Pastors' Ministry and Encouragement

Making a Decision for Christ is too easy

2012-01-04T22:15:00.000-07:00

Potluck and Bow Shoot

2011-08-14T23:17:00.001-06:00

A couple of families got together in our church and had a potluck and bow shoot after church today. They invited tons of people. I hadn't shot arrows in about 20 years, but I went and taught my kids how to shoot.

At the potluck and during the shooting, which lasted about 3 hours, I noticed a lot of relationship building going on. I didn't know a lot of the guests and ended up shooting with a family that I'd just met.

So, why am I telling you this? What is your community interested in? Try putting together an event that matches the interests of your community. Throughout the year, we have quite a few different types of events, including a turkey shoot, a Valentine's banquet, a Christmas concert, a skeet shoot, and now maybe a yearly bow shoot.

Be a church that really cares about fostering relationships with the people that you live with, go to school with, and do business with.

Vacation Bible School

2011-08-12T00:27:00.002-06:00

Do you have vacation bible school at your church every summer? If not, you really should give it a try. Group has one of the easiest VBS to do, in my opinion. Answers in Genesis also has a great VBS kit. What I like about Group's VBS is that it has four stations and the children rotate with group leaders between the stations. You will find that, by the end of four rotations, the kids are excited and have picked up the theme you're trying to teach. Group also has the authority of the Bible and the gospel woven into the week.

VBS is a great way to bring unchurched kids into your church. Parents and grandparents will drop off kids for three hours of gospel fun.

How Does My Church Help Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya?

2011-08-06T00:05:00.001-06:00

A child is dying of starvation every 6 minutes in Somalia. That means that by the time it took me to log-on and write this blog, two precious ones just entered eternity. So, how can we help? We don't want our money going to militants or to ungodly tyrants. World Magazine just ran an article offering some suggestions. Scanning the list, I saw the usuals: Samaritan's Purse, World Vision... One that caught my eye was the Christian Reformed Church World Relief Committee. They are working in Kenya and Ethiopia to alleviate hunger. Their relief work will save the lives of 100,000 Africans between August and December. Maybe, this is a group that your church can get involved with.

Truth Notes: Be Wise - Daily Readings From Proverbs

2011-08-05T12:33:00.000-06:00

Have you noticed that 80-some percent of American churched young people flake by high school? From amid a myriad of reasons, one resounds clearly: They don't have any foundational knowledge of Jesus. Aside from a few decontextualized stories, kids don't know anything substantial about God. As a church, we are starting to turn the tide back to discipleship of our youth - and that's great! i.e. D6 Conferences

I wrote this devotional to help remediate this problem! http://bit.ly/TruthNotes

To turn the pages, drag and pull with your mouse. Or, double-click on the corner of each page.

Church as Community Center

2010-12-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

Is the church a building for believers or is it for unbelievers?

Although the building isn't the church, it is where most people identify themselves as being part of Christ's body.

A divide happens as people try to decide whether to structure services to be missional or to be believer-oriented.

A better question to ask is: Is the worship service for believers or for unbelievers? Now, we aren't talking about the service.

I advocate for another position. Use the worship service for believers, with unbelievers welcomed. Use the building for building community relationships.

In this day of fractured relationships, the church can utilize that void. The Body of Christ can begin to do community events, making ourselves available to relationally evangelize.

Believers should gather to worship God and build each other up in the faith throughout the week. And, believers could also gather to host community events at local schools or at the church building.

Balancing Mystic and Practical Ministry

2010-07-15T17:47:00.002-06:00

Waiting for the Holy Spirit to direct your path can be time-consuming, at least from my experience. However, pulling at the end of the leash all of the time can be a soul-exhausting, which is a bad thing. While one wants to always be submitting to God's will in ministry, there is a balance to be found in how that actually plays out.

Within a spirit of submission, one can find many practical things to do for God. If God hasn't communicated His will to you through His Holy Spirit, you can always rely on His written will. There are many practical activities that God has written in a little memo for you to follow. It can be condensed down to simply loving your neighbors, sharing the gospel, alleviating poverty and hunger, helping children find water, and helping widows and orphans.

If one's motivation for ministry is God-centered, all of the above activities are within God's expressed written will. Simultaneously, the specific direction of the Holy Spirit should be watched for. But, notice that this is not an either or decision.

Christians get hung up on either side of this fence. Either they are waiting for direction or they are not listening to direction. Instead, with the right attitude, Christians should be listening AND acting. After all, our lives are not compartmentalized. They are entirely lived out in service to Jesus. Every minute is to be lived as a living sacrifice, reflecting the beautiful character of God.

Protecting Your Flock

2010-02-07T23:35:00.003-07:00

Discipleship means working with your flock to position them to understand God and His grace - and how that is applied in their lives.

You have to evaluate where your people are in their maturity and understanding of God and His grace. Depending on levels of Biblical understanding, you have to actively filter and protect your flock from incoming doctrinal conversations.

In my opinion (for what it's worth), discipling your flock in basic Bible doctrines about God and His grace trumps being correct regarding issues like Bible versions, infant baptism, or end times. (Although, a person's position on any of those topics may impact his methods of evangelism or other important practical outworkings.) But, setting that aside, some doctrines need to be dealt with on a foundation of Biblical understanding and maturity.

This is a case of the weaker brother. Allowing finer points of doctrine to be introduced into your church can be a stumbling block for those who are still learning about the grace of God. Be discerning on what you issues you allow members to introduce into the body.

Before God, you have to decide what doctrines are on His agenda for the believers in your flock. He'll tell you. Don't worry! God will guide you in regards to which doctrines you allow to be grappled with in your flock.

Haiti Christian Relief

2010-01-16T12:04:00.004-07:00

World Magazine has published a list of trusted Christian relief agencies who are assisting in Haiti:

http://www.worldmag.com/webextra/16287

I've found some of my favorite ministries through research into who is doing on-the-ground relief aid at natural disasters. Pick a ministry and dial in your digits for a little investment into God's kingdom.

"Ministry Is A Mercy" - antidote to Burn-out

2010-01-09T22:00:00.006-07:00

"If you realize that you deserve nothing and that everything is a mercy, that is all you need to know." John MacArthur on burn-out in ministry. (STAND by DesiringGod.org)

To paraphrase John, the antidote for discouragement and burn-out because of people criticizing you, despising you, not appreciating you IS to realize that you should be in hell right now.

Paul says to count all things loss except Christ. That includes counting myself loss too. My flesh wants to be appreciated. My spirit wants Christ to be appreciated. Burn-out is a product of listening to the desires of the flesh. Be encouraged just to be in Christ. Be thankful that Christ lets you minister in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Extreme Discipleship Should Be Avoided

2010-01-03T00:01:00.004-07:00

Extreme Descipleship: Two ends of the continuum: Non-Doctrinal/Worldly all the way to ultra-sanctified.

Look at your congregation. Do you have a group of people who are clumped over on the non-doctrinal and/or worldly side of the continuums? This may be because you are on the extreme regarding your lack of teaching on doctrine or sanctified living. Or, are all of the people who you disciple thinned out to only be those who are of the same mindset as you regarding doctrine and Christian living? Maybe, it is because you are ahead of the Holy Spirit in your expectations for growth in doctrine and/or sanctification.

Take this avenue: Be like Jesus. Faithfully lay a Biblical framework for doctrine that has a similar balance to the emphasis that Jesus had in his teachings. Allow people to grow at the pace that the Holy Spirit sets for each person. Let the fruits of the Spirit characterize the accountability you place on those you are mentoring.

Ministry Within the Body

2009-12-20T14:04:00.003-07:00

There is power in personal ministry within the context of the body. Three effects come from strategically utilizing gifts within the context of the local church.

First, there is a dynamic energy that results from the specifically stated support of the church for the ministry of individuals. For example, if a church openly talks about and emotionally supports the work of a member at a local youth outreach center, that member feels supported and encouraged. The lone ranger Christian burns out. The supported Christian has more protection from the flare-out.

Second, if the leadership takes an interest in a member's desire to minister, that encourages others to join in. I can think of one lady who is really into Operation Christmas Child. Since the church leadership actively promote her project, many others in the church are involved. The member is supported and others' gifts are discipled.

Third, putting the weight of the church behind personal ministry helps to build humility. The lone ranger is at times asked to put personal agenda on the shelf and minister within the context of the church. This builds a healthy submission.

To-D0 List:
1. Make a list of projects that are already going and who is involved in each.
2. Take a look at your membership and make a 2-column chart listing members and their respective gifts.
3. Make an effort to build momentum within your church around the projects that already exist.
4. Don't be scared. If God doesn't want a project to happen, He'll shut it down.

Some have said that members need to prove themselves before being allowed to do ministry in the church. Actually, a better way is to use ministry as a context for discipling young believers. The proving ground is generally in a place of action. Don't miss out on discipling your kids, teens, young adults and young Christians. Use ministry as a school for discipling.

Christmas Shopping for Thai Orphans

2009-11-21T22:04:00.004-07:00

This Orphanage Website is Sweet. I loved spending a few bucks on some Christmas presents for orphans. This ministry is legit - I drove up to Seattle to meet the missionary - Tim Dunham. We talked at Denny's for about two hours, and I got the low-down on what Jesus is doing through him in Thailand. Print off the Christmas Catalog PDF and pass it around your church.

Samson and the Pirate Monks - Book Review

2009-10-24T00:56:00.010-06:00

Depressing - Yes. This book confronts the reader with the fact that he is most vulnerable, weak, lonesome, and pathetic when he thinks that he is the strongest. In our humanity, we think we are invincible when we are forging ahead - alone, silent, strong. In reality, that is when we are the most vulnerable.

If you aren't a sexual addict, I give you permission to skip the first fifty-seven pages. I found the first fifty-seven pages a bit "shock-and-awe" and disturbing to my inner core. In fact, I skipped most of the first third of the book because reading it put me in a foul mood. TMI - came to mind.

After establishing the brutal details of his depravity, Nate Larkin chronicles his slow climb out of the hole. For anyone who has experienced any type of sinful addiction, this part of the book hits home. Sin, sin, sin - repent, repent, repent. Try to do it yourself in secret - fail, fail, fail.

As the title suggests, Samson did it alone and failed, but David did it surrounded by friends and died a success. If I could put the message of this book into one bullet point, it would be: Stop isolating yourself and build many solid relationships into your everyday life.

I give Samson and the Pirate Monks credit for readability and content. I have reservations regarding the amount of vivid confession - it is definitely NOT for anyone susceptible to the suggestive. I appreciate the main message: Stop being the strong, silent loser who pretends to have it all together.

For those who struggle with any type of sinful behavior, I'll leave you with something my brother once told me: Build walls around yourself through obedience. Every time you obey God, you build one more brick into a wall between yourself and possible temptation.

For those addicted to sexual immorality or pornography, you benefit from something Neil Anderson wrote in A Way of Escape: Freedom from Sexual Strongholds. Organize your life so you avoid all situations of vulnerability. I.e. Don't allow yourself to drive to get milk at the little market where the porn is sold. Rather, force yourself to purchase your groceries at a large grocery store where you won't "accidentally" run into sexual temptation.

Neil and Nate both agree: Life needs to be lived in community and sin's best friend is isolation and self-reliance. Rely on God through honest fellowship within His church body.

Decisional Regeneration - An American Journey?

2009-09-28T19:51:00.005-06:00

Decisional Regeneration may have some correspondence to the emergence of American democracy. In early American history, the popular doctrinal belief was that men are totally unable to choose spiritual good or come to God. Therefore, it takes the specific mercy of God to send His Holy Spirit to change a dead or unregenerate heart. In short, God changes your dead heart and then you believe and repent. As American democracy emerged, pastors changed to a more democratic salvation message, which was that God gives everyone the ability to choose and responds to choosing by regenerating.

