Fluency

New Sermon Series at Calvary Church starting February 14.

7 Churches of Revelation: Church Health Check-UP

The Lord’s diagnostic questions

How fresh is our love?
Rev 2:1-7

How firm is our faith?
Rev 2:8-11

How dear is our bible?
Rev 2:12-17

How pure is our heart?
Rev 2:18-29

How true is our life?
Rev 3:1-6

How fixed is our hope?
Rev 3:7-13

How real is our zeal?
Rev 3:14-22

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches–and to individuals.

This is a repost from the Catalyst Conference posted on Church Relevance. And will it is particularly aimed at pastors, I believe the principles are helpful for all believers to be mindful of.

Chuck Swindoll of Insight for Living discussed 10 things he has learned in almost 50 years of ministry during Catalyst Conference’s 8th session. Here is what he said:

Fifty years ago, I was a first year student at Dallas Theological Seminary. I was scared, unsure of myself, and fresh out of the Marine Corp. I did not know much about seminary.

I remember sitting in chapel, and a minister told me, “When God wants to do an impossible task, he takes an impossible person and crushes him.” I am so proud of everything you are dreaming of and doing that I hope that you remember to leave room for the crushing.

10 Things Chuck Swindoll Learned in 50ish Years of Ministry:

1. It’s lonely to lead.
   Leadership involves tough decisions. The tougher the decisions, the lonelier it is.
2. It’s dangerous to succeed.
   It is dangerous to succeed while being young. rarely, does God give leadership that young because it takes crushing and failure first.
3. It’s hardest at home.
   Nobody at home is applauding you. They say, “Dad! You’re fly is open.”
4. It is essential to be real.
   If there is one realm where phoniness is personified it is leadership. What I care about is that you stay real.
5. It is painful to obey.
   There are rewards, yes, but it is painful nevertheless.
6. Brokenness and failure are necessary.
7. My attitude is more important than my actions.
   Some of you are getting hard to be around. And your attitude covers all those great actions you pull off.
8. Integrity eclipses image.
   What you are doing is not a show. And the best things you are doing is not up front but what you do behind the scenes.
9. God’s way is better than my way.
   God is going to have His way.
10. Christ-likeness begins and ends with humility.

2 Corinthians 4:5-7 tells us that we must be willing to leave the familiar message without disturbing the Biblical message. We get that backwards. This was written in the first century, and now we are in the 21st century. The message stays the same. Don’t miss the message. As you alter the methods, don’t mess with the message.

Traditionalism is the dead faith of those still living. You will defend those things that don’t need defended.

Three Important Observations:

1. With every ministry a special mercy is needed.
2. In every ministry the same things must be renounced and rejected.
   That is hiding shameful things, doing deceitful things, and corrupting truthful things. Guard against deception. Guard against deception.
3. Through every ministry a unique style should be pursued.
   We don’t preach or promote ourselves (it isn’t about us). We declare Christ Jesus as Lord (it’s all about Him). We see ourselves as bond-servants for Jesus Christ.

Five Statements Worth Remembering During Your Next 50 Years of Leadership:

1. Whatever you do, do more with others and less alone.
   It will help you become accountable.
2. Whenever you do it, emphasize quality not quantity.
3. Wherever you go, do it the same as if you were among those who know you the best.
   It will keep you from exaggerating. it will help keep your stories true. Your good friend will tell you things that others will not. They will hold you close to truth.
4. Whoever may respond to your ministry, keep a level head.
5. However long you lead, keep on dripping with gratitude and grace.
   Stay thankful. Stay gracious.

Quote from John Ortberg

Those of us who are older tend to under-estimate the difference between generations. We think that what feels comfortable to us will not—or should not—be a barrier to those who are younger. Those of us who are younger tend to over-estimate the difference between generations. We feel as if those who are older are a different species and could never understand our experience. One of the most important concepts along these lines has to do with the notion of connection. Who feels “connected” at our church?

I used to think that connection had primarily to do with relationships. But it does not. Connectedness is a separate notion. It has to do with whether or not, when I enter a church, it feels like a place for “people like me.” How people dress, how they talk, what the music is like—many details create a sense of connection or disconnection.

If I feel connected, I am likely to overlook how disconnected people of another generation may feel. So we have to have constant conversations about the experience of people in our generation at our church. We will never be able to make all people feel totally connected at all services. But at least we have to be aware of the dynamics.

