"Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren. When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them." Acts 15.3-4
I thought about these verses all day yesterday, and honestly I was about to skip over them. Something had hit me when I first read them, and then I couldn't remember. But fortunately when I grabbed my computer today the insight returned, and I didn't pass over this instruction about Church. For this I am probably (more than likely) putting a twenty-first century spin on this, but I don't think the concept I'm about to share is too far from what these verses talk about.
The big words that hit me are "sent" and "received". One Church sends people, and another Church receives them. Here in this context they are sharing the work that God is doing in the Gentile world with the Jews. They are sharing what God is doing. They are being sent by one Church to proclaim what God is doing to another Church. I've seen this today, most often it happens when missionaries are trying to raise support to continue their mission. It's important that we do this because it gets us thinking about the world, and the Church beyond our personal sanctuary.
But I want to take this a step farther, giving it a little more practical application for today. What if the Church would send and receive people today? What if larger churches were to help small churches? Having pastored a small church I know full well the struggles and hardships that are there. No money, no volunteers, and no life. It's like fighting an uphill battle while dragging a boulder behind you. But what if the little church didn't have to do this on their own? What if a bigger church came along side of them, and cut the boulder off?
If I ever have the opportunity to pastor a larger church I want to do something about this. I want to do something to help. I know how impossible these situations are. I know the discouragement and defeat that these pastors feel daily. I know the hits they take, and how alone they can feel. And I don't want to see a young pastor, full of passion and potential, be eaten by a church.
If I ever pastor a church that has resources I want to use them to build the Church. I want to come along side the pastor of the church who needs a hand and offer it. If they need musicians, I'll try to help with that. If they need help with an event, I'll try to help them with that. Sending people who are gifted in the areas they need, to serve and build the Kingdom. This is an opportunity to work across denominational lines. We don't even need to bring doctrine into question for this. Simply focus on the core truths that Jesus is the way, and that all is done so that God may be glorified.
I hear the questions already, "What if these people who are sent leave my church for that one?" Does it really matter? Why do we act like it's a competition? Honestly, I hate the numbers game the Church loves to play. We've made it too much about the numbers, and we have to get away from that. Paul said, "Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice." (Philippians 1.12-18).
Paul was solely focused on God being glorified and the Kingdom being built. He didn't care who did it or why, so long as Christ was proclaimed and people grew into Christlikeness. We have to have this attitude. We must rejoice when God does something great in a church, even if it isn't the one that we are at. It's all God's Church anyway, so who cares what happens so long as it is proclaiming the truth and growing. God can do whatever He wants, wherever He wants. It is our job to praise Him and give Him our best. It is our job to use the gifts He has given us for works in His service.
The Church needs to send and receive so that we can give more glory to God. It's His Church, not ours.
"I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
The Bible on Church, Acts 14b
"When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles." Acts 14.27
The Church is a place where we not only learn about God, but we tell others of what He is doing. Back in the day I remember a large part of Sunday night church was given to testimonies. I remember one service was nothing but testimonies. But as I grew up and was at different churches I began to notice two things, one that testimonies started to be few and far between, and two that when I did hear a testimony I had usually heard it countless times before.
I know that the larger a church gets the harder it is to do things spontaneously, or without screening. In a church of 2,500 people with several services time is an issue. But also, you never know what someone might get up and say. Something meant to focus people on God as they prepare to enter worship could turn into a very big problem if someone takes the opportunity of an open mic and starts bashing people.
Then there is the person in a small church that still has testimonies every Sunday. This person has been a faithful attendant for the last 50 years, and never misses an opportunity to thank God for saving them at a VBS back in 1967. Every week it's the same testimony. Never anything new, its as if God stopped working in their life that day back in 1967. I'm not trying to minimize the fact of salvation, but are you telling me that in the last 50 years that's the only thing you want to testify that God has done? What does that say about God? What does that say about you?
When I was pastoring a small church I felt the leading of the Spirit to start the testimony part back up. It was the first thing that took place Sunday morning to help focus us on God as we began the service. And I instituted a rule, it had to be from the last 7 days. I wanted people to be looking for God now, to see what He was doing in their lives and in the world today. It had mixed results, but overall I think it worked well.
If anyone is reading this wondering how to do it in a large church setting my suggestion is to have an email system. Have the people be able to send in a testimony/praise report each week, and then have a powerpoint (or whatever is being used now)at the beginning of the service that moves through them as people are entering.
It is crucial that we report on all of the good things that God is doing. Hearing about how He provided for financial needs, how He brought healing to sickness, or how He spoke through difficult situations, is a big part of how we encourage each other in the Church and the world.
My mentor once said, "In Christianity we do a lot of reminding people of what they already know." I'll be the first one to testify to that. The last year of my life has been difficult and full of change. And in that time many well wishing people have constantly hit me with different promises of Scripture. Honestly, most of the it was the last thing I wanted to hear. (If you are one of those people who did that, please do not be offended or upset. I greatly appreciate your encouragement and support). But when I hear things like that my mind often goes to James 2.15-16, "If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?"
Many times I feel like a lot of it is just words that Christians throw out there. But hearing a story of someone who has been in a similar situation, hearing about there faithfulness, and about God's provision in their life, that is what really encourages me. This is why testimonies are so crucial, they tell the true story of how God is still at work in the lives of His people.
(Again, I do not intend for any of the previous statements to be offensive. I am not trying to downplay the sincerity or concern that is behind the reminder of God's promises, or the encouragement and hope they are intended to give. Please do not read it that way. If that is what God has laid on your heart to share, continue to do it.)
With all of that being said, I need to share the most recent workings of God in my life. Since August I have been unemployed, not having any success in finding a job of any kind. My wife and I have actually had to move in with my parent's to avoid being homeless. Every door that I have knocked on has been shut in my face. The financial issues have been really frustrating, as has not being able to be on our own and support my wife.
Thursday we got a piece of mail from a hospital down where we used to live. It was a bill for over $700 from a visit my wife had back in September. Back in September it would have been a struggle to pay, but it was honestly impossible for us to pay it now. I wasn't worried, worst case my parent's would loan us the money to pay it, but it was just an added frustration that we didn't need right now. Hearing your wife cry and knowing there is nothing you can do to fix it is one of the worst things I've ever experienced.
She called the hospital and left a message, asking if there was anything they would be able to do. The next morning they called back. I wasn't present for the conversation, but at the end my wife was crying again, but they were good tears. She said that the hospital was going to take care of the entire bill. We have the invoice, and we're keeping it forever, because we crossed of the amount owed and wrote "God" on it.
