The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry Newsletter
&
Bible Study
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UPDATED 02/07/2020
Fellow officers,
sheepdogs,
servant-warriors, sp
ouses and supporters:
In this week's Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry Bible study we'll tackle one of the most oft-quoted passages of Scripture that gets misapplied to First Responders who make the ultimate sacrifice. So what does
John 15:13
really mean, and to whom does it actually apply? The answer has eternal implications: scroll down to
No Greater Love.
Locally, our nexr Centurion/FCPO-Denver "Cop Church" chapter meeting is set for
Feb. 18th.
Finally, I wanted to take a moment to
THANK all of you
who donate or otherwise support/pray for this ministry. Here's a quick rundown of what God did with your support in 2019 and what is on the calendar (so far) for 2020:
* Our twice-monthly "cop church" Centurion/FCPO Bible studies (through which I give away a plethora of FREE resources).
* Centurion t-shirts and hoodies (FREE apparel to LEOs): a powerful ministry tool!
* One-on-one Biblical counseling and discipleship.
* Teaching at various churches, conferences and retreats (emphasis on living out our servant-warrior ethos and encouraging men to be the men God called us to be).
* Putting on our FREE
Centurion Church Security Seminars.
* Chaplaincy (including officiating at police marriages; serving in the wake of police funerals; visiting/supporting wounded officers; etc.).\
* Our annual Police Week outreach in Washington, D.C. and VA.
* Memorial Day and Veteran's Day outreach efforts.
* Suicide prevention. and PTSi intervention.
* Writing for Law Officer Magazine.
* Serving at the Breaching the Barricade Law Enforcement Conference and Officer Appreciation Day in Indiana.
* Maintaining our website and social media pages (including writing and sharing these newsletters).
* Speaking/presenting at ILEETA.
* And so much more!
Let's stay the course and finish strong behind Christ our Captain!
MC
_____________________
RESOURCES
(1) My friend Lt. Col.
Dave Grossman's
newest book -- a devotional just for us servant-warrior "sheepdogs" (military, police, first responders, etc.) -- is now available for pre-order! I had the honor of reviewing his draft and just let me say that it's a "game changer" for us. Click on
On Spiritual Combat: 30 Missions for Victorious Warfare.
(2) Whilst our FCPO chapter meetings are a kind of "Cop Church," retired officer/ministry
Jimmy Meeks
has started posting a weekly video devotion geared towards us (about 10 minutes each). Check out
Sheepdog Church.
PRAYER REQUESTS
(1) Be in prayer for our
Police Week 2020
team as we begin gearing up for this year's outreach.
(2) I rarely ask for prayer for me personally but I'm currently as sick as a dog (the dreaded "man cold"). Too much to do to be sick (including trying to get ready to share at the 2020 ILEETA Conference next month).
(3) Pray for Police Chaplain
Grant Wolf
and his family over his bride Ruth's passing on Saturday, Feb. 1st. Because Ruth had a saving faith, she is NOW with the Lord
(2 Cor. 5),
but Grant and the family are grieving.
UPCOMING EVENTS
(1)
The Shelter Foundation
's Bible studies (1 for cops, 1 for their spouses) has started back up after their Christmas break. Highly recommended!
(2) Planning has already begun for our
2020 Police Week
mission in Washington, DC this May. Stay tuned and hope to see some of you there (and please begin praying for us)!
(4) I continue to teach my
Centurion Church Security Seminars
but I also recommend the
Sheepdog Seminars
as well (much more than a church security seminar). Here's their
schedule
and also feel free to reach out to me if I can be of assistance on my end.
*Have a prayer request, event or announcement you would like included here? Need help/prayer?
Email me
!
I also post prayer requests on
my personal Facebook page
("friend" and message me).
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No Greater Love...
John 15:13
is one of most oft-quoted passages of Scripture shared when a fellow servant-warrior (police, fire fighters, military, etc.) is killed in the line of duty. But what does it actually mean and to whom does it apply?
"There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."
(John 15:13, NLT)
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UPDATED 02/07/2020
I've shared a number of studies on passages of Scripture (God's Word -- the Bible) that get misquoted or misapplied to us in law enforcement. This week's study is another of those (so important that we get it right).
Jesus declares to us in
John 15:13
,
"
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." (
NKJV). This verse then gets quoted at police and military funerals and all kinds of related events. But were First Responders the audience Jesus (God in the flesh) was referring to when He said these words? Let's break it down (not my "opinion" but rather the correct exegesis of this passage):
The first thing we must always do is to quote God's Word in context:
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
(John 15:12-15)
Understand Jesus' COMMANDMENT (not a mere "suggestion") here -- to
sacrificially love
(a
gape
in the original Greek) one another. What does that look like biblically?
