Preaching Trip out to Arizona

This past summer I was privileged yet again to go out west on a preaching trip to the Indian Reservation north of Phoenix. I had a great time!! It is soo beautiful out there...

After many months of wanting to get a short video put together - it finally got done. It captures a few of the highlights of my trip... It begins with a snapshot of a college buddy (who happened to be in the area at the same time visiting his family) and I around 5:30 am after we'd gotten lost trying to find the the location of the camp and had just woken up to start driving again. (The West is a big place folks..) Needless to say we made fun memories we won't ever forget. The rest of the video summarizes some of the many sermons preached, games played, and enjoyment had by all.

If you interested in hosting a preaching, teaching, and fun event somewhere in your area - just get in contact with me.

(P.S. - special thanks goes out to the businessman who made this trip a reality!! God helped, and hearts were changed. It wouldn't have been possible without your contribution.)

Bonhoeffer's Thoughts About Loving Millennials

Photo by: Catherene MacBride

Today, I decided to pick up this months' Christianity Today magazine from off the library shelf. This months article captivated my attention. I may be working with youth in the future, or may start my own ministry somewhere, so it would be good to keep my ear to the ground and be informed rather than ignorant and dumb. Either way, I do know I'm to help youth find Christ for themselves - whether that's my life calling or now (who knows!). 

In the article by Andrew Root, I took note that once again that we have the wrong focus as thinkers, theologians, and as Christians when viewing the young "milennial" generation of today. It's title, Stop worrying about the Millennials, jumped out at me seeking to remind me the reader that I, "need to learn to love them", instead of worrying about how I'm going to keep them. In the article, one of the greatest thinkers of the 19th century,  Deitrich Bonhoeffer, explained why. 

Bonhoeffer says, 

When he wrote that he was trying to shake up the "accommodating youth movement" and instead remind the church that they were to, "disciple youth so that they constitute the church as they grow older." He believed too many Germans thought the future of the church depended upon very spirited young people. 

One of the reasons I could go into youth ministry was because, "they are the hope of the church". 

I have now realized that is a false statement. The youth, the children, the older people, are not the hope of the church. Bonhoeffer called our fixation with youthfulness - idolatry. 

Our future depends on Jesus Christ (Period!).

If you and I have an encountering with the Holy Spirit in our lives - homes - churches, specifically through the word of God and the means of grace, young people will want what the body of Christ has to offer! If they see Jesus in our lives - young people will want that. 

He continued by arguing, "Youth ministry is first and foremost a theological task.... first and foremost an encounter of the divine with the human."

Today sadly, theology is often put on the back burner. Instead praise, and "the band" is front and center. Praise/Testimony time is in and the word of God and his Holy Spirit is out.

What young people, or "millennials" as they/we are called, really need is an encounter with God's love, his gracious people, His word and His Spirit. 

"Much of North American Youth Ministry was shaped by the desire to capture and use the spirit of youth". In many ways the christian church can capture the attention and energy till about 17. Then we lose them. Reason? We've stopped loving. We wanted them to join us and keep our church going instead of wanting them to love God to build Gods' kingdom. Initially it's just a few head butts with the young 20 something, but the more it continues and the "less love in action is shown" and the less the "word is gracefully and kindly shared" the more they are driven out. We are to always be lovingly redemptive.

"In loving the youthful spirit of millennial, we actually love not the young person in all his or her peculiarities; instead, we love what having the young person's youthful spirit in our churches can get us. We love the idea of having millennial's in our church, but may not be ready to love the particular young people that come to us in their concrete humanity." We want the person and what they can add, but who wants all the other things.

I'm reminded of John 14:34-35, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Sadly, today in the church many millennials are driven out because they weren't loved, chased after, and cared for even when they hurt the body of Christ. Loving when I wouldn't love in return was what Christ did for me and you - why not do it for someone else? It's just like human nature to not call, not care, and not visit. Individualism is the American way, but it's the wrong way. 

Today, many 17-28 yr olds are broken, and who need to be selflessly loved.

