Today brings a rainy end to an action-packed week here in Maryland. Tropical storm Ida has made its way to us and combined with a “noreaster” is packing a punch that is soaking the area. That makes for a great day to be inside and posting my latest entry online about what’s been happening in this most recent week.

Ron Sylvia, founding pastor of Church at the Springs in Ocala, Florida, highlights the week for me. Ron was with us Sunday at our Annual Meeting and did an outstanding job with both the planters at their banquet and in the general session as a keynote speaker. Ron spoke on “God is good…but He’s not Safe,” emphasizing the need to be Kingdom risktakers and sacrificial in the service of our lives. Ron will show up here again in the future as I have the opportunity to dialogue with him about the effectiveness of his ministry with NEXT Coaching Networks. You can visit that website and download a number of free resources by clicking here.

Today our Church Multiplication Team held its first virtual online meeting via Tokbox ™. This is an incredible tool that will host up to twenty participants at a time with visual as well as audio connection…and all at NO COST! Registration is required, but if you attempting group meetings where participants are scattered at a distance, then this is a viable solution. Our experience left much room for improvement, but all in all we were pleased with the website and I recommend it to you as well. I know planters who meet with multiple partners or prayer warriors this way. Click here to go to their site and register to use it in the days ahead.

What was Jesus’ mother’s real name? Seems simple, doesn’t it? This question, though–and others–may stump you in the recently released Bible quiz posted in one of the religion articles on USA Today. Check it out here and see how well you know your Bible.

Few people I know exemplify the priority and lifestyle of “evangelism” like my friend, Frank Shelton. He is a passionate advocate for Jesus and a huge supporter of church planting. Living in the Washington, D.C. area but traveling the world, Frank has a storied life of connections and relationships with Presidents and Celebrities alike. He writes a blog “Frankly Speaking” and has recently published a book entitled “Final Approach” that is available on Amazon. Check him out and enlist him to come to your church or to assist you in evangelism as you minister in the months ahead.

Picture of the Week

Here’s a picture of Jesus, made from LEGO’s, that came through my Twitter feed recently. It never ceases to amaze me how enamored the culture is with our Lord!

Finally, this is to LAST Call for those of you who may be interested in joining my Dad, Jimmy Jackson, and me for our planned tour to the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany, and the surrounding region, including Austria, the Czech Republic and northern Germany, too. We will travel there in September, 2010, with the focal point being participation at the once-every-decade Passion Play. We will also visit Wittenberg, site of Martin Luther’s most significant moment in history, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, of discipleship fame, lived during the days of World War II until his imprisonment. Send me a comment below if you are interested in knowing more about this tour and I will send you a .pdf file with all the details pertaining to itinerary and costs. We hope you’ll join us for this historic event.

This week at our Annual Meeting in Towson, our organization introduced a number of (what I call) video postcards to our messengers. These included a variety of ministries that cover a sampling of the services we provide to the 510 or so churches we support here in our multi-state region.

Our church multiplication ministry, known as Mid-Atlantic Church Multiplication, is highlighted in the following video which is also posted on YouTube, bcmd.org and my Facebook page.

Other videos, now also on YouTube, that were presented at the Annual Meeting include:

• Partnership Missions
• Restore My Soul Retreat Ministry
• Women’s Missionary Union
• BaptistLIFE Newsjournal
• Uncharted Youth Evangelism Conference 2009
• Shepherd’s Rest for Ministers and their Families
• Rockbridge Seminary
• EMBRACE Wilmington
• I’m a CP (Cooperative Program)
• e-quip.net

You are free to use and/or share them as you see fit. Enjoy and get connected!

Have you ever asked yourself what is the “irreducible core” of Jesus’ teaching? Many commentators are asking that question today and there is a strong consensus that has developed. At its most basic and fundamental level Jesus calls upon us to fulfill what we know as the Great Commandment(s) and the Great Commission. These mandates are given in Matthew 22.37-39 and Matthew 28.18-20 respectively. Collectively, they lay out God’s vision for us, His people, as we look to the future. That vision is for us to live out our relationship with Him before others as we join Him in bringing His message of redemption and transformation to a world in need of hope and grace. Another pastor has said it this way: “It takes a great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission to grow a great church.” And I would add…to transform the world, too.