Great Awakening 1: As a dead sinner, you are seeking the mercy of God and have no spiritual ability to change your own heart or savingly choose Christ. So, seek God and He will change your heart in His timing.

Great Awakening 2: As a stubborn sinner, you can decide to accept Jesus as your savior when you want to.

You may have never heard of Decisional Regeneration until today. However, decisional regeneration probably plays a significant part in your methods of evangelism. Are you preaching a gospel message that depends on the timing of humans to be effective? Or, are you preaching a gospel message that depends on the timing and will of God to be effective?

Do you know which the Bible teaches? You believe and God regenerates OR God regenerates and you believe?

Missional: Go or Don't Go

2009-08-02T16:27:00.004-06:00

"Why are so many Christians waiting on a warm and fuzzy sensation- for God to spell out 'Afghanistan' in their Cheerios - before they go? The call has been given. Go."

"I meet people who say, 'If God calls me to go, I'll go.' Perhaps the better posture is, 'If God tells me to stay, I'll stay. Otherwise, I'll go.'" From "The Confusing Language of 'Calling'" by J.D. Greear on http://www.theresurgence.com/

What is your reaction to those two quotes?

Reformed Christianity is facing a huge paradigm shift. Essentially, the move is towards instead of waiting around for God to hedge you and cattle prod you into a ministry, develop vision and go for it, now.

Most probably don't feel the internal conflict... the burning that can't be satiated and refuses to consume. In your congregation there are a few who writhe under the burden of the lost. They ride the bucking bronco of should I or should I not... am I called or am I not called. They yearn for common vision and teamwork and wilt in the waiting.

As a pastor, what paradigm are you operating under? You cannot be neutral on this issue. Either you are discipling your people to wait or you are discipling your people to aggressively take ground for the kingdom. Or, is there a middle position?

http://www.gomissional.com/

Christian Adoption Camp in Portland Oregon

2009-07-29T23:55:00.004-06:00

Spread the word about Chosen International's adoption camp for teens. The kids attending do not need to be Christians or from Christian families and is tailored to provide an incredible camp experience for kids of all adoptive backgrounds.

100,000 Signatures Needed for Gao Zhisheng by July 9th, 2009

2009-07-08T17:22:00.003-06:00

One hundred fifty-three days sounds ominous when you consider the torture that Gao Zhisheng is undergoing.

Gao Zhisheng, the Christian human rights lawyer was abducted last fall, tortured and released. Instead of being a good boy and keeping the torture under his hat, he did a short documentary to expose the abuse. Chinese secret police in turn kidnapped Gao Zhisheng.

Bob Fu from China Aid will be presenting Gao Zhisheng's case to the Congressional-Executive Commission on China roundtable on July 10. He would like to back up his plea for help with 100,000 signatures. Will you sign? www.FreeGao.com

Bomb shelters?

2009-07-05T22:40:00.004-06:00

I once housesat for a man who had a bomb shelter buried just beyond his front yard. Bomb shelters are unique in that they are equipped for a family to survive a nuclear winter. The only drawback, aside from long term waste management, is that bomb shelters don't allow for community salvation.

Modern day church can become like that for some. A building where salvation is available but community integration is impossible.

We need to work from the top down in our churches to make sure that our churches are integrated into and visible in our communities. How many unchurched visitors darken the door of my church? Is my church known in the community as a group of Christians who care for the poor, undertake for the widows, assist with the community decisions, welcome the unemployed?

Are we a bomb shelter or the highly visible, community-integrated body of Christ?

The Urban Halo - Book Review

2009-06-28T23:43:00.007-06:00

The Urban Halo caught me off-guard. I expected to read about a guy who moved into a slum and opened an orphanage. Instead, Urban Halo was a decidedly different read. The message, research, and testimony of Craig Greenfield is delivered in the context of a novel-type autobiography.

Inspiration is unavoidable as one turns the pages. Craig and Nay move to the slums of Cambodia and make a difference. God uses these born-again Christians to reach lost people and impact the lives of over a thousand orphans. You will be pleasantly surprised by how much Craig and Nay accomplish - I'll not ruin the surprise by giving away the exciting stories.

Urban Halo's message is a plea for the church to build relationships in poor communities and to begin to think of orphan care in terms of community-based solutions.

There are several challenging aspects of this book which include a direct assault on traditional orphan-care. Craig has a thumb-nail sketch of research that he did and presents it as evidence that orphan-care should be community-based. He presents the dangers of traditional orphan-care, which include a disconnection from community and extended family ties, the loss of inheritance and properties, emotional deficits (RAD, etc.) from the absence of a caring mother-figure, and possible abuse. Another challenging aspect of Urban Halo is that missionary ministry is best done in a missional style. Finally, Urban Halo leaves the reader wanting more details about the day-to-day events, especially how Project Halo was accomplished.

Similar to other missional-type books, Urban Halo is a mixture of ideology, how-to, and personal narrative. Unlike some books I've read, Urban Halo does not cast a judgemental glare at the reader. Rather, facts, research, and experiential anecdotes are presented in a positive manner. This book really is a must-read for anyone interested in orphan-care or missional living.

"Spending time with our neighbors and making ourselves vulnerable to experience some of the same hardships, we effectively 'walked a mile in their shoes.' This allowed us to gain a sense of credibility with our neighbors and they were much more receptive to our ideas..."

Creation DVDs: Start the Gospel Conversation

2009-06-13T23:56:00.005-06:00

As with any resource, each DVD is appropriate for a slightly different audience. As you think about the people in your life who you are building relationships with, you probably are building categories of background knowledge about each person. Some people actively reject God, while others passively reject Him. Some are open to dialogue and the gospel, while others need to start with God as creator. You may wait two years to give one co-worker a DVD about God as creator. And, you may only know another person a few minutes before speaking to him/her about the atonement of Jesus. Use wisdom and prayer as you evaluate the people God has put in your life. What are their backgrounds and predispositions? Where do you need to start with each person. One size does not fit all in evangelism.

Here is an article that I put together a few years ago outlining some of my favorite creation DVDS: http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2007/07/17/video-vangelism

Click through to see my TOP PICKS for DVD evangelism:
http://bfspastors.blogspot.com/2007/06/tims-top-dvd-picks-for-evangelism.html

Do a "Gospel in Three Minutes" Workshop

2009-06-08T00:21:00.005-06:00

On Demolishing Strongholds from Answers In Genesis, Bill Jack demonstrates how to present the gospel in about two minutes. This is a good activity to teach your congregation. Building a fluency in explaining the good news is good preparation for when it is go-time!

1. Facilitate a discussion on what the gospel is. What pieces of information must be present for it to the Biblical good news?
2. Model or demonstrate a quick presentation of the gospel.
3. Have groups or individuals write scripts for themselves and the practice.
4. Get a camcorder and do some taping.
5. Have fun watching the presentations together.

Here's an example that I did a few weeks ago.

Being Missional Means Stepping into the Danger Zone: You will be Hurt

2009-05-30T23:56:00.004-06:00

When you become missional, you will find yourself in many relationships where you are used and rejected. Sin and selfishness dominate social interactions when you integrate and build relationships with the lost. You will be used. You will be hurt. You will be rejected.

How do you continue to travel light? Where do you check your baggage? Is there a baggage claim for bitterness? Do you have any tips for me on how to process through the negative interactions?

Do You Hear The Need?

2009-05-28T00:30:00.003-06:00

Watch this video and ask yourself, "Am I and my church doing anything significant to satiate the starving?" I just saw an interesting comment on youtube regarding this video: "Sometimes it's a matter of survival. Starve to death or die of a sickness that you don't even know if you are exposed to. "

Watch this video and then take a minute to reflect on how you may be able to become involved in the lives of poor in your community or in 3rd world communities. Be encouraged by this video to redeem the time and do great works in God's name and for His sake.

Gao Zhisheng: Tortured for Christ... Missing for 100 days

2009-05-17T00:48:00.003-06:00

God will avenge his chosen people, who cry out to him day and night. (Luke 18:7) Cry out today and tonight to God that He will avenge the torture of this saint: Gao Zhisheng. Pray for God to avenge this saint through mercy or through justice - God's call on which one.

Equip Your Youngsters: Teach Creation Evangelism

2009-04-26T16:32:00.008-06:00

Many of the Christian kids who I've gotten to know have had little cohesive knowledge of their Bible, nor have they known how to share the gospel. My prediction for most of them is that Biblical truth will become perceived as a childish notion or as a powerless tradition by the time high school is over. We are losing the battle against Satan because we keep sending our lambs out to get their faith slaughtered.

Have the kids watch the Demolishing Strongholds DVD series, which will build a basic awareness of apologetics and sharing the gospel. Then, as a response, put the kids in groups and have them a script for a 3 minute creation video. Bust out the camcorder and shoot some creation evangelism videos.

My Definition of "Creation Evangelism": Within the context of presuppositional apologetics, utilize the creation as a springboard to share the gospel.

Here is an example of something I shot recently.

Homeland Security Openly Targets Pro-life Citizens as Terrorists

2009-04-25T01:58:00.003-06:00

You'll think I'm joking, but it is true. Dept. of Homeland Security released a document naming people who are pro-life as possible domestic right-wing terrorists.

"Department of Homeland Security Report: Pro-Lifers Most Dangerous Domestic Terrorists " article by American Center for Law and Justice.

Click Here To Sign The ACLJ Petition to Dept. of Homeland Security

The Obama administration will be turning their sights towards shutting down Christians. This is a first indication of their intolerance. Never forget that President Obama and his administration are extreme in their rejection of Biblical truth regarding the sanctity of life.

Programs + Preaching = Pastoring

2009-04-18T19:07:00.004-06:00

In our day and age, inflexible stances are made of all sides of this topic. I submit that discipleship involves preaching and programs, all in the context of pastoring. There seems to be two extremes. The preaching church lays a solid theological and apologetic foundation, while the programs church disciples people but has a hard time laying systematic foundations.

A common comment is that preaching is sufficient. If it is sufficient, why are there so many people being neglected and falling into the sins of bitterness, pride, apathy, hardness of heart?

We must be about pastoring. Pastoring can be defined as discipling the heart. If you look at Jesus' model, he preached, counseled, hung out, lunched, took field trips for ministry, used the Socratic method. Jesus addressed people where they were at and adjusted his approach without adjusting his truth.

Programs or preaching isn't the answer. Pastoring is the answer. Jesus was hugely relational, and our paradigm of church must match His relational character.

A few questions:
Do I have young mothers who are depressed and needing more? I'd better facilitate some older women/younger women disicpleship activities.

Are my husbands consumed with raising mission-minded families? Are they loving their wives? No? I need to facilitate some interactions that will disciple them.

Can I see young people itching to get in the battle? Let's ground our people in doctrine and apologetics AND teach them how to fight the Devil and harvest souls.

Facebook Evangelism

2009-04-15T22:19:00.002-06:00

You probably have nonChristian friends and family on Facebook. Shoot a video of your testimony, upload it to Youtube, and post it to your Facebook profile. Friends and family will watch a video. As a pastor, you can video people from your congregation also. My friend Sam Pitrone did this and has posted them on his website: http://www.cornerstonedenver.com/

Here's an example of a testimony that I posted to my Facebook profile.

Tim's Top Three Asian Aid Picks

2009-04-14T19:46:00.006-06:00

Bibles, Orphanages, Leprosy Relief, Discipleship, Persecution Relief. I have a heart for the persecuted and impoverished. Don't you love clicking donate to send 50 Bibles into a restricted nation?

1. Vision Beyond Borders: http://www.vbbonline.org/ I have a lot of appreciation for these guys - I know my money is going straight to persecuted Asian Christians. Native language Bibles are distributed, orphanages are being constructed... But this all takes funds. Will you help out?