C.S. Lewis said, “there exists in every church something that sooner or later works against the very purpose for which it came into existence. So we must strive very hard, by the grace of God to keep the church focused on the mission that Christ originally gave it.”

Does it matter how many people are coming through the front door if the back door is wide open? We’ve often become so focused on reaching people that we’ve forgotten the importance of keeping people. ‐Larry Osborne

I wonder if that is true of all churches or do some churches just get comfortable doing what they do, that they (we) don’t see who has left?

The church is not an event but a relationship.  Not an event to attend, but relationships to cultivate–a relationship with God and a relationship with the people of God.

It is through relationship that we grow, it is through relationship we share, it is through relationship we endure.

This is a repost from “Thoughts on life, Leadership and Technology”

If you work or volunteer on a church ministry team, you are not immune to the spiritual dangers that others face. In fact, probably just the oppposite – you are even MORE AT RISK! There are many stories of well known ministry (and even secular) leaders who have suffered from public moral failures. We need to always be on guard – don’t become “lion food” (1 Peter 5:8).

Earlier this past week, Geoff Surratt (@GeoffSurratt) spoke at the All-Staff Meeting for Seacoast Church. He outlined 10 steps all ministry leaders need to do to help prevent a shipwrecked life. I’ve summarized them below, but I encourage you to watch the session for yourself (watch on vimeo ).

Seacoast Church; All Staff, Geoff Surratt from Seacoast Church on Vimeo.

What is the “main thing” for church?

Is it the main worship service?
Is it the main teaching time?
Is it the main fellowship time?

Surely the main thing is not the size of our building.
Surely the main thing is not the quantity of our programs.
Surely the main thing is not the history we treasure.
Surely the main thing is not the doctrine we revere.
Surely the main thing is not our attendance.

What is the main thing?
What we consider the main thing will dictate what kind of church we are and the kind of people we produce.

Our main thing should not be what we do on Sunday, but what people do the rest of the week.  Or rather, what we do on Sunday or Wednesday is to inspire and inform so that the rest of the week there can be application.

Where is this application done? In all relational contexts. Relationships with others in the church, others in our homes, others in our neighborhood, workplaces, schools, wherever we encounter people.

Knowing the main thing should cause us to ask: How is attending church helping individuals love each other in the church in spite of differences?  How is it helping them love their families in spite of knowing all the flaws?  How is it helping them love their neighbors in spite of, well, the way their neighbors act?  How is it helping them love their boss and coworker even in the job they don’t like? How is attending church helping individuals live with eternal perspective and yield eternal fruit?

Matthew 7:24-27 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (ESV)

Romans 12:9-14 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. (ESV)

James 1:22-25 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (ESV)

1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. (ESV)

1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (ESV)

So, what do we need to do, so that the main thing is always the main thing?

Make the main thing clear—Preach it, Teach it, Affirm it, Celebrate it.
Make the main thing the priority—Teach for it, Program for it, Encourage it, Empower for it.

Help individuals develop an intentional growth plan with a goal—to live with influence for the glory of God.

The main thing is having engaged with God and His people to extend to others for the glory of God.
The main thing is engaging with God and His people so that we can and do extend to others for the glory of God.

I’ve been thinking about learning and teaching.

Some observations about learning and teaching in the church.

Teachers tend to think about sharing what they have learned.

Student tend to think about interacting with what they have learned and what the teacher knows.

Teachers tend to think about what they want to teach.

Student tend to think about what they need to know.

So . . .

Questions teachers should ask:

• What am I learning?  How is God working in my heart?
• What are my students dealing with in their daily lives?
• What do my students need to learn or be confronted with?
• What do my students need to unlearn?
• What foundational truths do I need to help my students understand, believe and include in their worldview?
• What primary truth do I want my students to learn today?
• Why should they know what I want to share?
• What is the next thing they should learn?
• What should I not include in this lesson in order truly make the primary point stick?

Questions students should ask

• Am I taking responsibility for my own learning?
  First learn for yourself–seek to be a self-feeder on the Word of God.  If you know the passage that is going to be taught, read it ahead of time, record observations.
• How can I share what I am learning with others?
  You may not be a teacher–but think of yourself as a teacher.   This will help increase your retention and application of the truth.
• Do I have a humble learner’s spirit?
  You are not the teacher–so don’t feel the need to correct every area of disagreement with the teacher.

