Trinity Letter to "Joe"

In the next few weeks I'll probably be posting some of my papers I've written while here at God's Bible School and College.

Ever wonder how to defend the doctrine of the Trinity? Or have questions about it? Hopefully the inclusions of good illustrations and references to Scripture in this paper will help. Recently I had to write a "Trinity Paper" for a class called Systematic Theology. You'll find it below.
~J.P.

Dear Joe Artwell III,

Hello! Hope you have been doing well. In this letter I’d like to clarify some of the questions you had about the trinity and explain it in greater depth. It’s my understanding that you believe in the existence of God, but you don’t necessarily believe in the trinity. The belief and case for the trinity comes from scripture and not my own opinion. The following arguments are all clearly taught from scripture and clearly form the groundwork for the doctrine of the trinity. I am of the understanding that you believe that scripture is the inspired (God Breathed) and inerrant (flawless) word of God and that it was recorded by man all while being superintended by the Holy Spirit. If this isn’t quite what you believe, please let me know and we can talk further.

If we look in the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 6:4 we find that it says, our God, the LORD is one!” Later I will state that they are all “distinct”. This doesn’t mean they are separate - only distinct. A good illustration of this is the relationship between Space, Time, and Matter. Space is made up of length, width, and height – three in one. If a box has 1” of height and 1” of width but 0.000” of height – it would cease to be a square. Likewise, Time consists of past, present, and future – three in one. If you take one out of the equation time no longer is time. Matter consists of energy in motion producing phenomena – three in one. If one was left out of this equation matter would cease to exist. This is the way God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work. They are three in one; however, if you take one away It ceases to exist. So we can then conclude from that that there is one God even if there are distinct persons. The book of Isaiah, in chapter 9 and verse 46 we find that God is the only God and there is NO other; “I (God) am God and there is none like me”. Clearly scripture supports a belief that there is “one God”.

When we look up Galatians 1:1 it says, “through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead…”. Contextually, this reveals that the “Father is God”. In this passage Paul is addressing the Galatian believers at the church(es) in Galatia. Here he says, I wasn’t sent through men, but by Jesus Christ AND God the father who raised Him (Jesus) from the dead. Our conclusion then is that the Father is God.

In John 1:1 we find that, “Jesus is God”. It says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Some ponder over what “word” is, but in 1 John 1:1-3 it clearly defines word to be “eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us”. Then it says that this eternal life or Word of life is the one believer’s have fellowship with, “our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ”. The father wasn’t “manifested” in physical form to early believers in the N.T, only the Son Jesus Christ. So we conclude that Jesus is also God.

This next point can be debated by some that The Holy Spirit is God. To debate this they clearly have to either twist or overlook Acts 5:3-5 because this is an erroneous belief. In this passage Peter has found a man Guilty of lying and stealing, so he says, “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit”. He continues this thought then says, “You have not lied to men but to God”. Matthew 28:19 also supports that the Holy Spirit is God.

Also know that they are distinct persons.  Mark 1:9-11 explains… Jesus was coming to be baptized in the Jordan, while being baptized he saw the “heavens opened” and the “Spirit like a dove” descending upon Him, and “a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased”.” Here we find that at one distinct moment in time we can detect the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit all distinctly doing something in this baptism. They all aren’t doing the same thing, but are doing distinct things. John 15:26 also supports that they are distinct, yet live in harmony (compare Genesis 1:27 and 1 Corinthians 12) as one. Thus we can conclude: “they are all distinct persons”.

You might ask, but do they have a way they relate to each other? The relationship is from the Father, to the Son (John 3:16; 17:5), and to the Holy Spirit (John 15:2 -6) - it proceeds. The Evangelical, and Biblical conclusion if these basically premises, is that “The Father the son and the Holy Spirit are one God”.  Not only is the relationship in this way but it’s also harmonious. In Genesis 1:27 we find that we are made in the image of God. In 1 Corinthians 12 we find that we are created in that image and are to live in a harmonious relationship, which is a byproduct of, and a reference to our Maker – God. And may I say that if you claim to be a Christian and you don’t believe in this comprehensive doctrine of the trinity you will be led astray. For example: If someone denies the trinity then they usually deny that Jesus is God. So, if the Jesus you believe in is not God, then you don’t have a Jesus who can save you! I pray you aren’t, “believing in a false representation of a Savior” (Galatians 1:6-9).  Joe, to take a look at these passages and “search the scriptures” for yourself. If you have any more questions send them to me later. Thanks!