In summary: 

"Thus the best way to help the church engage millennials is to stop wringing our hands over the millennial problem. Instead, we might seek the Holy Spirit together with all generation, looking for concrete experiences of the presence and absence of God in the lives of the young, confessing our confusion and telling our own stories of God's work in our lives. That's when the Holy Spirit binds and unites us, calling us beyond our generational divided. For in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, millennial nor boomer. 

Maybe your asking the "How" question...

Here's one way the article gave to start living this out.

Stop pleading with young people to read their bibles, and start encouraging young people to read their bibles with older mature Christians who've experienced Christ and know his power. When young people have tried this they became no longer a bunch of "bored millennials", but instead represent concrete persons who also know and love the person Jesus and his word. Other Christian pastors and lay-leaders are doing this - why not us? Give it a try.

To read the original article: Click on this Hyperlink 

The Purpose Driven Church - Book Review - Part 1

 

Well, it’s true. You've heard them and so have I, those “Myths about growing churches”. Have you heard the myth, “the only thing that large churches care about is attendance”, or how about “You must compromise the message and the Mission of the Church in Order to Grow”?  Lately I've been reading a book for class by Rick Warren called "The Purpose Driven Church". Although I don't agree with everything he presents, he has got me thinking some about how a church should grow. What I find incredible is that it all started small, even his church, and grew..steadily, and sometimes painfully to what it is today. If his grew - so can ours! (Yet I think too often in the CHM we're often miss-informed, scared, purposeless, or not in tune with the Holy Spirit.)

In response to the question "only caring about attendance", Rick commented: “If you are preaching the positive, life-changing Good News of Christ, if your members are excited by what God is doing in your church, if you are providing a service where they can bring unsaved friends without embarrassment, and if you have a plan to build, train, and send out those you win to Christ,l attendance will be the least of your problems.” “Healthy, lasting church growth is multidimensional. Every church needs to grow warmer through fellowship, deeper through discipleship, stronger through worship, broader through ministry, and larger through evangelism.” (Acts 2:42-47)

“Church Growth is a natural result of Church Health.” A healthy church grows.

In response to the second myth about "compromising the message", he wrote the following:

“This myth implies that leaders of growing churches are somehow “selling out” the Gospel in order to grow, and that it must be shallow and lacking in commitment.” They assume it’s a “watered-down” message. Many churches are like that, however this guilt by association is unfortunate."

"Jesus ministry attracted enormous crowds. Why? Because the gospel is GOOD NEWS!! (John 12:32) A Christlike Church WILL have the same drawing effect on people. Another reason for the confusion of shallowness is they confuse what is, “expected of the unbelieving attenders with what is expected of the actual church members.” Saddleback distinguishes between “the Crowd” and “the Congregation”. “At Saddleback Church we do not expect unbelievers to act like believers until they ARE. We expect very little from the seeker who is investigating the claims of Christ. We simply invite unbelievers to come and check us out as Jesus did. Yet, “we require a major commitment from those who want to join our church. All prospective members must complete a membership class and are required to sign a membership covenant. By signing the covenant, members agree to give financially, serve in ministry, maintain a godly lifestyle, etc” … We remove hundreds of names from our roll every year.”

...…. Like what you’re reading? Want to hear about all EIGHT myths about megachurches? Check out the book, “The Purpose Driven Church”.

Overall, it's a great book that I'd recommend to even laypeople - not just pastors/future pastors.

Click the video below to learn more about the incredible history of Saddleback Church. 

It's really quite amazing!

Pride and Bitter Tastes

Do you want to know something that "irks" me and rubs me the wrong way? It's when someone who really isn't all that great thinks they are the worlds greatest gift!

I mean really? REALLY? How prideful can you be? You think your I.n.c.r.e.d.i.b.l.e!!! The very fact that you think you are amazing... show's me how wrong you are about being amazing. 

