I've been taking a leadership class with a pastor I had the opportunity to intern under back in college. Tomorrow is the last day of class for the summer, but it's been an incredible first half. I've begun to see things about me, and about my past ministry assignments that God is using to mold be into the leader He created me to be.
This past week we were in small groups discussing the reading assignment and I shared with the group something that hit me this week. "You can only lead people as far as you've been" is a saying I've heard, and said, a lot over the last few years. It's something we as pastors have to keep in mind as we lead the congregations God has entrusted to us. If we don't continue to grow in our faith, if we don't continue to become more like Christ, then how can we lead others to deeper faith and more Christlikeness?
As I thought about that quote my mind, like most people's probably, went to a mountain trail. If you're going to lead a group of people up a mountain, you don't just explore the trail once. You do it dozens if not hundreds of times. You walk it repeatedly until you know every inch of the trail. You know every rock and divot in the path. You know when it's easy climbing and when it gets harder. You know every obstacle along the way. You KNOW the path you're leading people up.
You can only lead people as far as you've been. This is true, but I don't think you take people to the very edge of the territory you've been to. If you go to the edge, you've got no idea what's around the corner. You don't know if the path ends and goes over a cliff in twenty feet. You don't know if there is a barbarian camp just over the next hill. You don't know if there is a rapidly flowing river. You can't take people to the edge.
A good leader has been farther than he takes his followers. A good leader says, "Ok, this is where we're going to camp tonight. I've explored the upcoming miles, and I know that this is a safe place to rest." Good leaders have to stay ahead of the people. Good leaders have to know where the path leads. If we don't, then we get to the point where it's new to us and to those who follow us, when that happens we are no longer leaders, and we all end up lost.
Peace be with you
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
...and how we get there
The Church is supposed to be the household of God, we're a family with mutual love for each other. The Church is an assembly, all have been invited, and all are welcomed in. The Church is to be a pillar that displays the truth for all to see. The Church is to be a support that holds up the truth, that doesn't compromise no matter what. That is the Biblical instruction of The Church that we read about in 1 Timothy 3.14-15. That is what we're supposed to be, but how do we get there?
The Bible tells us what we're supposed to be, but the Bible doesn't just tell us to do something and then makes us figure out how. But Bible tells us what to do to be who we are called to be.
Acts 2.42, "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
The word devote in the original text is the word "proskarterountes" which is directly translated as "continuing steadfastly". For Biblical Greek you have what is called a lexical form of the word. It's basically the word you would look up in the dictionary. For proskarterountes, the lexical form is proskartereo (long o). that word is defined "to persist in adherence to a thing; to be intently engaged in, attend constantly to." It literally means to be strong in doing something. To be extremely intentional about seeking after something. And it gives us four things to be that way with.
To the Apostle's teaching. In the context of this verse, 3,000 people have just joined the church. They heard Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, and they were pierced to the heart. They are told to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus. Now they need to be taught. Then they only had the Old Testament, that was their Scripture, their Bible. They needed to Apostle's teaching to see how the life and ministry of Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament law and prophecy. Today, Biblical literacy is at an all time low. People don't know the Bible like they used to, so we need to teach it. How can we display the truth if we don't know it? How can we support the truth if we aren't grounded in it? Biblical teaching is central to the Church. We can't be who we are called to be without it.
To Fellowship. We are made for relationships. God said in the beginning, "It is not good for the man to be alone" (Genesis 2.18). We see that God is a relational God, who exists in community, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness"
(Genesis 1.26). We are created for fellowship, we need fellowship. Look at movies like "Cast Away" and "I Am Legend" you have a man who is alone, one draws a face on a volley ball and talks with it, the other dresses and names mannequins that he talks to. We need fellowship. So the church is to be a place of fellowship. We're the family of God, we're an assembly that all have been invited to. Let's live like it.
To the Breaking of Bread. This one goes hand in hand with fellowship. Today we have this as communion, back then it was a full meal. Breaking of bread helps with fellowship, because everyone needs to eat. My fiancee and I have a house we would one day like to build, guess which room is the biggest. The kitchen. We want our home to be a place where people are welcome, where people come to fellowship. That's how the church should be. the physical building should be a place where all are welcomed no matter what they look like or where they have been. But The Church, the people, should be people who gladly welcome others into fellowship with them. Not everyone has a kitchen to fill with people, buy you can go to coffee with someone.