Sincerely,          Jeffrey Paulus, Jr.

Exegetical Thoughts and Biblical Theology: Degrees of Holiness, Degrees of Reward

You'll find an excellent post by Dr. Phil here: Exegetical Thoughts and Biblical Theology: Degrees of Holiness, Degrees of Reward: I was recently asked, “Do degrees of holiness here on earth result in degrees of reward in Heaven?” The question assumes there are degrees ...

Learning to Feast Again...

Here's a recent article from www.relevantmagazine.com that I found helpful - maybe you will as well... It's about a "different kind" of gluttony. This summer I've especially been  "tasting daily, deeply and constantly" from God and His word. I hope you have been as well. 

Most Christians today like to say that all sins are “equal” in the eyes of God, that there is no scale of less or worse sins, that a white lie or a homicide alike would have been enough to require Christ to die on the cross. We say this in theory, but in practice, we know that a white lie won’t get you kicked off the church leadership team. And a homicide likely will.

In practice, there are some sins that are socially acceptable, even in the Church. There’s one sin in particular that has pervaded our society and churches so silently we hardly give it a second thought, and that is the constant hunt for more over what is enough. Or, in an uglier terminology, what is known as gluttony.

When I think about gluttony, I think about my desire to shove a dozen donuts into my mouth and wash them down with chocolate milk. Or perhaps it’s my tendency to mindlessly feed chips to a stomach that’s no longer hungry. Many of us can look at the sin of gluttony and think, “That’s not really my struggle.” Or, we think, “What’s the big deal?” After all, most congregations have compulsive over-eaters among them, and they’re not considered “less spiritual” or “backslidden” for it.

But gluttony has never been merely an addiction to food. And if we look at it in its original definition and context, gluttony becomes far closer to home than we’d like to admit.

AT ITS SIMPLEST, GLUTTONY IS THE SOUL’S ADDICTION TO EXCESS.

At its simplest, gluttony is the soul’s addiction to excess. It occurs when taste overrules hunger, when want outweighs need. And in America, where upsizing has always been part of the American dream, it’s often difficult to distinguish what is hard-earned achievement and what is indulgent excess. In this sense, even the most athletic and toned among us can be gluttons. Any of us can be.

All desire for excess stems from a lack of satisfaction. I’m not satisfied with my portion—be it the portion on my plate, in the marriage bed, or in my bank account. Because I’m not satisfied with my portion, I then seek a greater portion. But because every portion is a finite part of a finite whole, I am constantly chasing an excess that can never satisfy.

This is the story of Genesis 3. What was the sin in the Garden of Eden if not a desire for excess? Adam and Eve were given beautiful sights and beautiful tastes in the absence of shame, but what made the garden a paradise was not any of this. It was a paradise because God walked in the cool of the day with them. And yet, Adam and Eve’s downfall was because they deemed even this as not enough. They weren’t content with their portion of paradise, and they reached out—to disastrous consequence—for more.

Like them, we are ravenous beings. We embody bottomless cravings that constantly paw at the next attractive thing. Our appetites are as strong as death, Proverbs 27:20 tells us. We are always on the move for the next thing that can satisfy and slake our restless thirst. This endless pull is the engine of gluttony. It propels our souls ever toward excess.

And yet, the desire for “more” is not inherently bad, but it is often misdirected. What we need is a relentless appetite for the divine. We need a holy ravenousness. Our craving souls can turn and become enthralled by a goodness that is found in the presence of an all-glorious God. There is only one infinite source of satisfaction that can satisfy our bottomless cravings.

A taste of His supreme grace is enough to lure an appetite long held prisoner to lesser portions. If stolen water is sweet, lavished grace is sweeter.

And here’s a strange side effect: The more we drink deeply of the endless love of an infinite God, the more our tastes will be changed. The deep bright marrow of grace will drip down into the restless souls of the ever-hungry.

THE DESIRE FOR “MORE” IS NOT INHERENTLY BAD, BUT IT IS OFTEN MISDIRECTED. WHAT WE NEED IS A RELENTLESS APPETITE FOR THE DIVINE. WE NEED A HOLY RAVENOUSNESS.

In pursuit of lesser portions, our tastes have dulled. We’ve become numb to our real hungers, filling them with lesser fare. But when we return to the source, we taste anew.