He also did two other things yesterday, but at the moment I can't share either of them. Yesterday was a three miracle day. God is still at work. He didn't stop when the last page of Revelation was written. He didn't stop at the end of a VBS in 1967. God is still at work today. What has He done in your life?
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
The Church is a place where we not only learn about God, but we tell others of what He is doing. Back in the day I remember a large part of Sunday night church was given to testimonies. I remember one service was nothing but testimonies. But as I grew up and was at different churches I began to notice two things, one that testimonies started to be few and far between, and two that when I did hear a testimony I had usually heard it countless times before.
I know that the larger a church gets the harder it is to do things spontaneously, or without screening. In a church of 2,500 people with several services time is an issue. But also, you never know what someone might get up and say. Something meant to focus people on God as they prepare to enter worship could turn into a very big problem if someone takes the opportunity of an open mic and starts bashing people.
Then there is the person in a small church that still has testimonies every Sunday. This person has been a faithful attendant for the last 50 years, and never misses an opportunity to thank God for saving them at a VBS back in 1967. Every week it's the same testimony. Never anything new, its as if God stopped working in their life that day back in 1967. I'm not trying to minimize the fact of salvation, but are you telling me that in the last 50 years that's the only thing you want to testify that God has done? What does that say about God? What does that say about you?
When I was pastoring a small church I felt the leading of the Spirit to start the testimony part back up. It was the first thing that took place Sunday morning to help focus us on God as we began the service. And I instituted a rule, it had to be from the last 7 days. I wanted people to be looking for God now, to see what He was doing in their lives and in the world today. It had mixed results, but overall I think it worked well.
If anyone is reading this wondering how to do it in a large church setting my suggestion is to have an email system. Have the people be able to send in a testimony/praise report each week, and then have a powerpoint (or whatever is being used now)at the beginning of the service that moves through them as people are entering.
It is crucial that we report on all of the good things that God is doing. Hearing about how He provided for financial needs, how He brought healing to sickness, or how He spoke through difficult situations, is a big part of how we encourage each other in the Church and the world.
My mentor once said, "In Christianity we do a lot of reminding people of what they already know." I'll be the first one to testify to that. The last year of my life has been difficult and full of change. And in that time many well wishing people have constantly hit me with different promises of Scripture. Honestly, most of the it was the last thing I wanted to hear. (If you are one of those people who did that, please do not be offended or upset. I greatly appreciate your encouragement and support). But when I hear things like that my mind often goes to James 2.15-16, "If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?"
Many times I feel like a lot of it is just words that Christians throw out there. But hearing a story of someone who has been in a similar situation, hearing about there faithfulness, and about God's provision in their life, that is what really encourages me. This is why testimonies are so crucial, they tell the true story of how God is still at work in the lives of His people.
(Again, I do not intend for any of the previous statements to be offensive. I am not trying to downplay the sincerity or concern that is behind the reminder of God's promises, or the encouragement and hope they are intended to give. Please do not read it that way. If that is what God has laid on your heart to share, continue to do it.)
With all of that being said, I need to share the most recent workings of God in my life. Since August I have been unemployed, not having any success in finding a job of any kind. My wife and I have actually had to move in with my parent's to avoid being homeless. Every door that I have knocked on has been shut in my face. The financial issues have been really frustrating, as has not being able to be on our own and support my wife.
Thursday we got a piece of mail from a hospital down where we used to live. It was a bill for over $700 from a visit my wife had back in September. Back in September it would have been a struggle to pay, but it was honestly impossible for us to pay it now. I wasn't worried, worst case my parent's would loan us the money to pay it, but it was just an added frustration that we didn't need right now. Hearing your wife cry and knowing there is nothing you can do to fix it is one of the worst things I've ever experienced.
She called the hospital and left a message, asking if there was anything they would be able to do. The next morning they called back. I wasn't present for the conversation, but at the end my wife was crying again, but they were good tears. She said that the hospital was going to take care of the entire bill. We have the invoice, and we're keeping it forever, because we crossed of the amount owed and wrote "God" on it.
He also did two other things yesterday, but at the moment I can't share either of them. Yesterday was a three miracle day. God is still at work. He didn't stop when the last page of Revelation was written. He didn't stop at the end of a VBS in 1967. God is still at work today. What has He done in your life?
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
Friday, February 22, 2013
The Bible on Church, Acts 14a
Acts 14 contains two verses that tell us about the Church. We'll look at each verse individually since they pertain to different aspects. The first has to do with Church leadership. "When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed." Acts 14.23
The Church, as with any other organization, needs leadership. There need to be people that are God centered, Christ focused, and Spirit led to give vision, offer teaching, and equip the body for service. People need leadership, without it there is no order or unity or guidance. Without leadership, or with bad leadership, there is a risk of false teaching and being mislead. Leadership is essential for believers to become like Christ.
But leadership is not something to be taken on lightly, and leadership is not to be given causally. Paul told Timothy, "Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily" (1 Timothy 5.22a). In 1 Timothy 3 Paul gives a list of qualifications that Church leaders must meet. Ministry in the Church of God is a serious undertaking that has great accountability. And because of this Church leadership, above all else, is not be rushed into or taken on half heartily.
We are told in Acts that elders are to be appointed in every church, but it is only after they have been selected through a process of prayer and fasting. Appointing leadership is not a casual process either. It is to be seriously undergone because by selecting a Church leader you are selecting a spiritual head. You are selecting a person who is going to guide you into Christlikeness and help prepare you to serve in the building of the Kingdom.
It's important to note that it says "elders", not elder. This could be used because it says, "every church", but I think the plural is important. I think every church needs leaders. I think there needs to be a team, and therefore accountability. I know that John Eldredge and his ministry, Ransomed Heart, had three men leading it who made all of their decisions together in prayer. If prayer is important in selecting leadership, why would it be any less important for leaders in power? Along with that, ministry is too big for anyone person to undertake alone. There need to be several leaders, with various strengths and passions working together to build the Kingdom.
Once the Church has prayed, fasted, and appointed their leaders, then are to commend them to the Lord. They are to present them to God, they are to entrust them to God, and they are to lift them up continuously to God. Pray doesn't stop once the leader is selected. Prayer must continue for the leaders as they minister to the people. Leaders need the prayers and support of those they lead.
So Church, don't pull names out of a hat when you select your nest pastor. Pastors don't put someone in a ministry role just because it needs to be filled and someone volunteered for the job. Remember that those who put leaders into power share in the responsibility for how they used that power. Don't take any part of leadership lightly. When the Church has strong, Godly leaders, who are supported by committed, Godly followers, watch and see how the Kingdom advances.