2. Christian Freedom International: http://www.christianfreedom.org/ I love these people. With a single click, I can send out a backpack medic into a communist country, or send the gospel into an Asian leper colony. It is exciting to see CFI educating and caring for Burmese orphans, especially after the recent hurricane.

3. Open Doors: http://www.opendoorsusa.org/ Open Doors has the mission of supporting the persecuted church, and they do a great job. From lawyers for imprisoned to provisions for persecuted widows. It is exhilarating to click through 50 bucks and know that within a few days persecuted believers will be receiving Bibles.

Birthing a culture of evangelism in reformed churches

2009-04-05T16:40:00.005-06:00

A problem exists in the reformed movement. In many reformed churches, there are three options for lay ministry:
1. Focus on raising your children, with hit-and-miss evangelism in the workplace.
2. Leave the reformed church to find a church that has cohesive ministry vision.
3. Go it alone but stay in your reformed church. Raise your family, evangelize at work, AND mobilize your family to impact the unchurched lost.

Option three is the best one, but a lonely trail to navigate. This is especially true if you have been blessed with the eyes of a visionary. Slow and steady or detail man may be content to go it alone. But, visionary man burns to work within a team of like-minded leadership. Visionary understands that his influence is relatively meager without the whole-hearted support of his local church.

What is the answer? Here are a few that I've come up with:
1. Leave the reformed church and create a model that works and then replicate, replicate, replicate, replicate through church-planting.
2. Take a three-pronged approach to solving this defective doctrine:
A. Team-build within your church to engender a common vision and passion for Biblical ministry and evangelism.
B. Simultaneously, preach heart-felt, burning, sermons fraught with Christ-centered application.
C. Create a fluid discipleship system within the church. Without waiting for years, immediately start discipling the gifts that you are aware of. For example, have young people begin to use teaching gifts in Sunday school. Or, train everyone in the church to present the gospel and answer common questions. Also, encourage gifts by creating opportunities for them to be utilized. Young and old, married, mothers, children, quiet, extroverted alike should be imparted the church's ministry vision and given opportunities to practice ministry.

C - Continued: All teachers know that learning must be scaffolded. Believers must be taught how to use their gifts and given safe opportunities to use those giftings. As proficiency is reached on individual levels, the support and scaffolding from leadership can be redirected towards other Christians.

Regarding compassionate people in your congregation, create opportunities for them to work with experienced believers in the community. Some may volunteer in a pregnancy center along side one of the church's elders. After six months, that elder should evaluate the readiness and independence of the believers and start to withdraw.

If you get anything out of this, get this point!!! Discipleship is relationship-based and is always working towards bringing maturity and independence to the disciple. It is individualized instruction, modeling, teaming, working together. The discipler is endeavoring to impart vision and empower independent action.

To conclude, if a church does not have cohesive vision for equipping, training, and mobilizing believers, the believers will either withdraw into family-safe-activities, leave the church, or go at it alone. It is imperative that reformed church eldership wake up, develop common vision, beef up the preaching, and start discipling utilization of gifts throughout the community.

Ministry: Timing, Timidity, Zeal, Discipleship Training

2009-04-04T22:55:00.004-06:00

Jesus had clear vision in his ministry. He delighted in doing the will of His Father and we don't see evidence of Jesus in a holding pattern. Timing seemed to always be on Jesus' side, as he healed, preached, befriended, loved, died, rose from the dead. But, we don't see Jesus putting himself out of the game in order to wait for timing. Presumably, Jesus was busy doing His Father's business.

How do I discern God's timing? Jesus speaks strongly against the unfaithful servants who waste their time and talents. Instead, He praises and rewards the servant who maximizes his time and talents. Should I be the unfaithful servant, excusing myself because I lack knowledge of God's will? Isn't God's will plainly modeled by Jesus and commanded by our Lord? Go and make disciples.

Warnings:
1. Don't excuse an attitude of rebellion against God's will. It is easy to love ministry so much that the ministry activities become our will and not motivated by submission to God's will. Conversely, it's easy to become side-step God's revealed will because of mistake motivations.
2. Don't let past experiences hold you back. Bitterness, timidity, fear - all of these hamstring the Christian.

Exhortations:
1. Obey God's command to redeem the time. With your vision and ministry goals in mind, take advantage of the present. Use the present as a training ground. If you are faithfully practicing ministry in your present situation, God will most likely utilize you for BIG things in His plan of redemption. God will pass over the man who is waiting for the perfect time and ideal situation. If you want to be used of God, REDEEM THE TIME in the present. In the words of John Piper, "Don't waste your life!"

2. Examine your motives. Are you acting out of addiction to ministry? Or, on the other extreme, are you castrated by fear? My friend, Sam Pitrone, used an illustration the other day.

What if there was an obstacle course set up and local athletes were invited to compete. But, when they showed up, one guy was carrying a big screen TV. And, another insisted on running the race carrying a box of soda and several bags of chips? What if another athlete showed up with two suitcases and dragged those suitcases through the entire course?

The point is - are you dragging baggage around with you, reacting in fear or bitterness? Are you motivated by zeal for Christ?

3. Are you a young person filled with zeal? If so, start practicing. If you lack knowledge of the Bible, get into a discipleship situation. Just don't let your zeal die and don't act in ignorance. Instead, channel that enthusiasm into the ministries of mature Christians. Your energy and zeal may be young and unwise, so put yourself into an organization where you will be able to apprentice.

4. Mature believers! Find the young Christians who are bubbling with zeal. Utilize and disciple them. God tends to use zealous and excited believers more than he uses the stale and timid. If we shudder to see the babes go out among the wolves, we need to snatch up the zealous spiritual youngsters and apprentice them.

Jesus' Ministry Manual

2009-03-29T18:03:00.006-06:00

Two of Jesus' Ministry Directives:
1. Work now while the harvest is ready because the time is coming when it's all over.
2. Go out and make disciples.

Types of ministry that Jesus modeled:
A. Relational Discipleship: Jesus lived, taught, mentored twelve men for a few years. Along with this type of discipleship, Jesus spent time regularly with people in their homes.

B. Non Relational Relief Work: Jesus sought out physically or spiritually poor or infirmed people and gave them relief. He didn't stick around and start a new ministry but just relieved affliction and moved on.

C. Semi-Relational Evangelism: Jesus went to lunch with unchurched people, went to synagogue and preached to churched people, and openly invited all types of people to spend time with him. He even invited 5000 people to lunch with him.

D. Response to Requests: Jesus heard the cries of the forlorn and helped them. Sick called out and he healed them. Again, Jesus didn't feel compelled to start a special ministry but simply heard and helped.

What is your response? Are you going out and making disciples? Are you serious about harvesting souls? Do you care enough to target churched and unchurched? Are you following Jesus' example and practicing these four modes of ministry?

Obviously, Jesus calls many to special ministries. Try this - insert your ministry calling into A and follow Jesus' example for B through D. What do you think?

Evidentialist or Presuppositionalist... What?

2009-03-20T23:20:00.005-06:00

It is true that the only word that can convict a dead conscience and resurrect a lifeless spirit is God's word. Why do Christians tend to give up the fact that God's word is true and try to build a case for God outside of the Bible? This tendency betrays a lack of confidence in God's word.

An evidentialist evangelist uses evidence to prove the Bible is true and that God exists. i.e. The Case For Christ by Lee Strobel. On the other hand, presuppositionalists rely on the word of God as truth enough to educate an unbeliever. i.e. Answers In Genesis DVDs.

God uses both means, but the only hope for salvation is through the Holy Spirit empowered word of God. So, it is cruel to leave the lost lingering in evidence, without teaching them the truth of God's word.

I use both evidentialist and presuppositionalist materials. Depending on who I'm talking with, I try to tailor the materials to their background. In our pagan society, most people don't know who God is and many believe that the Bible is inaccurate.

Sometimes, it is difficult to know what to say or where to go with someone. A good rule of thumb is to simply begin statements with, "The Bible says..." If you are saying, "The Bible says", you will be operating in a presuppositionalist paradigm of witnessing.

Answers In Genesis has a nice article posted by respected apologist Greg Bahnsen.

http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2009/03/18/evidential-apologetics

For further reading, I'd point you to Always Ready by Greg Bahnsen.

What's Missing?... Not, What's Wrong?

2009-03-15T22:28:00.005-06:00

As a 3rd generation Christian, I burn with agony over the state of the reformed church and the American Christian church at large. God has given me the eyes of a visionary. And, let's be honest - the road of Christianity is strewn with the carcasses of bitter, lone-wolf visionaries. We see how things should be. We run the gauntlet repeatedly, to almost no avail. We cauterize into ineffectiveness.

Speaking with my brother this evening, I received some encouraging words - which I will pass on to you:

1. Stop asking what needs to be changed. Instead, look for what is missing. What needs to be added to the local church?

2. Go out and do it. Create a model that can be replicated. Then, replicate, replicate, replicate.

That's what I'm endeavoring to do. Building family vision, shepherding my family, moving forward together to take down the kingdom of Satan in the power of Jesus Christ. Will you join me?

Time Article is Accutrate except for...

2009-03-13T13:14:00.003-06:00

Calvinism is back in response to the shift to easy-believism and secular Christianity. TIME has an interesting article on modern Calvinism that gets it right except for the last line.

God is to be feared and reverently appreciated, True. God and His work are also to be celebrated and appreciated in a joyful, happy manner. Worship God with emotion and excitement birthed from a relationship of knowledge and experience.

As Calvinists, many of us mistakenly save our enthusiasm for secular pursuits. That betrays the error of a false dichotomy. Reverence, appreciation, happiness, enthusiasm - all of these are spiritual acts of worship.

John Piper on Biblical Adoption - A Must See!

2009-02-21T23:15:00.003-07:00

Consider Adoption. 143 million children are waiting. What is stopping you? What stopped God from adopting you? Nothing. Nothing on earth, in heaven or under the earth. In fact, it cost Him His Son's very life. Adoption can be painful. But, God the Father watching His son die as the penalty for His adoptive children's sins was unspeakably painful.

Maybe, you feel like you are too old. You aren't. Abraham welcomed Issac into his arms at the ripe young age of... well.. older than any of us. And, Abraham was an avid camping fanatic. Imagine late nights pacing the tent with squalling Issac... Hebrews 11 is talking about this type of fanatical obedience to God's call.

So, what is stopping you? The question we must ask ourselves is: What kind of legacy are we leaving? A life of ease or a life of battle? We only have a few more years and then it is glory-time. We can't waste it. We must follow our Leader no matter what our ages, incomes, preferences.

Here's a point to consider: When separating the sheep and the goats, does Jesus say, "You raised your kids right and created a multi-generational legacy? Or, does he mention other specific activities? We must raise our biological children AND adopt the orphans, visit the sick, remember the widows.

Reformed Missionaries - Where Are They?

2009-02-15T14:23:00.015-07:00

The past nine years, I've surrounded myself with Christian visionaries such as Keith Green, Sam Pitrone, Kevin Swanson, John Piper, DC Talk, Voice of the Martyrs, and Open Doors - most recently reading three books:

The Way of the Barbarian by Erwin McManus
Words to Winners of Souls by Horatius Bonar
Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne

The reformed church (along with many other churches) has a huge problem. Our people don't feel called to missions, at home or abroad. We hide behind our illegitimate facade of "relationship evangelism", which in practical definition means I've got all of my coworkers and neighbors on the long-term plan. Meanwhile, we pleasure ourselves with family, hobbies, church, fellowship and consider stress a major trial.

What a graceless assessment - I feel the sting myself. This attitude has obscured our generation's vision for evangelism, clinging to us like thick tar. This practice is what I'm in the process of crucifying. Just like the church of Jesus' day, we have all the right doctrines and our practice is irreproachable to those looking on. Family - great thing to put as a first priority. Relationship evangelism - is there any other type of evangelism? Church - don't forsake that or you're out of God's will for you.