Psalm 34:8 challenges us to see the difference for ourselves: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” I think Paul understood this verse when he told the people at Lystra that God gives food and gladness so that our hearts would turn from vain things and turn to the ultimate satisfaction of who God is (Acts 14:15-17).

Consequently, if God has ordained that His goodness can be tasted and seen (and, I would submit, heard, smelled and touched), this has at least two direct implications. First, it means that every finite pleasure and satisfaction is meant to point us toward the infinite pleasure and satisfaction of God. My admiration for a sunset, then, need not stop at that horizon, rather it can curve upward into praise and gratitude. Second, it means that if our desire for "more" is misplaced, then certainly it can be redirected to something good as well.

Is the desire for excess sinful? It depends on whether the soul is addicted to a finite excess or an infinite excess. Do we ever think of gorging on God? Do we relish the chance to spend a few more minutes in prayer, hidden away from the world for just one more taste of the divine? When was the last time we lingered long over the pages of an open Bible because we just couldn’t stop admiring the honeyed flavor of an ancient truth? If the Bible is the story of the only infinite good, why do we spend so much of our lives at lesser tables?

We Christians have so tamed our enjoyment in God that we cannot fathom what such thrill-seeking would even look like. Feasting on God is as foreign to most Americans as an empty stomach. Why can’t we fix our souls on the only goodness who can handle our cravings? Why do we chase the more mild flavors of money, food and sex?

If only we would not stifle our gluttonous cravings, but turn them in the right direction. If only we would feast on an infinite God who offers fullness of life, rather than these lesser tables with the far milder flavors of money, sex, food and power.

As George MacDonald put it, “Sometimes I wake and, lo, I have forgot.” Sleep is like a reset button and my hunger is misdirected often. I think I’m hungry for the finite, but I’m really hungry for God. To remember, we need to taste daily, deeply and constantly of the goodness of God. So let us turn together, and feast rightly.

Church Fire

       Some of you may not know this, but at the ministry I've helped out with here in Cincinnati (DNC) while I've been at GBS was ransacked by a fire that took out a few rooms and pretty much ruined the rest of the place. According to the investigators**  it was started by an individual who entered through the lower entrance on Saturday (4/27/13).   Upon entering, the individual went to various places downstairs and began placing things by the door to steal after the fire had already been started. At some point they then went to the furnace room and got the lawnmower  which was being stored there. After they towed it across the hall to the conference room, they then stacked books and bibles on the table and placed the overturned lawnmower on-top (so the gas would leak out). We would guess that this individual then lit it, shut the door, and went upstairs where they then tried to steal more. At one point they realized the fire was officially out of hand and figured they had better get out quicker than originally planned (Yes, I create rhymes all the time-jk), so he dropped the stuff he was carrying and ran downstairs. After grabbing a Hawaiian necklace lying on the table (the only object identified as missing at this point) he exited the building. The funny thing is that the guy had a key! So made if fairly easy for investigators.. the proof lies in the pudding - he unlocked the church upon entering, and locked it back up after exiting - Pretty stupid!

The investigators said it was arson and are in search of the suspect. Hopefully the culprit will be found.

     As of today (5/4/13) (I believe) work has been in progress for three days. Thankfully no one was injured, and the church did have enough insurance. The church should be back in order in under 6 months. For now the services will be held elsewhere...

**(All information is mostly true based upon the evidence but my be somewhat skewed - we haven't exactly interviewed the person who did it.)

Upstairs Sanctuary #1:

Upstairs Sanctuary #2:

Upstairs Sanctuary #3:

Steps to Downstairs:

Downstairs Hall:

The office they broke into:

My amp that I'll HOPEFULLY get replaced (along with $150 of other electronics,etc)

Sound System:

This was the wall clock:

Lighting Upstairs:

Projector:

This was kind've neat - melted plastic from the lighting on the seats.

Hall:

Pastors Study:

Food Pantry:

Bathroom Area:

Teen Sunday School Room:

Large Room #1:

Large Room #2:

This is the room that the fire was started in:

Conference room:

Stairs:

Nursery:

Foyer:

     Initially I thought the fire was much worse - so thankfully structurally almost all is still sound. However, because of the smell and filthy residue that covers EveryTHinG - some (or most) may have to be replaced as well (Such as: songbooks, ceiling tiles, piano, etc.) Other items like, projector, lighting, all wiring,  sound-system, amp, and most all other electronics will definitely have to be replaced. Downstairs - most will be gutted and replaced. After the firemen got a chance to access the possibilites of what could've happened they said, "it would've been much worse had it gotten some more oxygen". Because the fire couldn't get enough oxygen, and because the building was sealed up tight, it began to wane after a while. Thankfully it the fire wasn't any worse! Still, it was bad enough! 

