The newest Bible study, Holy Vocabulary, is available now from the most excellent curriculum folks at Threads, a LifeWay Group. But, did you know they are giving away a FREE leader kit of the study (a $49.95 value!) to one lucky winner? The kit includes a copy of the Bible study book, three teaching videos with author Michael Kelley, two conceptual videos with young adults discussing their views on God and the end times, our playlist to accompany the study, and much more. The giveaway couldn't be easier, but it ends Friday night at midnight, so act fast for your chance to win! For all the contest details, click HERE.
Holy Vocabulary, by Michael Kelley, is a new short-term Bible study from Threads. The leader kit includes a member book and a DVD-ROM with video shorts to jump-start discussion in your small group, a leader guide, resources for a church-wide study of Holy Vocabulary and more!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
BibleCollegeScholarship.com
Going to college is expensive. On top of that, finding a scholarship can be really difficult. That's why I was so excited to find the Bible College Scholarshipwebsite today.
Not only are they giving away a $1,000.00 scholarship and a digital theological software library, all I had to do to apply was watch a short video and answer a few questions! It took less than 15 minutes.
What is best of all is that if you're in Bible College and apply for the Bible College Scholarship, and put my name, Jeff Lewis, as the person who referred you, and if you win the scholarship, so do I!
We could both get a $1,000.00 scholarship and digital theological software library!
So, do us both a favor and go for it!!! What do you got to lose? Apply for the Bible College Scholarship today!
Say you're in Seminary??? Then try this one on then - Logo's Seminary Scholarship.
Searching for a seminary scholarship is tough. Everywhere you turn there are requirements. Degree track, financial need, denominations, demographics —what seminarian has time for all that!?!
Now there is a scholarship that is open to everyone and doesn’t take a week’s worth of late nights to apply for. At SeminaryScholarship.com all you have to do is watch a demonstration of Logos Bible Software and fill out a brief application. Once your application is submitted you will be entered to win a $1,000.00 scholarship AND a digital theological library that, in print, would cost over $6,100.00!
Going to seminary is challenging enough. Applying for a scholarship shouldn’t be.
Not only are they giving away a $1,000.00 scholarship and a digital theological software library, all I had to do to apply was watch a short video and answer a few questions! It took less than 15 minutes.
What is best of all is that if you're in Bible College and apply for the Bible College Scholarship, and put my name, Jeff Lewis, as the person who referred you, and if you win the scholarship, so do I!
We could both get a $1,000.00 scholarship and digital theological software library!
So, do us both a favor and go for it!!! What do you got to lose? Apply for the Bible College Scholarship today!
Say you're in Seminary??? Then try this one on then - Logo's Seminary Scholarship.
Searching for a seminary scholarship is tough. Everywhere you turn there are requirements. Degree track, financial need, denominations, demographics —what seminarian has time for all that!?!
Now there is a scholarship that is open to everyone and doesn’t take a week’s worth of late nights to apply for. At SeminaryScholarship.com all you have to do is watch a demonstration of Logos Bible Software and fill out a brief application. Once your application is submitted you will be entered to win a $1,000.00 scholarship AND a digital theological library that, in print, would cost over $6,100.00!
Going to seminary is challenging enough. Applying for a scholarship shouldn’t be.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Success...
All people deserve the chance to reach their full potential of success. But what just is success, and what does it mean to be successful or to be a failure? Success is most often defined as either achievement or attainment. Achievement of something that was planned, attempted, or intended; or the attainment of a level of social status, wealth, fame, or even power. So essentially the outcome developed in life revolves around what can a person do to become more successful, and/or how can a person excel in all areas of life; whether professional or personal?
The difference between being, or becoming, successful or to be a failure is answered by many, and usually gets the same answer. To many, success is financial security, a house, college degree or degrees, and so on, and failure is being defined as not achieving or attaining these in life. Clearly if these things are defining your life in terms of success, then you are living the wrong dream and for the wrong things. A person must be strong and courageous to even attempt to achieve success in their life; yet a person in life must achieve success by God's principles and standards (Joshua 1:7-8). The bottom-line is that obedience to the Lord will equal success and disobedience will equal failure. When you try to make the world's standard, or even the so-called American dream, your measuring stick for success then you will end up with the short end of the stick, so to speak. It is possible that a person could attain all the riches and fame in the world, and yet truly without the Lord they will have nothing and still be broken and empty.