I'd love to sit down with you and say, "Hello, My Name is Jeffrey, and I'm your friend, and I have something I need to tell you... ..Listen, "you have no friends. Because if you did they would have already confronted you about this pride issue in your life." (Quoted from a video by "J. Maxwell")

Ever met someone prideful? Doesn't it leave a nasty something in your mouth. Yea, I think you understand what I'm saying here...

Recently I was on the blog: and I was amazed by the honesty, transparency, and openness of the individual. It was as though this individual was sharing from the heart, and who could do so because they were and are secure in Christ. What they did wasn't grounded in their own image, popularity, or anything else -- what they did and didn't do was grounded in a humble attitude that came from their relationship with Christ. (Humility: properly viewing ourselves from the way God sees us - not in a prideful sense yet not in a way that's self-demoralizing/defacing neither..)

Are you secure in Christ? Because if you are - although you might not notice... others do.

Reading some of the posts from the blog was refreshing! Because simple truths explained in a logical and biblical way are after all usually the things we relate with the most.

Pride has a way of leaving a nasty taste in your mouth. Let's keep refreshing instead of leaving people with dry moldy tastes in their mouth. 

A prayer: "God help me to be a Spring and not a empty bucket that's longing to be "filled up" with anothers' praise. Instead help me to be constantly and consistently desirous of your praise Lord. And help me never to be prideful but to instead, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard everyone else as more important than myself;" (Phil. 2:3)

Verses on Pride: 

1. Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
2. The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. Isaiah 2:11
3. Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar. Psalm 138:6
4. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1 Corinthians 13:4
5. The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. Proverbs 16:5

Devotional from 1 Thessalonians 3

This morning in my devotions I was reading in 2 Thessalonians 3 and stumbled upon something rather obvious yet something glossed over previously. I love how scripture can come alive fresh each day.

The context of 2 Thess. 3:14 is that Paul has just finished commanding the believers in Thessanolica to "keep away from every believer who leads an unruly life who's life doesn't heed to the tradition that Paul and the Apostles set forth"(v.6), to "follow his (Pauls') example and "be disciplined"(v.7) ,  and to "work so you can eat" (v.10).

Like many of Pauls' epistles both Pauline and General, he addresses a few concerns (v.11):

a) Some are being un-disciplined

b) Not working and acting like they were/should be

c) Then, reminded them to keep away from "unruly and disobedient believers"

For the lazy crowd he admonishes - Work for your own bread! For those already obedient he says, "don't get weary in doing good" but keep obeying what I'm saying (through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit)

Then, here's where Paul totally surprises me. He says, "If anyone doesn't obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him so that he will be put to shame". YET, do not "regard him as an enemy but admonish him as a brother". 

Isn't Paul a little strong here? Well, is this inspired text? Yes! Therefore, I should obey regardless.

The Universal Principle here is that those who are disobedient to the word in a few areas can easily lead others astray and therefore can be a "threat to the body of Christ" - thus Paul warns us against those kinds of people.

The Specific Application of this in our day is that we need to be very careful with our "friendships" with people who disobey the word of scripture. Be their brother in the Lord and love them like Christ would but don't 'Lean on them' for support or wisdom that you might need in your life if they are lazy and unruly or disobedient. 

Defining Terms: 

A Universal Principle is: 

Something true at all times in all places - based off character of God.

A Specific Application is:

An universal principle that has been applied to a specific situation that's only true at certain times for certain people - i.e. food laws in the O.T. 

The Next Step

For the last few years now while I've been in school I've been applying for jobs consistently. It was hard work and was not very rewarding initially. There’s nothing like having the feeling of “not being good enough” for the job – or so we often think. (Really... the interviews never went badly but God just kept the "job" door shut (and told me to study instead) because He knew I'd still have enough funds even without a job. Oh me of little faith.) Two weeks ago I applied for a job at a local Hospital and just heard back that they, "are not interested in making an offer at this time", and that they, "wish me success in my career search." Once again a door slammed in my nose. But I still kept walking, plodding, and kept taking the next step.