     I'm sure the pastor and church would appreciate your prayers... fire's are huge headaches!! You can pray that the church is united, and grows through this, for transitions in and out of various buildings while it's restored, and for the sanity of the pastor and those directly involved with insurance,etc. This summer I'll be going home to get in some long work hours, but hopefully when I see it in the fall, all will be back to normal again.

Witnessing to Mormons

Have you ever had a Mormon question you about your faith? I know I have! Sometimes it can be rough knowing what to say, but it doesn't have to be that way. Here's a recent paper I submitted that describes, and refutes the Mormon cultist faith. Hopefully this is of help... 
Brief History of Mormonism

            The religion of Mormonism supposedly began many centuries ago when two great nations migrated to the Americas one of which was wicked and the other religious. According to their doctrine, Jesus Christ came over later after his resurrection to preach the gospel to these people. Four hundred years after Christ, a prophet Nephtite wrote down their history on gold plates and buried them, which Joseph Smith later discovered and translated with a seer stone. During this time he never showed them publicly. After they were translated they were transported to heaven by angels. Mormons claim that archaeology has proven the book of Mormon to be true. Yet, none of the 3,200 cities named in the book of Mormon. The Mormons, also known as the Latter Day Saints, claim that they are the restoration of true Christianity. They also believe in the divine prophetic word of prophets (such as LDS Presidents, etc) and a “burning in the bosom” feeling or experience.

Disproving the Mormon Doctrine of Salvation.

            Mormons believe that they are saved through faith and obedience to ordinances of the Mormon Church, and that one cannot have assurance of salvation. The belief is that according to Ephesians 2:8-9, we have been saved by grace not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For a college class I was asked to interview two Mormons. In that interview I noticed they believed that the assurance rested in their “burning in the bosom” and not on scripture. My argument was that a burning in the bosom, or as we call it, a feeling is a possible outflow of that assurance but is not the means to an end. One argument I used in that interview was a presentation of 1 John 5:13, that says, if a person believes in Jesus Christ they can know that they had eternal life without a doubt. I also made the case that you cannot just pull a Scripture, such as this one, out of context and forget about the rest of the Bible – I reminded them that if you want to get to heaven, you must first repent, and then walk in all the light God has given us living according to commandments and such. Most Mormons do not know that they have salvation until judgment.

Disproving the Mormon Doctrine of God.

            Mormons believe that “God himself was once as we are now and is an exalted man”. The foundational belief for this is a belief that God has a physical body. However, John 4:24, Luke 24:37-39, and Matthew 16:15-17 refute this by saying that God is a Spirit. They used to believe that Adam created both God and man, but they obviously have changed in doctrine since then which in turn proves their inconsistency. Along with their doctrine of God, they believe that human beings will exist eternally after physical death in one of the three places –heaven on earth, the heaven of the “heavens”, and hell. Part of this belief is that God evolved from mortal man. Lorenzo Snow, a Mormon leader, when speaking of John 3:16, stated, “As man now is, God once was. As God is now, man may become.” The Scripture verses I would use to refute this are the following: Psalm 90:2 – which says that God is everlasting and forever; Mal 3:6 – says that God doesn't change; Numbers 23:19 – says that God is not a man; In fact, even the book of Mormon in Mormon 9:10 refutes this idea.

            Not only do the Mormons believe that God evolved from man, and that as mortal man we can become like God, but they also believe in polytheism. Joseph Smith said, “In the beginning, the head of the gods called a council of the gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and the people in it.” (King Follet Discourse)[1] Scripture refutes this. Isaiah 44:6 says that the LORD is the first and the last and that there is no other God but him. Then in 44:8 He repeats Himself and says: “Is there anyone beside me? Surely no!” In Isaiah 45:18 and 22 He says yet again “I am the LORD who created the heaven and earth and there is none beside me”. Lastly, Isaiah 43:10 which contradicts the belief in polytheism, says, ”I am the only God, before me there was no other and after me there will be no other.” Therefore, it is clear that their key statement that they often use to support their belief in polytheism can be easily disproven with these scriptures.