With God nothing is impossible. A person's potential is within the unexplainable and supernatural realm with the Lord. Look at it this way, potential in your life is simply expressing the possibility, liberty or power; something that can develop or become actual. With the Lord Jesus, potential becomes a promise. Furthermore, when the Lord is guiding you and the Holy Spirit is developing your potential then success is guaranteed when you live in obedience to the Lord. It will be hard and you may not like what is going on at times, but you will reach your fullest success potential in life with the Lord. God's own living Word, the Bible, provides comprehensive and effective structure through collaboration across churches and communities that facilitates the development of a diverse and vibrant success experience in life.
If no one ever even notices anything you have ever done in your life, know this, when you live a life of obedience then God will see you as a success because you obeyed. Never allow the world to define who you are, much less whether you are a success or a failure. Let God decide this! You can do amazing things with your life when you give it to the Lord and live obedient to His purpose and mission. This is the only solid and lasting success. Amen.
The difference between being, or becoming, successful or to be a failure is answered by many, and usually gets the same answer. To many, success is financial security, a house, college degree or degrees, and so on, and failure is being defined as not achieving or attaining these in life. Clearly if these things are defining your life in terms of success, then you are living the wrong dream and for the wrong things. A person must be strong and courageous to even attempt to achieve success in their life; yet a person in life must achieve success by God's principles and standards (Joshua 1:7-8). The bottom-line is that obedience to the Lord will equal success and disobedience will equal failure. When you try to make the world's standard, or even the so-called American dream, your measuring stick for success then you will end up with the short end of the stick, so to speak. It is possible that a person could attain all the riches and fame in the world, and yet truly without the Lord they will have nothing and still be broken and empty.
With God nothing is impossible. A person's potential is within the unexplainable and supernatural realm with the Lord. Look at it this way, potential in your life is simply expressing the possibility, liberty or power; something that can develop or become actual. With the Lord Jesus, potential becomes a promise. Furthermore, when the Lord is guiding you and the Holy Spirit is developing your potential then success is guaranteed when you live in obedience to the Lord. It will be hard and you may not like what is going on at times, but you will reach your fullest success potential in life with the Lord. God's own living Word, the Bible, provides comprehensive and effective structure through collaboration across churches and communities that facilitates the development of a diverse and vibrant success experience in life.
If no one ever even notices anything you have ever done in your life, know this, when you live a life of obedience then God will see you as a success because you obeyed. Never allow the world to define who you are, much less whether you are a success or a failure. Let God decide this! You can do amazing things with your life when you give it to the Lord and live obedient to His purpose and mission. This is the only solid and lasting success. Amen.
Rushing God...
While watching the television recently with my daughters, we can across something completely astounding. We were watching an animal program about eagles and what was learned is phenomenal. You see, to an eagle timing is everything. There's a time to build a nest, hatch an egg, and even a time to feed the baby eaglet. The mother eagle even has a time when enough is enough. The eagle will then teach the young eagle how to fly. At this point the mother eagle wraps her talons around the young eagle for his first lift-off from the nest. The mother will then soar about two miles high while clutching the young eagle in her talons. When the time is just right she will retract her claws, and for the first time ever the young eagle is on his own. Free falling, tumbling, screaming, and facing certain death is in his young feathered mind; especially as the ground quickly approaches. But, at the perfect moment, the mother will tuck her wings and shoot straight forward to the young eagle. She will zoom past him, level off, spread her huge wings, and catch the young eagle on her back. This routine is practiced over and over until, at last, the young eagle learns to fly. It was totally amazing to witness this on television, I could just imagine in person.