The Breaking of Bread aids in fellowship, it helps us become closer as a family. Btu it also helps us with the other things Paul tells Timothy. As I said today this is communion. As we share in the Lord's supper we celebrate His death and Resurrection. It's an act of worship that we do together. My Worship professor back in college said, "Communion is the sacrament of entire sanctification." When we take communion, we invite Christ to fill us with His power. We take on the responsibility of displaying and supporting the truth. That's why it's such a big deal.
To Prayer. The early church would to this both individually and corporately, both on their own and as a group. They lived in a world where they could be killed for their faith, some of us still do. They knew that they couldn't face life on their own strength. Sometimes we think we can, especially in America, but we're no different then they were. When problems came up they were able to meet them, because they had already met with Him. We need to be the same way. We must be devoted to prayer.
If we live in a constant state of conversation with God both individually and corporately, imagine what the Church would be like. If we prayed together imagine how close of a family we would be. If we prayed imagine how our assembly would grow. If we prayed imagine how God would let us display truth. If we prayed imagine how firm our foundation of truth would be.
We must be a learning Church that teaches the Bible. We must be a Church that is full of fellowship were all are welcomed. We must be a church the breaks bread together, both meals and communion, all it will do is strengthen us. And above all, we must be a church that prays.
My Worship professor, as part of the final, assigned us the task of structuring a church around these four things. Know I understand why. If we do these things, then we will be the Biblical Church God desires. The family of God, the assembly, the pillar and support of the truth.
Peace be with you
The Bible tells us what we're supposed to be, but the Bible doesn't just tell us to do something and then makes us figure out how. But Bible tells us what to do to be who we are called to be.
Acts 2.42, "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
The word devote in the original text is the word "proskarterountes" which is directly translated as "continuing steadfastly". For Biblical Greek you have what is called a lexical form of the word. It's basically the word you would look up in the dictionary. For proskarterountes, the lexical form is proskartereo (long o). that word is defined "to persist in adherence to a thing; to be intently engaged in, attend constantly to." It literally means to be strong in doing something. To be extremely intentional about seeking after something. And it gives us four things to be that way with.
To the Apostle's teaching. In the context of this verse, 3,000 people have just joined the church. They heard Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, and they were pierced to the heart. They are told to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus. Now they need to be taught. Then they only had the Old Testament, that was their Scripture, their Bible. They needed to Apostle's teaching to see how the life and ministry of Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament law and prophecy. Today, Biblical literacy is at an all time low. People don't know the Bible like they used to, so we need to teach it. How can we display the truth if we don't know it? How can we support the truth if we aren't grounded in it? Biblical teaching is central to the Church. We can't be who we are called to be without it.
To Fellowship. We are made for relationships. God said in the beginning, "It is not good for the man to be alone" (Genesis 2.18). We see that God is a relational God, who exists in community, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness"
(Genesis 1.26). We are created for fellowship, we need fellowship. Look at movies like "Cast Away" and "I Am Legend" you have a man who is alone, one draws a face on a volley ball and talks with it, the other dresses and names mannequins that he talks to. We need fellowship. So the church is to be a place of fellowship. We're the family of God, we're an assembly that all have been invited to. Let's live like it.
To the Breaking of Bread. This one goes hand in hand with fellowship. Today we have this as communion, back then it was a full meal. Breaking of bread helps with fellowship, because everyone needs to eat. My fiancee and I have a house we would one day like to build, guess which room is the biggest. The kitchen. We want our home to be a place where people are welcome, where people come to fellowship. That's how the church should be. the physical building should be a place where all are welcomed no matter what they look like or where they have been. But The Church, the people, should be people who gladly welcome others into fellowship with them. Not everyone has a kitchen to fill with people, buy you can go to coffee with someone.
The Breaking of Bread aids in fellowship, it helps us become closer as a family. Btu it also helps us with the other things Paul tells Timothy. As I said today this is communion. As we share in the Lord's supper we celebrate His death and Resurrection. It's an act of worship that we do together. My Worship professor back in college said, "Communion is the sacrament of entire sanctification." When we take communion, we invite Christ to fill us with His power. We take on the responsibility of displaying and supporting the truth. That's why it's such a big deal.
To Prayer. The early church would to this both individually and corporately, both on their own and as a group. They lived in a world where they could be killed for their faith, some of us still do. They knew that they couldn't face life on their own strength. Sometimes we think we can, especially in America, but we're no different then they were. When problems came up they were able to meet them, because they had already met with Him. We need to be the same way. We must be devoted to prayer.