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
The Church, as with any other organization, needs leadership. There need to be people that are God centered, Christ focused, and Spirit led to give vision, offer teaching, and equip the body for service. People need leadership, without it there is no order or unity or guidance. Without leadership, or with bad leadership, there is a risk of false teaching and being mislead. Leadership is essential for believers to become like Christ.
But leadership is not something to be taken on lightly, and leadership is not to be given causally. Paul told Timothy, "Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily" (1 Timothy 5.22a). In 1 Timothy 3 Paul gives a list of qualifications that Church leaders must meet. Ministry in the Church of God is a serious undertaking that has great accountability. And because of this Church leadership, above all else, is not be rushed into or taken on half heartily.
We are told in Acts that elders are to be appointed in every church, but it is only after they have been selected through a process of prayer and fasting. Appointing leadership is not a casual process either. It is to be seriously undergone because by selecting a Church leader you are selecting a spiritual head. You are selecting a person who is going to guide you into Christlikeness and help prepare you to serve in the building of the Kingdom.
It's important to note that it says "elders", not elder. This could be used because it says, "every church", but I think the plural is important. I think every church needs leaders. I think there needs to be a team, and therefore accountability. I know that John Eldredge and his ministry, Ransomed Heart, had three men leading it who made all of their decisions together in prayer. If prayer is important in selecting leadership, why would it be any less important for leaders in power? Along with that, ministry is too big for anyone person to undertake alone. There need to be several leaders, with various strengths and passions working together to build the Kingdom.
Once the Church has prayed, fasted, and appointed their leaders, then are to commend them to the Lord. They are to present them to God, they are to entrust them to God, and they are to lift them up continuously to God. Pray doesn't stop once the leader is selected. Prayer must continue for the leaders as they minister to the people. Leaders need the prayers and support of those they lead.
So Church, don't pull names out of a hat when you select your nest pastor. Pastors don't put someone in a ministry role just because it needs to be filled and someone volunteered for the job. Remember that those who put leaders into power share in the responsibility for how they used that power. Don't take any part of leadership lightly. When the Church has strong, Godly leaders, who are supported by committed, Godly followers, watch and see how the Kingdom advances.
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
The Bible on Church, Acts 12
It's been a few days, I didn't plan on these posts being this far apart when I started. Yesterday I started a project that has been on my heart and mind for over a year now. One of my biggest desires is to do men's ministry in some capacity. I feel that this is one of the greatest needs today and it's something that has been on my heart a lot recently. And yesterday my ministry took on a new aspect. I've started another blog focused solely on ministering to men. I'm have been working on getting that set up and so didn't get around to posting on here.
This blog will still be active and I'll still be posting regularly. This one is more general, whatever hits me in something I read, see, or hear, as I'm trying to help build the Kingdom and make others more like Christ. The new blog "Man of God..." is much more specific, focused on men and what God says a man is, and helping all of us become Men of God. That's an update, now back to the Church.
"So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God." Acts 12.5
This one shouldn't come as a shock, but the Church is to be a place of fervent prayer. But do you want to know something sad, I have met more resistance to prayer in the Church than to anything else (I'm not kidding). I'm not a fan of Sunday night church when it is identical to Sunday morning. Today most Sunday night services are identical in format to the morning, but have about a fifth of the people (if they are lucky), and they are all people who were there Sunday morning. I'm all for it if it's reaching new people, but it's not. Instead it's done because it's always been done.
Such was the case in the last church I pastored. Sunday night church was what happened every Sunday night, three songs were sung, an offering was taken, and then a sermon was preached. During the initial interview I told the Church board that I would want to change that, and they said they would be in agreement. I know that change needs to take place slowly, and so I didn't try to change it completely the first month. The first night I said that I wanted to be more prayer focused, and so instead of a sermon there was a short study leaving plenty of time to pray. People didn't like it.
About a year later there were issues at church. The District Superintendents came in and one of the things they suggested was devoting Sunday nights to prayer for the next month. Because it was someone older the church was all for it, and so the month of May was devoted to prayer. Nothing really happened, and so I decided that Sunday night was going to be a continued time of prayer. The first Sunday in June the half dozen people came and when I said we were praying the response was "I thought we were done with that?!" Yeah that was said about prayer in church, and we wonder why the Church in America is dying.
Acts 12.5 says that the Church was in fervent prayer to God for Peter's release. Did you know that fervent means, "1. having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm 2. hot; burning; glowing." It's one of those words I've heard a ton but never knew what it meant. Prayer is not supposed to be a simple transitional gap filler so the music leader can get back on stage to lead a closing chorus. It isn't supposed to be a simple repeated phrase before meals. It isn't supposed to be a repeated rhyme before bed. Prayer is to be real. It is to have feeling behind it. It is to be intense, and hot like a fire. Prayer is to be consuming.
I'm not saying that a short simple prayer to God for help isn't genuine. Nor am I saying that a simple thank you before a meal is not heart felt gratitude. But what I am saying is that we don't pray like the early Church, and thus we don't see the hand of God like they did. Acts 12 tells the story of Peter's miraculous escape from prison, why? Because the Church prayed.
If the Church wants to see God move like He did in the Bible, we must pray like the believers in the Bible prayed. Their prayers were intense because they expected to see God move. They prayed not simply hoping God would answer them, but believing that He would. Go to 1 Kings 18 and read Elijah's prayer on top of Mt. Carmel, does it sound like any prayer you've heard before? What would happen if we prayed like that?
If we did, we would see the hand of God move in ways we never thought possible. Lives would be transformed, life would fill the dead spirits of many. Love would abound in people's hearts. We would see the Kingdom come on earth as it already is in Heaven. If the Church prayed fervently, God's will would be done, and the world would be turned upside down. It begins with prayer. I've heard the statement, "God only acts in answer to prayer" and honestly I believe it. The places where nothing is happening, are the places where no one is praying.
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
This blog will still be active and I'll still be posting regularly. This one is more general, whatever hits me in something I read, see, or hear, as I'm trying to help build the Kingdom and make others more like Christ. The new blog "Man of God..." is much more specific, focused on men and what God says a man is, and helping all of us become Men of God. That's an update, now back to the Church.
"So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God." Acts 12.5
This one shouldn't come as a shock, but the Church is to be a place of fervent prayer. But do you want to know something sad, I have met more resistance to prayer in the Church than to anything else (I'm not kidding). I'm not a fan of Sunday night church when it is identical to Sunday morning. Today most Sunday night services are identical in format to the morning, but have about a fifth of the people (if they are lucky), and they are all people who were there Sunday morning. I'm all for it if it's reaching new people, but it's not. Instead it's done because it's always been done.