While it’s rarely necessary to physically die for the sake of another, genuine love usually involves some level of sacrifice. As
Christians
, we are to
pick up our crosses
and show unconditional, sacrificial, selfless love to others—just as Jesus did for us. So how do we do that?
The Pattern Christ Set
Jesus gave His followers -- His "friends" (to wit, His followers -- real "Christians") a new challenge to love based on
obedience
to Him and commitment to fellow believers:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you”
(
John 13:34
).
In
Leviticus 19:18
,
the Jews were commanded to
“love your neighbor as yourself.”
So how was Jesus’ command new? The people of God understood the word “neighbor” to mean a fellow Israelite or Gentile who had converted to Judaism. Jesus’ new command has no such limitations.
To answer the question, “Who is my neighbor?,” Christ told the story of the Good Samaritan
(
Luke 10:25-37
).
In Jesus’ day, relations between Jews and
Samaritans
were quite tense. Samaritans were despised (strong prejudice) for having intermarried with Gentiles (non-Jews who were also despised and mistreated) and having adopted heretical, unbiblical religious beliefs. Clearly, a call to love the hated/despised Samaritans was radical in every sense of the word!
Jesus’ instruction is also new because it raises the standard. Loving others as ourselves means following the
pattern
He set for us, and putting the needs of others above our own. Isn't that part of what we do as cops (military, First Responders)? But stay with me here...
How does Jesus love us? He offers Himself freely (laid His life down on the cross) to all who
repent
of their sin and
surrender
to Him in faith), whether rich or poor, good-looking or unattractive, charming or irritating. He loves needy, immature, disobedient believers just as much as He does stronger, more mature, and faithful believers (again, a "believer" as used here is a genuine,
born again Christian
-- stay tuned for next week's study).
Jesus intended for
agape
love to be the defining characteristic of Christians:
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another"
(
John 13:35
).
The Father and the Son love us unconditionally, while we are unworthy of love. Read
Romans 5:6-10
and answer the following:
- How are people without Christ described in verse 6?
- Why do you think the Bible describes unbelievers as “enemies” of God (v. 10)? See Colossians 1:21 and Romans 8:7 for additional context.
- In what way were you an enemy of the Lord before you accepted His gift of salvation?
- Contrast man’s love (v. 7) with God’s (v. 8).
- Why do you think the passage mentions our need to be saved from the Lord’s wrath (v. 9)? (See Ephesians 2:1-5 for more)
To “
justify”
(v. 9) means "to be regarded and treated as if innocent; or acquitted from the consequences of guilt from God’s perspective."
“Reconcile”
(v. 10) means "to restore harmony between two persons at variance, by the removal of existing obstacles."
The Lord has justified and reconciled us, but not on the basis of anything we have done. How, then, should we treat people who have wronged us, or those who are otherwise difficult to love (like the criminal element, anti-police groups and many others we deal with in law enforcement)?
The Power of the Pattern
John writes that
“everyone who loves is born of God and knows God”
(v. 7). This verse doesn’t mean that everyone who experiences human affection has a personal
relationship
with the Father. Again, the Greek word John uses for “love” in this passage is
"agapeo"
(agape) -- selfless, unconditional, sacrificial "God love." In the Bible, it is never used to refer to sexual/romantic
(eros)
love, brotherly love
(philios --
typically the kind of love we have for one another in law enforcement), or family
(storge)
relationships.
Only
through God's power (through the Holy Spirit that indwells every true believer) can we
"agapeo"
each other as God calls us to.
Finally, turn to
John 3:16
-
20
(with v. 16 being perhaps the most quoted verse in all of Scripture):
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
Take note that verse 16 can't exist outside of verse 19: Those who do not
"believe"
(again, stay tuned for next week's study) are
not saved
. (meaning that if they die in this state they will NOT go to heaven).
So here's the bottom line about this passage: It is not about us but rather
ALL about Jesus!
Our Savior went to the cross (sacrificial love ending in a horrific, sacrificial death) so that all who
"repent and believe"
(Mark 1:15)
in Him alone (no "other way") can be be saved and thus become
His friends.
In short, the
"No greater love"
verse has nothing to do with the military and First Responders unless it just happens to be a Christian officer who lays down his life so that others can come to a saving faith because of it (for example, those who are martyred for the faith).