Assume for a minute that I'm orthodox in my theology and allow me to pose some questions whose answers may reveal our Achilles:

Where does the idea that in order to do ministry or programs for lost people, God has to send out a call and provide a group of elders to facilitate a send-off?
Are we hiding behind the doctrine of calling and sending?
Did Jesus already speak audibly to His people when He told us to go out and convert/disciple the world? Why a second act of grace? Why require a second call?
Have we ever considered that we may be out of God's will in our classrooms, kitchens, cubicles?

The Battle In The Mind

2009-02-04T23:56:00.004-07:00

Satan hates you and wants to destroy you. He wants to destroy your future and all possibilities of a life of ministry to God. Satan attacks us in several different ways. Not everyone is attacked in the same way. Some are attacked in their lusts. Some in their emotions. And, some in their thoughts. Most people keep these attacks to themselves for fear of being seen as weak.

Here are a few ways that Satan may be attacking you:
1. Pride and self-sufficiency.
2. Self-destructive thoughts or brief moments of suicidal urges.
3. Obsession with sex or with popularity.
4. Destructive thoughts towards others.
5. Obsession with secular endeavors that eclipse vision for serving God.
6. Depression and feelings of worthlessness.

Regarding attacks on the emotions or mind, God wants you to take every thought captive. Satan wants to destroy you. He doesn't want you to do the good works that God has planned for you to do. (Eph. 2:10) Regarding feelings of worthlessness: sure we are worthless in and of ourselves. But, a Christian finds her/his worth in Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ, we are precious sons and daughters of God. In ourselves, we are wicked scoundrels.

Take every thought captive. You aren't a slave to your thoughts. Your thoughts can't make you do anything. Your job is to trust and obey because there is no other way to be valiant in Jesus! You are a slave to Christ now, not a slave to your lusts or your mind. You only have to submit to one master: God.

Why Aren't We Harvesting? A Poem

2009-01-30T00:14:00.008-07:00

Fear

Leaders are scared of change
Congregations fear unknowns
Individuals cringe from rejection

Fear

God's plans intimidate as He is not subject to our plans
We don't have programs to help those people
It's too risky - I have bills to pay

Fear

Note: The litmus test for how you're doing on evangelism is simple: How many legitimate new converts have I fished out of the sea lately? Or, have I even been out fishing? Here's an idea one of my friends mentioned last night - pack up this month's potluck and take it down to feed the poor.

Stimulating Evangelism... Not Stifling Zeal

2009-01-25T23:07:00.003-07:00

"Whatever you want to do, I'll do it with you," he said to me as I described an idea for ministry. That left an impression on my soul. This pastor didn't tell me that I should look for something that I was gifted in, or that it was too dangerous... or imprudent. He didn't even say that I should try to relationship-witness to those in my immediate realm. He simply said, "I'll do it with you."

Do you want people to discover their gifts? Encourage them to try out their ideas. At times, we hide behind caution, stifling the potential of what could be. If you trust God's sovereignty, He'll use the trial and error process to winnow out true callings.

Give it a shot. The next time someone mentions a hair-brained idea to you, surprise them and say, "Whatever you want to do, I'll do it with you!" You'll be surprised by the zeal that is birthed when Christians start test driving their ministry ideas.

Political Racism is still Not Okay

2009-01-21T23:22:00.004-07:00

Prejudice and racism are rearing their ugly carcasses now that President Obama is our executive leader. Put your listening ears on. You'll hear it at school, at work, and yes - at church.

Since President Obama has taken a stand of agreement on top of the dusty mound which hides fifty million American citizens. Since he is a moral relativist. Since he ... you fill in the blank, the temptation is to strike out at the easiest target - Obama's skin color.

Well, that's just plain sinful. God hates prejudice and God hates abortion. So, don't try to fight one wickedness with another. To combat the sin of racism and prejudice, take your people right to the truth of the Bible:

1. We are all one race in the bloodline of Adam and Eve, through Noah's sons. We did not evolve.
2. In God's eyes, we're all cochroaches, scurrying around in our rebellious squallor.
3. We fight a spiritual battle not a fleshly conflict.
4. Despising another man is an issue of pride. I already covered that in number 2.

Instead of making racist, broadbrush statements, approach diversity one person at a time. Don't approach anyone with a preconceived prejudice based on skin color, ethnicity or socio-economic status. Approach each person as an individual and discover whether that person is a wicked sinner like yourself, or maybe even a little nicer. Let's just stop the nasty generalities - Jesus doesn't like the comments. Instead, pray for your president.

What Is Repentance? Look it up in the YouTubinary

2009-01-19T21:41:00.005-07:00

Sam Pitrone has a gift for explaining the gospel and has been busy uploading onto YouTube. Why don't you join him? Fire-up the old camcorder! It is the gospel that the Holy Spirit empowers to change hearts. Let's flood YouTube with ten-minute presentations of the gospel.

It's Time for a National Homeschool Vision

2009-01-17T00:44:00.004-07:00

Generational vision requires metacognitive attention. You have to know what you believe and why you believe it. Not only that, you also must come to grips with what kind of people your want your posterity to be. In short, you HAVE to be AWARE of YOUR VISION for your CHILDREN.

Homeschooling may or may not be a tool to achieving your vision. But, it is a powerful tool that many dads are pulling out of the old tool belt. In light of how valuable homeschooling is, it's time to define our unity in vision.

To accomplish that, something exciting is taking place here in America. Homeschool dads across America will be collaborating, praying, planning. And, this March, they will be "Defining a Vision for the Christian Home Education Movement," according to the Leadership Summit 2009 website.

The upcoming Leadership Summit is not an initial meeting. It's format will be based on a successful summit held in 2006. The Oklahoma City 2006 summit was a time marked by spiritual accountability, unity in Christ and prayer.

This year, Christian Home Educators of Colorado will be hosting this conference in Indianapolis, March 5 - 7. With the lineup jam-packed with fired-up homeschool fathers, you will not want to miss this.

Check out the line-up which I lifted from the Summit website: Join "Voddie Baucham, Douglas Phillips, Chris Klicka, Kevin Swanson, Dr. Brian Ray, and others in a vision-packed weekend on March 5-7 in Indianapolis."

http://www.2009leadershipsummit.com/Default.aspx

Church-based Evangelism 101

2009-01-11T23:07:00.005-07:00

1. Leadership vision: Develop some vision within your eldership. What do you want to do and where? Who do you want to reach? When? How important is it to you?

2. Pray and preach the vision: Preach evangelism and the impending damnation of the lost from the pulpit. Give your congregation the means to develop a burden for the lost.

3. Cultivate an awareness of missions: You know what to do but here are a few ideas:
A. Use missionary biographies in Sunday School
B. Have ministry parties at the church and focus on one mission field. i.e. send Action Packs to Iraq through Voice of the Martyrs. Or, write letters to missionaries and orphans that your church supports.
C. Bring in missionaries regularly, both international and domestic.

4. International Evangelism: Focus on two or three missionaries. Develop a heart for missions by sending lots of money and praying. Remember, where your money goes is where your heart will follow.

5. Local Evangelism: Local evangelism is more difficult because our natural thinking on missions is that they are overseas. Therefore, we don't put the time or money into local evangelism that we put into international missions. But, back to the question of how to mobilize locally.
A. Relationships: We have get involved in the lives of the people in our community. Every person in your church has interests and talents that correspond with those of unbelievers. Within the context of your eldership's vision, believers can move out into the community, joining sports clubs, sewing circles, bowling leagues, 4-H, you name it. But, this type of evangelism is not for the faint-of-heart. The accountability comes at Wednesday night prayer group when everyone is expected to share out.
B. Model, model, model. There are many types of gifts and personalities in your church. So, evangelism can't be a one-size-fits-all approach. Therefore, your team of elders must step out of the box. Brainstorm some ideas for community outreach and invite people to join you in those activities. You aren't looking for all of your members to get involved in the same ministry. You want to kick start the passions of many different Christians by exposing them to a variety of ministries.
C. Hospitality. Those who can should be inviting unbelievers into their homes for meals or out to restaurants. Then, the people invited in must be prayed for at church on Wed. night.
D. Get creative. Find an interest in the community and use that as a bridge to teach the Bible's perspective on that interest. i.e. hold a creation seminar and give out free DVDS.

6. Bible studies. This will take some time to get rolling but will work in conjunction with the community involvement. Jesus tells us to go make disciples. Disciples are only made through spending time in the Bible together. People should be having Bible studies at coffee shops, with co-workers, etc. These Bible studies need to be mentioned every Wed. night and prayed for publicly.

7. The prayer meeting is paramount. If you publicly pray for all of the outreach, relationship-building, Bible studies, community ministries, international missionaries, orphans, you will discover accountability, red flags on burn-out, and you'll see fervor for the lost spread through your congregation. Keep track of who is being reached by name. Get to know the stories behind the names.

8. It's not about starting programs. It's about infiltrating the community through relationships, hospitality, Bible studies, and outreaches. You may start a program, but the intention should only be to utilize existing gifts in your church. Programs may develop but they don't have to exist in order to reach the lost. It's about going out to where unbelievers live, work and play. It's about integrating into their world, building relationships - for the single purpose of making disciples.

Finally, as elders have the attitude that you'll come along side someone and help them do anything it is that they want to for evangelism. Sure, you can veto something. But, always be willing to go out and pass tracts, do door-to-door praying over people, work at the soup kitchen, whatever. You don't have to commit to long-term. Just help your believers get out there and try out some evangelism.

YouTube Gospel

2009-01-10T01:32:00.003-07:00

My mentor, Sam Pitrone, has preached to thousands of unbelievers in the open air. Over the years, he has developed some short gospel presentations. I've used a number of his charts and pictures to share the gospel and have found that the pictures really help people see the gospel. Please watch all three of Sam's videos that he's posted on YouTube. Email the links around. Post his videos on your Facebook page, etc. Internet evangelism is a powerful tool that you can easily use just by forwarding a few of Sam's gospel videos.

Badly Burned Girl Needs Our Help

2009-01-07T18:11:00.004-07:00

Waiting for the Christian missionary to bring a Christmas blanket, little Chandana warmed herself by a straw fire. She got too close and her Christmas dress caught fire. Almost instantly, Chandana's small body was wrapped in flames. The missionary arrived and heard about Chandana. What he saw, broke his heart. Like him, my heart wept when I saw this little sweetie. Christian Freedom Intl. is getting Chandana the medical help she needs to survive this horrible providence. Chandana needs your prayers and your money.

Read the Entire Article

Mission Finder

2009-01-02T23:32:00.002-07:00

Teachers, doctors, med students, high school students, singles, families... Find a short-term or long-term mission at MissionFinder.org. Hundreds of ministries are categorized with descriptions and clickable links to websites. I am impressed by how user-friendly this website is. Is someone in your congregation looking for a mission? http://www.missionfinder.org/

Reaching the Lost - Regulative Principle: Part 2

2008-12-24T23:25:00.004-07:00

I’d like to broaden the discussion. I’d like to take this past service format and worship style. (reference regulative principle 1)

Extremes characterize worship, evangelism, and outreach. In many instances, our extremes leave us ineffective, except in the niches we find comfortable. Many churches are multi-generational, while others disciple and harvest. Some exist as social-gospel clubs, ministering for altruistic motives. Please think on a few questions to flesh out this issue.

A. What is the purpose of the church? More specifically, are the worship services to feed believers or save sinners? Along with that, how seeker-friendly should our services be? What are the Biblical methods for bringing unchurched to Christ?