If we live in a constant state of conversation with God both individually and corporately, imagine what the Church would be like. If we prayed together imagine how close of a family we would be. If we prayed imagine how our assembly would grow. If we prayed imagine how God would let us display truth. If we prayed imagine how firm our foundation of truth would be.
We must be a learning Church that teaches the Bible. We must be a Church that is full of fellowship were all are welcomed. We must be a church the breaks bread together, both meals and communion, all it will do is strengthen us. And above all, we must be a church that prays.
My Worship professor, as part of the final, assigned us the task of structuring a church around these four things. Know I understand why. If we do these things, then we will be the Biblical Church God desires. The family of God, the assembly, the pillar and support of the truth.
Peace be with you
Thursday, May 19, 2011
What the Church is supposed to be...
I'm on day 10 of my 40 days in 1 Timothy. Today was 1 Timothy 3.14-15, "I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth."
Paul tells us in these verses why he is writing this letter, so that Timothy will be informed about how people are to conduct themselves within the church. It is so Timothy can instruct the church on their responsibility as the church.
Reading again in William Barclay he highlights four words. Household, church (assembly), pillar, and support (buttress).
Household, the first thing we see is that is to be a family, God's family. For the church to be the church God has called it to be, the church that He desires for it to be, there must be this mutual love for each other. As it says in 1 John 4, we cannot love God whom we have not seen if we do not love our brother we have seen. It begins here, with love, uniting us together as the family of God.
Church, Barclay uses his own translation of the scripture at the beginning of each section, and his word is assembly, but the word is Greek, ekklesia, is translated either way. An assembly is called, and everyone is invited. However, not everyone responds to the invitation. God is not selective in who has been invited, people have simply failed to respond. We need to remember this as the church. All are welcome, all may enter in to the house of God. All have been invited into His family, all have been called to assembly. 1 Timothy 2 says that God desires all men to be saved. All have been invited, let us welcome everyone.
Pillar, Timothy was located in Ephesus when Paul is writing to him. At the time one of the seven wonders of the world stood there, the Temple of Artemis or Diana, depending on Greek or Roman worship. In this temple there were 127 marble pillars. Some were covered with gold and jewels, everyone was the gift of a king. Today only one remains, and a stork has built a nest on top. The use of the word here is not a pillar used for support, but for display. It would be a beautiful object, often with a statue on top, that would be clearly seen even from far off. The church is to be a pillar of truth. We must display truth for all to see. We cannot afford to hide it, otherwise we will become a ruin fit for nothing but a birds nest.
Support, again in Barclay's own translation he uses the word buttress. This is the support of a building, it is what holds it up. The text says "a pillar and support of the truth." A pillar displays it for all to see, the support holds it up and stands firm. The church cannot compromise on the truth. We must stand firm and refuse to compromise. The world we live in does not always desire truth, it does not always seek it, but the church must stand firm, the church must live for truth.
This is God's intention and desire for the church that we find in scripture. We are His family, and all have been invited into it. We must display the truth for all to see, and we must stand firm to uphold it. Be the Church.
Peace be with you
Paul tells us in these verses why he is writing this letter, so that Timothy will be informed about how people are to conduct themselves within the church. It is so Timothy can instruct the church on their responsibility as the church.
Reading again in William Barclay he highlights four words. Household, church (assembly), pillar, and support (buttress).
Household, the first thing we see is that is to be a family, God's family. For the church to be the church God has called it to be, the church that He desires for it to be, there must be this mutual love for each other. As it says in 1 John 4, we cannot love God whom we have not seen if we do not love our brother we have seen. It begins here, with love, uniting us together as the family of God.
Church, Barclay uses his own translation of the scripture at the beginning of each section, and his word is assembly, but the word is Greek, ekklesia, is translated either way. An assembly is called, and everyone is invited. However, not everyone responds to the invitation. God is not selective in who has been invited, people have simply failed to respond. We need to remember this as the church. All are welcome, all may enter in to the house of God. All have been invited into His family, all have been called to assembly. 1 Timothy 2 says that God desires all men to be saved. All have been invited, let us welcome everyone.
Pillar, Timothy was located in Ephesus when Paul is writing to him. At the time one of the seven wonders of the world stood there, the Temple of Artemis or Diana, depending on Greek or Roman worship. In this temple there were 127 marble pillars. Some were covered with gold and jewels, everyone was the gift of a king. Today only one remains, and a stork has built a nest on top. The use of the word here is not a pillar used for support, but for display. It would be a beautiful object, often with a statue on top, that would be clearly seen even from far off. The church is to be a pillar of truth. We must display truth for all to see. We cannot afford to hide it, otherwise we will become a ruin fit for nothing but a birds nest.