Such was the case in the last church I pastored. Sunday night church was what happened every Sunday night, three songs were sung, an offering was taken, and then a sermon was preached. During the initial interview I told the Church board that I would want to change that, and they said they would be in agreement. I know that change needs to take place slowly, and so I didn't try to change it completely the first month. The first night I said that I wanted to be more prayer focused, and so instead of a sermon there was a short study leaving plenty of time to pray. People didn't like it.
About a year later there were issues at church. The District Superintendents came in and one of the things they suggested was devoting Sunday nights to prayer for the next month. Because it was someone older the church was all for it, and so the month of May was devoted to prayer. Nothing really happened, and so I decided that Sunday night was going to be a continued time of prayer. The first Sunday in June the half dozen people came and when I said we were praying the response was "I thought we were done with that?!" Yeah that was said about prayer in church, and we wonder why the Church in America is dying.
Acts 12.5 says that the Church was in fervent prayer to God for Peter's release. Did you know that fervent means, "1. having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm 2. hot; burning; glowing." It's one of those words I've heard a ton but never knew what it meant. Prayer is not supposed to be a simple transitional gap filler so the music leader can get back on stage to lead a closing chorus. It isn't supposed to be a simple repeated phrase before meals. It isn't supposed to be a repeated rhyme before bed. Prayer is to be real. It is to have feeling behind it. It is to be intense, and hot like a fire. Prayer is to be consuming.
I'm not saying that a short simple prayer to God for help isn't genuine. Nor am I saying that a simple thank you before a meal is not heart felt gratitude. But what I am saying is that we don't pray like the early Church, and thus we don't see the hand of God like they did. Acts 12 tells the story of Peter's miraculous escape from prison, why? Because the Church prayed.
If the Church wants to see God move like He did in the Bible, we must pray like the believers in the Bible prayed. Their prayers were intense because they expected to see God move. They prayed not simply hoping God would answer them, but believing that He would. Go to 1 Kings 18 and read Elijah's prayer on top of Mt. Carmel, does it sound like any prayer you've heard before? What would happen if we prayed like that?
If we did, we would see the hand of God move in ways we never thought possible. Lives would be transformed, life would fill the dead spirits of many. Love would abound in people's hearts. We would see the Kingdom come on earth as it already is in Heaven. If the Church prayed fervently, God's will would be done, and the world would be turned upside down. It begins with prayer. I've heard the statement, "God only acts in answer to prayer" and honestly I believe it. The places where nothing is happening, are the places where no one is praying.
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
Friday, February 15, 2013
The Bible on Church, Acts 11
"and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch." Acts 11.26
The Church is to be a place of teaching. Over a year ago I was in a conversation with a man who was very musically inclined. He had at one point lead music for a church, but as we talked he seemed to put too much emphasis on music in a church service. He said, "Why can't we just sing for the whole time, and that could be the blessing?" I kept my mouth shut because I knew nothing I could say would do any good, but music doesn't due what a Biblically rooted, Spirit empowered sermon will.
Think back the fear of the Lord comments from the last post, how many songs teach you about the fear of the Lord? How many make you feel it? I can't think of a single one. Pretty much every song I've ever heard in Church falls under one of these categories: Feel good, '90's hand raise chorus, Reflective prayer, or Tear jerker. I'm not trying to take anything away from music as a part of worship. I think it's an essential element that helps us connect with part of God. But looking at the songs we sing, they only connect to part of God.
Some of my favorite songs do tell us who God is (I think Matt Redman and Chris Tomlin do a phenomenal job with this), but music cannot replace the sermon. The Church is a place where teaching is essential. We must learn about who God is, and in that learn to fear Him and find comfort in the Spirit. We must learn what the Bible says, which many people today don't know even the simplest things (last week was the Student Week Championships on Jeopardy, and the three smartest high schoolers in the competition didn't know a single answer in the Biblical Quotes category). We must learn who Christ is, what He is like, and how to become like Him. I've yet to hear a song that does all of that.
Did you know that the word pastor is only found once in the Bible? Ephesians 4.11, "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,". That's it, the only mention in the whole Bible. That verse is followed by the Biblical job description of a pastor/teacher, "for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4.12-13) Pastors are to teach so that the saints, those in the Church, are equipped to serve so that the Church, the body of Christ, can be built up. These works of service lead to the unity of faith and knowledge of Jesus as Savior and Lord, so that we may be mature and Christ like. (My mind is going to 1 John 2.12-14, but it's a different thought line so I'm putting this here so I remember it.)
Paul continues in verses 14-16, "As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." We teach to equip, so that the teaching can be passed on. We teach to equip so that all are able to use their gifts in the service of God. We teach to equip so that love is presented.
The Church is a place of teaching. It is an essential element that we cannot cast aside for the sake of more music. It is something we cannot water down to "tickle the ears" of people so as not to offend them. Here in Acts 11.26 we are told that it is in Antioch where the followers were first called Christians. They were taught about Christ, they were taught to live like Him, and they were given the title "Little Christ" because they followed the teaching they had received.
Today are we worthy of that same title? Does the teaching in the Church share who Christ is and challenge and instruct the people on how to become like Him? Over the years a lot of what I've heard hasn't done that. A lot of what I've heard has been simple, shallow, feel good about your life, sermons. The Church must be a place of solid, Biblically rooted teaching. We as pastors must take up our calling and equip the saints to serve so that the Church may be built up, and full of mature Christlike Christians. For this to happen we must teach.
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
The Church is to be a place of teaching. Over a year ago I was in a conversation with a man who was very musically inclined. He had at one point lead music for a church, but as we talked he seemed to put too much emphasis on music in a church service. He said, "Why can't we just sing for the whole time, and that could be the blessing?" I kept my mouth shut because I knew nothing I could say would do any good, but music doesn't due what a Biblically rooted, Spirit empowered sermon will.
Think back the fear of the Lord comments from the last post, how many songs teach you about the fear of the Lord? How many make you feel it? I can't think of a single one. Pretty much every song I've ever heard in Church falls under one of these categories: Feel good, '90's hand raise chorus, Reflective prayer, or Tear jerker. I'm not trying to take anything away from music as a part of worship. I think it's an essential element that helps us connect with part of God. But looking at the songs we sing, they only connect to part of God.
Some of my favorite songs do tell us who God is (I think Matt Redman and Chris Tomlin do a phenomenal job with this), but music cannot replace the sermon. The Church is a place where teaching is essential. We must learn about who God is, and in that learn to fear Him and find comfort in the Spirit. We must learn what the Bible says, which many people today don't know even the simplest things (last week was the Student Week Championships on Jeopardy, and the three smartest high schoolers in the competition didn't know a single answer in the Biblical Quotes category). We must learn who Christ is, what He is like, and how to become like Him. I've yet to hear a song that does all of that.