By the same token, it is totally amazing to go through this with our own lives. God does the same thing as illustrated above with His children. God reminded Moses, "I've held you up on eagles' wings and brought you to myself." Thus, this amazing fact concerning the eagle is true about God; timing is everything. The Lord's mighty and majestic moves are precise and calculated. God is, in fact, mighty and swift to save. Yet one truth remains, God is never in a hurry. Noah's building project was in excess of 100 years and Abraham awaited a son in his great old age. Joseph spent 13 years in prison and Moses was 40 when he went into the desert, but 80 when he returned with a mission and a purpose. So, you can see God will not be rushed. While time is a man-made thing, time still belongs to Him.
For me, patience has never been my strong suit. Both God and I know this. Have you ever found yourself telling God what to do or rushing Him? I'm sure I'm not alone on this. Accordingly, "with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." I'm usually willing to wait 24 hours, but 8,760,000 hours? Have you ever tried to set a fire under the Lord's throne? Have I poked a familiar nerve. A long illness, no job, an overdue pay raise or promotion, church feuding or gossip, a perpetual critic, wayward children, a family problem, immature and/or undisciplined church members, a bad neighbor, one or many unanswered prayers, waiting for your church to take off as other churches do. Is this getting warm yet?
From the patriarchs of old, to the disciples of today, God's people have always asked the same questions, "When Lord, and why not now?" Yet, to paraphrase His answer to Isaiah, "My timing is not your timing, neither are your deadlines my deadlines." Jesus spent 30 years preparing for a 3-year ministry, and the Lord Jesus also knew something about timing. He exhibited poise and patience in every phase of His demanding work and His pressures would have crushed any pressures we have of today. He was never rushed, and never preoccupied with that day's frantic pace. He was, as His father, never in a hurry. Again, timing is everything. Our timing is to wait on His; and like the mother eagle, God may let us free fall, but He's never lost one of His kids yet! If your trying to rush God or losing patience, I can tell you from experience this will not work. Come back to where the Lord is at work in your life, then be still and know that He alone is God. Pray that the Lord, through the power of the Holy Spirit Himself, will give you patience; and help you to see the timing of the Lord. Amen.
By the same token, it is totally amazing to go through this with our own lives. God does the same thing as illustrated above with His children. God reminded Moses, "I've held you up on eagles' wings and brought you to myself." Thus, this amazing fact concerning the eagle is true about God; timing is everything. The Lord's mighty and majestic moves are precise and calculated. God is, in fact, mighty and swift to save. Yet one truth remains, God is never in a hurry. Noah's building project was in excess of 100 years and Abraham awaited a son in his great old age. Joseph spent 13 years in prison and Moses was 40 when he went into the desert, but 80 when he returned with a mission and a purpose. So, you can see God will not be rushed. While time is a man-made thing, time still belongs to Him.
For me, patience has never been my strong suit. Both God and I know this. Have you ever found yourself telling God what to do or rushing Him? I'm sure I'm not alone on this. Accordingly, "with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." I'm usually willing to wait 24 hours, but 8,760,000 hours? Have you ever tried to set a fire under the Lord's throne? Have I poked a familiar nerve. A long illness, no job, an overdue pay raise or promotion, church feuding or gossip, a perpetual critic, wayward children, a family problem, immature and/or undisciplined church members, a bad neighbor, one or many unanswered prayers, waiting for your church to take off as other churches do. Is this getting warm yet?
From the patriarchs of old, to the disciples of today, God's people have always asked the same questions, "When Lord, and why not now?" Yet, to paraphrase His answer to Isaiah, "My timing is not your timing, neither are your deadlines my deadlines." Jesus spent 30 years preparing for a 3-year ministry, and the Lord Jesus also knew something about timing. He exhibited poise and patience in every phase of His demanding work and His pressures would have crushed any pressures we have of today. He was never rushed, and never preoccupied with that day's frantic pace. He was, as His father, never in a hurry. Again, timing is everything. Our timing is to wait on His; and like the mother eagle, God may let us free fall, but He's never lost one of His kids yet! If your trying to rush God or losing patience, I can tell you from experience this will not work. Come back to where the Lord is at work in your life, then be still and know that He alone is God. Pray that the Lord, through the power of the Holy Spirit Himself, will give you patience; and help you to see the timing of the Lord. Amen.
Passion...