What does God in these passages want from us? How are we to please Him in the living of our lives?

It starts with loving God above all else (Matthew 22.37-38). This was apparently a “hot theological topic” in Jesus’ day; not whether or not we should love God (we’ll return to that in a moment), but which is the greatest commandment of all (out of the 613 recorded in the Torah). At least three times in the record of Jesus’ public ministry He is asked about this, illustrating the on-going debate of His day. In each instance, Jesus points them to the Shema of Deuteronomy 6.5, which calls upon God’s people to live out a love for God that is “God’s kind of love (agape),” a kind we can only live because He had shared it with us. It is selfless, sacrificial and serving in nature. It is centered on others, not self. And it must be pervasive, enveloping the entirety of one’s being (heart..soul..mind); in other words, nothing in our being is to be held back for self in our love for God. He is to be the first (precedent) and greatest (priority) of our love and our life. The key is “all” belongs to Him; we must hold nothing back in our love for God.

Second, we are to love others as ourselves (Matthew 22.39). Jesus’ unique contribution to this on-going debate over the greatest commandment is that he attached this verse from Leviticus 19.18 as a corollary to the previous passage from Deuteronomy. In other words, you can’t truly love God as you should unless you love others as God also loves them. Note that we are to have the same kind of love (agape) for them as for God (though the original language had other words for the love of people toward each other). The love God has for us and that He gives us to offer back to Him is also the love we are to exhibit toward others. These “others” are called our neighbor here, a term Jesus explains in Luke 10 to mean anyone we are aware is in need (whether we actually are friends or neighbors doesn’t really matter). We are commanded to love them as we love ourselves (which we show as we are aware of our own needs, care for self, protect and provide what is needful, etc.). The key is that this love is to be “like” or “similar to” (not the same as) our love for God Himself. For too often it’s a pale imitation, at best.

Third, we are invited to join Christ in changing the world (Matthew 28.18-20). The Great Commission follows the Great Commandment in order; thus, Scripture argues that our “being” must be in order before our “doing.” In other words, it starts with the heart. Someone has said that before we have a Great Commission Resurgence we need to have a Great Commandment Resurgence. I agree. And when we do, we will go; no one will have to beg or cajole us. Our motivation will be pure and our burden deep for those around us. Notice that the command is to “go and make,” rather than have them “come and hear.” In other words, the burden is on the church to take the Gospel to the people, rather than on the people to come and find it. And we, the church, are commanded to take it to all peoples. Jesus’ reminds us in the process that He has all authority! He reminds us that He will never leave us! We go with Him, in His power and under His leadership. And as we go, we have the privilege of watching the Holy Spirit work His transforming change in the lives of people and communities to the glory of God.

What’s the future of our church you ask? What does God want us to do? While I will may never know what God will specifically lay on the heart of your pastor, I can tell you this: His mandate shared here is unchanging for you and me down through the ages.

• Love God
• Love Others
• Change the World

Will you join me?

If you don’t know it already, I’m a Facebook fanatic. I didn’t really jump on the bandwagon early, but after some of the people with whom I work and serve got involved, I did too. And I’m glad I did. It’s opened doors for renewed relationships with old friends, deeper on-going relationships with current friends and brand new relationships with acquaintances who would like to be friends.

One of the premises on which Facebook operates is the theory of “degrees of separation.” This theory assumes that you and I know somebody who knows somebody, and they in turn, know somebody, etc. There are no more than six degrees of separation, so the theory goes, that separate you and me from any other person on the planet! As a result, I’ve met people on Facebook I probably would have never met otherwise.

This got me thinking as we head into our Annual Meeting of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware: we are all only one degree of separation from Almighty God Himself. The Bible tells us that “there is one God and one mediator between God and men: the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). This is an amazing and incredible reality: Jesus is the only intermediary any of us ever need to connect with God ourselves! It’s all about WHO you know, not WHAT you do.

Now to make the connection is one thing, but to develop the connection is another matter entirely. In order for that to happen, you have to invest in the relationship. You have to spend time with God, just like you would anyone else you wanted to get to know. You have to listen and learn, not just ask and tell. You have to “open up” and be vulnerable for the relationship to deepen. Relationship has to be your top priority.