Support, again in Barclay's own translation he uses the word buttress. This is the support of a building, it is what holds it up. The text says "a pillar and support of the truth." A pillar displays it for all to see, the support holds it up and stands firm. The church cannot compromise on the truth. We must stand firm and refuse to compromise. The world we live in does not always desire truth, it does not always seek it, but the church must stand firm, the church must live for truth.
This is God's intention and desire for the church that we find in scripture. We are His family, and all have been invited into it. We must display the truth for all to see, and we must stand firm to uphold it. Be the Church.
Peace be with you
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Distractions
I've been a senior pastor now begining my fourth full week. Years ago during college I met with a pastor to interview him for a paper, and he told me this, "85% of pastors spend less than 15 minutes a day with God, you can't be in ministry like that. Those who sit at the feet of Jesus will survive." That day I decided I wouldn't be part of that 85%.
In Michigan I would spend an hour in the sanctuary before any one else got to the office. That lasted a few months, then there started to be distractions. I started to get to the office later, still earlier than everyone else, but no where near an hour earlier. I began doing short prayers in my office. It was good, but not what I needed.
Now as a senior pastor it's even more crucial that I spend my time with God. But now after just three full weeks I'm feeling the distractions move in. I'm getting married in August, and there is so much with that that needs to be taken care of. I am close to an hour and a half away from my fiance and best friend which doesn't help. Late night conversations cost sleep. Lack of sleep makes getting up that much harder. Getting up later costs time.
I don't want any distractions to get in the way of me and God, and our relationship. I am now responsible for the Spiritual leadership of a group of people, and I'm just a 24 year old kid.
Daddy, I need you to help me battle through the distractions. I think of all the things that would help and make it easier, that would take the distractions away, but right now I don't have the luxury of those things. Until I do, help me to fight through them, to daily fall before your throne, to daily be lead by you, and to daily become more like you. Help me to be the leader this church, these people, and this community needs and deserves. And do all of this to the glory of your name.
May that be the prayer of all of us.
Peace be with you
In Michigan I would spend an hour in the sanctuary before any one else got to the office. That lasted a few months, then there started to be distractions. I started to get to the office later, still earlier than everyone else, but no where near an hour earlier. I began doing short prayers in my office. It was good, but not what I needed.
Now as a senior pastor it's even more crucial that I spend my time with God. But now after just three full weeks I'm feeling the distractions move in. I'm getting married in August, and there is so much with that that needs to be taken care of. I am close to an hour and a half away from my fiance and best friend which doesn't help. Late night conversations cost sleep. Lack of sleep makes getting up that much harder. Getting up later costs time.
I don't want any distractions to get in the way of me and God, and our relationship. I am now responsible for the Spiritual leadership of a group of people, and I'm just a 24 year old kid.
Daddy, I need you to help me battle through the distractions. I think of all the things that would help and make it easier, that would take the distractions away, but right now I don't have the luxury of those things. Until I do, help me to fight through them, to daily fall before your throne, to daily be lead by you, and to daily become more like you. Help me to be the leader this church, these people, and this community needs and deserves. And do all of this to the glory of your name.
May that be the prayer of all of us.
Peace be with you
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Asebeis
When I told my grandpa I was taking a church as a senior pastor he said a prayer for me. One thing he prayed is that I would dive into the letters Paul wrote to Timothy. The first two weeks I spent just reading, getting a general overview of the letters. Today is Day 3 of my 40 Days in 1 Timothy. I'm taking it just a few verses at a time, really trying to look at it.
Today I was in 1 Timothy 1.8-11, and as I was reading William Barclay's thoughts I stumbled upon a Greek word that caught my attention.
Asebeis (A-say-base)Barclay has it in English as "irreverent", the New American Standard Bible has it as "ungodly". This is yet another time when the English language fails to capture the true meaning of the author. In English irreverence is simply, "lack of reverence." Reverence is a form of revere meaning, "show honor and devotion to." So irreverence would be not showing honor to God.
Greek is a much richer language. Asebeis is not simply indifference to God, or a lapse back into sin, it is much deeper than that. Asebeis is "positive and active irreligion." It is an attitude of defiance towards God. It is an attitude that withholds from God what is His by right.
Do you have the attitude of asebeis?
Do you tithe?