Did you know that the word pastor is only found once in the Bible? Ephesians 4.11, "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,". That's it, the only mention in the whole Bible. That verse is followed by the Biblical job description of a pastor/teacher, "for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4.12-13) Pastors are to teach so that the saints, those in the Church, are equipped to serve so that the Church, the body of Christ, can be built up. These works of service lead to the unity of faith and knowledge of Jesus as Savior and Lord, so that we may be mature and Christ like. (My mind is going to 1 John 2.12-14, but it's a different thought line so I'm putting this here so I remember it.)
Paul continues in verses 14-16, "As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." We teach to equip, so that the teaching can be passed on. We teach to equip so that all are able to use their gifts in the service of God. We teach to equip so that love is presented.
The Church is a place of teaching. It is an essential element that we cannot cast aside for the sake of more music. It is something we cannot water down to "tickle the ears" of people so as not to offend them. Here in Acts 11.26 we are told that it is in Antioch where the followers were first called Christians. They were taught about Christ, they were taught to live like Him, and they were given the title "Little Christ" because they followed the teaching they had received.
Today are we worthy of that same title? Does the teaching in the Church share who Christ is and challenge and instruct the people on how to become like Him? Over the years a lot of what I've heard hasn't done that. A lot of what I've heard has been simple, shallow, feel good about your life, sermons. The Church must be a place of solid, Biblically rooted teaching. We as pastors must take up our calling and equip the saints to serve so that the Church may be built up, and full of mature Christlike Christians. For this to happen we must teach.
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
The Bible on Church, Acts 9
"So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase." Acts 9.31 really makes me wish I had my journal from the trip so I could see what hit me when I first read it. But right now its on my professor's desk being graded, so we're going to work off of what hits me now.
The first thing we see is that the church enjoyed peace. I've written on peace before, you can read about in the Fruit of the Spirit section I've done. I think this is something missing from a lot of churches today. My mentor's cousin (I believe) was a pastor, and he had a heart attack and died during a board meeting. Another pastor friend's doctor told him to take a month off due to his high stress levels. When I was a youth pastor in Michigan I would wake up with chest pains. This isn't the picture I get from Acts 9.31.
It says that the Church was being built up. Again, I've seen a lot of this not happening too. Many churches aren't growing. Some are sitting stagnant, and some are declining (really both of these situations are on the decline). But I don't think this is simply talking about physical growth, but the building up of people. After all that's why the church exists. But today we have gossip that tears people down and cliches which cut people out, in the church. We have people who are angry and bitter over changes that happen, and they don't fail to make their voices heard even if it's silently. How does any of this defeat the gates of Hell?
The reason for the above attitudes and situations is because there is no fear of the Lord in today church. This verse in Acts 9 leads me to believe that it was a central part of the first church, so why have we lost this? I think part of it is that we've watered it down considerable. How many of us have heard a sermon where the pastor is reading a verse that contains the words "fear of God" and when he gets there pauses and says, "Now let me clarify, when I read this I don't mean fear, it's more of an awe, or a respect." Every hand is raised. Recently on a bus in Jordan I had this conversation. An college student hit me with the fear as respect thing, and my response is, "Read Exodus 19 and 20 and tell me that those people's reaction was respect. Read Isaiah 6 and tell me Isaiah's reaction is awe."
They are terrified, so terrified that they don't even want to talk with God, they beg Moses to be their intercessor. The fear of the Lord is legitimate fear. I think that's the only reaction that we can have when we come face to face with that power and holiness. In that moment we will see just how weak and unworthy we are. We're told in Psalm 111.10 that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." In Isaiah 44.6-7 God tells us about Himself, "Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me. ‘Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; yes, let him recount it to Me in order, from the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming and the events that are going to take place." It's only when we fear Him that we can begin to understand who God is and what God's will is. And it was this attitude that the first church lived with.
But they lived with more than the fear of the Lord, they also had the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 44.8 begins, "Do not tremble and do not be afraid;". The Spirit helps us to see that God loves us, that God desires a relationship with us. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are empowered to live life in a manner pleasing and acceptable to God. But since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, we can only begin to know the comfort of the Holy Spirit when we first know the fear of the Lord.
(Bits of the last three paragraphs come from Francis Chan's dvd "Fear God" from the Basic series).
Peace comes form the comfort of the Spirit that is possible only when we have the fear of the Lord. And when that happens the Church will increase because those who make it are built up. When we fear the Lord we won't tear down His Church, we won't gossip about others in the body, and we won't exclude those who aren't like us. The fear of the Lord fills us with humility and the comfort of the Spirit enables us to love as He loves. It is in love that the Church is built up, and when the Church is built up, the gates of Hell cannot withstand the assault.
If we want to be God's Church, we must understand and realize the fear of the Lord. I think this may be the thing that is missing most from the Church today. And once we have that, God will be able to show us more of who He is through His Holy Spirit.
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
The first thing we see is that the church enjoyed peace. I've written on peace before, you can read about in the Fruit of the Spirit section I've done. I think this is something missing from a lot of churches today. My mentor's cousin (I believe) was a pastor, and he had a heart attack and died during a board meeting. Another pastor friend's doctor told him to take a month off due to his high stress levels. When I was a youth pastor in Michigan I would wake up with chest pains. This isn't the picture I get from Acts 9.31.
It says that the Church was being built up. Again, I've seen a lot of this not happening too. Many churches aren't growing. Some are sitting stagnant, and some are declining (really both of these situations are on the decline). But I don't think this is simply talking about physical growth, but the building up of people. After all that's why the church exists. But today we have gossip that tears people down and cliches which cut people out, in the church. We have people who are angry and bitter over changes that happen, and they don't fail to make their voices heard even if it's silently. How does any of this defeat the gates of Hell?
The reason for the above attitudes and situations is because there is no fear of the Lord in today church. This verse in Acts 9 leads me to believe that it was a central part of the first church, so why have we lost this? I think part of it is that we've watered it down considerable. How many of us have heard a sermon where the pastor is reading a verse that contains the words "fear of God" and when he gets there pauses and says, "Now let me clarify, when I read this I don't mean fear, it's more of an awe, or a respect." Every hand is raised. Recently on a bus in Jordan I had this conversation. An college student hit me with the fear as respect thing, and my response is, "Read Exodus 19 and 20 and tell me that those people's reaction was respect. Read Isaiah 6 and tell me Isaiah's reaction is awe."