Connection with God, more than any other person I’ve ever known, has taught me to value the relationship more than the experience. Do you know what I mean by that? Many times relationships are about what we do, where we go, the things we share, etc. With God, the most important thing is who we are, more than what we do! He constantly reminds me that He loves me for who I am. In our productivity-minded world, it is a refreshing reminder that with God BEING is more important that DOING.

But sometimes relationships in my life “go bad.” Something happens to disrupt them, usually something that compromised my trust in the other person. When that happens, it makes me hesitant to trust anyone else, too. God, though, is not like that. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Since He is faithful and reliable, how can we grow to trust Him more? The same way we grow to trust anyone: by spending more time with Him. Getting to know someone better builds trust.

You see, connecting is a choice. With Facebook, I can confirm or ignore every potential relationship presented to me. But even when I choose to confirm that relationship, I only get out of it what I’m willing to put into it. Connection leads to conversation. Conversation leads to cultivation. Cultivation leads to commitment. But it all starts with a choice. Connecting with God, the “friend who sticks closer than a brother,” (Proverbs 18:24), is offered; we must be willing. Connecting has to be intentional.

So, click confirm, not ignore. And certainly don’t “delete.” At this Annual Meeting of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, “connect” with God: get to know Him better, deeper. You’ll be glad you did.

(This was originally posted at the BCM/D Annual Meeting site as a part of it’s “Get Connected…” blogging series. You can check out the entire series by clicking here.)

Welcome to another week-ending edition of FFF! This week has been a flurry of activity as we finalize plans for our organization’s Annual Meeting, which begins here in Towson, Maryland, on Sunday. You can read about it here; in addition, you can register for several events by going to this page. I hope to see you there!

Sarah, my daughter in Vancouver, Canada, has picked up a number of new writing and photography assignments in the past few weeks. Last week, she roamed the sidelines of the British Columbia Lions (CFL) for a photo shoot. She also has entered a proposal on a potential future for journalism with the Knight Foundation. You can read her suggestion on how to build readership for newspapers in a more user-friendly manner by clicking here. In fact, you can register for FREE and add your “rating” and “comments.” Sarah would greatly appreciate it, I’m sure!

Last week I cited Al Mohler’s compilation of the responses author of the Great Commission Resurgence document Danny Akin has made to some of the concerns addressed (or not addressed) in the document. This week I highlight a concern raised by Dr. Bill Brown, ever the outdoorsman, formerly on faculty at Southeastern Seminary himself and now teaching in the distance-learning program at Liberty. You can read his thoughts here. This is not the first time we’ve highlighted concerns with the GCR document; this link will take you to another item surfaced by Tom Cocklereece a few months ago.

One of the most interesting “Christian” websites I’ve come across this year is the very entertaining “Stuff Christians Like.” The author, Jonathan Acuff, continues to compile short articles about a variety of items that are normative in “typical” Christian culture, behavior and experience. The “stuff” is over 650 items long at this time and continuing to grow. (It will be published as the book on the right early in 2010.) Part information and part entertainment, it is fascinating to me to see how pervasive our “Christian world” is and the impact is has on what we think and do. You can click here to begin your journey through his site.

Last week I mentioned the recent leadership event with Mike Huckabee…(if you missed that you can read about it here.) Another outstanding speaker at that event was Rev. Rod Hairston, chaplain of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. Rod did an exceptional job talking about character in the life of a leader. What you may not know is that Rod is also a church planter, having planted Messiah Community Church in the Owings Mills area about four years ago. You can find out more about Rod, including how you can have him come and speak at your next event, by clicking here. I am indeed blessed to consider him a friend.

Well, that’s it from here this week. I’ll be reporting next week from our Annual Meeting in Towson. Hopefully, my colleagues and I will see you there. So until next time, keep on moving at the speed of God!

