Could you honestly be content with only food and clothing? Sadly most days the toys around me contribute more than I know to my satisfaction in life. If they were gone I'm not sure how content I'd be...
Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
~ 1 Timothy 6:6-10
Monday, November 14, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Unboxed Missions...
It’s weird how God sends certain people into our lives to open our eyes and help us grow. Leon was one of those people. He worked in the youth group I was a part of when I was a kid and then one day, all of a sudden, he decided to be a missionary and move to Russia. I was probably 12 at the time and I remember being dumbfounded that he would simply say goodbye to everything he knew and start a whole new life halfway across the world. People I knew just didn’t do that. It’s not that we didn’t love Jesus but foreign missions was not for everyone. It was for a more select group of really sold out people like retired pastors or for a few radically extreme holy rollers who spoke with God on a daily basis. Normal Americans just didn’t move to Russia where for all I knew the people ate polar bears and lived in ice huts. But Leon told us the Lord was calling him to work with the people of Russia and he wanted them to understand that Jesus came to save them. He wanted to share with them what it meant to have a relationship with the Lord and that was the most important thing he could do. Although I couldn’t quite wrap my head around that concept I went with the flow and cheered him on. Like any good church we added his picture to the “missions wall” and his name started appearing in the Wednesday night prayer sheet. My family added his picture to the refrigerator with all the other prayer cards and life went on.
That’s what happened in those days. When someone left for the mission field we all said goodbye and we prayed. We didn’t expect to see them again for at least a couple of years. Then out of the blue they would show up on a random Sunday night and we would all celebrate while listening to everything the Lord had done. They would be wearing weird clothes and would always start their sermon with a foreign language. Usually it was something along the lines of “Greetings from -insert random country-, we are excited to be here.” Before they left we would all get our updated refrigerator prayer cards and once again say our goodbyes. In the months that followed we were prayer warriors but ultimately their picture would get covered by the next missionary that came into town and the prayers would slow. It’s not that we didn’t love them or care about them but unfortunately they ended up being like any other family that moved away from the church and life went on.
Fast forward 18 years. Life is different now and although the seed to reach others has grown, Leon and the pictures on the refrigerator are all distant memories. I graduated high school and went on to receive my degree from the University of South Florida. I got married to an amazing woman who loves Jesus and loves helping other people. Life is predictable and deep down that’s probably the way I want it. Now I spend my days sitting in an office in downtown Tampa following the ups and downs of the stock market. Every so often I’ll catch myself daydreaming about the people around the world who have never heard the name of Jesus and my mind drifts back to the refrigerator pictures that will be engrained in my head forever. I spend a few minutes wondering how they’re doing and I even google their names to see if I can track them down to help. As you’d expect I can’t find anything of value so I give up and they vanish for a few more months.
Like any good Southern Baptist I go on the occasional mission trip and for a brief moment in time the seed of full time missions has life. I’m reminded of how much I truly enjoy partnering with missionaries for the sake of the gospel, but ultimately struggle with whether or not God is calling my wife and I to dedicate ourselves full time. I spend weeks questioning myself and my motives for not giving up everything and moving overseas. But in the end the Lord always gives me a peace that I’m right where He wants me. Eventually life goes on and everything returns to normal.
Right when I’m beginning to hate normal the Lord introduced me to a young man who changed my life. We became friends through a ministry geared toward international student outreach at the University of South Florida. He was originally from South Asia and came here for his education. While in the states he was saved and the Lord gave him a huge burden to return and reach his people. So he did.
We spent some time together in the months leading up to his departure and as any friend would, I asked him if there was anything I could do to help. I’m not exactly sure what I expected him to say but I do remember a small smile on his face as he began to lay out the vision the Lord laid on his heart. He explained that in the area of South Asia where he was headed persecution was a normal part of the faith. Obviously in these areas of the world there aren't as many traditional church buildings so most believers attend house churches; essentially small groups in the home. Thanks to local training centers and missionaries who have given their lives most of the house church pastors do have some basic biblical training. Unfortunately they don’t get a lot of encouragement or relief from the everyday grind. Most are bi-vocational and have families they are trying to raise. As you can imagine this puts a ton of responsibility on the pastors who don’t have multiple staff members to help lead their flock.