With each door I’d grow more and more in my faith, and would further develop my patience as God would test my faith a little more, and a little more, and still more. Recently with thousands of dollars in recent unexpected business expenditures I needed a job more than ever. 

It slowly began to dawn on me that if I really wanted a job bad enough I would need to keep knocking and sooner or later a door would open. This was about 2 months ago. Sure enough a door did open! A week ago I was talking with a friend who’s good at networking and he mentioned how he had referred me to a lady who owned a number of apartments because he liked the work he’d seen and also knew what I stood for. I thought to myself, "Well that may be an opportunity but we'll see if the door stays open and it's truly God's will.

The job ended up working out. I just accepted a job as an on-call manager/maintenance person for a few rental properties in the Cincinnati area. Although it's small, it's the next step, it pays really well, and I'm happy with it! If there’s something that this has taught me it's simply, "take one step at a time and the answer will come." God's timing is perfect! Had I not been working on another smaller group of rentals that I help maintain I would never have landed this bigger contract and the one who referred to this property owner would never have even thought of me.

 "I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:12-13

"...godliness with contentment is great gain." - 1 Timothy 6:6

What about me you say... well, remain content where you are, keep plodding, with the opportunities God had placed before you, and keep walking through the doors in front of you that are open and you'll get farther than you ever thought you could have gotten. Whether it be a job, career, spouse, calling, unsaved soul, or ministry dream, keep knocking on the door of heaven for an answer and keep plodding away.

The  answer will come – probably not in our time, and in a way we least expect it, but it will come.            Until then we must be patient and keep taking the next step.

>>For more thoughts on being faithful, plodding, and taking one step at a time --  click ((here)).

"Remember, miles are covered one step at a time..."

Spiritual Gifts in the Bible and the Church

Introduction

What are spiritual gifts? Do I have them? These are some of the questions that I started asking myself a few years ago during my sophomore year of college. Since then I’ve taken multiple tests to understand how and in what ways I’m most useful in God’s kingdom. I believe God has many places where we could be useful in the kingdom, but it's up to us to discern where it’s best for us to be. There are four primary proof texts in the N.T. that many use to discuss to topic of spiritual gifts: 1 Cor. 12-14; Rom. 12:3-8; Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Pet. 4:10-11. Hopefully, this paper will help you answer some of the questions that I had, that I mentioned in the beginning.

Gifts for All Decided By God

Scripture is pretty clear that we all have been given “the gift” of being one with Christ through Christ’s death on the cross; However, we all “each have received a gift” (1 Pet. 4:10-11) and individually been given gifts or talents that we can use as ministry minded Christians in the kingdom. Note the word all. Some think they have been excluded - that is a false assumption. These gifts were also given according to “the measure of grace” that God has allowed to work in our lives (Rom. 12:3-8). All of these gifts will have the honor that he wants and deems best (1 Cor. 12:22-24). In 1 Cor. 12:13 we even find that some gifts are more important than others such as love being more important than faith and hope.

Definition and Goals of a Gift

What is a spiritual gift? It’s a talent that God has given us for the benefit of the local body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:7; 14:12), and for preventing division amongst other things. These gifts that God gives us are the “supernatural graces which we as Christians need to fulfill the mission of the church.” (Spiritual gift, Wikipedia.) What is the end goal of a specific gift or ability given to us by God? It’s so that the body of Christ would be strengthened and benefited. And, remember if a gift is used in such a way that isn’t loving - it’s useless and worthless (1 Cor. 13:13).