Passion can be defined as a powerful emotion, such as love, joy, hatred, or anger; some sort of ardent love. A strong sexual, desire such as lust, or quite simply the object of such love or desire. Passion has often been also described as total enthusiasm. So, what is fueling your desire in your life today? Is it the Lord or something else?
Over the years, I've come to see that a person's desire, or desires, is quite possibly one of the most sustainable and important competitive advantages a person can have. If it is the right desire, fuel by the right passion. Everything in life starts with desire, but desires come and go as real passion stays. Passion is the most important thing to leading a dream. Converting your dreams to reality will require passion. Whether in your personal life, employment, school, or whatever passion is key to a most productive life. While many see the bills laying on the counter and push themselves to work, genuine passion is about much more than that. Passion drives a person who doesn't get up every day and face down challenges just for the sake of money, but there is a fire, a passion for something more. The missing ingredient for many today is passion. Then again there are still many who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ alone is the Lord of lighting and sustaining that passion needed in your life. You may have passion in your life without the Lord, but any passion not from the Lord will simply make you meltdown and self-destruct. The Lord is the One who gives and inspires passion. People today do not really need another strategy, and the last thing they need is another so-called guru's personal analysis on their lives. What people today most assuredly need most is to become spiritually, physically, and emotionally engaged with their own passion and their own dreams, with each other, and with their calling in life. No matter what your age, your training, your education level, or even your level of experience the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit Himself can, and will, ignite the passion in your life.
Passion isn't necessarily a word that we typically equate with certain things in life. Yet, passion is something that is needed in life. Looking back though history, the greatest impact people who did something with their lives approached their careers and achievements with passion. Some have a passion for storytelling, some have a passion for creating something that people can't help but share, but all people should be passionate about what they do; as well as choosing something they love. The ones who really change our world for the better will be the ones most passionate about doing it. There is a common thread in the people with passion who are accomplishing something great. The future of the world is in the Lord's hands and isn't about Twitter, facebook, weathering the storm, or even finding the next great groundbreaking product. Passion is a very important component of keeping things together, fulfilling dreams, and achieving goals. It's not enough anymore to just simply build a great plan that provides structure for daily life and activities; as this is essentially building a life totally on sand. A person must stay motivated and make their passion a permanent part of their life. This includes making sure that the Lord is the foundation and at the core of all passion(s).
Passion emerges from an attitude, a commitment, a hunger to see lives changed and Christ honored. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit who takes a faithful, humble messenger and sets him or her on fire for the Lord and His mission. Passion can make you walk one more mile when you are certain that mile will kill you; and passion still sparks after you have walked that last mile and found nothing at the end of it but more road. Amen.
Over the years, I've come to see that a person's desire, or desires, is quite possibly one of the most sustainable and important competitive advantages a person can have. If it is the right desire, fuel by the right passion. Everything in life starts with desire, but desires come and go as real passion stays. Passion is the most important thing to leading a dream. Converting your dreams to reality will require passion. Whether in your personal life, employment, school, or whatever passion is key to a most productive life. While many see the bills laying on the counter and push themselves to work, genuine passion is about much more than that. Passion drives a person who doesn't get up every day and face down challenges just for the sake of money, but there is a fire, a passion for something more. The missing ingredient for many today is passion. Then again there are still many who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ alone is the Lord of lighting and sustaining that passion needed in your life. You may have passion in your life without the Lord, but any passion not from the Lord will simply make you meltdown and self-destruct. The Lord is the One who gives and inspires passion. People today do not really need another strategy, and the last thing they need is another so-called guru's personal analysis on their lives. What people today most assuredly need most is to become spiritually, physically, and emotionally engaged with their own passion and their own dreams, with each other, and with their calling in life. No matter what your age, your training, your education level, or even your level of experience the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit Himself can, and will, ignite the passion in your life.