Other Ways to Disprove Mormonism

            One argument that can be used in disproving Mormonism, is to disprove the extermination of the Nephites. The footnotes in the Book of Mormon suggest that the extermination of the Nephites happened between A.D. 400 and 421. Yet it left no archeological evidence. In contrast, there was a much smaller battle that took place centuries earlier in 1^st century A.D. in Palestine that shows what we would expect to find if this battle from the book of Mormon had really occurred. Josephus, a historian, describes a rock in the desert named Masada, where 900 people were besieged by the Romans, all of whom eventually died. Archaeologists identified and excavated it in the 1960’s. What they found was very clear evidence such as coins and houses, proving that these events actually took place there. No civilization can be wiped out in such a way that (even some of) a remnant is no longer left. In Ether 15 in the Book of Mormon, a huge war is described during which millions are massacred. Where is the evidence of this catastrophe? We know that the Hill, Komora was where the last major events in the book of Mormon took place. In Mormon 8:2 we read, “And now it came to pass that after the great and tremendous battle at Cumorah, behold, the Nephites who had escaped into the country southward were hunted by the Lamanites, until they were all destroyed. It goes on and makes an account of about how many died. William Wilson an LDS Anthropologist from Northern Arizona University, stated that, “Each time a new massacre would happen, the book of Mormon records that tens of thousands died. When you add them all up it’s over 250,000 that were left dead”[2]. Yet, when Wilson did excavations in Palmyra, NY he found nothing. If even 50,000 died, archaeologists assumed that they would have found remains of bones in mass burial sites, metal from spears, chariots, etc. In Jerusalem anytime another object is found they begin excavating that site to find more evidence. So why does the Mormon Church not do this in the hill Cumorah in Palmyra, NY.

            There was a man named Thomas Ferguson who endeavored to prove that the book of Mormon was true by going to South America and finding archaeological evidence proving its validity. At that time he was a devout Mormon. “He worked at the anthropology department at Brigham Young University.”[3] “After spending millions of dollars in excavations and research he couldn’t find anything.”[4] He went in a hopeful Mormon, but eventually left the faith and is now excommunicated from the church.

My Humble Conclusion

            Joseph Smith said, “I told the brethren that the book of Mormon was the most correct of any on earth, and the keystone of our religion and that man would get nearer to God by abiding in its precepts than by any other book.”[5] My conclusion is, if the book of Mormon is the most correct book on earth, then we have many other books full of lies. If the people that it talks about did not exist historically, and there is no other evidence of any of the events, then, as the evidence proves, there was no visit of Jesus Christ to the Americas. Therefore, “it then couldn’t be another testament of Jesus Christ”.[6]

            Gordon B. Hickley the late LDS Prophet and President said,

            “As a church we have critics many of them. They say we do not believe in the traditional            Christ of Christianity. There is some substance to what they say. Our faith, our     knowledge, is not based on ancient tradition… Our faith, our knowledge comes of the         witness of a prophet in this dispensation…” (April 2002 General Conference)[7]

            This man is basically saying that he does not believe in the Christian Christ, but in the Christ that Joseph Smith taught. I would recommend that you at least quote this to your Mormon friend, and if he or she gets mad then you say, “This is what your prophet said”. How can they argue against their own prophet? Furthermore, William Wilson a former LDS member and follower, who is now an anthropologist at the Northern Arizona University stated (after reviewing much evidence), “Mormons do not believe in the same Christ”.[8]  Also, Galatians 1:9-12 says,

            As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than           that ye have received, let him be accursed. Or do I now persuade men, or God? For do I     seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I             certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I       neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

             I thank God that we have the TRUE story, the one that isn’t flawed. We believe in something that brings and will bring true hope. We need to open our doors to Mormons when they come knocking and expose this cult for what it truly is. This book has been disproven by secular and religious scholars alike. From the historical, archaeological  factual, and biblical evidence, I and many other scholars would agree that the Book of Mormon is only 19^th Century Religious fiction. Wouldn’t you agree?

Suggestions when Witnessing to a Mormon

            In closing I would like to give some brief pointers in sharing one’s faith with Mormons, along with the arguments and scriptures that have already shared. When you plan to meet, find a quiet place such as the corner of a coffee shop to meet – it is more conducive to deeper thinking. Also, understand that they will be meeting with you in a suit and tie so dressing in a dressy or casual manner would be appropriate - I wouldn’t recommend jeans and a tee shirt. The last time I offered some Mormons a drink, forgetting that there are some drinks they would not drink, such as those that contain caffeine – so you could instead offer water. Also, when you interact, always remember that you may be arguing for your faith (or theirs), you may be disagreeing with them, you may even get a little red in the face at some of the outlandish things they say – but never forget to love them like Christ! They are people just like you who are in search of truth, whether they outwardly say or show that or not.