As he shared what life was like for a house church pastor I’m pretty sure I just sat there with the same dumb look on my face I had when Leon announced he was moving to Russia. The only difference was this time I was trying to figure out how I could take TWO mission trips a year to help my friend build the ministry the Lord was entrusting to him. As I worked numbers in my head and rearranged my vacation plans he began to share his vision for a ministry so beautiful that if successful could only be explained by the hand of the Lord Himself. I listened intently for the next 15 minutes and slowly watched my traditional view of missions climb outside of the box it had been in for so many years.
He explained that on the surface the ministry was no different then many others. The majority of the work would be done by nationals and missionaries who were living and working in the communities every single day. They would help their neighborhoods, start churches, and organize specific ministries aimed at reaching kids. Where things got interesting was the addition of 21st century technology. Due to the fact that some large Asian cities have house church pastors numbering in the thousands there is no possible way they can all receive the training, encouragement, and support necessary to reach their communities. He smiled and told me that’s where I come in. My responsibility was to set up a network of believers in the United States that would be willing to go through a basic theological training and then as the need arises train house churches pastors through Skype. In the end the goal was to bring house church congregations in South Asia together with churches and small groups in America for the sake of training, fellowship, encouragement and missions trips. Once the partnerships were in place and pastors were being trained he would move on to new regions and establish new relationships.
When he could tell my brain couldn't handle any more information we prayed together and said our goodbyes. Later that week he boarded a plane and left to start a new life halfway across the world. The church cheered him on as he said goodbye and his name started appearing in the small group prayer lists. Within weeks the excitement began to cool off and for a while everything returned to normal.
Unboxed Missions…
Then I was introduced to Mong. Mong is a house church pastor in South Asia. He and his wife run a small orphanage as well as minister to the people in their community. Even though he has never been to the United States, thanks to modern technology, Mong and I spend a little over an hour together every week. We have been studying the bible for almost 4 months now and I can honestly say God has used Mong to open my eyes. I’m not even sure I understand the ramifications of what we’re doing but it blows my mind to think that God is giving me the opportunity to encourage, teach, and pray with someone who lives halfway around the world.
For the teaching portion of our time together we use Davis Platt's Secret Church notes. Thanks to the Church at Brook Hills the notes have already been translated into his language. Admittedly we do go into more depth then the notes but they are an amazing place to start. While I teach, Mong has a copy of the notes in his language and in English as well as the bible in his language and in English. He was really excited at the beginning of our study to get his first copy of the bible in English; not sure why, but he loved it. Throughout the week that follows Mong uses the material that we studied to prepare his weekly sermon. He also uses the Secret Church notes to train other house church pastors who are not bilingual and would obviously have a difficult time partnering with small groups from the US.
I’ll never forget our first meeting together and listening to the story of a pastor who loved Jesus but was living a very different life than mine. It’s not that we didn’t share the same passion for the Word or a desire to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, but the way in which we lived it out was very different. Even down to something as simple as prayer. He explained that his house is always open no matter the time of day or night so people can stop by for prayer. In addition, every night of the week from 5pm-7pm people from all over the neighborhood and surrounding community come to his house for a time of prayer and worship. They sing together, they fellowship together and they ask God for wisdom and strength to live their daily lives. They pray for the salvation of their families and friends and they ask God to mend the broken relationships caused by their conversion to the faith. They pray for God to give new believers the courage they will need to walk down to the river and make a public profession that will change their lives forever. They also pray for the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers because the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
I can honestly say I have never experienced anything in my own life which has so quickly opened my eyes to the reality of how Christians live around the world. Each week I hear more and more of what God is doing in Mong’s churches and I’m reminded of the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit. I completely understand that discipleship/training through internet is not ideal, but I’ve been amazed these last 4 months to hear everything the Lord is doing through Mong and his ministry. Mong told me in our meeting this week that a revival has happened since we started meeting. His daily prayer meetings have quadrupled in size and people are coming from all over to hear about Jesus. The number of house churches he oversees has more than doubled since we started meeting bringing the current number to 30; when we started he had 13. A few weeks ago the high priest from the local temple and his family prayed to receive Christ and in the coming weeks Mong will be baptizing the entire family. The priest now stands at the door of his temple and tells anyone who comes to worship to turn from their worthless idols and go to Mong’s house to hear about the Living True GOD.
I need to make completely clear that there is nothing I am doing that warrants anything that has taken place. I teach the Word each week, pray with my new friend and God does the rest. I can’t explain it any other way and in actuality that’s how it should be.
