Monday Morning Rewind: A Vision for the Future

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?

Confirm, Don’t Ignore

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.)

Monday Morning Rewind: His Unspeakable Gift!

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.”

Monday Morning Rewind: What’s a Congregation to Do?

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).

Monday Morning Rewind: What’s a Pastor to Do?

Does your church have a job description for the pastor? Most do, and have it written in their by-laws or other foundational documents. Ours does too, but did you know the Bible shares its own job description for pastors? Yesterday we looked at that during our time of worship.

Ironically, the word, as we use it for leaders in the church, is found as a noun only once in the English Bible (Ephesians 4.11). It is , though, found other places in verbal form. The word traces its roots to the Hebrew concept of “shepherd” used of those, like David in the Old Testament, who were actual “protectors of sheep.” Later, Jeremiah to a large extent, and Ezekiel to a lesser extent, used the word as a metaphor to describe the (failed) leadership responsibilities of those guiding and influencing God’s people during the pre-exilic and exilic period.

But it is in the New Testament where its role becomes prominent in the early church. As such, it is used as a synonym for other biblical words which we translate “elder” or “overseer” in English. This is seen in the use of all three words/concepts in passages such as Acts 20 and 1 Peter 5. In these passages and others, we learn that a pastor is primarily a servant of God, not an employee of the church. Thus, a pastor focuses on serving God and His people by fulfilling his “calling” to the best of his ability.

What does the Bible say about his role and work? First, it acknowledges that he is called by God to lead His flock, under the supervision of Christ Himself (1 Peter 5.1-4). Here, as in 1 Timothy 3, which we looked at last week, he is called an overseer, “one who has a charge or responsibility.” The pastor recognizes that this is a stewardship, for it is “entrusted” to him by the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Himself, who is the Body’s Head. He is to lead through the vision God gives and through his example, as He calls God’s people forward and models what it is to follow Christ, who leads the charge. Pastors recognize the sacred trust they have under God to lead the flock under their care.

Second, the pastor is called of God to proclaim His Word (2 Timothy 4.1-5). This is done primarily in preaching and teaching, as he heralds the Good News and gives attention to the “full counsel of God.” Three words are used to share his responsibility here: he is to correct, rebuke and encourage. In other words, he is to straighten out where the flock is off the path, he is to stop them from going the wrong way and he is to support them when they are doing well. He is feeding them the Bread of Life when he does this!  His proclamation is to flow out of his own relationship with Christ and must be done with a longsuffering patience (people often take time and resist “getting it”) and instruction (careful exegesis of God’s Word…all of it!).

Third, the pastor is called of God to care for His flock (Acts 20.17-31). The word “keep watch over” here literally means to “guard, care for, protect.” He must be one who will always be alert to concerns and threats from both outside and in, as well as nurturing and loving upon the precious sheep of God’s fold. As such he is a Caregiver, a Counselor, a Protector and a Friend. He is a lover of people and recognizes that God’s “assignment” is the people (not really a task) that God has given him to love. To do that effectively he must guard his own life as well as those of others, because he is aware of (1) false teachers who will seek to distort and destroy the work of God and (2) other dangers, including temptation, that can lead the flock astray.

Finally, the pastor is called to equip the saints for ministry (Ephesians 4.11-13). Paul notes in this passage that the pastor is one of God’s gifts to the church and, should thus, be treated as such. His role as an equipper has become more prominent in literature during recent years. This role emphasizes his service in training, encouraging and empowering others to live out their God-given potential. This preparation is similar to the picture word used to “set a broken bone” or “mend a broken net.” If done correctly, the work does far more than teach; it helps discover, coach, empower and release God’s people for works of service themselves, just as God intended all along.

Well, there you have it…a multifaceted job description for an amazingly called man of God. The key is for him and the congregation to stand assured that he is indeed called to the church for “such a time as this,” and that he is ready and willing to live out that calling through the character of his life (what we looked at last week) and the assignment God has given him (above).

Determining If He is God’s Man for the Church

In our denominational tradition, local churches have the privilege and responsibility of determining whether a candidate is, in fact, God’s man for the job. There is a corporate sense of calling that congregations grapple with during these times, just as the candidate also struggles to understand God’s will for their placement in service, too.

In such times, committees are selected that assume the lion’s share of the work in finding candidates, evaluating the same and determining who is the one the church should consider. After the choice for nomination to the Body as a whole has been made by the committee, the congregation as a whole has a chance to study the candidate. First, that’s typically done by looking at paperwork including a resume and statement of belief by the candidate. Next, the congregation often has the opportunity to hear from the committee as to their decision-making process and why they believe this candidate to be the right selection as the next pastor of the church. Finally, they have a brief, whirlwind opportunity actually to meet the candidate and his family in meetings, fellowship times, Q and A sessions and a worship experience or two. When it’s all said and done and the candidate’s gone back home, the church is left to figure out whether or not this person is God’s choice as the next pastor of the church they know and love.