Beginning this Sunday, November 8, we in the Mid-Atlantic region will have a unique opportunity to celebrate the Great Commission cooperation we share within our “tribe.” This year’s Annual Meeting of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware will meet at the Sheraton Towson (Maryland) and has been reformatted to be more worshipful, interactive and participatory. There will be less business, more learning and more chances to serve in the midst of our conference together. How will we do this? Several ways come to mind. We will share in meal times together before sessions. We will have small group break outs for learning and application. And we have streamlined the business portions of our meeting into very small segments, the minimum necessary to keep us focused on God’s vision and presence among us.

We at BCM/D are billing this as a time to CONNECT, and anticipating the chances we will have to share in worship, live life and minister together.

CONNECT with God (Sunday evening). Our evening starts at 5:00pm with a banquet planned for those of you who are church planters and young missional pastors. As I mentioned last week, founding pastor Ron Sylvia of The Springs in Ocala, Florida, will be our banquet speaker. He will share about some of the lessons he’s learned in church planting and now pastoring a large church, with an emphasis on maximizing your walk with God and strengthening your marriage during the process of planting a church. He will answer questions from you, the planters and pastors, who are present, about concerns and issues that are pressing to you at this time. Later in the evening session he will speak again, along with North American Mission Board “Ambassador” Charles Roesel, from Leesburg, Florida.  Their goal is to assist us in getting a fresh vision of God and to be Kingdom risk-takers for Him. Spouses are welcome at the banquet (no extra charge) and babysitting is provided for children up to age 5 (at all sessions and mealtimes, as well).

CONNECT with each other (Monday morning). We will start off with some fun and humor as “Christian Illusionist and Extreme Balloon Man” Steve Gambrill entertains and “teaches” us. We will worship together as Gary Hollingsworth, pastor of Immanuel in Little Rock, Arkansas, preaches and Keith & Kristyn Getty from Northern Ireland, authors of “The Power of The Cross” and “In Christ Alone“, lead us in worship. Then we’ll have brunches for everyone present: ministers, their wives and lay people (register in advance: NO COST).

CONNECT with the community (Monday Afternoon). During the afternoon, we’ll worship together with Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue in New Orleans preaching. Then, we’ll have break out sessions on “helping hurting people,” “ministries that impact,” “building an evangelism strategy,” “money management” and “impacting our changing culture.” All will be led by local and national leaders who are specialists and practitioners in these fields. We’ll also have a three-hour “plunge into the city” for those who want to be involved in a first-hand missions experience. There will be opportunities to assist some of our church planters in their fields of ministry or learn from them as they share in the break out sessions.

CONNECT with the world (Monday evening-Tuesday Morning). In the evening session on Monday, we’ll hear vision messages to challenge us with our Great Commission mandate from our Executive-Director David Lee and our Convention President Byron Day. On Tuesday morning, in the final session, we’ll hear from Scott Preissler of Southwestern Seminary and Larry Steen of Westminster, Maryland, to wrap things up.

Our church planters will want to be present for the networking and “surprise” events that will take place too. I will have gifts for you and opportunities for future experiences available to those of you at the banquet and other items for those of you who come during the Monday-Tuesday sessions. Wives present will be blessed with these “extra privileges,” too. And of course, our “booth” will have information and individuals who gather to share with each other and collect information for ministry.

Finally, this is a great opportunity to celebrate our cooperation as Southern Baptists, one of the cornerstones of our identity. If we ever lose this value, we will cease to have the impact on the world and each other we’ve shared for the past century and a half.

So come celebrate with us! and CONNECT…the Great Commission still calls us forward, together.

In the last verse of the ninth chapter in 2nd Corinthians, the apostle Paul emphatically declares, “Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!” (AV). The word translated “unspeakable” by the AV is a “one of a kind word” in the Greek Testament and thus, is a very hard word to translate into English. Other versions translate it variously: “indescribable,” “inestimable,” “incomparable,” “inexpressible,” and “beyond words.” My personal favorite comes from the New Century Bible, which translates it “too wonderful for words.”

This passionate declaration comes at the end of a two chapter discussion of the role generosity ought to play in the life of every believer. Paul reminds the Corinthians that we should be generous because it is a means of expressing gratitude, a way to share in God’s blessing and, in this verse, because God has been so very generous with us. He did not withhold anything from us, not even his one and only Son! Truly, Jesus is the greatest gift any of us could ever receive.