Leviticus 27.30, "Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S; it is holy to the LORD."
Do you give God your worship?
Exodus 20.2-5a, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God."
Do you give God your time?
Romans 12.1-2, "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
Do you give God His Glory?
Psalm 46.10b, "I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
May we not be guilty of the sin of asebeis. May we always give God everything that He deserves, everything that He alone is worthy of.
Peace be with you
Today I was in 1 Timothy 1.8-11, and as I was reading William Barclay's thoughts I stumbled upon a Greek word that caught my attention.
Asebeis (A-say-base)Barclay has it in English as "irreverent", the New American Standard Bible has it as "ungodly". This is yet another time when the English language fails to capture the true meaning of the author. In English irreverence is simply, "lack of reverence." Reverence is a form of revere meaning, "show honor and devotion to." So irreverence would be not showing honor to God.
Greek is a much richer language. Asebeis is not simply indifference to God, or a lapse back into sin, it is much deeper than that. Asebeis is "positive and active irreligion." It is an attitude of defiance towards God. It is an attitude that withholds from God what is His by right.
Do you have the attitude of asebeis?
Do you tithe?
Leviticus 27.30, "Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S; it is holy to the LORD."
Do you give God your worship?
Exodus 20.2-5a, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God."
Do you give God your time?
Romans 12.1-2, "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
Do you give God His Glory?
Psalm 46.10b, "I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
May we not be guilty of the sin of asebeis. May we always give God everything that He deserves, everything that He alone is worthy of.
Peace be with you
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Life Transformation
Over the last several years I've grown up. I've become more mature, as it says in 1 Corinthians 13.11, "when I became a man, I did away with childish things." My thinking has developed, the way I read the Bible has become more mature and insightful, and the way I see life is more meaningful then it was when I started college back in 2005. That's a good thing, it shows it wasn't a waste of time.
After a few years of ministry, as an intern, part-time, and full-time, the way I see ministry has changed. I don't know what I used to think the point was, obviously it was really significant. I've blogged before about the goal and purpose of life, becoming like Christ and helping others become like Christ,that's why we're here, and ministry needs to reflect that.
Ministry is not about behavior modification. It isn't about getting someone to an altar for an emotional conversion. I'm not saying those aren't genuine times of repentance in people's lives, but more often then not they are done on a whim, people don't know what they are signing up for, and more often then not it doesn't last.
Salvation is something that takes time. Leading someone to Jesus for salvation takes time. You don't lead strangers to Christ, you lead friends. You have to earn the right to talk to people, you have to earn the right to share. You have to live a life that reflects Christ and the change He has made in you. That is what will lead people to Jesus. That is what leads to real relationships with the Risen Lord.
I was reading in Luke this morning, "When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first." (11.24-26)
The life has been set free, it's been cleaned up, but nothing has filled it. The behoavior has been modified, but not transformed. Because of this, it's easy to fall back into the old way of life. All it takes is a little bit of stress, a small amout of pressure, and you're right back where you started in your old life style. Ministry is not about behavior modification, but about life transformation.
Jesus didn't tell people simply to stop doing something, He called them to leave an old life style (John 8.11). He called people to take up their cross and follow Him (Matthew 16.24). Jesus didn't modify people's behavior, He transformed their lives.
That is what we are called to do, lead lives to transformation. People aren't a notch on our spiritual belts, and they know when you treat them that way. Jesus didn't tell us to make converts, He told us to make disciples (Matthew 28.18-20).
Teach people to obey everything that Jesus commanded, then behavior will change because it will be the result of a transformed life. Then it will be a genuine, lasting thing.
Peace be with you
After a few years of ministry, as an intern, part-time, and full-time, the way I see ministry has changed. I don't know what I used to think the point was, obviously it was really significant. I've blogged before about the goal and purpose of life, becoming like Christ and helping others become like Christ,that's why we're here, and ministry needs to reflect that.
Ministry is not about behavior modification. It isn't about getting someone to an altar for an emotional conversion. I'm not saying those aren't genuine times of repentance in people's lives, but more often then not they are done on a whim, people don't know what they are signing up for, and more often then not it doesn't last.
Salvation is something that takes time. Leading someone to Jesus for salvation takes time. You don't lead strangers to Christ, you lead friends. You have to earn the right to talk to people, you have to earn the right to share. You have to live a life that reflects Christ and the change He has made in you. That is what will lead people to Jesus. That is what leads to real relationships with the Risen Lord.