The Gifts Differ

As I said before there are four primary places where gifts are mentioned. In these passages they all overlap which suggests that none of the four lists that you’ll find in the texts are intended to be comprehensive; however, these are the gifts that the text outlines so they are the ones we will review in this paper. Some of the gifts focus on leadership (i.e. - apostles, administrators, teachers, pastors, and evangelists), others “require divine intervention or divine revelation” (i.e. - prophecy, healings, miracles, tongues and their interpretation), some are general gifts that all Christians are commanded to have that involve an extra measure of virtue (i.e - faith, service, giving, mercy, or evangelizing), and others speak to only a select few Christians (i.e. - miracles, tongues, or administration). (Elwell, Walter)  These gifts truly differ. Here is an overview of the gifts in 1 Cor. 12-14… The gift of wisdom refers to the “ability to make skillful and practical application of the truth to life 

situations”(MacArthur, p. 298); The gift of knowledge refers to, “the capability of grasping the meaning of God’s revelation, which is mystery to the natural mind”. (McArthur, p. 299) The gift of faith refers to a special ability to lay claim on the promises of God. The gift of healings refers to giving spiritual healing and (in a lesser way) physical healing. The gift of miracles refers to the special ability to do miracles, wonders, and signs that glorify God. The gift of prophecy although it has some controversy surrounding it contextually, refers to someone who has the ability to speak forth or proclaim the word. The gift of discernment refers to, “the ability to examining and judging in order to determine what is genuine and what is spurious.” (MacArthur, p. 304) Finally, the gift of tongues and of interpretation of tongues refers to having the ability to speak in foreign languages easily and aptly through the Power of the Holy Spirit - this one is not used often today.

Here is an overview of new gifts outline for us in Rom. 12:3-8 that weren’t mentioned previously in the above text. The gift of service is much like the gift of “helps” or being useful wherever needed. The gift of teaching refers to the act of teaching and would apply to pastors, teachers, s.s. teacher, and all who disciple (which includes all Christians). The gift of exhortation (12:8a) is one who “is called to one's side” who comforts and helps another. The gift of giving (12:8b) refers to just what it says - that of “sharing or imparting that which is one’s own.” (MacArthur, p. 175) The gift of leadership (12:8c) refers to one who “stands before others” and “administrates, guides, or pilots” a team, individual, or organization, or church. The gift of mercy refers to one who “actively demonstrates sympathy for someone else and who has the necessary resources to successfully comfort and strengthen”. (MacArthur, p. 177). Here is an overview of the gifts in Eph. 4:11-16… There is the gift of Apostles and Prophets which refers to one who the original apostles and prophets and in our day refers to those who are messengers of the gospel who were tasked with equipping and strengthening the local church. Evangelists refers to who's who proclaim the good news. Pastors and teachers refers to one who “shepherds a flock” and “teachers” can include deacons, overseers, one who rules in the church, and elders. Then in  1 Pet. 4:10-11 there are more gifts mentioned but I already covered them in the above paragraphs.

Discerning Our Own Gifts

There are a few key ways we can try and figure out what we are good at or should be doing in the kingdom. First, I believe there are internal ways. Do you have the ability to see a need in the body? Do you have the capacity to meet the need well? Do you experience satisfaction when you meet the need? Second, I think there are external ways such as: confirmation from the body of Christ that your contribution was helpful, and recommendation from the body that you are able to meet a need well. Finally, There are helpful spiritual gifts tests online that one can take. Some to take might be: www.spiritualgiftstest.com/test/adult and gifts.churchgrowth.org/cgi-cg/gifts.cgi?intro=1.

Reflection on My Own Spiritual Gifts Test

I have already take quite a few of my own spiritual gifts tests but taking some more (those above) were also helpful. Yet again, I scored high on Pastor, Leadership, and Administration. To be honest though these tests I thought weren't as good as some others I've taken. They did help me in that they verified what I already knew and probed me to think deeper about some things that I may or may not be strong or weak in.

Please Note: This paper isn't finished - in fact nothing I do is finished. You could consider this draft #1 so bear with the errors. I hope this is of some help to you or at least helps you begin the journey of understanding spiritual gifts better, and understanding the spiritual gifts you do have.

References:

Elwell, Walter . "Holy Spirit, Gifts of."BibleStudyTools.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Oct. 2014. <http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/holy-spirit-gifts-of.html>.

MacArthur, John. The MacArthur New Testament commentary. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, 2007. Print.

"Spiritual gift.", Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Mar. 2014. Web. 4 Oct. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_gift