Passion isn't necessarily a word that we typically equate with certain things in life. Yet, passion is something that is needed in life. Looking back though history, the greatest impact people who did something with their lives approached their careers and achievements with passion. Some have a passion for storytelling, some have a passion for creating something that people can't help but share, but all people should be passionate about what they do; as well as choosing something they love. The ones who really change our world for the better will be the ones most passionate about doing it. There is a common thread in the people with passion who are accomplishing something great. The future of the world is in the Lord's hands and isn't about Twitter, facebook, weathering the storm, or even finding the next great groundbreaking product. Passion is a very important component of keeping things together, fulfilling dreams, and achieving goals. It's not enough anymore to just simply build a great plan that provides structure for daily life and activities; as this is essentially building a life totally on sand. A person must stay motivated and make their passion a permanent part of their life. This includes making sure that the Lord is the foundation and at the core of all passion(s).
Passion emerges from an attitude, a commitment, a hunger to see lives changed and Christ honored. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit who takes a faithful, humble messenger and sets him or her on fire for the Lord and His mission. Passion can make you walk one more mile when you are certain that mile will kill you; and passion still sparks after you have walked that last mile and found nothing at the end of it but more road. Amen.
2010 Graduates
In the next few coming weeks area high schools will begin to graduate and turn loose their classes of 2010. The world is full of choices, but which exact choices should these new graduates make? Biblical decision making begins with a willingness to submit your own choices and intentions to God's perfect will and humbly follow His direction. The problem is most do not know how to figure that out. Even though the steps of obedience is clear in the Bible many will continue to give excuses, especially teenagers who are new graduates. Life is hard, very hard. Most of the upcoming graduates will encounter messages on graduation that inspire them to go and do great things; and none of these messages will contain anything of how hard life really is. One thing is for sure, in life you can make it harder than it actually is.
A person must begin prayer, period. This includes framing an attitude into one of trust and obedience as you commit to prayer. There's no reason to be fearful in life when you are secure in the knowledge that God has your best interest in mind. God knows what He is doing, and He has a plan for even you: The new graduate (Jeremiah 29:11). If God has already revealed his will in Scripture, your only response is to obey. This is were many of us get into trouble, choosing not to obey. As a new graduate whether on your way to college, employment, both, or still just mooching off your folks; you will need a light to guide you in life. God's Word, the Bible, is that light. Let it seriously guide you (Psalm 119:105). Most of all, be ready to accept and obey God's Word for the answers in your life. It's very unlikely that God will reveal His plan just for you, especially if He knows already that you won't obey. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don't try to think you have all the answers yourself (Proverbs 3:5-6). If you seek Him in all you do, He will be faithful in guiding you were you need to go in life.
Exercise your faith, and get it trained and fine-tuned like a world class athlete. You will need this healthy and fine-tuned faith throughout all your life; to get to where the Lord Jesus has it planned for you to go. Remember, without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). Seek concrete direction and obtain counsel. Plans and life will experience failure for lack of planning and counsel (Proverbs 15:22). It is always wise to get spiritual and practical counsel from the Godly leaders in your life. A pastor or church leader can often contribute important insight, answer questions, remove doubts and confirm inclinations. Make sure to choose individuals who will offer sound Biblical advice and not just say what they think or even just what you want to hear. You can proceed with confidence knowing that God will work out his purposes through your life. This requires obedience on your part. Life will not be a bed of roses for which you can just lay in. Nobody is going to roll over in life for you to simply walk on or pass by. One thing is for sure, as a child of the Living God you know who is on the throne. With that, you should know that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). Go grab your life, use it for His glory, and do something with your life that is greater than you ever though possible! Amen.
A person must begin prayer, period. This includes framing an attitude into one of trust and obedience as you commit to prayer. There's no reason to be fearful in life when you are secure in the knowledge that God has your best interest in mind. God knows what He is doing, and He has a plan for even you: The new graduate (Jeremiah 29:11). If God has already revealed his will in Scripture, your only response is to obey. This is were many of us get into trouble, choosing not to obey. As a new graduate whether on your way to college, employment, both, or still just mooching off your folks; you will need a light to guide you in life. God's Word, the Bible, is that light. Let it seriously guide you (Psalm 119:105). Most of all, be ready to accept and obey God's Word for the answers in your life. It's very unlikely that God will reveal His plan just for you, especially if He knows already that you won't obey. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don't try to think you have all the answers yourself (Proverbs 3:5-6). If you seek Him in all you do, He will be faithful in guiding you were you need to go in life.