What next…
It’s been a little over a year since I sat down with my friend and he told me he was returning home. Thanks to local believers and faithful missionaries on the ground the network of house church pastors is growing. With that growth comes opportunity as well as a great need for small groups to strategically partner for the sake of the gospel. I was introduced this week to another house church pastor who oversees 23 churches. He has very little theological training and is excited for us to start meeting every week. He also reaches out to his community and within a 2 mile radius of his house there are over 1 million people who are considered unreached. He has his own extraordinary testimony of conversion and it’s amazing to hear how God is using him. One of the most powerful parts of his story is that he’s only 23 years old.
Please join us in praying that the Lord would raise up groups in the US who are willing to embrace house churches in South Asia. Our prayer is that your fellowship of believers will come along side a house church leader to train, pray, fast, encourage, and even send members to the mission field. My own bible study plans on being bound to these pastors and the churches in South Asia for the rest of our earthly lives.
Welcome to missions and the 21st century. I’m humbled to be a small part in a massive, God-centered, church driven, worldwide network of Christians working together for the sake of the gospel. There are tens of thousands of Mong’s that would love to study with and be encouraged by a group of dedicated Christians in the US and I'm reminded of that every week. The last time I spoke with Mong he said something I'll never forget. “Pastor Shale, I thank God for bringing you into my life. Many great things have happened since we met and God is using our churches for His glory. I want you to know that your friend gave us a picture of you and your wife and we keep it in our house so the church can pray for you every day.” It’s humbling to think that a picture of my wife and I is hanging on a refrigerator in a house in South Asia and THEY are praying for us. Praise the Lord for allowing us to meet and share our lives together.
And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. ~ Luke 10:2
That’s what happened in those days. When someone left for the mission field we all said goodbye and we prayed. We didn’t expect to see them again for at least a couple of years. Then out of the blue they would show up on a random Sunday night and we would all celebrate while listening to everything the Lord had done. They would be wearing weird clothes and would always start their sermon with a foreign language. Usually it was something along the lines of “Greetings from -insert random country-, we are excited to be here.” Before they left we would all get our updated refrigerator prayer cards and once again say our goodbyes. In the months that followed we were prayer warriors but ultimately their picture would get covered by the next missionary that came into town and the prayers would slow. It’s not that we didn’t love them or care about them but unfortunately they ended up being like any other family that moved away from the church and life went on.
Fast forward 18 years. Life is different now and although the seed to reach others has grown, Leon and the pictures on the refrigerator are all distant memories. I graduated high school and went on to receive my degree from the University of South Florida. I got married to an amazing woman who loves Jesus and loves helping other people. Life is predictable and deep down that’s probably the way I want it. Now I spend my days sitting in an office in downtown Tampa following the ups and downs of the stock market. Every so often I’ll catch myself daydreaming about the people around the world who have never heard the name of Jesus and my mind drifts back to the refrigerator pictures that will be engrained in my head forever. I spend a few minutes wondering how they’re doing and I even google their names to see if I can track them down to help. As you’d expect I can’t find anything of value so I give up and they vanish for a few more months.
Like any good Southern Baptist I go on the occasional mission trip and for a brief moment in time the seed of full time missions has life. I’m reminded of how much I truly enjoy partnering with missionaries for the sake of the gospel, but ultimately struggle with whether or not God is calling my wife and I to dedicate ourselves full time. I spend weeks questioning myself and my motives for not giving up everything and moving overseas. But in the end the Lord always gives me a peace that I’m right where He wants me. Eventually life goes on and everything returns to normal.
Right when I’m beginning to hate normal the Lord introduced me to a young man who changed my life. We became friends through a ministry geared toward international student outreach at the University of South Florida. He was originally from South Asia and came here for his education. While in the states he was saved and the Lord gave him a huge burden to return and reach his people. So he did.
We spent some time together in the months leading up to his departure and as any friend would, I asked him if there was anything I could do to help. I’m not exactly sure what I expected him to say but I do remember a small smile on his face as he began to lay out the vision the Lord laid on his heart. He explained that in the area of South Asia where he was headed persecution was a normal part of the faith. Obviously in these areas of the world there aren't as many traditional church buildings so most believers attend house churches; essentially small groups in the home. Thanks to local training centers and missionaries who have given their lives most of the house church pastors do have some basic biblical training. Unfortunately they don’t get a lot of encouragement or relief from the everyday grind. Most are bi-vocational and have families they are trying to raise. As you can imagine this puts a ton of responsibility on the pastors who don’t have multiple staff members to help lead their flock.