What should they do during that time? How should they go about determining God’s will in the matter? If I may, let me offer a few suggestions to guide congregations, like the one where I’m serving currently, in this process.

First, pray. Pray some more. Then, after you’ve finished that, pray again! Prayer should be the number one factor in this process, because the congregation is seeking the mind of Christ. To find that, the people must constantly stay before the LORD. Prayer is not an afterthought; it’s the initial thought. It should be done individually. It should be done corporately. It should be done when the church is gathered together; it should also be done when the church is scattered throughout the region. You cannot outpray God!

Second, there should be some rational analysis. Study his resume. Decipher the questions he answered. Analyze his responses. Talk to the committee members for other insights he shared. Ponder his message and other opportunities given to meet and get to know him. Get the additional information you need as soon as you can to make the best, informed decision when the time comes.

Third, there should be some emotive impact. What kind of passion did he exude about God and His call? How did the Spirit use him to “grab your heart” when he opened the Word of God? Excitement and enthusiasm are subjective to be sure, but they are an indicator (not the only one) of the Spirit quickening hearts to unite around the man of God for the coming years. Members of the Body should genuinely be thrilled at the anticipation that this is the man God has chosen for us! On the other hand, a sense of resignation or “settling” for someone other than’s God choice (e.g., “oh well, I guess he’ll do…”) is a serious warning sign to be noted.

Fourth, the candidate should match the congregation. This fit is crucial to long-term success of their relationship. The candidate may be talented and capable, experienced and skilled, but still not be the right man for this time and place. Members of the Body have to determine under God’s leadership if the candidate fits the context of their local congregation and community. They also need to assess whether he is “right” for the church at this time.

Throughout the entirety of the process, every individual needs to be sensitive to and dependent on the leadership of the Holy Spirit as He directs the process. I am convinced that if the parts of the Body truly do this, then God will lead them to a certain conviction regarding the man of God for them in the years to come.

Monday Morning Rewind: Keeping It to Ourselves?

Yesterday’s message focused on our church’s emphasis on “Soul Winning Commitment Day,” an annual event on our denominational calendar. The challenge is for each of us to do our part in being a witness for Jesus. The text came from 2 Kings 7:3-11, a remarkable passage focused on four lepers during the siege of Samaria by the Aramean (Syrian) army.

This passage shares the importance of opportunity and responsibility for what God has both done for us and also wants to do for others. The Scripture notes these men recognized, “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves…Let’s go at once and report this…”(2 Kings 7:9, NIV) Such a message of good news needs to be shared with everyone!

You see, God gives us the privilege and responsibility of inviting others to experience the Good News of Jesus Christ for themselves. It’s not something for any of us to keep to ourselves. His intent is that we be a blessing to others as He has blessed us. To do that we must touch the lives of others; we must show them the love and good news of Christ.

How did these four lepers do that? How did they change the world for all those who heard their message of good news?

First, they saw the possibilities (vv. 3-4). They recognized that there were three options available to them: Go back (into the walled, famined city), Stay where they were (outside but together), or Go forward (into the “enemy” camp, where their future was uncertain). They chose to go forward, the only direction where there was even a chance of success! They understood that to keep doing what they’d been doing meant they’d keep getting what they’d been getting. They also understood that even “an enemy” can’t really do anything to a man who’s willing to die! (As lepers, they had lived with that death sentence for a long time…) We too must surrender self before God can and will do miraculous things through us.

Second, they stepped out in faith (vv. 5-6). It’s one thing to determine logically what they ought to do; it’s another to actually do it! But do it they did, at dusk that very night. Contrast their action with the response of the king’s officer (end of chapter 6), when Elisha the prophet announced to the King’s court what God would do the next day. This officer doubted the power of God, doubted the creativity of God and also doubted the message of God! They on the other hand were “desperate” enough to step out in faith and risk it all! We too must take the initiative to step out in faith, for all the planning and analysis in the world is worthless unless it leads us to action. When we risk for God in faith, we discover what only He can and will do.

Third, they made their lives count (v. 9). Remember, when God removes an obstacle, He often gives you an opportunity. The lepers didn’t understand this at first. When they found the camp empty of “God’s doing,” they first experienced the blessing themselves. Then they tried to hoard it. (Perhaps they were afraid that it might not be there for them in the future.) Finally, they were convicted by the “grace” of the blessing itself and seeing beyond themselves, they realized they had a responsibility to share this vital, life-saving knowledge and experience with others. They recognized that to stay silent would be sin. So they seized the moment, as we too must do, for the urgency of their situation demands it.