            Furthermore, according to Maxwell, it’s a good thing to, “avoid telling Mormons what they believe”. Instead, ask them what their position is on a certain issue. Second, always define your terms. Maxwell said you need to understand that, “Mormonism has accepted Christian terminology while substituting its truth for private definitions”.[9] This is huge! So make sure you know what you’re agreeing to before you agree that both Christianity and Mormonism agree (or differ) theologically on a subject. Know their terms and your own. Finally, use some of the information provided in this essay to refute or bring into question their beliefs.

            In closing, I wish the best to you in your endeavors with Mormons! Keep trying, the truth always prevails in the end.

Works Cited

Discourses, the power of the Holy Ghost."  Journal of, and vol. 3 p. 3 (1856). "False Prophecies/Quotes." Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. .

Faith, their "Articles of, " their "Creeds,  ", and  their. "Orson Pratt, "Authenticity of the Book of Mormon"." BOAP: The Book of Abraham Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. .

"Joseph Smith's King Follet Sermon." Utah Lighthouse Ministry. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2013.

Stanley, Charles. "NO Historical Evidence to Support the Book of Mormon." Introduction to Jesus Christ. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. .

"The Book of Mormon vs The Bible, Part 3 of an indepth study of Latter Day Saints Archeology - YouTube." YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. .

Volume, and Issue ». "Questions to Ask Your Mormon Friend: Effective Ways to Challenge a Mormon's Arguments without Being Offensive - LeIsle Jacobson - FARMS Review - Volume 7 - Issue 1." Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. .

            MLA formatting by BibMe.org.

---

[1]  Joseph Smith, n.d. (utlm.org)

[2] The Book of Mormon vs. the Bible, n.d. (youtube.com)

[3] C. Stanley, n.d. (evangelical.us)

[4] The Book of Mormon vs. the Bible, n.d. (youtube.com)

[5] Discourses, 1856 (inplainsite.org)

[6] The Book of Mormon vs. the Bible, n.d. (youtube.com)

[7] Discourses, 1856 (inplainsite.org)

[8] The Book of Mormon vs. the Bible, n.d. (youtube.com)

[9] LeIsle Jacobson, n.d. (Maxwellinstitute.byu.edu)

You Can Mentor

Mentoring

By Mark Alan Williams

This Post is a Quote from: http://www.churchplants.com/daily-devotions/3194-you-can-mentor-church-planting-devotional-mark-alan-williams.html

2 Tim 2:2 ~ The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful Men who will be able to teach others also. 

READING: Mark 3:1-19 

I was privileged to attend the Tokyo 2010 Missions Consultation with my wife, Carolyn. We arrived in Tokyo and on the first day we learned how to ride the subway, we found our hotel and we learned the Japanese words for “goodbye” and “thank you.”

The next day, we met two guys who had just arrived for the consultation. They were so thankful that we could show them how to ride the subway, which train to take, where to get Japanese cash and how to get an umbrella. They assured me it was so much easier to have us as “guides.” I couldn't help but chuckle at the novice mentoring role I was able to play. Here I was a 24-hour newcomer to Japan, yet I could mentor others who were newer than me.

We forget that mentoring is not about being the most accomplished expert. A mentor is simply “someone who has been where you want to go and is willing to tell you how to get there.”

Do you know someone who needs to learn what you know? 

Why not offer to mentor that person? You don’t have to be the world’s greatest. Just offer to share what you know.

Jesus, our Supreme Example, made mentoring a priority. He spent three years pouring Himself into the twelve. They changed the world. Likewise, those you mentor may also change the world. 

4 Systems Every Church Needs

Comment from Me: "I find this interesting but something they don't mention is the need for spiritual growth in a person. In his article it seems as though he's emphasizing more numbers than souls... the information he provides is nonetheless helpful if my church was in the rut of folks not knowing where our church was."

By Artie Davis

You may or may not be a systems person. You may lead a large or very small church. Regardless the context, systems need to be in place or success will always elude you.

Every church needs to ask and answer these questions in the context of a measurable system they have put in place . . .

