Tuesday, March 3, 2009
reacting or reflecting?
When things happen in ministry we have to ask ourselves am I reacting or reflecting in what I am thinking and saying? When we are confronted with attitudes that we know are sincere we must me mindful of others and their well being. We must also be honest about where things really are and not try to force our agenda. If we are sensitive to the needs of others it will all work out on behalf.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
sub mission
Whether you are a new Christian or an old one, you never stop the process of spiritual maturity. A Christian who is committed to Christ is going to grow.
Progressing Through the Levels of Growth- A significant passage on spiritual growth is 1 John 2:13-14. It discusses three stages of spiritual growth:
(1) babies (2) young men (3) fathers.
These stages correspond to human life.
(1)The beginning is infancy--there is parental recognition.
(2)Then there is young adulthood--the time when you know what you believe. In spiritual maturity the young man has the ability to comprehend doctrine and the Word of God. He has his feet on the ground; he is not "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine..." (Eph. 4:14)
(3) Finally, there is fatherhood. The spiritual father not only knows what he believes in, but he knows the One in whom he believes in a deep, abiding, and mature way.
THE GOAL OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY
The process of spiritual growth is an ascension toward the goal of knowing God. The Apostle Paul continued in the process of spiritual growth even though he had reached a high level. At the height of his life and ministry--when he had accomplished the great dreams and desires of his heart--he said his goal was "That I may know him..." (Phil. 3:10). In other words, no matter how far he had gone, he still longed for a deeper, broader, more vital and fulfilling comprehension of the very God he loved and served.
THE LIFE OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY
Christians move through the three stages of spiritual growth by the (1)Word of God, (2)the Spirit of God, and in (3)response to the command of God. And the key is this: Christians can only grow when they are living to the glory of God. When they live for themselves, nothing positive will occur. Growth will only take place when Christians are spiritual, not carnal, and when they are living for the glory of God, not for themselves.
After Christians have been saved, there is a balancing act that is carried on. We have new life in us, but we also have our old sin nature around us--the sin that's in our flesh. A believer finds that a part of his life is given to God, and a part to sin. But as he matures, there is an increasing frequency of righteousness and a decreasing frequency of sinfulness. There isn't a time in your Christian life that you stop being sinful and are always righteous; the Christian life is always a progression. Paul says, "Not as though I had already attained.... I press toward the mark..." (Phil. 3:12, 14).
The evidence of your progression is a decreasing frequency of sin.
When I was saved, I faced the struggle that Paul talks about in Romans 7:15-23. The things I wanted to do, I didn't do; and the things I didn't want to do, I did. I was fighting against the flesh. The struggle is still the same, but with one difference. As I have progressed in spiritual maturity by living to the glory of God, walking in the Holy Spirit, and living a life of obedience, I have seen the decrease of the frequency of sinfulness, but not its absence. I just don't sin as much as I used to as I have grown toward a more righteous standard.
Progressing Through the Levels of Growth- A significant passage on spiritual growth is 1 John 2:13-14. It discusses three stages of spiritual growth:
(1) babies (2) young men (3) fathers.
These stages correspond to human life.
(1)The beginning is infancy--there is parental recognition.
(2)Then there is young adulthood--the time when you know what you believe. In spiritual maturity the young man has the ability to comprehend doctrine and the Word of God. He has his feet on the ground; he is not "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine..." (Eph. 4:14)
(3) Finally, there is fatherhood. The spiritual father not only knows what he believes in, but he knows the One in whom he believes in a deep, abiding, and mature way.
THE GOAL OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY
The process of spiritual growth is an ascension toward the goal of knowing God. The Apostle Paul continued in the process of spiritual growth even though he had reached a high level. At the height of his life and ministry--when he had accomplished the great dreams and desires of his heart--he said his goal was "That I may know him..." (Phil. 3:10). In other words, no matter how far he had gone, he still longed for a deeper, broader, more vital and fulfilling comprehension of the very God he loved and served.