Exercise your faith, and get it trained and fine-tuned like a world class athlete. You will need this healthy and fine-tuned faith throughout all your life; to get to where the Lord Jesus has it planned for you to go. Remember, without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). Seek concrete direction and obtain counsel. Plans and life will experience failure for lack of planning and counsel (Proverbs 15:22). It is always wise to get spiritual and practical counsel from the Godly leaders in your life. A pastor or church leader can often contribute important insight, answer questions, remove doubts and confirm inclinations. Make sure to choose individuals who will offer sound Biblical advice and not just say what they think or even just what you want to hear. You can proceed with confidence knowing that God will work out his purposes through your life. This requires obedience on your part. Life will not be a bed of roses for which you can just lay in. Nobody is going to roll over in life for you to simply walk on or pass by. One thing is for sure, as a child of the Living God you know who is on the throne. With that, you should know that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). Go grab your life, use it for His glory, and do something with your life that is greater than you ever though possible! Amen.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Churches in Competition
Do churches really feel competition? The answer in our local community is an overwhelming, yes. Two of the most common questions and/or comments among regular church going folks today is: "Which church do you go to" or "that is so and so's church." Adding a little to this, three or four recent surveys and polls recently released show that almost two-thirds of the churches in the U.S. indicate that they feel competition from other churches.
Stories of churches accusing the other of taking the others' members as well as leaders aggressively competing for positions in the church; and of course the many other petty disagreements. Church members at one church refusing to help or participate in a ministry or program at another church. It has even reached the point that it now has become difficult these days to ask a Christian from another church just to unite and pray together for an hour. Goodness the list could go on and on. Churches as a whole, and Christians as individuals, today have taken a downward spiral in terms of being united.
Overall the time has come for churches to serve God's purpose and not their own. After our generation is gone from this earth; we shouldn't expect the next generation to come up with different ideas from ours. The legacy we leave today as a church will be the same that the next generation will take up. What Christians fail to understand is the fact that as long as there is resistance, indifference, or a sense of competition with each church; then no progress is made and above all the devil's work is cut into half.
Is it not crazy that Christians from various churches do not do many things in life together; much less ministry? Is it not seemingly, or entirely, ridiculous that churches keep trying to build ministries and programs without even talking to each other? Partnership is a much more satisfying (not to mention Biblically appropriate) model for building strength than competition. If another church needs help, why not help? If you want to start something new and exciting, why not reach out to other churches too? If another church is starting something different than your your church, why not reach out and see how the two churches together can make more impact? Churches should unite to be powerful in this community; the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:10 "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought."
Churches are not to be in competition, they are to be in community. Churches are not competing businesses trying to get the bigger market share. Churches are the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ, working toward a common goal of reaching people for Him; and making a difference. This is about being kingdom minded with the same pursuit.
Stories of churches accusing the other of taking the others' members as well as leaders aggressively competing for positions in the church; and of course the many other petty disagreements. Church members at one church refusing to help or participate in a ministry or program at another church. It has even reached the point that it now has become difficult these days to ask a Christian from another church just to unite and pray together for an hour. Goodness the list could go on and on. Churches as a whole, and Christians as individuals, today have taken a downward spiral in terms of being united.
Overall the time has come for churches to serve God's purpose and not their own. After our generation is gone from this earth; we shouldn't expect the next generation to come up with different ideas from ours. The legacy we leave today as a church will be the same that the next generation will take up. What Christians fail to understand is the fact that as long as there is resistance, indifference, or a sense of competition with each church; then no progress is made and above all the devil's work is cut into half.
Is it not crazy that Christians from various churches do not do many things in life together; much less ministry? Is it not seemingly, or entirely, ridiculous that churches keep trying to build ministries and programs without even talking to each other? Partnership is a much more satisfying (not to mention Biblically appropriate) model for building strength than competition. If another church needs help, why not help? If you want to start something new and exciting, why not reach out to other churches too? If another church is starting something different than your your church, why not reach out and see how the two churches together can make more impact? Churches should unite to be powerful in this community; the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:10 "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought."