As he shared what life was like for a house church pastor I’m pretty sure I just sat there with the same dumb look on my face I had when Leon announced he was moving to Russia. The only difference was this time I was trying to figure out how I could take TWO mission trips a year to help my friend build the ministry the Lord was entrusting to him. As I worked numbers in my head and rearranged my vacation plans he began to share his vision for a ministry so beautiful that if successful could only be explained by the hand of the Lord Himself. I listened intently for the next 15 minutes and slowly watched my traditional view of missions climb outside of the box it had been in for so many years.
He explained that on the surface the ministry was no different then many others. The majority of the work would be done by nationals and missionaries who were living and working in the communities every single day. They would help their neighborhoods, start churches, and organize specific ministries aimed at reaching kids. Where things got interesting was the addition of 21st century technology. Due to the fact that some large Asian cities have house church pastors numbering in the thousands there is no possible way they can all receive the training, encouragement, and support necessary to reach their communities. He smiled and told me that’s where I come in. My responsibility was to set up a network of believers in the United States that would be willing to go through a basic theological training and then as the need arises train house churches pastors through Skype. In the end the goal was to bring house church congregations in South Asia together with churches and small groups in America for the sake of training, fellowship, encouragement and missions trips. Once the partnerships were in place and pastors were being trained he would move on to new regions and establish new relationships.
When he could tell my brain couldn't handle any more information we prayed together and said our goodbyes. Later that week he boarded a plane and left to start a new life halfway across the world. The church cheered him on as he said goodbye and his name started appearing in the small group prayer lists. Within weeks the excitement began to cool off and for a while everything returned to normal.
Unboxed Missions…
Then I was introduced to Mong. Mong is a house church pastor in South Asia. He and his wife run a small orphanage as well as minister to the people in their community. Even though he has never been to the United States, thanks to modern technology, Mong and I spend a little over an hour together every week. We have been studying the bible for almost 4 months now and I can honestly say God has used Mong to open my eyes. I’m not even sure I understand the ramifications of what we’re doing but it blows my mind to think that God is giving me the opportunity to encourage, teach, and pray with someone who lives halfway around the world.
For the teaching portion of our time together we use Davis Platt's Secret Church notes. Thanks to the Church at Brook Hills the notes have already been translated into his language. Admittedly we do go into more depth then the notes but they are an amazing place to start. While I teach, Mong has a copy of the notes in his language and in English as well as the bible in his language and in English. He was really excited at the beginning of our study to get his first copy of the bible in English; not sure why, but he loved it. Throughout the week that follows Mong uses the material that we studied to prepare his weekly sermon. He also uses the Secret Church notes to train other house church pastors who are not bilingual and would obviously have a difficult time partnering with small groups from the US.
I’ll never forget our first meeting together and listening to the story of a pastor who loved Jesus but was living a very different life than mine. It’s not that we didn’t share the same passion for the Word or a desire to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, but the way in which we lived it out was very different. Even down to something as simple as prayer. He explained that his house is always open no matter the time of day or night so people can stop by for prayer. In addition, every night of the week from 5pm-7pm people from all over the neighborhood and surrounding community come to his house for a time of prayer and worship. They sing together, they fellowship together and they ask God for wisdom and strength to live their daily lives. They pray for the salvation of their families and friends and they ask God to mend the broken relationships caused by their conversion to the faith. They pray for God to give new believers the courage they will need to walk down to the river and make a public profession that will change their lives forever. They also pray for the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers because the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
I can honestly say I have never experienced anything in my own life which has so quickly opened my eyes to the reality of how Christians live around the world. Each week I hear more and more of what God is doing in Mong’s churches and I’m reminded of the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit. I completely understand that discipleship/training through internet is not ideal, but I’ve been amazed these last 4 months to hear everything the Lord is doing through Mong and his ministry. Mong told me in our meeting this week that a revival has happened since we started meeting. His daily prayer meetings have quadrupled in size and people are coming from all over to hear about Jesus. The number of house churches he oversees has more than doubled since we started meeting bringing the current number to 30; when we started he had 13. A few weeks ago the high priest from the local temple and his family prayed to receive Christ and in the coming weeks Mong will be baptizing the entire family. The priest now stands at the door of his temple and tells anyone who comes to worship to turn from their worthless idols and go to Mong’s house to hear about the Living True GOD.
I need to make completely clear that there is nothing I am doing that warrants anything that has taken place. I teach the Word each week, pray with my new friend and God does the rest. I can’t explain it any other way and in actuality that’s how it should be.