I was reading in Luke this morning, "When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first." (11.24-26)
The life has been set free, it's been cleaned up, but nothing has filled it. The behoavior has been modified, but not transformed. Because of this, it's easy to fall back into the old way of life. All it takes is a little bit of stress, a small amout of pressure, and you're right back where you started in your old life style. Ministry is not about behavior modification, but about life transformation.
Jesus didn't tell people simply to stop doing something, He called them to leave an old life style (John 8.11). He called people to take up their cross and follow Him (Matthew 16.24). Jesus didn't modify people's behavior, He transformed their lives.
That is what we are called to do, lead lives to transformation. People aren't a notch on our spiritual belts, and they know when you treat them that way. Jesus didn't tell us to make converts, He told us to make disciples (Matthew 28.18-20).
Teach people to obey everything that Jesus commanded, then behavior will change because it will be the result of a transformed life. Then it will be a genuine, lasting thing.
Peace be with you
Monday, May 9, 2011
The Proper Order
Over the last few months I've thought a lot about the American way of life. The extravagance, the wealth, the comfort, the need for noise and entertainment, patriotism. And I wonder how it came to this.
I think back to my time in Turkey and Greece this past January. As you walk through the ruins of these cities you see ancient cities with features that are very similar to modern ones. The thing that stands out in my mind most are the massive stadiums built for athletic competitions. A few thousand years ago people built massive stadiums for thousands, in some places tens of thousands, of people to sit and view sporting events. There are amphitheaters of the same magnitude built to entertain the masses. Sound like anything today?
You see the extravagance of the life styles. Marble everywhere, gold mosaics, massive columns. In Ephesus there was a public restroom, and the rich actually had a slave that would sit and warm the stone seat for them.
Is America really that different? We are addicted to entertainment. So much that we have people making millions of dollars because they can perform well athletically. You have actors who can perform well, so we make them rich. We have to buy the newest and most expensive phone, computer, or laptop, even if there is nothing wrong with the one we have. You have people who are so patriotic, Christians even, that have mass public celebrations over a man's death.
You see it in the church as well. I was talking to a friend who shared with me about a church where the senior pastor made 90 thousand plus a year, while the youth pastor made under 20 thousand. Both are full time, and when it came time to cut budgets guess whose salary was cut, the youth pastors.
Look at some of the churches that are built. I was in one church that had a $7 million dollar marble altar. When I was in Flint, a city with 34% unemployment at the time, I was in a church that had just purchased a $25,000 communion table, and the guy telling me about it was happy, and expected me to be too.
I'm not saying we shouldn't have nice Churches, it is the House of God, and God deserves our best, but where is the line. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with sporting events and movies as entertainment, but everything in moderation. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with patriotism, with wanting to defend your country, and celebrating when it wins victories. The problem comes when our influence is wrong.
I wonder if we have let our Americanism influence us too much. Am I an American Christian, or a Christian American? Does my American citizenship define my Christianity, or does my Christianity define my American way of life?
Philippians 3.17-21,
"Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself."
Our citizenship is in Heaven, not America. Let my mind be set on the things that glorify God and build the Kingdom. May my life be lived in a way that eagerly waits for the Savior, who is the Lord Jesus Christ. May our Christianity define who we are as Americans, not the other way around. If Americanism influences our Christianity, no wonder we've lost sight of what this is really supposed to look like. Let's put things in the proper order.
Peace be with you
I think back to my time in Turkey and Greece this past January. As you walk through the ruins of these cities you see ancient cities with features that are very similar to modern ones. The thing that stands out in my mind most are the massive stadiums built for athletic competitions. A few thousand years ago people built massive stadiums for thousands, in some places tens of thousands, of people to sit and view sporting events. There are amphitheaters of the same magnitude built to entertain the masses. Sound like anything today?
You see the extravagance of the life styles. Marble everywhere, gold mosaics, massive columns. In Ephesus there was a public restroom, and the rich actually had a slave that would sit and warm the stone seat for them.
Is America really that different? We are addicted to entertainment. So much that we have people making millions of dollars because they can perform well athletically. You have actors who can perform well, so we make them rich. We have to buy the newest and most expensive phone, computer, or laptop, even if there is nothing wrong with the one we have. You have people who are so patriotic, Christians even, that have mass public celebrations over a man's death.
You see it in the church as well. I was talking to a friend who shared with me about a church where the senior pastor made 90 thousand plus a year, while the youth pastor made under 20 thousand. Both are full time, and when it came time to cut budgets guess whose salary was cut, the youth pastors.