THE LIFE OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY
Christians move through the three stages of spiritual growth by the (1)Word of God, (2)the Spirit of God, and in (3)response to the command of God. And the key is this: Christians can only grow when they are living to the glory of God. When they live for themselves, nothing positive will occur. Growth will only take place when Christians are spiritual, not carnal, and when they are living for the glory of God, not for themselves.
After Christians have been saved, there is a balancing act that is carried on. We have new life in us, but we also have our old sin nature around us--the sin that's in our flesh. A believer finds that a part of his life is given to God, and a part to sin. But as he matures, there is an increasing frequency of righteousness and a decreasing frequency of sinfulness. There isn't a time in your Christian life that you stop being sinful and are always righteous; the Christian life is always a progression. Paul says, "Not as though I had already attained.... I press toward the mark..." (Phil. 3:12, 14).
The evidence of your progression is a decreasing frequency of sin.
When I was saved, I faced the struggle that Paul talks about in Romans 7:15-23. The things I wanted to do, I didn't do; and the things I didn't want to do, I did. I was fighting against the flesh. The struggle is still the same, but with one difference. As I have progressed in spiritual maturity by living to the glory of God, walking in the Holy Spirit, and living a life of obedience, I have seen the decrease of the frequency of sinfulness, but not its absence. I just don't sin as much as I used to as I have grown toward a more righteous standard.
Friday, February 13, 2009
The Outer Mission
First, we needed to revive the great conversation about the formation of the soul; God has given each one of us the responsibility to "grow in grace" (2 Pet. 3:18). This is not something we can pass off onto others. We are to take up our individualized crosses and follow in the steps of the crucified and risen Christ.
Second, we needed to incarnate this reality into the daily experience of individual, congregational, and cultural life. "Action follows essence," reminds us that our action is always in accord with the inward reality of our heart.
We are to do the work of God in a congregational setting.
Getting Gods people into fellowship- if I am longing to know Jesus and follow Jesus and serve Jesus and be formed into the image of Jesus—then I am powerfully drawn toward anyone and everyone who is seeking to know Jesus and follow Jesus and serve Jesus and be formed into the image of Jesus.
Getting Gods people connected- We stay within the given church structures and develop little centers of light within those structures. And then we let our light shine!
Getting Gods People to those who need Jesus- being torn loose from all earthly attachments and ambitions, and amor mundi, our being quickened to a divine but painful compassion for the world. We deepen in our compassion for the bruised, the broken, the dispossessed. We ache and pray and labor for others in a new way, a selfless way, a joy-filled way. Our heart is enlarged toward those on the margins. Indeed, our heart is enlarged toward all people, toward all of Creation.
Second, we needed to incarnate this reality into the daily experience of individual, congregational, and cultural life. "Action follows essence," reminds us that our action is always in accord with the inward reality of our heart.
We are to do the work of God in a congregational setting.
Getting Gods people into fellowship- if I am longing to know Jesus and follow Jesus and serve Jesus and be formed into the image of Jesus—then I am powerfully drawn toward anyone and everyone who is seeking to know Jesus and follow Jesus and serve Jesus and be formed into the image of Jesus.
Getting Gods people connected- We stay within the given church structures and develop little centers of light within those structures. And then we let our light shine!
Getting Gods People to those who need Jesus- being torn loose from all earthly attachments and ambitions, and amor mundi, our being quickened to a divine but painful compassion for the world. We deepen in our compassion for the bruised, the broken, the dispossessed. We ache and pray and labor for others in a new way, a selfless way, a joy-filled way. Our heart is enlarged toward those on the margins. Indeed, our heart is enlarged toward all people, toward all of Creation.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Discipleship
Matthew 8:18-27 reminds us that true discipleship is following the orders of Jesus without excuses. If I say I will follow then I must count the cost. Jesus reminded the scribe that sacrifice is a part of discipleship. Personal interests cannot come first when following the Lord. On the journey there will be storms that arise from what appears to be out of nowhere but Jesus commands us not to fear but to have faith. When our trust is in the Lord to lead us we will be amazed at what things the Lord can do.
John Paton said " Nothing so clears the vision and lifts up the life, as a decision to move forward in what you know to be entirely the will of the Lord."