What next…
It’s been a little over a year since I sat down with my friend and he told me he was returning home. Thanks to local believers and faithful missionaries on the ground the network of house church pastors is growing. With that growth comes opportunity as well as a great need for small groups to strategically partner for the sake of the gospel. I was introduced this week to another house church pastor who oversees 23 churches. He has very little theological training and is excited for us to start meeting every week. He also reaches out to his community and within a 2 mile radius of his house there are over 1 million people who are considered unreached. He has his own extraordinary testimony of conversion and it’s amazing to hear how God is using him. One of the most powerful parts of his story is that he’s only 23 years old.
Please join us in praying that the Lord would raise up groups in the US who are willing to embrace house churches in South Asia. Our prayer is that your fellowship of believers will come along side a house church leader to train, pray, fast, encourage, and even send members to the mission field. My own bible study plans on being bound to these pastors and the churches in South Asia for the rest of our earthly lives.
Welcome to missions and the 21st century. I’m humbled to be a small part in a massive, God-centered, church driven, worldwide network of Christians working together for the sake of the gospel. There are tens of thousands of Mong’s that would love to study with and be encouraged by a group of dedicated Christians in the US and I'm reminded of that every week. The last time I spoke with Mong he said something I'll never forget. “Pastor Shale, I thank God for bringing you into my life. Many great things have happened since we met and God is using our churches for His glory. I want you to know that your friend gave us a picture of you and your wife and we keep it in our house so the church can pray for you every day.” It’s humbling to think that a picture of my wife and I is hanging on a refrigerator in a house in South Asia and THEY are praying for us. Praise the Lord for allowing us to meet and share our lives together.
And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. ~ Luke 10:2
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Jesus Praying Before the Cross - John 17
Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.
But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Radical - David Platt
Very thought provoking book by David Platt. I read the book a while back and did a small group study on it. The sad part is I heard quite a few people say they thought the book was a little extreme and God's not really calling us to live that way. Guess those people don't spend much time in God's word.
What we call radical Jesus calls normal...what we call normal Jesus calls lukewarm...
What we call radical Jesus calls normal...what we call normal Jesus calls lukewarm...
Sunday, April 10, 2011
12,480 Sermons?
I have lunch about once a month with a really good friend of mine from the church I attend. He is actively involved in the senior adult ministry, but also takes time out of his schedule to fellowship and mentor me. During our lunch I asked him if he thought his Sunday morning bible study would have any interest in hanging out with the college age guys bible study I teach. I explained to him that I hoped it would eventually lead to some mentoring relationships but in the meantime it would at least allow the different generations a chance to get to know each other. He said he would love to and so we started running through the schedule of the average member in his class. There is Sunday morning bible study and then attend the main service, Sunday night service, Wednesday night service, Thursday mornings men’s fraternity, and since the new push this year is to take a seminary class of some type quite a few had either signed up or were planning on signing up for one of those as well. His class did service projects every so often and they helped out some with other various ministries. This of course does not include choir practice, part time jobs, time with wife and grandkids, or any class activities. I sat there for a second with my head spinning and realized this was going to be pretty tough. I suggested maybe we could do it every so often during the Sunday night service or even during the Sunday morning bible study hour, but he assured me there was almost no way his class would miss a service. We both just kind of sat there and I honestly believe we were thinking the same thing. These guys honestly don’t have time to disciple or mentor due to all the church activities they are involved in. Now my friend is clearly the exception because he is mentoring, but at the end of the day most of us have attended thousands of church services, but have never discipled a single person.
Let me see if I can make it a little clearer for you. If I die at 80 and attend church like a good Christian, I’ll sit through 12,480 sermons, but how many people will I disciple? Think about that for a second, and then let me say it again 12,480 SERMONS. Amazing right? Now before you pat yourself on the back for your amazing sitting in a pew staring forward and listening skills let me add a few more things to that list because those numbers are just weekly services. They don't include Bible studies, small groups, Sunday School classes, Christian conferences, youth camps, mens fraternity, seminary classes and the list goes on and on. Now let be as clear as I possibly can so no one reads anything into what I am saying. All of these things in and of themselves are great and essential for the growth of the church, but they never have and never will replace the need for Christians to make disciples. God’s not handing out crowns for church attendance, and if the Great Commission calls me to go into all the world and make disciples, then I really need to take a look at my life and see who I’m discipling!