I am reminded of this truth every time we gather at the Lord’s table. What we do in the Lord’s Supper is not about the elements or a ritual; it’s all about Him! So why do we do what we do as we share in communion?

The Lord’s Supper was Jesus’ idea (Matthew 26.26)… The passage clearly indicates that He took the initiative in creating this memorial experience. Built off the symbolism and foreshadowing found in the Passover experience (Exodus 12), Jesus inaugurated this observance on the night before His death on the cross. Thus, He is the one who invites us, His followers, to the table.

…given to His followers (Matthew 26.26)… Jesus called His followers into relationship with Him. Their commitment was shown in the decision they made to follow Him and become His disciple. This relationship enables His followers to enter into intimate “communion” with Him, to partner with Him in life and mission. Thus, the Lord’s Supper is only for those who have committed their life to Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.

…as a symbol of the new covenant between God and humanity (Matthew 26.28)… Jesus mentioned in the institution of this ordinance (act of obedience) that what He was doing on the cross constituted a “new covenant” (Latin word is “testament“) through His blood. This new covenant would be written on human hearts, not on stone, and was costly since there was a price to pay for committed relationship to take place (blood was shed when a covenant was “cut”) . The Lord’s Supper is a tangible “picture” of the price paid for this covenant to be realized in our lives.

…memorializing what Christ did on the cross for you and me (Ephesians 2.13; 1 Corinthians 11.25)… What did He do for us? He was arrested, humiliated, His body beaten, abused, broken and pierced on our behalf. His blood was poured out for sin (“for without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness on sins“). Paul reminds us that this is a “memorial event,” one we do in remembrance of Him, as we reflect on what He did so that we could live.

…and is an act of thanksgiving on our part (Matthew 26.26)… Just as Jesus was able to give thanks on that night long ago, in spite of what He knew was coming in the next day, so we are to be filled with thanksgiving as we come to the Lord’s table. Our gratitude and humility should be genuine and heartfelt as we realize how “lost” we would be without Christ.

…though it does NOT save us; HE does! (Romans 6.23; 1 Peter 3.18). Nowhere in the Scripture are we told that these elements are “salific” (that they save us); on the contrary, we are told over and over and over again that Jesus saves us. As a result, we celebrate that reality through the experience of the Supper as a testimony to His life given for us and we do it “often…til He comes [again].”

Ultimately, the message of the Lord’s Supper calls us to a response. For those not yet in relationship with Him, the message proclaimed is to “Receive the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Romans 10.13). Then you too will experience the wonder of relationship with God’s greatest gift, this gift “too wonderful for words.”

After a three-week absence, FFF is (finally) back again! The hectic life of the past few weeks has slowed enough for me to share a few things that have happened and have also come across during these days on the web. So, let’s get started!

Many of you prayed for my cousin, Gabriella Grace Jackson, during the past month. We posted about her serious health conditions from birth and on both my Facebook and Twitter accounts, kept you up to speed on prayer concerns and physical developments. If you have visited these sites, then you know that baby Gabbi went home to be with Jesus on her 29th day of life, late last week. Yesterday, her memorial service was held in Little Rock, Arkansas, and she was laid to rest. I share these things with you, because I have had more “search” requests on my blog for Gabbi than anyone or thing in the last week or two. Since I have not followed up the original mention of Gabbi here, I thought it best publically to thank you all for your tireless prayers and well-wishes on her behalf. We are eternally grateful. Please continue to be in prayer for her parents, Matthew and Shannon Jackson, along with both sets of grandparents.

Yesterday, former Governor Mike Huckabee was with us here in Maryland for a major leadership event. (That’s my Dad on the other side of Governor Huckabee in the picture to the right.) He was joined in the conference by Baltimore Ravens chaplain, Rev. Rod Hairston (a church planter himself) and Dr. Andy Westmoreland of Samford University (a former college classmate). It was great to finally meet Governor Huckabee; he actually graduated from the same university the semester before I arrived. For you trivia buffs out there, he actually worked for my cousin’s ministry organization in 1979-1980 and has known my Dad’s Arkansas side of the family for three decades!