Look at some of the churches that are built. I was in one church that had a $7 million dollar marble altar. When I was in Flint, a city with 34% unemployment at the time, I was in a church that had just purchased a $25,000 communion table, and the guy telling me about it was happy, and expected me to be too.
I'm not saying we shouldn't have nice Churches, it is the House of God, and God deserves our best, but where is the line. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with sporting events and movies as entertainment, but everything in moderation. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with patriotism, with wanting to defend your country, and celebrating when it wins victories. The problem comes when our influence is wrong.
I wonder if we have let our Americanism influence us too much. Am I an American Christian, or a Christian American? Does my American citizenship define my Christianity, or does my Christianity define my American way of life?
Philippians 3.17-21,
"Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself."
Our citizenship is in Heaven, not America. Let my mind be set on the things that glorify God and build the Kingdom. May my life be lived in a way that eagerly waits for the Savior, who is the Lord Jesus Christ. May our Christianity define who we are as Americans, not the other way around. If Americanism influences our Christianity, no wonder we've lost sight of what this is really supposed to look like. Let's put things in the proper order.
Peace be with you
Friday, May 6, 2011
A Pastors Prayer
As my second full week of senior pastoring draws to an end, I'm glad the week is over. It's been a crazy time, trial by fire.
In the last week and a half I have been to the hospital five times to visit a congregation member and his family. I had my first board meeting. I received an email telling me I had to fill out year end reports and a yearly pastor's report this next week. Funny thing with the pastor's report, it's supposed to be on a new ministry the church started within the last year!
The hospital stuff was trying and I'm so grateful that I have an incredible mentor to walk with me through this stuff. Basically, this first two weeks has been learning the stuff that they can't really teach you in school. It's the stuff that they can't train you for, so you take the training you do have, and figure out how to make it work in this situation.
I've been studying the pastoral epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy these last two weeks. Right now it's just an initial overview, and in the coming weeks and months I'm really going to dive deeply into them, looking at history, original language, and context. But even just initially, there is so much there.
As this week ends I remember the phone call with my mentor in the hospital last Sunday night. His calm instructive wisdom putting my mind and heart at some ease. That experience I can't wait to share with some 24 year old kid in 30 years when he's going through the same thing for the first time. But his words I remember.
My prayer is from a song by Jonny Diaz.
"Help me to love like you loved, to serve like you served, to speak only words of truth. Help me to care like you cared for a world in despair, help me to love like you."
Love is the most important, so God help me to love like you loved.
1 Timothy 1.5, "But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."
Jesus talked about it so much, "Love your neighbor as yourself," (Matthew 22.39) "By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13.35) "God is love" (1 John 4.8b)
Love is the greatest, love is the most important. My mentor told me years ago, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." If people know that you love them, they forgive your short comings.
God, help me to love these people like you do.
Serving, I'm taking a leadership class right now, and as I've been reading I learned that the word leader only appears in the King James Bible 6 times, mostly the word is translated as servant. The book said its not Moses my leader, but Moses my servant.
Mark 10.43-44, "But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all." In college I read a book for a class and this quote stood out to me, "You can't proclaim the Word above God's people, until you live the Word among God's people."
Again my mentor told me, "Separation of Church and state is never an issue when the church gets down on it's knees with a basin and a towel and says, 'How can we serve you?'" Jesus didn't come to be served, but to serve. He came humbly and gave His life to save the world (Mark 10.45).
Jesus, help me to serve this church and this community like you served the world.
Speak only words of truth. Dr. Sanders once said in class, "If you can pull the Bible out of a sermon and have it still make sense, then it's a bad sermon." Paul tells Timothy, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." (2 Timothy 3.16-4.5).
Holy Spirit, help me always to preach the truth of the Word. May every sermon always be firmly rooted in Scripture and fully covered with your presence.
Peace be with you
In the last week and a half I have been to the hospital five times to visit a congregation member and his family. I had my first board meeting. I received an email telling me I had to fill out year end reports and a yearly pastor's report this next week. Funny thing with the pastor's report, it's supposed to be on a new ministry the church started within the last year!
The hospital stuff was trying and I'm so grateful that I have an incredible mentor to walk with me through this stuff. Basically, this first two weeks has been learning the stuff that they can't really teach you in school. It's the stuff that they can't train you for, so you take the training you do have, and figure out how to make it work in this situation.
I've been studying the pastoral epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy these last two weeks. Right now it's just an initial overview, and in the coming weeks and months I'm really going to dive deeply into them, looking at history, original language, and context. But even just initially, there is so much there.