Matthew 28:19-20
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Let me see if I can make it a little clearer for you. If I die at 80 and attend church like a good Christian, I’ll sit through 12,480 sermons, but how many people will I disciple? Think about that for a second, and then let me say it again 12,480 SERMONS. Amazing right? Now before you pat yourself on the back for your amazing sitting in a pew staring forward and listening skills let me add a few more things to that list because those numbers are just weekly services. They don't include Bible studies, small groups, Sunday School classes, Christian conferences, youth camps, mens fraternity, seminary classes and the list goes on and on. Now let be as clear as I possibly can so no one reads anything into what I am saying. All of these things in and of themselves are great and essential for the growth of the church, but they never have and never will replace the need for Christians to make disciples. God’s not handing out crowns for church attendance, and if the Great Commission calls me to go into all the world and make disciples, then I really need to take a look at my life and see who I’m discipling!
Matthew 28:19-20
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Friday, April 8, 2011
Howard Hendricks - Discipleship
Great sermon by Howard Hendricks discussing his method of discipleship. It might be an old recording but his points are biblical as well as very applicable.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Approval Of Men?
Most of us love the approval of men rather than the approval of God. It's such a weird concept but ultimately we don’t want to rock the boat, or get people upset. So instead we live our lives silently. Trying our best not to offend the people we pass, in hopes that we can live at peace with a world crying out for a Savior. And in the end we will realize that we have successfully gained the approval of men, but tip toed our way into an eternally glorious kingdom, alone. Having left our friends and coworkers behind, all because we were too scared to share our faith with a culture that spends their entire lives searching for the peace that surpasses all understanding.
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
~ Galatians 1:10
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
~ Galatians 1:10
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The Imitation of Christ - Thomas Kempis
Consider the lively examples set us by the saints, who possessed the light of true perfection and religion, and you will see how little, how nearly nothing, we do. What, alas, is our life, compared with theirs?
The saints and friends of Christ served the Lord in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness, in work and fatigue, in vigils and fasts, in prayers and holy meditations, in persecutions and many afflictions. How many and severe were the trials they suffered--the Apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins, and all the rest who willed to follow in the footsteps of Christ! They hated their lives on earth that they might have life in eternity.
How strict and detached were the lives the holy hermits led in the desert! What long and grave temptations they suffered! How often were they beset by the enemy! What frequent and ardent prayers they offered to God! What rigorous fasts they observed! How great their zeal and their love for spiritual perfection! How brave the fight they waged to master their evil habits! What pure and straightforward purpose they showed toward God! By day they labored and by night they spent themselves in long prayers. Even at work they did not cease from mental prayer. They used all their time profitably; every hour seemed too short for serving God, and in the great sweetness of contemplation, they forgot even their bodily needs.
They renounced all riches, dignities, honors, friends, and associates. They desired nothing of the world. They scarcely allowed themselves the necessities of life, and the service of the body, even when necessary, was irksome to them. They were poor in earthly things but rich in grace and virtue. Outwardly destitute, inwardly they were full of grace and divine consolation. Strangers to the world, they were close and intimate friends of God. To themselves they seemed as nothing, and they were despised by the world, but in the eyes of God they were precious and beloved. They lived in true humility and simple obedience; they walked in charity and patience, making progress daily on the pathway of spiritual life and obtaining great favor with God.
The saints and friends of Christ served the Lord in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness, in work and fatigue, in vigils and fasts, in prayers and holy meditations, in persecutions and many afflictions. How many and severe were the trials they suffered--the Apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins, and all the rest who willed to follow in the footsteps of Christ! They hated their lives on earth that they might have life in eternity.
How strict and detached were the lives the holy hermits led in the desert! What long and grave temptations they suffered! How often were they beset by the enemy! What frequent and ardent prayers they offered to God! What rigorous fasts they observed! How great their zeal and their love for spiritual perfection! How brave the fight they waged to master their evil habits! What pure and straightforward purpose they showed toward God! By day they labored and by night they spent themselves in long prayers. Even at work they did not cease from mental prayer. They used all their time profitably; every hour seemed too short for serving God, and in the great sweetness of contemplation, they forgot even their bodily needs.
They renounced all riches, dignities, honors, friends, and associates. They desired nothing of the world. They scarcely allowed themselves the necessities of life, and the service of the body, even when necessary, was irksome to them. They were poor in earthly things but rich in grace and virtue. Outwardly destitute, inwardly they were full of grace and divine consolation. Strangers to the world, they were close and intimate friends of God. To themselves they seemed as nothing, and they were despised by the world, but in the eyes of God they were precious and beloved. They lived in true humility and simple obedience; they walked in charity and patience, making progress daily on the pathway of spiritual life and obtaining great favor with God.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
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