B. What are guiding principles for making worship decisions?
Here’s what I think:

1. God wants to be worshipped in spirit and in truth. This should not be compromised in an effort to reach the lost.
2. Worship of God should be both respectful and joyful.

Psalm 104: 33-34 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the LORD.

3. Preaching should exposit Scripture, teach the gospel, and make application.
4. Fear is not our guide – the truth and example of Scripture are.
5. The regulative principle should be a litmus test, although it can be misapplied.

C. How effective is your church in discipling multi generational believers AND bringing in the lost? What’s working for you?

I’ll conclude with a book recommendation: Words to Winners of Souls by Horatius Bonar. Horatius articulates the purpose of church ministry as follows:

“We take for granted that the object of the Christi an ministry is to convert sinners and to edify the body of Christ. No faithful minister can possibly rest short of this… If souls are not won, if saints are not matured, our ministry itself is vain.” (p. 4 author's italics)

Christian Zeal from J.C. Ryle

2008-12-22T16:21:00.003-07:00

Zeal Defined
"Christian zeal is a burning desire to please God, to do His will and to advance His glory in the world." Notice the product – burning desire – and the motivation – to please God.

Man of Action
"When it is really strong, a man will make any sacrifice, go through any trouble, deny himself anything, give all his energies and even his life itself, if only he can please God and honour Christ."

The Pursuit
"A zealous man lives for one thing alone. His whole life is given over to one pursuit and that is to please God. It does not matter to him what the personal consequences may be, or what men may think."

Unstoppable
"If he cannot be outwardly active in serving Christ, he will give himself to prayer. If he cannot do a work himself, he will give the Lord no rest till he raises up someone else to do it."

Men’s Souls are at Stake
In Keith Green style Ryle drives home his conclusion, "Think of the precious souls who are dying while you sleep. Think of the shortness of time… Think of the devil, and his zeal to do harm."

Be Zealous Like Christ
"Think of the Savior, and all of His zeal for you. Think of Him in Gethsemane and on Calvary. What are you doing for Him? Oh, awake! Be zealous and repent."

Quotes taken from J.C. Ryle’s Walking With God, which is my top pick for Christian living. Right now, I’m using it as a daily devotional with my wife.

First Generation Immigrant Family Breakdown

2008-12-20T19:02:00.005-07:00

The parents speak a fluent home language but the kids speak English. Many immigrant parents insist on their kids learning English but fail to preserve fluency in the language that they speak at home. Instead of producing bilingual or trilingual offspring, the children end up speaking very little academic home language.

So what's the problem? The problem has spiritual ramifications. Without the ability to communicate effectively, teenagers tend to dismiss their parents as disconnected and irrelevant. This problem is compounded when parents solely delegate discipleship to the church. Typically, the teenagers go to English service and English youth group, while the parents worship and socialize with the other parents in their home language.

This problem has hit the Chinese Christians, the Korean Christians, and the Hispanic Christians, to name a few people groups. Parents cannot effectively build relationships because of language barriers in their own houses.

Parents should be tailoring a multi-generational vision for serving Jesus Christ. Instead, they hope that things will turn out all right, if the American youth pastor can do his job.

Folks, it boils down to this: Relationship. If you disconnect the kids from the parents, you've just short-circuited God's design for discipleship.

Were you aware of this problem before you read this blog? What are you seeing that works?

Go Out and Make Disciples

2008-12-14T16:39:00.006-07:00

"Jesus is being lost in a religion bearing His name. People are being lost because they cannot reconcile Jesus' association with Christianity. Christianity has become docile, domesticated, civilized. We have forgotten that there is a kingdom of darkness stealing the hopes and dreams and souls of a humanity without God." says Erwin Raphael McManus in his book The Barbarian Way. (My Review of The Barbarian Way)

Whether you lead a conservative church or a more contemporary church, the problem is that we are losing the art of going out and making disciples. Some churches are great at multi-generational discipleship, while others bring in unchurched by the dozens. The question we need to face is how do we do both.

Without family discipleship, our churched families are fractured. Lacking creativity to reach the lost, our churches are restocked only through births and the occasional sheep that changes folds.

What is holding us back? Fear of compromise? Lack of depth in discipleship? Is your church effective in obeying Jesus' heartcry to go out and make disciples? What is working for you? Are the lost finding Jesus in your church?

Depression

2008-12-06T23:46:00.004-07:00

"My wife doesn't just snap out of it. I can get my kids to snap out of it by telling a joke and getting a smile. But that doesn't work for my wife," my friend told me as we talked about depression in the home. Depression is the dark secret behind many front doors. It isn't cool to be depressed when you are supposed to be filled with the peace and joy of God.

Here's my perception - there are four basic types of depression:
1. Brain-related. Hormone imbalances, mental illness, and other brain-related disorders. These types of disorders can't be "fixed" with words or environmental changes. Medical help is needed. These types of depression can result in suicide.

2. Environmental. Lack of sunlight, messy house, disordered living space, financial stress. Sometimes, help is simply learning how to manage resources better. Some self-help-type methods can bring the environment into a more manageable state. Also, one must remember that God is strongest in us when we are most incapable.

3. Spiritual depression. This must be remedied with prayer, devotions, and accountable relationships with understanding believers. The person suffering spiritually must first find peace with God through Jesus Christ. Second, a believer must build his/her relationship with God daily, finding confidence in the character and promises of God. Third, identity must begin to be found in Christ and living as a Christian. A vibrant church can help this person, but true healing can only be found in a personal, daily walk with God.

4. Emotional depression. Emotional depression is tied into spiritual depression. But, I think that emotional depression has a lot to do with one's perception of how successful one is at his/her job, and/or personal relationships. A mom may feel like a failure because she perceives herself as incapable of raising children. The reality is that the opposite, but her perception births depression. Another aspect of emotional depression can stem from discontentment or another sin, such as jealously or unaddressed bitterness. Past hurts can creep in and sour the soul, leaving the individual emotionally depressed.

To sum up, depression must be targeted and dealt with by us. Families feel powerless and usually just ignore the problem or some use angry words to divert attention from the problem. Others rely on television and the world to band-aid the problem. Our job is to throw out the life line. Let our people know that we have some understanding for what they are dealing with.

+++ For Satanic oppression, Neil Anderson has some practical ways to find help from God. If you are plagued by satanic thoughts that are destructive to yourself or to others, check out Bondage Breaker and Victory Over The Darkness by Neil T. Anderson. Some people are plagued with thoughts about physically harming themselves or others. God has specific help available to those people through Jesus Christ. Neil Anderson quantifies that help and takes the mystery out of the process. Don't delay - it's not worth waiting. +++

The R-Factor

2008-11-30T15:06:00.004-07:00

Two men can say the same Biblical statement to the same group of people. One man is heard but not heeded. The other's words are received and responded to. What is the difference? If we put aside the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit for a minute, let's look at some of the factors.

1. Tone of voice and demeanor, perceived motivations
2. Past interactions with the teacher, either negative or positive
3. Context and chosen words for delivering message
4. Knowledge or lack thereof of the preacher's personal life
5. Peer V.S. professional. Human nature questions the validity of peer instruction

You can think of more, including the factors involved in each listener's life. I believe that reception of a message boils down to one factor - relationships. If I think that someone loves me and understands me, I will listen to him. If I see the preacher as cold, disconnected, or living according to a totally different paradigm than me, I am less likely to listen to the message.

Jesus spent time with his disciples. They knew Him and He knew them. Meals were eaten, road-trips taken, object lessons experienced, all together with their teacher - Jesus. Do you want receptivity and teachable spirits? Then, invest yourself into the lives of your people. Cultivate relationships which will bring reality to the truths you are speaking. It's no fun to be just a mouthpiece. The payoff is in being a pastor.

The Edge of Denial

2008-11-07T22:49:00.004-07:00

Have you ever sat in church and despised God? Have you ever looked at the fervor of Christian brothers and felt disconnected from their experiences? That's what I call the Edge of Denial. It is just before the slow slide into life-long worship of a false god. You know, the god of my own imagination. I've lost friends who have sat on the Edge of Denial too long and have baked in the heat of bitterness towards God. What is the answer? How does one step back from the Edge, into the meadows of trust in God and enjoyment in worshipping Him?

Really, anyone who has known God's touch has experienced incredible faith and trust in Him. If you've been born again for reals, you've heard the gentle voice of Jesus calling out to you, inviting you to look at Him and live. Not only have you heard Jesus, you've responded and known Him to be true, good, trustworthy.

In fact, even as you sit on the Edge of Denial, you continue to enjoy God's blessings. You even pray for help and He helps you. So, how do you step back from the Edge of Denial?

TRUTH About the Dinosaurs

2008-10-30T22:33:00.003-06:00

"Ahhh. This DVD was just right," sighs Goldie Locks as she switches off the T.R.U.T.H. About the Dinosaurs DVD.

Camera angles are just right, and the wide-angle footage bring the film to life. Appropriate for kids, teens and adults, this DVD will keep you dialed in. Current evolutionary ideas are examined against the evidences of the Bible, historical artifacts, scientific discoveries. Fascinating - Yes. Boring - No.

This will make a great DVD for distributing on a large-scale, since it is appealing to most ages and contains a clear gospel presentation.

Regulative Principle

2008-09-22T18:16:00.005-06:00

As I look at conservative churches, I conclude that it will take a miracle from God for non-generational Christians to attend more than a week or two. With just a few exceptions, the memberships remain mostly Christians who have been born into Christianity.

Let me define some terms:

non-generational Christians: unchurched people who have been born again.
conservative churches: groups of churches that hold to the regulative principle and/or refuse to become culturally relevant.

Regulative principle in hand, the services are kept somber. Is God austere? Does He require Christians to transport back to the 18th century to bring praise to His throne? True, most of the hymn stanzas are masterfully crafted. But, the only rhythm one is allowed is in the hands of the pianist. And, the vocabulary masks the meaning for non-generational Christians.

Long sermons, almost no movement, little interaction, 300 year-old songs.

Can't non-generational Christians attend a Sunday School where they can learn and interact? Yes, and most will not. There seems to be two issues here:

1. How does God want to be worshipped? In subdued joy? Openly expressed joy?
2. If we must conduct God's worship service in the traditions of 200 years ago, how do we retain visitors and transition them into our Western-European conservative paradigm of worship?

Al Martin signs off...

2008-09-21T18:17:00.002-06:00

Having grown up to the voice of Al Martin resounding from our 12 x 10 x 3 inch black tape player. You remember the kind: Large, black, with one 8 inch speaker. Every Sunday night, the entire family sat with pencils, 1-subject ringed notebooks and listening ears, as the deep voice of Al Martin spoke forth sovereign grace truths. Repentence, Saving Faith, Offices of Christ... Still, I listen to Al Martin on occasion, although now on DVD. Al Martin's farewell sermon is loaded up on sermon audio: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=61608102202

Social Work Burn-out

2008-09-15T17:40:00.003-06:00

Have you had your naive existence ripped from you through exposure to violence? If so, you are a flashing red blip on Satan's combat screen. With your experiences comes a willingness to be judgemental and jaded.

Do you go to church and watch stand aside from all of the "normal" people who enjoy life in blissful ignorance? You've spent time ministering to perpetrators, bringing light to dark slums, enduring violence against yourself and those around you. If you are a foster parent, you've probably cleaned poop off of your lavender wallpaper. If you carry a badge, you've seen it all and more. Violence, sexual perversion and cunning deceit have tried to sear your soul. Counselors, social workers, first-responders. All have had innocence destroyed long ago.

If you've lived with or ministered within violence, you know what I'm talking about. But, back to my original point: You're in Satan's sights. Why? Satan energizes perversion in humanity and maximizes the effects. He hates you and wants to put out your light. He will do it in a predictable manner for most:

You will start to despise other Christians because they are naive and inactive in ministry.
If you don't buy that deception, Satan will ask you to doubt God's goodness. He'll lead you to the thought that God is all powerful and yet allows human perversion.
One and Two are usually enough but there is one contraindication that accompanies them: You will withdraw from other Christians and slip into the hermit-syndrome.