1. Attraction

When are we attracting people to the Kingdom?

If we never attract people to us, they will never experience the Jesus in us. So we need a system that allows those on the outside to see what we have on the inside. When do we do that intentionally?

• Sunday morning? How?
• Missional communities? How?
• Personally? How?
• Outreach? How?

2. Assimilation

How are we keeping those God sends us?

We are very poor stewards of the Kingdom, if God brings us people and we don’t do everything possible to keep them. If a new person is introduced to our church, then what?

• Once someone gets to know us or the church what is the next place? Where?
• Do we know how many we have seeking? How do we record it, Where?
• What is our definition of the person who is “committed”?

3. Action

What are we challenging people to do?

We must have a system that takes people from their first steps to equipping them to be productive missionaries in a lost world. If the church doesn’t train them, then Who?

• What do we consider our “roads to outreach”?
• Is a lifestyle of living out our mission expected?
• How do we record new additions? Who contributed to that action?

4. Activation

Where are we sending people?

Once a follower is fully trained, they should be like their teacher, i.e., Jesus. Jesus went from town to town, from person to place demonstrating and communicating the Kingdom. When our people are trained, what opportunities do we provide or encourage them to engage in. Where?

• How are our groups working toward our mission?
• Where do we encourage individuals to make contact with those outside the Kingdom?
• How do we measure how effective our strategy is in accomplishing our mission

Can you add any to the list?

This content is from: http://www.churchplants.com/articles/3298-4-systems-every-church-needs.html 

Does My Wife Need Her Own Call? Part 1

By Dionne Carpenter

You are [Sarah’s] daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. ~ I Peter 3:6 

READING: I Peter 3:1-6 

Church planting is so demanding you need to be called to it. But is it enough for just the husband to hear that call? Or must your wife hear her own call? 

No, she doesn’t. A married couple is one flesh and God honors that unity. God won’t genuinely call one without implicitly calling the other. However, your wife’s attitude is one of the most crucial benchmarks and hurdles that will prove whether or not your call is from God. If your call is genuine, she’ll be able to wholeheartedly embrace your call as her own – maybe not immediately – but at least after a season of prayer and reflection. At some point, she may even hear God’s call herself. 

She’s the most important team member you need to win over if you hope for long-term success.

Oftentimes, a man genuinely called to the pioneer work of church planting has married a shy, reserved wife. To her, the very thought of such a crazy life may seem quite daunting; never something she would have chosen on her own. Yet God is wise in uniting such men and women together in marriage. If you will allow your shy wife freedom to find her own ministry within the church planting endeavor, she will bring a much needed balance to your church plant. Quiet wives often spot things – overlooked people, overlooked details, and your own overlooked fatigue – and can bring blessed help behind the scenes. God will bless her willingness to step out in faith as Sarah’s daughter. 

Dear Father, Please bless our marriage and help us to honor and support one another as loving co-laborers. Amen.

--

Does My Wife Need Her Own Call? #2

By Dionne Carpenter

Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that               meets at their house. ~ I Corinthians 16:19 

READING:  Romans 6:3, 4 

Even if your wife has received a personalized call to church planting, how that translates into ministry may vary widely. Here’s my story as example. I gave birth to our first child shortly before we launched our first church. I assumed I should follow Priscilla’s example to take a very active role within our new church and be busier than our busiest volunteer. 

It took me awhile to realize that although we usually needed more workers than we had, and even though, like Priscilla, I had plenty of ministry experience, my top priority needed to be to provide a stable home for Jim and our new baby. Many others could teach Sunday school or hand out flyers. But nobody else was in my unique position to support and love Jim, to give him a hot meal, a warm bed and a sympathetic ear.

In time I became comfortable with my unique support role, and evaluated every potential new commitment within the church in light of its impact on my ability to take good care of Jim and our children.

I also learned to periodically reassess my commitments in light of the changing needs of our growing family. When our sons were toddlers, they consumed most of my time, but after they went to school, it freed up time that I could in good conscience spend doing more overt ministry.

I still admire Priscilla, but now see that her biggest contribution was to provide a safe haven within which ministry could blossom. 

Dear Father, Please make our home and our marriage an ongoing source of blessing. Amen.

This interesting perspective is from: http://www.churchplants.com/daily-devotions/3111-does-my-wife-need-her-own-call-devotional-peter-church-planting-dionne-carpenter.html