Today we live in a world in which more people are without Jesus than ever before in history. Researchers say that every minute 83 more people in this world die and enter a Christ-less eternity. In spite of this sobering reality, it takes over 44 believers in our churches today to lead a single person to Christ. In fact, less than 25 percent of God’s people will ever even tell one person about the good news we have in Him. “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves…Let’s go at once and report this…” (v. 9). May this become our heart-cry, our passion, our life in the days ahead as we strive to be on mission for our Lord.

Fridays are for Friends & Family on 9.11.09

Welcome to Friday everybody and with it the uniqueness of the day we commemorate. On September 11, 2001, two thousand eight hundred and nineteen people lost their lives in the tragedies of the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and the farmlands of Pennsylvania. As a result, our nation was changed forever. Many of those who died were rescue workers, whose courage and determination remain an example of selfless sacrifice to those of us who remain.

One of our church planters at the time, Dave Cowan, traveled to New York in the first couple of weeks after the tragedy of 9/11 and recorded a moving tribute on film. He has since posted it on YouTube. Some of us have used it with our church; others find it a private opportunity to grieve for these innocent victims. You can watch it below.

We must never forget: “God is our refuge and strength, an EVER-PRESENT help in trouble” (Psalm 46.1).

Monday Morning Rewind: Daring Prayer

When we left Peter and John last week, they had exhibited bold faith in the name of Jesus to heal a lame man…and He did! Two results followed: they were able to preach the good news of Christ to the crowd that gathered so that now the number of believers grew to over 5,000 men, and they were arrested for their witness to Jesus. After keeping them in jail overnight and threatening physical harm in the future if they kept preaching in the name of Jesus (which the disciples made clear they would do regardless of the consequences), the religious leaders released them.

They returned to the “church” and what did they do first? They prayed. It was their top priority and reveals much of their passion and concerns for the days ahead. I would go so far as to say that any church that is going to be effective for Christ will pray passionately and expectantly for God to move in their midst.

The better we know God, the more mature our prayer will be. It will grow in faith, “see” greater needs, delve beneath the surface level issues of life. This is the kind of prayer the early church exhibited in the stories of Acts. In fact, there are 36 references to the church growing in the book; 21 of them are within the context of prayer.

So what do we learn from the early church about such prayer in chapter 4, verses 23-31, that can help us to be more daring in our petitions and intercessions with the Almighty?

First, daring prayer confronts the challenges of Satan with the sovereignty of God (vv. 24, 29). The believers uses a word of God here, translated “sovereign Lord,” found only five times in the entire New Testament. It is the word from which we get our word “despot,” and it is being used in a way that reflects upon His ultimate, unconditional, uncompromised authority. They find great comfort in that authority, because they know their Lord. They also find comfort in the fulfillment of prophecy they see right before their eyes (Psalm 2–a Messianic psalm–is quoted in their prayer). As a result of these realities they ask God to “consider the threats” brought against the apostles. Their request is not for vengeance, but for vindication, that others would see that they are representatives for Him.

Second, daring prayer asks in accord with God’s will (v. 29). Their second request is for continued opportunity to speak God’s word with boldness. Take note of the fact that they don’t ask for removal from persecution or threats, but for God to see and give them the courage they need to continue to speak for Him in the face of it. This request harkens back to Jesus’ words that they will be witnesses for Him when the Spirit of God comes upon them. It’s already aligned with His will for their lives and birthed out of His power. So instead of giving in to their fears, or hesitating to take action, they ask God for more of what they need to address the opposition to Christ. And in the filling of the Spirit which comes at the end of this passage, we learn that they are enabled to speak the word with boldness as they requested. God is indeed pleased with such requests.

Third, daring prayer desires to demonstrate the supernatural presence and power of God (v. 30).   The final request the early church made of God in this prayer is that He would do what only He could do (heal, miraculous signs and wonders). They wanted others to see the hand of God at work in and through them. The word “signs” is instructive here, because it suggests that they were not asking God to do these things so that others would be amazed or enamored with the miraculous; rather, these things would point to the reality behind the miracles themselves.  They would direct people to see the power of Jesus’ name alone.

So I ask you today: what unselfish, GOD-SIZED prayer have we (you) asked of the Sovereign Lord lately? When’s the last time you dared pray something so audacious, so incredible that if God didn’t show up, it wouldn’t get done?