Are you listening? Fight back! Get into church. Stop replaying the sordid stories for unsuspecting listeners. Ditch the anger, suspicion. As a friend of mine says, "Minister from the CROSS and not from your wounds. Your wounds will taint all of your ministry." Ditch the disdain for Christians and distrust for Christ.

Adoption Conference in Oregon

2008-09-07T16:16:00.005-06:00

Adoption conference in Portland, Oregon. Sherrie Eldridge, Stephanie Fast and Laura Wassink-Erkeneff will be speaking. While many adoption conferences target specific ethnic adoptive situations, Chosen International's mission is to bring Bible-based support to all adoptive families. Whether you are involved in adoption or are looking at adopting, this adoption conference will be beneficial.

Cost: $30 per person, which is unbelievable economical for such a cutting edge adoption conference. www.ChosenInternational.org

Youth Group vs Whole Group

2008-08-31T14:08:00.004-06:00

Within our fragmented, compartmentalized society, some congregations cater to each group, while others are strictly integrated.

This morning at church, two people mentioned youth group to me. One indicated that he didn't feel it was a suitable envirnment for godly kids, but the other viewed youth group as a necessary tool for discipling unchurched young people.

Having been in too many time-wastin' discussions on this subject, I'll not bore you with my opinion.

Well, since you brought it up, I'll type just one little thought.

What if youth groups engendered maturity through multi-generational involvement in the youth discipleship?
Could parents and young people work together to create an outreach tool for transitioning unchurched teens into the local church?

Don't be held in bondage to someone else's failed youth paradigm. Assess your discipleship and evangelism goals and create something useful. Otherwise, leave it to the parents.

Shoes for Orphan Souls needs our help

2008-08-02T01:30:00.007-06:00

God's hand has been on this from inception when a tornado hit a shoe factory in San Angelo, Texas. The shoe company, R.G Barry Corporation, donated almost 180,000 pairs of brand new shoes to Buckner's Shoes for Orphan Soles outreach. Buckner was unable to pay for the transportation from San Angelo to the Buckner warehouse in Dallas. God directed Wal-Mart to step in and provide transportation for the 175,000+ pairs of shoes.

At this point, the massive amount of shoes are waiting to ship out to shoeless kids all over the world. That's where we come in. Unless God has another plan, our dollars are needed to put shoes on the feet of unchurched peoples all over the 3rd world.

Click here to be the next link in the chain.

Shopping Website Sends Bibles to Military

2008-07-22T00:37:00.004-06:00

Interesting concept. If you link through to vendors through Bibles4Soldiers website, a % of your purchase gets donated to purchase King James bibles. That looks pretty good.

I do wonder about the choice of translation. I've been giving out primarily NKJV or NIV lately, due to the amount of unchurched people. The lexicon of many Americans doesn't naturally contain the vocabulary from the King James. However, God makes His word clear to His elect, saving them no matter which translation lands in their laps.

But, I digress. Check out this website and see if you might be open to picking up a few things from their vendor list. Bibles4Soldiers

Upside Down Gospel

2008-07-20T17:31:00.003-06:00

Have you ever tried to tell the gospel to someone who is unchurched? Where do you start? For me, it seems like it comes out backwards and upside down.

"Study to show yourself worthy.", "Be ready to give an answer for your faith." And, "Don't worry about what to say, the Holy Spirit will give you the words to say." All of these are true. So, to balance it all out:

Prepare, Practice, Pray. If it comes out upside down, that is probably what God wants for that person. God uses our pathetic weak words to shine light into dead, dark souls.

Have you ever had an upside down gospel moment?

Battlefield Earth

2008-07-13T15:05:00.004-06:00

"Satan hates two things: When men seek God and when men seek men," the preacher's words rang across the room. We are in the battle of a lifetime and most of us are asleep. The strongholds of Satan extend deceptively across America, soothing us into a tolerant sleep. All the while, there are places in Asia and the Middle East where demons have ruled undisturbed for hundreds of years. I've traveled to places where I could feel the heavy, black oppression. After centuries of bondage, these societies are fraught with pain, suffering and generational demon possession. Monks and priests say, "Peace, Peace" where there is no peace. Entire religions are built upon meditation, but the result is a generational legacy of souls open for demon possession.

What can we do? Pray. Like Moses with his hands held high, we can support those who have been dropped into dead-zones, where bondage and pain is has gained demonic momentum for over a thousand years. Shake off your lethargy. Pray. Not like you pray for before a PB&J with a glass of milk. No, pray like your daughter is on death's doorstep. Lift up holy hands, interceding in prayer for the warriors clinging to the face of godless cliffs.

Is the Bible the Word of God?

2008-07-11T09:56:00.005-06:00

Man, who is a practicing homosexual, sues two Bible publishers over the use of the word homosexual to convey homosexual behavior as not in line with God's moral character. He takes the publishers to task, pointing his finger at them for changing the word of God to be anti-homosexual.

Westminster Theological Seminary is deciding whether to say good-bye to Peter Enns because Peter has published a book stating that the Bible is human and God originated. And, we all know that the problem with human-originated literature is that it is tainted by human nature. The distinction between holy men of God being moved by God's Holy Spirit to write specific words, while God utilized their unique writing styles AND some of the Bible being God's word and some man's word is critical.

One disadvantage Bible-veracity-doubters have is that they have an agenda, justify their perceptions of God. Instead of creating a new book, like the Mormons did, these people want to either dismiss the Bible or continue to rely on parts of it.

Historically, the Bible's accuracy in historical details are proven time and again by archaeologists and historians. Ultimate truth will always be demonstrated in history and observable science.

The problem is that the Bible is nonsense to unbelievers and precious truth to believers. The difference is a state of mind and spirit. A state that requires the hand of God using His Bible to change.

Evangelism in the Neighborhood

2008-07-09T17:17:00.003-06:00

Let me just say this out loud, "How often does ANYONE from the neighborhood actually come to the church?" Implicit in my voice is the hint of realization that what we are doing is not working, at least on a local level.

Souls are saved through the communication of the gospel. This spreading takes time and strategic development of relationships. How many times have you heard that people need to come to church to hear the gospel preached? My observation is that either the sermons are very long and require a lot of background knowledge to understand or they are short and lack any substance. Therefore, both types of preaching do little to sustain the attention of the listener. Compounding that obstacle, most unchurched people never grace a pew anyway.

When Paul found that the Jews in Corinth rejected his gospel, he took his gospel to the unchurched. The question anyone looking to reach the unchurched needs to address is, "How did Paul reach those unchurched?" We do know that these people "heard" the gospel, which is how they believed.

So, back to my point. What do we do to get the gospel to unchurched? Many are scared of becoming seeker-friendly, which can result in a fractured core-group. I agree. So - we have a solid core group of discipled, multi-generational Christians who soak up the 45 minute sermon and great fellowship every week. Great! We are seeing generational salvation in the church. Our current strategy is only working for one people group: the multi-generational churched families. Now, what do we do about the unchurched?

Colorado Closes Door on Free Speech

2008-06-28T09:42:00.003-06:00

SB200 was passed and signed into law in Colorado. The Colorado legislature became dominated by the Democratic party in the last elections. They had already passed legislation allowing cross-dressing in one's work environment. With the liberal legislative dominance, intolerance of public speech and business hiring practices regarding immorality has now become law.

From Greeley to Colorado Springs, tolerance has become intolerance with the teeth of Colorado's justice system ready to enforce.

You need to be aware of this legislation because I, for one, never thought it could happen in a cow-state like Colorado. But, then, Colorado has not had the multi-generational Christian influence that some of our other states have had.

Basically, it boils down to this: Satan hates God's character and moral purity. Humanity, when unrestrained by the common grace of God, rears up in rebellion and persecutes anyone who maintains God's moral excellence. This attitude of hatred for God's morality is revealed in what ACLU's executive director Cathryn Hazouri testified for the Colorado House Judiciary Committee: "One may practice one's religion in private; however, once a religious person comes into the public arena, there are limitations in how the expression of their religion impacts others." My interpretation is that she is saying that any absolute moral convictions must be kept private. What's your reading of that quote?

To read more: WORLD NET DAILY or GENERATIONS WITH VISION.

Top Names in Adoption Coming to Portland, OR

2008-06-27T14:31:00.006-06:00

Sherrie Eldridge, Stephanie Fast, Laura Wassink are all going to be at the Chosen International parent/teen conference on November 1st, 2008. If you are an adoptive parent, an adoptee, a family counselor, pastor, or social worker you need to be at the Chosen International conference.
Sherrie Eldridge has authored books and Bible studies, including Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew. She also ministers through a website http://www.adoptionjewels.org/. Sherrie will be a must-hear, as she shines light onto the perspective of adoptees.

Stephanie Fast is amazing to hear. Recently moved back from ministering in Japan, Stephanie will bring to the conference her incredible heart for God and her story of being touched by adoption. Abandoned as a preschooler, Stephanie lived on her own in the hills and cities of Korea until she was rescued by Christians and eventually adopted by her family as a preteen. More can be read at http://www.stephaniefast.org. Her testimony includes horrific obstacles that God has helped her overcome. God is truely making a masterpiece in Stephanie. I saw her speak last year and can still quote specific gems of wisdom from her talk.

Laura Wassink, adult adoptee and family therapist, specializes in helping adoptive families and adolescent adoptees.

This is conference that you and your staff won't want to miss. Please forward this blog to anyone on the west coast who might be interested in attending. Anyone who is interested in adoption or ministering to adoptees should be at this Nov. 1 Chosen International conference.

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed - Canada

2008-06-22T22:42:00.007-06:00

Expelled goes to Canada on June 27th. With Canada's war on moral relativism, it will be interesting to see what type of reception Expelled receives.

Having watched this film twice, I am confident in its content. If you are a Canadian, get to your theatre to see this film. It is worth it.

For Canadian Christians, use this as an opportunity to engage your friends by giving them a DVD from AnswersinGenesis.org called Creation: Science Confirms the Bible Is True by Dr. Jason Lisle.

We gave out 50 of these DVDs, using Expelled as a springboard. The truth is that God created the world and because that is truth, observable science confirms it. Disbelief does not negate facts or truth. Truth remains absolute, regardless of human opinions, theories, philosophies. Truth manifests itself.

4000 Bibles in 4 Weeks

2008-06-20T01:14:00.003-06:00

Can you help? With a $10,000 matching grant, Open Doors is working on getting 4000 Bibles into the outreached hands of believers in persecuted countries. Brother Andrew set the pace in his VW Bug and his open honesty. The only question to answer is, "Will we continue the race that he ran?"

www.opendoorsusa.org

Meager Efforts

2008-06-01T10:32:00.003-06:00

Just yesterday, a nice guy was ripping me in a hypothetical "you" way for being an idiot who doesn't believe in evolution. His basic reasons for being an evolutionist were:
1. I don't need God and don't need His authority.
2. 200 years of science have proven evolution.
3. We don't need God because we can wait for science to explain what we don't know yet.
4. I have 40 years of being a scientist under my belt.

From behind his smile, a spirit of intense hate emerged. This man despised me, at least the hypothetical me. I asked him for examples of proof for evolution and he mentioned studies in similarities in DNA. Other than that, he could not give me proof beyond an assertion that there are stacks of books to prove evolution. (Don't misread this narrative - this guy was pretty intelligent. But, also pretty closed-minded.)

When speaking with a staunch evolutionist, there is generally no receptivity to anything that challenges the partyline of "science proves evolution and scientists aren't idiots." So, where does that leave me? It leaves me with meager offerings.