As this week ends I remember the phone call with my mentor in the hospital last Sunday night. His calm instructive wisdom putting my mind and heart at some ease. That experience I can't wait to share with some 24 year old kid in 30 years when he's going through the same thing for the first time. But his words I remember.
My prayer is from a song by Jonny Diaz.
"Help me to love like you loved, to serve like you served, to speak only words of truth. Help me to care like you cared for a world in despair, help me to love like you."
Love is the most important, so God help me to love like you loved.
1 Timothy 1.5, "But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."
Jesus talked about it so much, "Love your neighbor as yourself," (Matthew 22.39) "By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13.35) "God is love" (1 John 4.8b)
Love is the greatest, love is the most important. My mentor told me years ago, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." If people know that you love them, they forgive your short comings.
God, help me to love these people like you do.
Serving, I'm taking a leadership class right now, and as I've been reading I learned that the word leader only appears in the King James Bible 6 times, mostly the word is translated as servant. The book said its not Moses my leader, but Moses my servant.
Mark 10.43-44, "But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all." In college I read a book for a class and this quote stood out to me, "You can't proclaim the Word above God's people, until you live the Word among God's people."
Again my mentor told me, "Separation of Church and state is never an issue when the church gets down on it's knees with a basin and a towel and says, 'How can we serve you?'" Jesus didn't come to be served, but to serve. He came humbly and gave His life to save the world (Mark 10.45).
Jesus, help me to serve this church and this community like you served the world.
Speak only words of truth. Dr. Sanders once said in class, "If you can pull the Bible out of a sermon and have it still make sense, then it's a bad sermon." Paul tells Timothy, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." (2 Timothy 3.16-4.5).
Holy Spirit, help me always to preach the truth of the Word. May every sermon always be firmly rooted in Scripture and fully covered with your presence.
Peace be with you
Monday, May 2, 2011
Today
There are many things going around today. Shouts of joy that a terrorist is dead, condemnation by Christians because of the rejoicing over his death. Anger that credit is being given to the president who simply sent in the brave men who accomplished this mission. There are statements that this doesn't change anything, that the war is still going on, and how this really has little impact. There is the statement that justice has been given.
I look at my own attitude. I am filled with pride because of the Navy SEALs, honestly I can't express it enough. These men are incredible for what they do, and the training that they have undergone to be able to carry out missions like this, and they deserve the praise for what they accomplished, not the man who had the "courage" to order them to go in. Thank you for your service and your defense of this nation, I have so much respect for all of you.
At the same time I think of the man who was killed. I am reminded, God loved Osama bin Laden, God made him, Christ died to save him just as He died to save me. I am in no way defending him or his actions. I hate what took place on September 11, 2001, I hate that innocent lives have been ended because of this man, but I do not hate him, or any who follow him, just as Christ does not.
It is not my place to pass judgement, it is not my place to give out condemnation, it is not the place of the Christ follower to rejoice over the death of anyone except in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
As we move forward let us go forward with an attitude of forgiveness and with prayer. Prayer for the future of the world. Prayer for the protection of the people of the world. And prayer that through all things God will be glorified.
Father guard our hearts right now. Help us to act as you would act. Help us to move forward in a way that honors you, a way that glorifies you. May we join together to build your Kingdom. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Peace be with you
I look at my own attitude. I am filled with pride because of the Navy SEALs, honestly I can't express it enough. These men are incredible for what they do, and the training that they have undergone to be able to carry out missions like this, and they deserve the praise for what they accomplished, not the man who had the "courage" to order them to go in. Thank you for your service and your defense of this nation, I have so much respect for all of you.
At the same time I think of the man who was killed. I am reminded, God loved Osama bin Laden, God made him, Christ died to save him just as He died to save me. I am in no way defending him or his actions. I hate what took place on September 11, 2001, I hate that innocent lives have been ended because of this man, but I do not hate him, or any who follow him, just as Christ does not.
It is not my place to pass judgement, it is not my place to give out condemnation, it is not the place of the Christ follower to rejoice over the death of anyone except in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
As we move forward let us go forward with an attitude of forgiveness and with prayer. Prayer for the future of the world. Prayer for the protection of the people of the world. And prayer that through all things God will be glorified.
Father guard our hearts right now. Help us to act as you would act. Help us to move forward in a way that honors you, a way that glorifies you. May we join together to build your Kingdom. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Peace be with you
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