They are terrified, so terrified that they don't even want to talk with God, they beg Moses to be their intercessor. The fear of the Lord is legitimate fear. I think that's the only reaction that we can have when we come face to face with that power and holiness. In that moment we will see just how weak and unworthy we are. We're told in Psalm 111.10 that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." In Isaiah 44.6-7 God tells us about Himself, "Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me. ‘Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; yes, let him recount it to Me in order, from the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming and the events that are going to take place." It's only when we fear Him that we can begin to understand who God is and what God's will is. And it was this attitude that the first church lived with.
But they lived with more than the fear of the Lord, they also had the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 44.8 begins, "Do not tremble and do not be afraid;". The Spirit helps us to see that God loves us, that God desires a relationship with us. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are empowered to live life in a manner pleasing and acceptable to God. But since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, we can only begin to know the comfort of the Holy Spirit when we first know the fear of the Lord.
(Bits of the last three paragraphs come from Francis Chan's dvd "Fear God" from the Basic series).
Peace comes form the comfort of the Spirit that is possible only when we have the fear of the Lord. And when that happens the Church will increase because those who make it are built up. When we fear the Lord we won't tear down His Church, we won't gossip about others in the body, and we won't exclude those who aren't like us. The fear of the Lord fills us with humility and the comfort of the Spirit enables us to love as He loves. It is in love that the Church is built up, and when the Church is built up, the gates of Hell cannot withstand the assault.
If we want to be God's Church, we must understand and realize the fear of the Lord. I think this may be the thing that is missing most from the Church today. And once we have that, God will be able to show us more of who He is through His Holy Spirit.
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The Bible on Church, Matthew 18
We were at the Jordan River preparing to do a baptism service, I was a baptizer. It was a surreal experience, that I can't put words to. One of my professors led the service and another was baptizing with me. Just before we entered the water, the group sang a chorus, "I have decided to follow Jesus". It's a simple chorus,
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back
No turning back
As the second verse began my fellow baptizer turned to me and said, "What a terrible chorus, we're a community." It took me a minute to realize what she was talking about but then the words of the second verse hit me and I got what she was saying,
Though none go with me still I will follow
Though none go with me still I will follow
Though none go with me still I will follow
No turning back
No turning back
The idea of following Jesus alone is one that is foreign to Scripture. Francis Chan said, "As I studied the scriptures I realized that God doesn't want me to do this by myself. That's why He made church the Church." This thing called Christianity is not a one man show. It isn't a solo mission. We are group, a whole army that works together. Back in my Church History class the professor said, "The Church goes to heaven as a group, and takes you with it."
Yes, there will be times when you might be the only one you know who is following Jesus. In countries where Christianity is illegal, and where your family and friends will excommunicate you it is very likely that you might be alone. But again, that is why God created the Church. The Church is to be a family, as we'll see specifically in 1 Timothy 3. Families are there to offer support and encouragement. Families are there to teach and instruct. But families also offer discipline and correction, and the Church is to do that as well.
The last record we have of Jesus using the word Church is found in Matthew 18.15-17, "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."
We see two things here, first that the Church is to uphold righteousness. Sin must be dealt with, and sin cannot be permitted to roam freely among the Church. In the Church we find accountability. As we learn to live life as a Christ follower we have others, who are farther in the journey, to help us along the way. Sometimes helping involves correction.
Jesus gives us an order for how this process is to be handled. First one on one. If you are aware of the sin of a fellow believer go to them, talk to them about your concerns. Don't tell everyone in the church, don't announce it as a "prayer request" go and talk to them. Share with them about how the action is unlike Christ and unbecoming of His followers. If they listen you have won your brother back. If that doesn't work, take one or two more with you. Take others who are fellow followers, and together talk to the person. And if at this point no change occurs, then the Church must deal with it, and it is at this point if they refuse they must be let go.
Second, we see the importance of relationships in the Church. Correction without a relationship leads to rebellion. If correction isn't given from a basis of love it does nothing but build walls. Relationships give you the right to talk, it's something that must be earned. Get to know the believers around you, learn about them, and then if there is something that needs to be addressed you can come to them as a friend, as someone who really cares. The Church is a family, and it needs to act like one.
Third, we see that no one is forced to join the Church, or be apart of it. As with any organization there are rules or standards that must be kept. If you join a sport you must play by the rules or not participate. There is a lifestyle standard for being part of the Church. If people don't want to live by that standard then we let them go. We love them, we are there for them, but we don't drag them to a service. We don't force them to be there. If they leave we wish them well. Jesus didn't force anyone to follow Him, when people didn't want to follow the truth He presented He let them go.
The Church is God's Church, and as such we must live by His standards of holiness and righteousness. We must help each other to live as Jesus demonstrated. When sin is present we deal with it from the friendship relationship that has been built. And when people refuse to live by the standard we let them go, not in anger or hostility, but in love so that sin is not given a foothold in the Church.
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back
No turning back
As the second verse began my fellow baptizer turned to me and said, "What a terrible chorus, we're a community." It took me a minute to realize what she was talking about but then the words of the second verse hit me and I got what she was saying,
Though none go with me still I will follow
Though none go with me still I will follow
Though none go with me still I will follow
No turning back
No turning back
The idea of following Jesus alone is one that is foreign to Scripture. Francis Chan said, "As I studied the scriptures I realized that God doesn't want me to do this by myself. That's why He made church the Church." This thing called Christianity is not a one man show. It isn't a solo mission. We are group, a whole army that works together. Back in my Church History class the professor said, "The Church goes to heaven as a group, and takes you with it."
Yes, there will be times when you might be the only one you know who is following Jesus. In countries where Christianity is illegal, and where your family and friends will excommunicate you it is very likely that you might be alone. But again, that is why God created the Church. The Church is to be a family, as we'll see specifically in 1 Timothy 3. Families are there to offer support and encouragement. Families are there to teach and instruct. But families also offer discipline and correction, and the Church is to do that as well.
The last record we have of Jesus using the word Church is found in Matthew 18.15-17, "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."
We see two things here, first that the Church is to uphold righteousness. Sin must be dealt with, and sin cannot be permitted to roam freely among the Church. In the Church we find accountability. As we learn to live life as a Christ follower we have others, who are farther in the journey, to help us along the way. Sometimes helping involves correction.
Jesus gives us an order for how this process is to be handled. First one on one. If you are aware of the sin of a fellow believer go to them, talk to them about your concerns. Don't tell everyone in the church, don't announce it as a "prayer request" go and talk to them. Share with them about how the action is unlike Christ and unbecoming of His followers. If they listen you have won your brother back. If that doesn't work, take one or two more with you. Take others who are fellow followers, and together talk to the person. And if at this point no change occurs, then the Church must deal with it, and it is at this point if they refuse they must be let go.