Today was a Staff Appreciation luncheon at Glen Burnie Baptist Church, where my transitional pastoring ministry will end on November 25. I’ve had the privilege of working with Kathy, who works with students and families and Chris, who serve in worship leadership, over the past year. Thanks to you both, as well as our support staff over the past ten months.

On the web this week, Dr. Al Mohler, President of Southern Seminary in Louisville, has posted a compiled list of answers by Dr. Danny Akin, President of Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, to questions and concerns that have been raised over the Great Commission Resurgence document. As you probably know, the document was publicly shared by Dr. Akin first in a chapel service there at Southeastern Seminary. To read his response to what he entitles the “myths” regarding the GCR document, click here.

Finally, my new friend, founding planter and pastor Ron Sylvia of The Springs, in Ocala, Florida, will be here to speak to our church planters and young missional pastors in Baltimore on November 8. Later that evening he will bring a message from the Word of God to the first session of our annual state convention meeting. Ron is a leader among Southern Baptist church planters, who tirelessly gives his life away for other planters and pastors. He is a trainer, a coach, an advocate and a writer for church planters, as well as everything else he does for The Springs. I am blessed to know him. If you are interested in joining us that night, make a comment below and we’ll see what we can work out.

Here’s hoping you have a blessed Reformation Day (some call it Halloween, I think) and a marvelous Lord’s Day (and don’t forget to give yourselves an extra hour of sleep Saturday night since Daylight Savings Time for 2009 officially comes to an end).

The tenth chapter of the book of Luke begins with one of the unique stories of Scripture. It relates the experience of Jesus and the “mission” of the seventy (two) He sent “ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go.” While the textual manuscripts disagree about whether there were seventy appointed (following the Masoretic text) or seventy-two (following the Septuagint), commentators agree that the number is a symbolic reference to Genesis 10, believed to represent the entirety of the nations. It was a foreshadowing of the Gospel message for all people, including you and me.

Now I’m well aware of the fact that “church planting” is not mentioned here in this passage. What’s mentioned, though, are the heart and soul of all legitimate church planting work: evangelism, discipleship and ministry. Jesus stands at the center of it all, and the participants, while anonymous to you and me, are know to Christ and are called for this very purpose. (I love that, since it reminds us all that we don’t have to be a “Peter” or “Paul” to be chosen or valuable in Kingdom work.)

The bottom line is that when we GO, the Kingdom GROWS. When we PLANT, the King HARVESTS. As such, this is “seed work” for future church planting efforts to come, for they are tilling the soil of men’s hearts until they encounter Jesus themselves.

Note the following principles. First, relationships are the key (vv. 5-7). The second paragraph relates Jesus’ directive when entering a place and finding people (oikos/oikia). Determine the receptivity of the people you meet. How? By locating a person of peace, He says; one who will welcome you into their household, not just their home. This word is suggestive of more than a place; it includes a network of relationships. Stay there, Jesus commands; don’t move around, so that you can plant many seeds that will, over time, take root and sprout. This will take adaptability, because things will happen you will not expect (“eat whatever they give you”), but persist, and in so doing, cultivate the crops of God’s harvest field. If you do, the “household” will be reached.

Second, tie the message and the ministry together (vv. 8-12). This is the key to reaching a town, according to Jesus. “Heal the sick who are there AND tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you.’” Why? Because ministry validates the message and adds credibility to the sharer. It demonstrates the nature of the Gospel and God’s own interest in the whole person; it shows God’s people love and care as Jesus does. Ministry alone, minus the message, is only social service (not gospel at all!). Message alone, without ministry, is hypocritical, since it is loveless and fail to demonstrate the gospel for the benefit of others (see the book of James). All the other principles Jesus mentioned in the previous paragraph apply to this one as well. We must still look for receptivity and be adaptable to those we are seeking to reach; these are the most accurate barometers for initiating ministry in the town. If you do these things, you will see the town transformed.