Again, can you even begin to imagine the kind of difference God can make through us if we're protecting and serving in light of our Christian ethos (yes, our works matter, but ONLY if we are first living and serving "in Christ")?
Finally, and with
last week's study
in mind, it is vital that you understand that we can't be saved by our so-called "good deeds" (including our service in law enforcement) or by being killed in battle or the line of duty (as the Muslims and Norse Vikings
[Odinists]
falsely
believe). On the contrary,
Jesus is the ONLY way!
Clear? Are you in fact one of God's "friends." If not, please
reach out
or dig into the links in the
"Know God?"
section below.
MC
____________________
KNOW GOD?
(1) Do you hold to an utterly false hope that you can "earn" or otherwise "badge" your way into heaven and escape hell because you consider yourself to be a "
good
" cop or "good" person? That you can be "good" enough without God? That you "deserve" heaven because of your so-called "good" service? Take the
Good Person Test
and see how you do!
(2) Jesus' first recorded words in His earthly Aadult ministry included, "
Repent and believe in the Good News
" (
Mark 1:15
). To
repent
is a "180" -- a complete,
radical
change of mind and heart as it relates to our sin (as God defines it). To "believe" (
pisteuo
in the original Greek) as Jesus intends it here is to wholeheartedly trust and
surrender
your life to Him in faith in the same way we have "faith" that our body armor will do its job against the rounds it is intended to stop; that a well-maintained weapon will function properly when used in defense against criminals intent on destroying us or others; or that our parachute will open when it is supposed to on a combat jump (we stake our very lives on it)! For more, see
What does it mean to believe in Jesus?
(3) This same concept of "
believe
" (the saving kind) is further revealed in
John 3:1-21
where Jesus says, "
... you must be born again
." Again, note our Lord's emphasis on the word "
must
" (not "may" or "should" or even "someday"): this is ultimately the life-saving AND life-changing personal relationship (and NOT "religion") with Jesus Christ that I stress here every week (see
What does it mean to be a born again Christian
? [hint -- there is no other kind]).
(5) Need more? Then check out this powerful, short video message that also comes to us from
Travis Yates
:
Cops and Salvation
(6) Have you now said "yes" to Jesus as Lord and Savior but are wondering what to do next? The "now what" is also an important part in dealing with the issues that can lead to suicide and sin in general. Click on,
Now what?
MC
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ABOUT US
The
Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry
is
a national, FCPO-affiliated, non-denominational,
evangelical
Christian outreach to our own in law enforcement. These newsletters and profession-focused Bible studies are part of this effort and past editions can be found on our website and our social media feeds. Our desire is (1) to be used of God to
WIN
the lost in our profession to a saving faith in Christ; (2) to
DISCIPLE
the Christian officer; (3)
SEND
out discipled (trained) officers to "repeat" 1 and 2; (4) to
SUPPORT
police marriages; (5) to transform our God-ordained profession by infusing it with all-in Christian officers; and (6) to
IMPACT
(reduce) police suicides and PTS with the
Cure
found in Christ Jesus alone. In keeping with these 6 points, please feel free to adapt these messages for your own individual or group use and
share
them with others.
The
Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers
(FCPO-USA)
exists to provide biblical support ("backup"), accountability and
iron sharpens iron
fellowship for Christian officers first in the U.S. and throughout the world as well. Our Denver-area FCPO chapter (
FCPO Chapter #217
) is a
Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry
affiliate. Locally, we meet approximately twice a month in the south Denver-Metro suburb of Highlands Ranch for profession-focused, sound (uncompromising) Bible study, prayer and servant-warrior fellowship (and spouses are both welcome and encouraged to attend with their LEO).
Contact me
for complete details.
The
Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry
and FCPO-Metro Denver (
Chapter 217
) are led by veteran Police Officer, Chaplain and Evangelist Michael "MC" Williams
.
MC is an active (32-years and counting) sworn police officer/investigator and sought-after instructor and speaker at churches (including the popular
Centurion Church Security Seminar
), retreats and both police and civilian training conferences and seminars around the country. Contact MC via
email
for details on how to book him for your event.
Finally, we covet your prayer and financial support for this vital ministry outreach. Reference the latter, you can give in two ways:
(1) Send a check to the address posted below.
or
(2) Go the the
FCPO giving page
and designate "
FCPO #217
" or the "Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry."
* All donations are tax-deductible.
The Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry
, P.O. Box 630854, Littleton, CO 80163 |
Email Address
| (720) 371-1022 |
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