1. Be a humble listener
2. Ask respectful questions to challenge thinking and expose faulty logic
3. Bring the conversation back to God as Creator and Authority
4. Tell the gospel

The root of the issue is that human doctrine leaves no room for the loving, caring, just, all-powerful Creator God who deserves appreciation for His genius creative masterpieces. God's fingerprints are all over observable science, from a steelhead's swim-bladder to the complex engineering of creation to the language of DNA. You will never argue someone into loving God and appreciating Him. Only Christ empowering your meager offerings can release the blindness and give sight to see the truth that science confirms the truth of God's existence and creation.

Cyclone Relief in Burma

2008-05-18T23:56:00.005-06:00

Gospel For Asia has churches in Burma that are already ministering and doing relief work. They can be trusted and 100% of your donation will go to Burma. None will stay state-side.

http://www.gfa.org/cyclone

Christian Freedom International has a dozen backpack medics carrying IVs hiking across the country. Get your money working for you immediately, with medics already on the ground in the cyclone disaster area.

http://www.christianfreedom.org/

Samaritan's Purse already has a team of water specialists in place. In the aftermath, disease will spread like wildfire through the contaminated water. Nothing says, "Jesus loves you" like a clean glass of water.

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

World Magazine has a listing of ministries on the ground, including the three I've mentioned. Thanks WORLD for being on top of it! I appreciated your quick action during the tsunami, and was really encouraged to read your listing of ministries already working in Burma. http://www.worldmag.com/

Results of North Korean Freedom Week

2008-05-13T23:58:00.003-06:00

12,300 letters went out to members of Congress, asking for endorsement of a letter for Hu Jintao, the president of China. Fifty-four members of Congress responded to the 12,300 pieces of communication and signed their names to a letter asking China to stop repatriating North Korean refugees to certain torture and/or death.

What is the message for American Christians? Pray. Famine is about to hit North Korea, which will bring an influx of refugees into China. China's current strategy is to hunt down refugees and send them back into North Korea. Reportedly, this results in torture, labor camps and, for some - death.

War of the Worldviews...

2008-05-08T19:14:00.007-06:00

Case Against Intelligent Design Fails By Norm Fox - as published in the May 4th Register Guard is a rebuttal to Richard Dawkin's April 27th essay against creation.

"The universe either made itself or it was made. Any argument supporting either alternative automatically opposes the other. This is why neither of these competing cosmogonies can be honestly advanced without at least contemplating its opposite, either philosophically or scientifically..."

This really is a war of the worldviews. As Duncan McCloud has said, "There can be only one." This is because truth cannot be incompatible with itself. It cannot falsify itself. I spend a significant amount of time studying the creation and the truth that God's creation testifies of His glory is true. You ever heard of complexity? Just look around you. You'll be blown away with the genius of God's creative abilities. Richard D. preaches that creation is improbable. He is blind and trying to create his own reality. Read Norm's commentary to see what he has to say about Richard's arguments against the Creator.

90% of Homeschool Students Plan to Homeschool

2008-05-07T23:19:00.004-06:00

Over at the hospital for a seatbelt class, I heard a lady complaining on her cell phone about how half her paycheck goes to daycare. (FYI - Maybe I go to traffic safety classes because I feel compelled to by civic duty.) Today, another friend told me about getting a call that her toddler had a fever of 102 - at childcare. What does this have to do with homeschooling?

Fathers have given up leadership in the family and become disintersted, frustrated, disconected. Mothers have parceled mothering into 2-hours each evening. Families have imploded. Children are raised by teachers, peers, daycare providers. What will you do about it? Are you spending 45 minutes with your child, winning her heart? Or, do you hand out discipline like handshakes and abdicate your relational responsibilities? Would you categorize your parenting as pathetic or pretty hotdoggin' good? I'll answer that question with this statement: "Help Me God!! I'm really, really, really selfish!"

The reason why homeschoolers are choosing to continue the push for educational excellence is because they know that the family relationship is where true knowledge, growth and generational vision is fostered and fourishes.

Click here to check out Kevin Swanson's blog on this study: http://www.generationswithvision.com/blog.aspx

Expelled From Texas

2008-05-04T00:04:00.004-06:00

As you probably already know, Institute For Creation Research (ICR) has been denied accreditation in Texas. They are running an interesting ad in Texas media on Monday. Here's a sneak-preview:

http://www.icr.org/neverstop/

ICR has been around for years, and I've met at least one scientist that attended there. Scientists in my own family have been impacted by works from Dr. Henry Morris. Ben Stein was right, despite all of the huffing and puffing of the evolutionists. These guys have given science a ton of research, including Mt. St. Helens geology studies. It hurts to see those in power trying to stifle a minority voice, especially in the area of scientific inquiry - especially in America.

Reaching Out, Out of the Comfort Zone

2008-04-27T18:46:00.003-06:00

"Why do parachurch organizations get to have all of the fun?" I asked my wife today, as we sat reading in our backyard camp chairs. I was enjoying Buckner International's issue on ministry in the Americas, specifically the orphan-care articles. It hit me - Where is the local church?

Make a 3 collumn chart and hang it up in your church. Do some brainstorming under these three categories: Needs - Location -- What Could We Do?

Start local maybe... Expand outward...

Movie Review - Expelled by Ben Stein

2008-04-19T22:38:00.005-06:00

Hours after viewing this film, I still feel mixed feelings, unsettled yet intrigued. Without slandering the secular scientists who insist on divorcing Creator from creation, Ben skillfully takes the viewer on a journey through his investigation of modern-day science and his subsequent reflections. Weaving interviews and commentary, Stein systematically dismantles the wall of secrecy surrounding the questions left unaddressed by Darwinism. He shows that evolution cannot answer the question of origins and but continues to deny God the right to be considered as the genius who created life.

Go see this film. You'll see the hard-handed tactics of some who refuse to allow for a Creator and yet cannot present a plausible solution for origins. Academic intolerance of any competition to evolution's spontaneous self-generation of life will surprise you. Along with presenting an overview of the current scientific climate, Stein will also give you insight into issues stemming from a belief in natural selection like abortion and eugenics.

Expelled will leave you wanting more. Unanswered questions will demand answers. You will be satisfied with your money's worth. However, you will also be keenly aware of your need to learn more, know more, seek the truth. Stein will only crack open the door, inviting in tiny illuminating streams of light. The rest will be up to you.

Ben will impart a craving for two things: more scientific understanding of the complexity of nature, and you will desire something equally as important - a world-view.

Discipleship versus Evangelism

2008-04-01T17:17:00.003-06:00

There are two sides of the church-pendulum, in my experience, with individual churches spread somewhere along that continuum. Many local bodies are great at fellowship and discipleship of families and mature believers. On the other end of the pendulum arc, some churches pour themselves into missions and evangelism, while neglecting healthy discipleship of mature believers and their families.

For example, some churches are wonderful environments for children who have been raised in godly homes, but are a foreign place for children who lack basic discipleship. At the same time, a church can have great "milk" for the unchurched and lack in doctrinal and apologetic training for youth.

If I am honest, I have to say that many congregations don't have unchurched present because they don't go out and find them.

The challenge is for a church to minister to unchurched and at the same time minister to the generational Christian family.

What is the answer? Evangelistic outreach is necessary to bring in unchurched, lost people. Adjusting some aspects of how we do church is necessary to train unchurched in the methods of church. Discipleship has to be available.

It boils down to this: Do we want our church to minister to mature families and unchurched families? If so, we need to evaluate, strategize, act. Following are a few ideas for a beginning:

1. Assess whether our church is balanced or swung to one side or the other.
2. If swung to the evangelistic side, don't add programs. Adjust existing teaching to include catechism class and applicational discipleship in doctrine/apologetics.
3. If we are dangling on the mature believer and his family side, evaluate the community and strategically penetrate it to draw in unchurched. Put into place some plans on how your church will welcome and make the milk of the gospel accessible to unchurched.

I believe that there is a tendency to specialize. God's people don't come that way. The elect are diverse in background, socio-economics, ethnicity.

Humanism Pictured

2008-03-29T09:07:00.003-06:00

What spiritual analogy could apply to this picture?

Take Some Ground

2008-03-21T22:28:00.005-06:00

America is the land of opportunity, especially for ministry. Widows sit in every rest home across the country, waiting for strangers to visit. You've seen them: Slightly dark, linoleum flooring, a few pictures of smiling grandchildren, television blaring. Orphans bounce through foster homes, dreaming of a forever family. Abortion's knife slits the throat of innocence, while precious few intervene. Husbands manipulate and cycle their abuse from emotional to physical, as neighbors turn a cold eye. America is crying out for a touch of the cool water called Christ's love. America's heart burns for genuine fellowship with our God, but she doesn't want it through Jesus Christ.

How do we get involved? How can you help? You can't do it all, so pick something to do. Jesus has a heart that is soft and inclined towards the oppressed. Is your heart cauterized by overexposure to sin? Turn again, Christian. Focus your energy back into battle. Ignoring won't displace the misery. Bringing Jesus Christ out of the dusty pages and into the neighborhood pregnancy center is the Christian's call to duty. Standing tall for the preborn children during a non-election year is a start. Forsaking fear and fathering orphans births hope and shines a flashlight in America's cursed darkness.

Africa, tsunami, Hurricane Katrina... Needs flood in and Christ shows up to restore. Back to the daily grind and we feel overwhelmed by America's hate for life and the Life-sustainer. Jesus' moral law is despised and our good news disdained. Notwithstanding, we press forward and take ground for the kingdom. God's grace is our strength and His wisdom our council.

City on the Hill

2008-03-04T22:22:00.003-07:00

"Even when we can’t talk about our faith or openly give out Scriptures, we can still be there." Brother Andrew
Humans and governments can't stop the Holy Spirit's call to His elect.
Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against demonic spirits orchestrated by Satan.

With these three statements in mind, what is your course of action for the next 5 minutes? What is your vision for Christ for tomorrow? Where are you willing to be in 6 months?

Awareness of Persecution

2008-03-02T14:33:00.003-07:00

Many live in ignorance, thus never praying for the persecuted. Pastors and fathers bear the fault. Here is something that you can easily do to build mission-minded vision for the persecuted.

A. Order the Voice of the Martyr's "Gift of Fellowship Share Kit" churches which includes 15 invitations to subscribe to the monthly magazine and receive a free book. Responders to the invitations get to choose between Tortured for Christ, Extreme Devotion, or Jesus Freaks.

B. Put up a poster next to the invitations that reads like this:

FREE Book and Mag.
1. Choose your FREE book
Extreme Devotion or Tortured For Christ or Jesus Freaks
2. Send the card in for FREE
3. Receive Free Magazine
4. Pray for Persecuted! (Free)

North Korean Freedom Week: April 27 - May 3

2008-02-23T17:38:00.003-07:00

1. Get people excited about signing up for time-slots on the prayer calendar. The goal is to have over 1000 people praying at any given time during the North Korean Freedom Week. The calendar is semi-interactive and by state.

2. This is a lobby week, so families and individuals are needed for the Washington, DC lobby activities. Open Doors is coordinating this, I think. They have a nice overview over at the Open Doors USA website.

3. View videos about the Seoul Railroad on our Mom's Ministry Blog. There is a missionary in Seoul who had risked life and limb as a conductor on the underground railroad. Visit his website at http://www.helpinghandskorea.org/

4. I'd encourage you to show some videos in church. Most Americans are totally unaware that North Korea is the NUMBER ONE persecutor of Christians in the world, according to the Open Doors World Watch List.