Effective churches–and believers–offer God-honoring, daring prayers. And because they do, the world sees the difference they are making—for Jesus.

(This message is the fifth in a series on characteristics of effective churches, based on the early church’s experience as recorded in the book of Acts. Message one dealt with “dynamic community,”  message two dealt with “Holy Spirit leadership,” message three dealt with “focused purpose,”  and message four dealt with “bold faith.” You can find the notes to all of these messages also on this blog.)

Mistakes Church Planters Make

The song that says “mistakes, I’ve made a few, then again, too few to mention,” was not written by a church planter! When you live in the world of church planters, you learn early on that every church planter is going to make his share of mistakes; it’s a part of the process. The keys are simple: minimize them and learn from others who have gone before you. With that in mind, I’ve chosen to list a handful of mistakes made by me and others I know in the church planting process, in the hopes that this will afford you the opportunity to move beyond these tripwires and accelerate your new church’s growth and development. Please note that the list could easily be three to four times this long; I’ve just chosen these for the impact they’ve had on me personally over the years.

“Doing for God” as a substitute for “being with God.” This is easy to justify in experience. As a planter, there are so many things to be done and often no one to do them, except you! Some things will actually not get done unless you find the time to apply yourself to them, and time is a precious commodity that affords little flexibility. Surely God understands if I’m unable to spend more time with Him, since I’m working for Him, right? After all, He’s the one who called me to do this! Yes, rationalizing is easy, but still leaves you disconnected from the Source of your calling and the Head of His church. Don’t make the mistake of neglecting your time with God; you’ll actually need it MORE as the work begins in earnest.

Thinking too little of God and too much of self. Most church planters I’ve met don’t have a self-esteem problem, and neither did I. In fact, most have convinced themselves that they are the next Rick Warren or Andy Stanley. This “confidence factor” is actually part of the reason most are successful…they refuse to believe they can fail. Yet, while this confidence can translate into great faith, it can also morph into pride and arrogance. It may show itself in an attitude that says, I don’t need to listen to others, because I know what I’m doing. Or again it may state, others may have failed but that wasn’t me. The equation leaves too much self, and not enough God for the intended result. Faith in the “bigness of God” has to come to the planter for God to do the miraculous in their midst.

Relying on the voice of “experts,” rather than the voice of God. Church planting experts abound: there are books, videos, seminars, blogs and podcasts, all of which are ready to tell you how to plant the ideal church in a few simple steps. The problem comes when planters replace the voice of God, who called them, with the voice of another, whom God also called, but in a different place to a different people with a different plan. Making this mistake reduces church planting to a science, with formulas and steps for success. However, God refuses to operate that way. In my experience, God had to break my will, shaping me through a difficult series of events, before I was ready to listen to God’s way of doing things. While a necessary part of character development, my stubbornness wasted critical time and brought unneeded pain.

Attempting to build the Church, not people. We teach church planters the process of church planting, and if we’re not careful, we can give the impression that this is what they are there to do. Rick Warren reminded church planters at the Exponential Conference in 2008 that God had made crystal clear to him many years before that he was not needed to build God’s church…that was Jesus’ job (Matthew 16:18)! Rather we are called to build people, to make disciples. Our job is not a business or a start-up enterprise; it’s a disciple-making ministry that requires community to enable each of us to reach our God-given potential. Focus on the parts and let God create the whole.

Treating your wife and children as co-workers rather than family. Some planters and spouses, especially those without children yet, find their calling to church planting a joint partnership in God in almost every way. Others, though, farther along in the seasons of life, encounter other priorities and passions in the lives of their family members. If not careful, planters can allow the planting experience to drain the intimacy of their relationship with family members, only to find it deteriorating into a business partnership with dangerous consequences lurking nearby. Planters must guard the sanctity of their family relationship (and time!) with their loved ones, and remember that God has called them to the role of husband and father first, before their role as planter of a new congregation. I suspect these concerns, while specific to church planters, are not exclusive to them. In fact, they could present themselves in the life of any Christ-follower, challenging their faith and character. So let me encourage us all to guard our hearts; stay focused on our great Almighty God and the work He has for us; and, protect our relationships with the family He has given us.

These keys are foundational to faithfulness in any area of ministry. But caveat lector: let the reader beware! If these lessons are not learned on the first go-round, they are destined to resurface later in life.

This article first appeared in my book PlantLIFE: Principles and Practices in Church Planting, copyright 2008. All rights reserved. This is one of 69 short articles that were written by me and other practitioners out of our own experiences in the world of church planting. You can purchase the book by going to the publisher, Missional Press, by clicking here or at Amazon by clicking here.