(From the blog Miscellanies)

“I have a conviction that no sermon is ready for preaching, not ready for writing out, until we can express its theme in a short, pregnant sentence as clear as a crystal. I find the getting of that sentence is the hardest, the most exacting, and the most fruitful labour in my study. To compel oneself to fashion that sentence, to dismiss every word that is vague, ragged, ambiguous, to think oneself through to a form of words which defines the theme with scrupulous exactness—this is surely one of the most vital and essential factors in the making of a sermon: and I do not think any sermon ought to be preached or even written, until that sentence has emerged, clear and lucid as a cloudless moon.”

—J. H. Jowett, The Preacher: His Life and Work (Harper & Bros, 1912), p. 133.

I’ve been thinking this week about how wonderful it is to be supported in prayer and to support others in prayer. Intercessory prayer is one of the privileges of being part of the body of Christ.

It is so easy to want to or feel that we have to “go it on our own” when in reality we were placed into the body of believers–the church, for the sake of community.  Community is intended to be there for the ups and downs.

1 Corinthians 12:26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (ESV)

So when someone asks for prayer–we should say thanks.  Thanks for giving us the blessing of supporting you.

We all need people to help strengthen our faith as we journey through life. When we face trials of various kinds and support each other in prayer—then we are being the body of Christ.

It appears to me that American Christianity has developed false dichotomies.  Separating items that should not be separated.  In essence we have developed a belief in “either or” rather than the potential of “both and”.

Let me illustrate.

Within the church and missions circles we have developed the “either or” dichotomy in areas of truth and knowledge.

Truth versus Unity

The argument seems to go like this:  Christianity has been fragmented by a focus on truth; we really need to focus on unity.

There is some truth in this statement–there are many Christians, churches, denominations who have a very narrow view of who they will associate with.  If others don’t agree with all their theological beliefs, their traditions and practices–they will have no “fellowship” with them.

But perhaps we ought to see it from a different perspective.  Does doctrine divide?  Or Does doctrine unite?

While dividing over minor doctrines has been a problem, doctrines also unites.  There are Christians around the world who affirm the central doctrinal beliefs of orthodox Christianity–authority of Scripture, God the One Almighty creator, the deity and humanity of Jesus, the sacrificial sufficient death of Jesus, salvation through faith alone and the return of Christ.  These central truths unite them.

So truth and unity are not antithetical.  True unity and fellowship can only be maintained with those who have central beliefs in common.  Having a clearly defined set of beliefs, including knowing the priority of beliefs will allow individuals, churches and organization to extend their fellowship circle.  It also enables them to understand when they can’t have fellowship and over which issues.

For more see my post Thinking Theologically.

Knowledge versus Transformation or Character

A second dichotomy that I hear regularly, sounds very spiritual.  It goes something like, “We don’t emphasize information, we emphasize transformation.”  Or “Our focus is 0n character development not knowledge.”  Or “We focus on living not learning.”

Again, there is some truth here.  Filling minds with information has never been the aim of the gospel.  But an anti-intellectual Christianity is not what we see in the New Testament.

Colossians 1:9-10 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (ESV)

Romans 15:5-15; Ephesians 1:15-23; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-14; 2 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 3:18

Again, perhaps the issue is not an “either or” but a “both and”. Can you really have biblical character without biblical understanding?  Can you have transformation into the image of Christ without knowledge Christ, without spending time with him in the pages of Scripture?

Again, it is not an either or, but a both and.

For true transformation and depth of character to develop there must be biblical understanding and knowledge.

It seems to me that what has been confused is knowledge and methodology.  Too many associate truth, knowledge and depth of understanding with a faulty methodology and therefore thrown out a focus on truth, knowledge and depth of understanding.  But it is better to correct a faulty methodology than to abandon truth and depth of understanding.

The faulty methodology, in my opinion, is a communication methodology that is developed without an understanding of how people learn and growth and is focused on what the teacher knows rather than on what the student needs to learn.  We have been teacher centered rather than learner centered.  We have focused on information distribution rather than development of understanding.

The Great Commission maintains a wonderful balance between these.

Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV)

We must correct our methodology not abandon our theology.

I just finished the last of a three part series on church history.

In the next few days I will post some lessons from church history, but now I want to provide a few links to good church history information sites.

History time line, includes links to listen to or download audio of two seminary classes on church history.

Video summary of church history including small group lesson booklet

A fairly complete church history course taught at Capital Hill Baptist Church, similar to the content in Bruce Shelley’s Church History in Plain Language (2nd Edition, 1995, Word Publishing).