor Henry Scougal put it best when he wrote

God hath long contended with a stubborn world, and thrown down many a blessing upon them; and when all his other gifts could not prevail, he at last made a gift of himself.

So when I think of all that I am thankful for this holiday, at the top of my list is Christ. I pray that we will not be distracted by so many good things that we miss out on the best thing of all. Christ is the greatest gift and for this I am thankful.

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Mike Hall | October 3, 2011
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Doing A 180

It is amazing how the truth can change hearts and minds when people willingly confront it. I had the privilege of viewing a documentary entitled 180 with evangelist Ron Comfort. In that documentary, Comfort respectfully and patiently confronts people on the street about the Jewish holocaust, abortion, and the need for Christ. I was very encouraged to see many of them come off their preconceived prejudices and consider the message of the truth that is right in front of them.

I strongly urge you to watch the 180 documentary. It only takes 33 minutes but the shocking power of truth will open your eyes. If you know Christ as savior it will encourage you and open your eyes. It will also be a powerful witnessing tool that you can share with your unbelieving friends.

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