Second, we see the importance of relationships in the Church. Correction without a relationship leads to rebellion. If correction isn't given from a basis of love it does nothing but build walls. Relationships give you the right to talk, it's something that must be earned. Get to know the believers around you, learn about them, and then if there is something that needs to be addressed you can come to them as a friend, as someone who really cares. The Church is a family, and it needs to act like one.
Third, we see that no one is forced to join the Church, or be apart of it. As with any organization there are rules or standards that must be kept. If you join a sport you must play by the rules or not participate. There is a lifestyle standard for being part of the Church. If people don't want to live by that standard then we let them go. We love them, we are there for them, but we don't drag them to a service. We don't force them to be there. If they leave we wish them well. Jesus didn't force anyone to follow Him, when people didn't want to follow the truth He presented He let them go.
The Church is God's Church, and as such we must live by His standards of holiness and righteousness. We must help each other to live as Jesus demonstrated. When sin is present we deal with it from the friendship relationship that has been built. And when people refuse to live by the standard we let them go, not in anger or hostility, but in love so that sin is not given a foothold in the Church.
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
What does the Bible say about Church?
I started this post about two months ago, and it was a lot more negative than it should have been. After some time to think reflect, and begin looking at the Bible I'm finally diving into this. My goal was to look at this during my time in Israel. While I did get to look at some of the passages, the trip ended up being a lot more busy than I expected. While my study is not done it's time to begin sharing what I've found. I believe this message is crucial for today.
In the Bible the word "Church" appears 112 times (NASB), only two of them come from the mouth of Jesus. Several references talk about a group of believers in a specific location but don't give us any instruction on what the Church is to be, in these next few blogs I won't be looking at these. However, these stories do tell us about God doing great things in the lives of the believers who made up the first century church. Things we haven't seen in hundreds, maybe thousands, of years. Some don't believe it's possible for those things to happen today, that God has changed, or that the people then were "Better" followers of Jesus than we could ever be. But God doesn't change, and those early believers were just people like us. So the problem must be with us.
Today the Church would rather be comfortable than consecrated, tradition than transformed, secure than serving, and right than righteous. We've made church too much about US and not anywhere near about God. Today I saw on Facebook a status from someone talking about how they have their dreams and they won't stop until they achieve them because that is what life's about. I believe they are preparing for ministry, which gives me pause. This isn't about us, it's not about you or me, it's about God. And I believe the reason we don't see the things that the early church did because we are too focused on us. We've made this about us. In 2013 is Church really about God? We say it is, we put on a good show, but at the end of the day is it really? From what I've seen I don't think so.
Part of me wonders how it happened. How did something that Jesus Himself prepared and the Holy Spirit began get so far from what God intended it to be? It's because we've lost sight of who Jesus really is, what He really said, and we've denied the power of the Holy Spirit to help us live as He did. Because of that His Church looks very little, if anything, like He originally intended it to. And so with that let's look at what the Bible says about the Church.
Again, the word "Church" appears only in the New Testament and then only 112 times. The first time we see it is in Matthew 16.18, and it comes from the mouth of Jesus, "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it." Right away we see something crucial, Jesus claims ownership of the Church. He says quite clearly, "I will build My church;". One of my biggest pet peeves is when I listen to pastors talk about "My church". Pay attention the next time and you'll hear it.
It's human nature to take ownership of things we do and accomplish. It's probably something that's said without even thinking twice about it. I know I've said it just out of habit. But it's not my church, it's the church I have the opportunity to serve at. The Church belongs to Christ, and as His possession I think it should look like how He intended for it to look. (Let me clarify, I've heard several pastors, whom I love, respect, and trust use the phrase "my church" in the context of "this is where God has placed me to serve". They in no way claim ownership over it, but others, ministers and laity, use it in the possessive sense believing it is their's and they have the final say in what it does and looks like.) The Church belongs to Christ, it is His Church. He is the head, and all who make it up will be held accountable to Him for the part they play in it.
A few weeks ago I was in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus was in the area when he said this, possibly in the very spot where I was. That night we talked about this verse. My professor pointed something out that I hadn't thought of before. In Matthew 16 Jesus says "the gates of Hades will not overpower it." My professor said how he used to think of the church as being stationary and surviving an attack from the gates of hell, the same image I had. But then he pointed out how gates don't move, they are stationary. Actually the gate post is the strongest part of a fence or wall. The gates of hell are not on the attack but on the defensive.
The Church is to storm the gates of hell, and destroy them. Casting Crowns has a song that says,
What if the armies of the Lord
Picked up and dusted off their swords
Vowed to set the captives free
And not let Satan have one more
What if the church for heaven's sake
Finally stepped up to the plate
Took and stand upon God's promise
And stormed hell's rusty gates
That is what we are supposed to be, an army that is equipped and on the move against Satan and hell. We aren't to wait passively by and sit comfortably in our pews, but to be preparing and working to rescue souls. A church the is rooted in Christ will be victorious, hell itself will not overpower it.
The Church is to be an army that is constantly before God. Those lyrics come from a song entitled, "What if His People Prayed?" The early Church believed that we had to be an army that would constantly besiege God's throne in prayer. It realized that without Him they could do nothing, that they were nothing. And somehow we've lost that. Somewhere along the way we become focused on us, we took ownership of a building, built a fortress, and have just tried to survive. And you know what? We are wrong.
It's time for the Church to pick up and sharpen our swords. It's time for us to get back in shape and ready for battle. It is time for us move up to the front lines and storm the gates of hell. It is time for the Church to be the Church of Christ.
This is the first thing the Bible tells us about the Church. This is our primary instruction. The Church is Christ's, and we are to be on the move.
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
In the Bible the word "Church" appears 112 times (NASB), only two of them come from the mouth of Jesus. Several references talk about a group of believers in a specific location but don't give us any instruction on what the Church is to be, in these next few blogs I won't be looking at these. However, these stories do tell us about God doing great things in the lives of the believers who made up the first century church. Things we haven't seen in hundreds, maybe thousands, of years. Some don't believe it's possible for those things to happen today, that God has changed, or that the people then were "Better" followers of Jesus than we could ever be. But God doesn't change, and those early believers were just people like us. So the problem must be with us.
Today the Church would rather be comfortable than consecrated, tradition than transformed, secure than serving, and right than righteous. We've made church too much about US and not anywhere near about God. Today I saw on Facebook a status from someone talking about how they have their dreams and they won't stop until they achieve them because that is what life's about. I believe they are preparing for ministry, which gives me pause. This isn't about us, it's not about you or me, it's about God. And I believe the reason we don't see the things that the early church did because we are too focused on us. We've made this about us. In 2013 is Church really about God? We say it is, we put on a good show, but at the end of the day is it really? From what I've seen I don't think so.