North Korean Misery

2008-02-22T20:37:00.005-07:00

Society is collapsing in the Hermit Kingdom. South Korea pumps billions of dollars in appeasement money into Pyongyang, hoping to boost their bankrupted economy and maintain peace. Both sides hope for reunification, which is impossible without regime change in the north. Meanwhile, North Korean communists bake, boil, waterboard, rape, kill, enslave, torture, maim, brutalize 200,000 plus prisoners. Most of the 23,000,000 citizens survive in fear and abject poverty.

Pyongyang is vacant as a disused sound stage and thousands die of starvation in the countryside. Some villagers are so hungry that they have reportedly bathed and boiled infants to quell hunger. Those who refuse to cannibalize risk prison camps by stealing from the government owned fields or boil tree bark and eat clay.

Within this context, Pyongyang pours forth streams of propaganda, brainwashing millions into worshipping their unholy trinity. Those riding the tenuous wave of favor in the communist party enjoy some first-world comforts. The few who have clawed their way to the top of the heap cling to their wealth and power at all costs. Political arrests require no warrants and no due process. Most live lives of desperation and loss. All are under the watchful gaze of Pyongyang.

So what can we do about it? Pray for the leadership to be saved. Pray for revival in the country. Send money to Voice of the Martyrs to support the spread of Jesus' message of love and forgiveness in North Korea.

Enter the darkest nation on earth. Below are two videos. Read between the lines. The truth is found in what you don't see.

Next, click here to watch SECRET VICTIMS, a short documentary about the North Korean abductions of South Koreans to use as spies.

Easter Outreach

2008-02-16T00:37:00.004-07:00

Two Great Options for neighborhood and co-worker evangelism:

The Last Adam looks pretty good from Answers in Genesis. It ties the history of what took place in the Garden of Eden to the events that took place after the Garden of Gethsemane.

Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. John Piper is again offering his fabulous outreach book for one dollar per book. We've passed out a ton of these over the past few years. One year, I wrapped up a bunch of these, put bows on them and left them anonymously on all of my neighbor's doorsteps. It was quite a sight, me sneaking around at midnight trying to drop off these sweet selections. I thought I was pretty sneaky but I did get a thank-you or two a few days later. :)

Urgent Prayer Request

2008-02-02T00:03:00.000-07:00

Please pray for this adoptive family that just lost their dad.
http://www.lazydranch8.blogspot.com/

Evangelism in the Local Church

2008-01-24T17:17:00.000-07:00

is the theme for the April 22-25 ARBCA conference, and it looks PROMISING! There is nothing more exciting than methods of evangelism taught within the context of God's sovereign grace. TULIP is the perfect platform from which to learn about evangelism.

If you are in the Quad City Illinois area, you really should register for this conference, which is being hosted by Sycamore Baptist Church.

Church Website for Evangelism?

2008-01-22T18:25:00.000-07:00

With Internet Evangelism Day coming up April 27th, an organization out of Great Britain is offering a free website evaluation tool to help churches reach the lost through their websites. By answering a quick questionnaire, this tool evaluates and gives suggestions.

You might give this tool a try, as it comes recommended by people from several different well-known ministries such as Lifeway and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

www.InternetEvangelismDay.com/design

"There is no silver bullet for a great ministry site. However, this checklist is an invaluable tool to identify critical areas for improvement. Every church should study this regularly and act on it!" - Gary McClure, LifeWay Ministries.

Tony and the boys over there in the U.K. have taken the bull by the horns and set up a keen website to help with internet evangelism. If you don't end up using the website evaluation tool to see how effective your site is, at least check out what a little English elbow grease can accomplish by going to : www.InternetEvangelismDay.com

Buyer Beware...

2008-01-19T23:39:00.001-07:00

Christian Children's Fund receives $206,000,000 from Christians per year and uses it to feed and clothe children in need. Sounds great but Christian Children's Fund does not teach the gospel to the children they serve. On the contrary, they allegedly contract with witch doctors in Asia and Africa to help with their operations.

"So, Tim. Why are you being a player-hater?" Well, let me answer that briefly. Jesus wants your gifts in His name to go out in His name and not in the name of a witch doctor. Also, the gospel is what bring true relief. Yeah, it's easy for me to mince words in my middle-class, comfortable home, while children live in unthinkable conditions. But, I don't think that denigrates the point: be careful who you send your money to.

Rusty Leonard from Wall Watchers did an article in World Magazine on this, which is where I got my information. His point was that we probably want those who are caring for the needy to teach them the gospel, otherwise our money is just as useful as if it was going to a secular relief organization.

I personally have researched Samaritan Children's Home in Lusaka, Zambia and met with the guy who runs it: John Jere. He and his wife care for about 60 kids. As John is a pastor and church-planter, his paradigm is one of discipleship.

Gospel For Asia also has a gospel-focused education/relief program in India for the Dalit (untouchable) children called Bridge of Hope. Bridge of Hope primarily exists to teach the gospel, while giving daily food and clothing to the students. GFA were basically first-responders during the tsunami relief, as they have thousands of native missionaries on the ground across Asia. With their own Bible-trained pastors spread across Asia, GFA does not have any need whatsoever to partner with "native healers" or what most call witch doctors.

Voice of the Martyrs provides for the at-times starving families of Christians who have been put in prison or killed. These guys get the money directly to the lady whose husband just got beaten to death by Hindu or Islamic neighbors.

Asleep in the Light

2008-01-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

Motivated to minister? Pick up this song, one of my favorite reminders of how spiritually impoverished and selfish I am. You'll understand once you listen to the song a few times. This song has legacy value for those who know no-boundaries ministry first-hand. I venture that many a difficult ministry task has become easier because of this song.

Asleep in the Light by Keith Green

This blog made me say, "Unbelievable!"

2008-01-11T17:55:00.001-07:00

http://arbcainlakeshore.com/2008/01/11/statistics/

Especially, the statistics about Lakeshore Baptist church... Almost... inconceivable.

Rebuild Lakeshore, Mississippi

2008-01-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

Rebuild Lakeshore is a ministry effort of the Lakeshore Baptist Church (see picture to right). This week, 140 volunteers have traveled in from reformed baptist churches to help rebuild houses, distribute supplies through the outreach center, minister and counsel.

Hurricane Katrina is still pounding Mississippi, causing emotional, financial devastation. Fortunately, Jesus has been down there loving on people, giving them food, building them houses.

If you haven't met Jesus personally, you don't know what I'm talking about.

If you have, you know that your entire reality is revolutionized. Jesus Christ takes His rightful place as your king, bringing with Him perfect forgiveness, peace, purpose and, my favorite, forever-friendship with God!

Check out this blog on the 140 Christians in Lakeshore: http://arbcainlakeshore.com/

Church Planting Tips

2008-01-07T17:27:00.000-07:00

Just enjoying the latest issue of my favorite missions communique - ARBCA Update. An article on church planting caught my attention, as I noticed a few friends pictured with the attendees. Here are a few tips that stood out and my reactions:

Tip 1. The mission belongs to Jesus, not me. "It's His mission, not your mission." (Jim Dundas)
Reaction: Let me simply comment that it is a spiritual struggle to cognitively submit my ideas and dreams for ministry in humility to Christ and His will. But, my spirit says, "Amen!"

Tip 2. Be humble. Be a listener. Be compassionate. Be more interested in others than in yourself.
Reaction: Ouch!

Tip 3. Set up financial accountability with the parent church to prevent embezzlement
Reaction: Financial accountability is smart, even if it is just to prevent accidental overspending.

Tip 4. Preach Christ. Preach doctrines of Christ, and don't get carried away with denominational distinctives.
Reaction: Sounds good to me. The doctrines of grace are so integral to the gospel and the character of Christ that preaching Christ will involve core Biblical doctrines.

Tip 5. Everyone in the church must be involved in working to bring sinners into the church plant. Conversion of sinners must be the primary focus, with every member involved in drawing sinners, which is the ministry of the church-plant.
Reaction: I couldn't agree more. Every church member has unique giftings and those giftings should be maximized to reach out and draw sinners in to hear the preaching of the gospel.

Finally, the goal is to produce a church-plant that is "self governing, supporting and propagating."
Reaction: I can't get over Tip 5 - everyone working to draw sinners into the church to hear the preaching of Christ and His atoning sacrifice, resurrection, rulership.

Listen through the voices

2008-01-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom and Dad,

You don't know me yet, but God does and He's chosen me to be your child. Come find me... I'm one in 143 million orphans. "I'm so lonely here."

Read about me at: Buckner International

Love,
Your child

Operation Bare Your Bookshelf

2008-01-03T15:18:00.000-07:00

"Research indicates that the average American Christian owns nine Bibles and is actively in the market for more." Christian Resources International reports. Operation Bare Your Bookshelf caught my attention, as I have 2 huge containers of Christian books wasting away in my garage. I just ordered 5 mailers from CRI, which come addressed to specific pastors throughout the world. If this turns out to be a good ministry, I'll probably use it as the focus of our next ministry party.

Check it out for yourself and get a few of your NINE Bibles off the shelf, not to mention that dusty old copy of Berkhof's Theology!

http://cribooks.homestead.com/bareyourbookshelf.html

To Go or Not to Go

2007-12-30T21:55:00.000-07:00

Two extremes pull at us when answering the call to go:
1. Should I go now or should I wait and pray some more? Have I felt the call enough yet?
2. I'm not a fortune teller - how can I devine the future? I'll see you out on the field!

How do I know what to do? As a Christian, I would hate to be out of God's will for me. As a calvinist, I know that even my mistakes are profitable for me and that I'm never out of God's will. But, you know what I mean! I want to be right where God wants me, geographically, demographically and spiritually.

So, back to my dilema - to go or not to go!

North Korean Fake Underground Churches

2007-12-29T22:24:00.000-07:00

In North Korea, some Christians remain silent for decades, fearing the destruction of their entire family and execution or prison camp for themselves. The state religion is glorified humanism that tries to replace the Triune God. The North Korean government is setting up fake churches. In the process, they are stealing money from Chinese and Korean Christians and destroying legitimate underground Christian churches. Pray for the salvation of the Korean agents and of their dictator.

Children are starving to death. Christians are working 18 hour days in prison camps. Reports come out of the camps numbering 200,000 plus that Christians are burned to death, melted, trampled to death by thousands of prisoners, buried alive in raw sewage, publically executed.

If you want to go to the darkest spiritual place on earth. Go to North Korea. You can't. So - just pray for God to have mercy on the open depravity and save millions of North Koreans.

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071225/30629_Report%3A_North_Korea_Sets_Up_Fake_Underground_Churches_to_Expose_Christians.htm

To learn more read Eyes of the Tailless Animals - an incredible first-hand account.

https://www.vombooks.com/qry/qe_store.taf?_function=detail&_peid=828&_id=A7535CC748&_code=P&_nc=8dbcdd8cff16d1b4353a2e55b9779e38

Programs... Modern Church Growth Movements....

2007-12-27T15:34:00.000-07:00

It seems that there is an emphasis on programs and not on the preaching and discipling. Is that bad? Read on and see what you think of my contribution to this discussion.

1. People are saved through exposure to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. Unbelievers are drawn to that gospel through the outworking of Christ's unselfish love.
3. An unrepentant sinner who believes in Christ's love is not saved. Without conviction of sin, there is no recognition of Christ as King.
4. Discipleship is individualistic in nature - young believers need discipleship, mentorship and opportunities for godly fellowship.

I'll tie this all together: Programs are an outworking of Christ's love in an attempt to call the elect out of the masses to participate in the hearing of the preaching and teaching of the gospel. Look at your congregation and evaluate the gifts you see. What ministries can you involve your people in that will effectively blaze the love of Christ out into the community - putting your church on the map as a place to hear more about this Jesus Christ?

Modern church growth relies on programs within the church. That is a weakness. Programs are key to involving your congregation in the world. Within the church, discipleship and preaching will probably ensure a higher percentage of mature believers.