Finally, you and I must accept our appointment (vv. 2-4). The passage tells us that our Lord actually chose–”appointed” is the word used here–His followers for this assignment. He’s still appointing us today (Ephesians 4.1)! With that in mind, Jesus actually starts this monologue with some preemptive commands. Knowing that human nature often looks for excuses not to do the things He asks, Jesus addresses the elements necessary to be successful in our service. He says we will need to pray (v.2). A lack of laborers to work the harvest field according to Him, is a result of a lack of passionate, persistent, pleading prayer. When we do our part, He suggest, the Lord of the harvest will do His part and send out more laborers into the fields. He also says we need vision, God’s vision (v. 3). He acknowledges that we are being sent out among “wolves” in our world.  But instead of “seeing” them, He suggests our sight should be focused on Him and His calling (“I am sending you”). He says we need to trust Him (v. 4a). Don’t worry about carrying provisions when you’re doing my work, Jesus says; I’ll take care of all your needs. Finally, He commands us to recognize the urgency of the assignment (“don’t greet anyone on the road”) (v. 4b). Jesus is not suggesting we be “rude;” rather, He’s challenging us not to let anything else slow us from the appointment He’s given us.

Researchers tell us that in our day every single minute 83 more people in this world die and enter a Christ-less eternity! People need to be reached with the Gospel. Towns need to see its transforming power. Churches need to be planted. So…what are you waiting for? Go! He is sending you–us–into His harvest fields.

(This message was preached at the Eastern Baptist Association Annual Meeting, October 25, 2009.)

Yesterday we turned our attention away from the pastor’s role in church life and looked at the life of the congregation as a whole. The Bible clearly spells out responsibilities that the church must assume, too. Since the congregation is not the same as a crowd or a club or a non-profit organization, it must recognize its role as the family of God, where each member is commanded by God to fulfill their calling for Him. Church is not a “spectator sport;” every person in the family depends on the others to do their part.

As such, the congregation lives out four primary commitments: one to God, one to each other, one to its leaders and one to the world. First, the congregation is to serve God (Ephesians 4.16). While it is true that the highest and greatest command in the Scripture is to love God with all our being (Deut. 6.4), the Bible also helps us understand that true love is shown in obedience (“If you love me, keep my commands,” Jesus says.) In fact, I am convinced that one of God’s “love languages,” to use a popular term from Christian literature today, is service. James teaches us this,too; our actions speak louder than our words. In other words, our love for God will SHOW. After all, service is the way “each of us does our part” in the Body of Christ. If we don’t, the rest of the Body suffers; it’s damaging to all. On the other hand, service leads to growth, internally and externally, for both the individual and the congregation as a whole. Thus, our responsibility starts with our relationship and service to God.

Second, we have a responsibility to each other: to love one another (John 15.12-13). Of the fifty or so “one another” commands given in the New Testament to the church, none is repeated nearly as often as this one. At least seven times we are told to love one another (a reciprocal  pronoun, meaning it is to go back and forth, back and forth, back and forth). This love has a comparative element to it: we are to love each other as Christ has loved us. That certainly “ups” the command, since no longer can I compare my love to another member’s, but rather, only to that of Christ, the Head of the Church. We are to sacrifice, serve and ultimately, put each other first in all our decisions and lifestyle. It’s the nature of what Jesus did for us–the nature of true agape love.

Third, we are to follow our God-given leaders (pastor, etc.) (Hebrews 13:7, 17). These leaders mentioned by the writer of Hebrews are your spiritual leaders, who have “spoken the Word of God to you.” As parts of the Body we are to follow and obey them, strong words indeed, until you take into account their accountability and responsibility to God Himself for their leadership. He will judge them accordingly we are told. In addition, we are reminded that to fail in following their leadership we will create a scenario that will be “of no advantage to you.” In other words, it won’t be a benefit to your own life and well-being if you resist the leadership of God’s undershepherd. He is placed by God and deserves our follow-ship.

Finally, there is a responsibility to the world: to be witnesses (Acts 1.8). This term was, and still is, a legal term, used in a court of law for those who take the stand to testify. They are called upon to share first-hand experience of what they know to be true. The passage reminds us, as Jesus uses the future tense with imperatival force, that being a witness is not an option: it is mandatory. The role we play will, though, demonstrate to the rest of the world whether we are a “good” witness, pointing people to Jesus as Savior and Lord, or a “bad” witness, casting aspersions upon our Lord and His church, through our inappropriate behavior and/or attitudes.

So, stand up and be the church you were intended to be! “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Ephesians 4.1).