Part of me wonders how it happened. How did something that Jesus Himself prepared and the Holy Spirit began get so far from what God intended it to be? It's because we've lost sight of who Jesus really is, what He really said, and we've denied the power of the Holy Spirit to help us live as He did. Because of that His Church looks very little, if anything, like He originally intended it to. And so with that let's look at what the Bible says about the Church.
Again, the word "Church" appears only in the New Testament and then only 112 times. The first time we see it is in Matthew 16.18, and it comes from the mouth of Jesus, "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it." Right away we see something crucial, Jesus claims ownership of the Church. He says quite clearly, "I will build My church;". One of my biggest pet peeves is when I listen to pastors talk about "My church". Pay attention the next time and you'll hear it.
It's human nature to take ownership of things we do and accomplish. It's probably something that's said without even thinking twice about it. I know I've said it just out of habit. But it's not my church, it's the church I have the opportunity to serve at. The Church belongs to Christ, and as His possession I think it should look like how He intended for it to look. (Let me clarify, I've heard several pastors, whom I love, respect, and trust use the phrase "my church" in the context of "this is where God has placed me to serve". They in no way claim ownership over it, but others, ministers and laity, use it in the possessive sense believing it is their's and they have the final say in what it does and looks like.) The Church belongs to Christ, it is His Church. He is the head, and all who make it up will be held accountable to Him for the part they play in it.
A few weeks ago I was in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus was in the area when he said this, possibly in the very spot where I was. That night we talked about this verse. My professor pointed something out that I hadn't thought of before. In Matthew 16 Jesus says "the gates of Hades will not overpower it." My professor said how he used to think of the church as being stationary and surviving an attack from the gates of hell, the same image I had. But then he pointed out how gates don't move, they are stationary. Actually the gate post is the strongest part of a fence or wall. The gates of hell are not on the attack but on the defensive.
The Church is to storm the gates of hell, and destroy them. Casting Crowns has a song that says,
What if the armies of the Lord
Picked up and dusted off their swords
Vowed to set the captives free
And not let Satan have one more
What if the church for heaven's sake
Finally stepped up to the plate
Took and stand upon God's promise
And stormed hell's rusty gates
That is what we are supposed to be, an army that is equipped and on the move against Satan and hell. We aren't to wait passively by and sit comfortably in our pews, but to be preparing and working to rescue souls. A church the is rooted in Christ will be victorious, hell itself will not overpower it.
The Church is to be an army that is constantly before God. Those lyrics come from a song entitled, "What if His People Prayed?" The early Church believed that we had to be an army that would constantly besiege God's throne in prayer. It realized that without Him they could do nothing, that they were nothing. And somehow we've lost that. Somewhere along the way we become focused on us, we took ownership of a building, built a fortress, and have just tried to survive. And you know what? We are wrong.
It's time for the Church to pick up and sharpen our swords. It's time for us to get back in shape and ready for battle. It is time for us move up to the front lines and storm the gates of hell. It is time for the Church to be the Church of Christ.
This is the first thing the Bible tells us about the Church. This is our primary instruction. The Church is Christ's, and we are to be on the move.
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
Monday, February 4, 2013
One Day
That's the title of track 3 on Mark Schultz's most recent album. I actually can't find the lyrics online which is a shock, and the CD is out in my car which is covered in snow so at the moment I'm not going to get it. My wife and I have been listening to it since it's the only CD in the car, but honestly I haven't been paying attention to most of it. I love Mark Schultz but this is one of my least favorite of his albums, except for track 3.
Several hours have passed since I wrote that first paragraph. I learned how to make apple sauce from my grandmother, walked Rosie with my wife, and since I have driven got the CD case out of my car. As I said track 3 is the only one I've really paid any attention to, and even then it's only really one phrase that has stood out to me.
The lame will walk
The blind will see
The prisoners will be set free
And hope will rise as shadows disappear
And all that's lost
We'll find again
Death will die and tears will end
And we will come alive and truly live
Incredible lyrics, but the phrase that caught my attention is "Death will die". It sends chills through my body when I hear it. One day death will die and be no more. The thing that all men face, that respects no one, will finally meet itself and end. One day death will die.
That promise has led to some of the most rewarding moments of ministry for me. Sitting at the hospital holding a wife's hand as she's told her husband of 62 years might not make it through the night. Talking with a man dying of Lou Gehrig's disease and sharing with him the promises made to the faithful. Those are the moments when people really need you as a pastor. Those are the times when you do your greatest ministry. You are with people as they prepare to meet God.
My first funeral was easy because I knew the faith of the man. I knew that as I was giving his eulogy he was kneeling at the feet of Christ. His arms and legs had the mobility back that Lou Gehrig's disease had robbed for his final months on earth. He had died, but death was not victorious.
All men faith death, it's part of life, but death is not infinite. One day death too will die, and be no more. And this is the message that Christ has given us to share. Through Christ death has been defeated, and in Him eternal life is possible. Death will die, and those in Christ will live forever in His presence.
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
Several hours have passed since I wrote that first paragraph. I learned how to make apple sauce from my grandmother, walked Rosie with my wife, and since I have driven got the CD case out of my car. As I said track 3 is the only one I've really paid any attention to, and even then it's only really one phrase that has stood out to me.
The lame will walk
The blind will see
The prisoners will be set free
And hope will rise as shadows disappear
And all that's lost
We'll find again
Death will die and tears will end
And we will come alive and truly live
Incredible lyrics, but the phrase that caught my attention is "Death will die". It sends chills through my body when I hear it. One day death will die and be no more. The thing that all men face, that respects no one, will finally meet itself and end. One day death will die.
That promise has led to some of the most rewarding moments of ministry for me. Sitting at the hospital holding a wife's hand as she's told her husband of 62 years might not make it through the night. Talking with a man dying of Lou Gehrig's disease and sharing with him the promises made to the faithful. Those are the moments when people really need you as a pastor. Those are the times when you do your greatest ministry. You are with people as they prepare to meet God.
My first funeral was easy because I knew the faith of the man. I knew that as I was giving his eulogy he was kneeling at the feet of Christ. His arms and legs had the mobility back that Lou Gehrig's disease had robbed for his final months on earth. He had died, but death was not victorious.
All men faith death, it's part of life, but death is not infinite. One day death too will die, and be no more. And this is the message that Christ has given us to share. Through Christ death has been defeated, and in Him eternal life is possible. Death will die, and those in Christ will live forever in His presence.
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
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