Churches are not to be in competition, they are to be in community. Churches are not competing businesses trying to get the bigger market share. Churches are the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ, working toward a common goal of reaching people for Him; and making a difference. This is about being kingdom minded with the same pursuit.
Effective Working in the Lord
The Word of God clearly tells us to never put our confidence in things the world considers to be our protection, defense, or strength. One clear illustration is, "No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save" (Psalm 33:16-17). The Bible is full of others besides this, front to back and cover to cover. However, the man or woman who does not perform well on the job, or in the world, is left behind in today's competitive world. This is this typical area of the world at large, but even many Christians promote the importance of identifying our strengths and encourage us to move in them to accomplish God's will. Yet, the Bible is clear that we are discouraged from depending upon our own strengths; and we are urged to rely totally upon the Lord.
God wants us to depend upon Him, and He demonstrates this throughout Scripture. Clear Biblical examples include: Judges 7, God wouldn't let Gideon fight against another army until he reduced his own from 22,000 soldiers to 300, so that Gideon could not boast about his army's strength. In Joshua 6, God told Joshua to walk around Jericho and blow trumpets instead of relying upon the army personnel to overpower the enemy. In 2 Samuel 24, God judged David when he counted his troops to determine the size of his army's strength, apparently because David took the census out of pride or overconfidence in the strength of his army, instead of relying on the strength of the Lord.
On the other hand, Jesus instructed the disciples through the parable of the builder, to to consider the cost before beginning to build. "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish'" (Luke 14:28-30).
Will you be able to finish? Have you counted the cost? Have you began to lay the foundation of your life and now everything is unclear? Maybe you have laid the foundation and now feel the heat of ridicule and conviction as your foundation was laid in your will and your strength; and not the Lord's. Today, bring all you have and all that you are before the Lord; this includes everything. Every desire, dream, job, chore, project, and endeavor. Bring it all before the Lord as you ask for His power, His strength, His blessing, and His grace to accomplish it. This allows for the using of all of your God-given natural gifts and skills with your spiritual gifts, within the power of the Holy Spirit. This will allow you and God to work together, totally in Him.
God wants us to depend upon Him, and He demonstrates this throughout Scripture. Clear Biblical examples include: Judges 7, God wouldn't let Gideon fight against another army until he reduced his own from 22,000 soldiers to 300, so that Gideon could not boast about his army's strength. In Joshua 6, God told Joshua to walk around Jericho and blow trumpets instead of relying upon the army personnel to overpower the enemy. In 2 Samuel 24, God judged David when he counted his troops to determine the size of his army's strength, apparently because David took the census out of pride or overconfidence in the strength of his army, instead of relying on the strength of the Lord.
On the other hand, Jesus instructed the disciples through the parable of the builder, to to consider the cost before beginning to build. "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish'" (Luke 14:28-30).
Will you be able to finish? Have you counted the cost? Have you began to lay the foundation of your life and now everything is unclear? Maybe you have laid the foundation and now feel the heat of ridicule and conviction as your foundation was laid in your will and your strength; and not the Lord's. Today, bring all you have and all that you are before the Lord; this includes everything. Every desire, dream, job, chore, project, and endeavor. Bring it all before the Lord as you ask for His power, His strength, His blessing, and His grace to accomplish it. This allows for the using of all of your God-given natural gifts and skills with your spiritual gifts, within the power of the Holy Spirit. This will allow you and God to work together, totally in Him.
Pastors and their Flocks
Recently I received a call from a pastoral leader wanting me to come and preach at his church. While speaking with him, he expressed that he wanted me to "come sheer his sheep." Evidently he desired to do a great number of things and no one in the church would help out. He went on to give me a list of things he wanted to do and where the people were failing at them. I explained to him that I would be glad to come, but the Holy Spirit determines the message; not me or anyone else. After preaching on that Sunday, this pastoral leader seriously got on to me as he wanted me to sheer his sheep and tell them like it was. Evidently he was afraid to say the wrong things to his congregation and wanted a hired hand to say it. Never the less, I explained to him, respectfully, that it was the pastor's job to sheer his sheep. After all the pastor is the shepherd. I also explained that I had helped him that day, as I corralled and motivated the sheep to the stall. But it was his job to operate the sheer.