John Paton said " Nothing so clears the vision and lifts up the life, as a decision to move forward in what you know to be entirely the will of the Lord."
Monday, February 9, 2009
The Inner Mission
He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion (Phil. 1:6). The inner mission is God at work in us to complete us in Christ. We must remember we were the 1 sheep that the shepherd went after leaving the 99. The inner mission is about you and God's desitiny for your life.
Here are 3 things to keep in mind.
1. Accept it. God will not let you God.
2. Expect it. God will be at work on your behalf to complete His mission in your life.
3. Perfect it. God expects us to do our part in the inner mission by yielding our will.
Be conformed (Rom. 8:29), Be transformed (2 Cor. 3:18), Be formed (Gal. 4:19), into Christlikness.
Here are 3 things to keep in mind.
1. Accept it. God will not let you God.
2. Expect it. God will be at work on your behalf to complete His mission in your life.
3. Perfect it. God expects us to do our part in the inner mission by yielding our will.
Be conformed (Rom. 8:29), Be transformed (2 Cor. 3:18), Be formed (Gal. 4:19), into Christlikness.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Why Preaching Counts
What is the unique value of the discipline of listening to preaching for Western Christians today? Here are 6 characteristics that separate sound, biblical preaching from Bible reading, memorization, and meditation:
1. Good preaching rescues us from our self-deceptions and blind spots. Left to ourselves, we tend to ignore the very things in God's Word that we most need to see. Preaching covers texts and topics outside of our control.
2. Preaching brings us before God's Word in the special presence of the Holy Spirit as he indwells the gathered church.
3. Good preaching challenges us to do things we otherwise would not and gives us the will to do them. God has given speakers a remarkable power to spur others to take action.
4. As our church communities listen to good preaching, it brings us into the place of corporate — rather than just individual — obedience.
5. Good preaching causes humility by disciplining us to sit under the teaching, correction, and exhortation of another human. Relying on ourselves alone for food from the Word can lead to a spirit of arrogance and spiritual independence.
6. Good preaching gives a place for a spiritually qualified person to protect believers from dangerous error. The apostles repeatedly warned that untrained and unstable Christians — as well as mature believers — can be easily led astray by false doctrines. Christians are sheep; false teachers are wolves; preachers are guardian shepherds.
1. Good preaching rescues us from our self-deceptions and blind spots. Left to ourselves, we tend to ignore the very things in God's Word that we most need to see. Preaching covers texts and topics outside of our control.
2. Preaching brings us before God's Word in the special presence of the Holy Spirit as he indwells the gathered church.
3. Good preaching challenges us to do things we otherwise would not and gives us the will to do them. God has given speakers a remarkable power to spur others to take action.
4. As our church communities listen to good preaching, it brings us into the place of corporate — rather than just individual — obedience.
5. Good preaching causes humility by disciplining us to sit under the teaching, correction, and exhortation of another human. Relying on ourselves alone for food from the Word can lead to a spirit of arrogance and spiritual independence.
6. Good preaching gives a place for a spiritually qualified person to protect believers from dangerous error. The apostles repeatedly warned that untrained and unstable Christians — as well as mature believers — can be easily led astray by false doctrines. Christians are sheep; false teachers are wolves; preachers are guardian shepherds.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
9 things I am praying will happen in 2009
1. I am praying for our church to grow numerically, spiritually and financially
2. I am praying that new leaders will arise from the ministry
3. I am praying that we will be sensitive to the Spirit of God as He directs us into new areas
4. I am praying that we will become more effective in our follow up
5. I am praying that we will take a more aggressive attitude toward reaching out to the Lost
6. I am praying we will be risk takers
7. I am praying will understand the times we are living in
8. I am praying we will not be satisfied with what is
9. I am praying for Gods will in all things
2. I am praying that new leaders will arise from the ministry
3. I am praying that we will be sensitive to the Spirit of God as He directs us into new areas
4. I am praying that we will become more effective in our follow up
5. I am praying that we will take a more aggressive attitude toward reaching out to the Lost
6. I am praying we will be risk takers
7. I am praying will understand the times we are living in
8. I am praying we will not be satisfied with what is
9. I am praying for Gods will in all things
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