A lot of preachers, and even pastors, today want to brow-beat and beat the people over the head with the Bible. This is not the way. All many Christians really need is encouragement, motivation, and how to apply the Word of God in their lives. This is why I preach the Word, the whole counsel of God, and not 5 ways to do this or 10 ways to do that. This brings me to a couple of points.
First off, if a pastor or Christian leader is going to call me, or another preacher, to sheer his sheep because he is afraid to; then he is in the wrong line of work. I find nowhere in the Bible of a hired hand doing the work of a pastor. A pulpit preacher or evangelist is suppose to supply a word from the Lord in which the people will respond; and the pastor is the one who is suppose to sheer the sheep and tell them where they are wrong. As a matter of fact, many times in the Word of God Jesus included many words about shepherds and the sheep. These are the Biblical words of example for today's pastors and preachers.
Second, Christians today should already be motivated to do what they are suppose to do. While everyone already knows this is not true and does not happen with the majority, the fact still remains. Christians in the church house today should be enthusiastic and ready to do what their pastors are guiding them to do. God gives the pastor His vision and it is up to the pastor to apply the vision God has given him. Christians who are not responding to their pastors are, in essence, disobedient and not doing as they should. If you are just going to church and not responding to your pastor's calls and vision, then how do you expect your church to become all that God intends for it to be and/or become?
As you read this today, ask yourself were you can come along-side your pastor and help. Whether it is doing a job or just a job of encouraging your pastor; pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal this to you. Talk with your pastor and the leadership at your church and find ways to become and do more than you are currently doing. Remember, you are the sheep and the pastor is the shepherd. The pastor is the man of God called for his duty. The pastor will be held accountable for you and everyone else in the flock that God has given him. Come along-side him and work with him to develop your church into all that God wants it to be and do. May God get the glory and be glorified in all that is accomplished by you personally working together in the duty and vision that the Lord has given to your pastor. A men.
A lot of preachers, and even pastors, today want to brow-beat and beat the people over the head with the Bible. This is not the way. All many Christians really need is encouragement, motivation, and how to apply the Word of God in their lives. This is why I preach the Word, the whole counsel of God, and not 5 ways to do this or 10 ways to do that. This brings me to a couple of points.
First off, if a pastor or Christian leader is going to call me, or another preacher, to sheer his sheep because he is afraid to; then he is in the wrong line of work. I find nowhere in the Bible of a hired hand doing the work of a pastor. A pulpit preacher or evangelist is suppose to supply a word from the Lord in which the people will respond; and the pastor is the one who is suppose to sheer the sheep and tell them where they are wrong. As a matter of fact, many times in the Word of God Jesus included many words about shepherds and the sheep. These are the Biblical words of example for today's pastors and preachers.
Second, Christians today should already be motivated to do what they are suppose to do. While everyone already knows this is not true and does not happen with the majority, the fact still remains. Christians in the church house today should be enthusiastic and ready to do what their pastors are guiding them to do. God gives the pastor His vision and it is up to the pastor to apply the vision God has given him. Christians who are not responding to their pastors are, in essence, disobedient and not doing as they should. If you are just going to church and not responding to your pastor's calls and vision, then how do you expect your church to become all that God intends for it to be and/or become?
As you read this today, ask yourself were you can come along-side your pastor and help. Whether it is doing a job or just a job of encouraging your pastor; pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal this to you. Talk with your pastor and the leadership at your church and find ways to become and do more than you are currently doing. Remember, you are the sheep and the pastor is the shepherd. The pastor is the man of God called for his duty. The pastor will be held accountable for you and everyone else in the flock that God has given him. Come along-side him and work with him to develop your church into all that God wants it to be and do. May God get the glory and be glorified in all that is accomplished by you personally working together in the duty and vision that the Lord has given to your pastor. A men.
Ministering to Singles
According to recent data, the growing number of unmarried adults in the United States is over an excess of 100 million. This number alone places over a third of today's population in the single relationship area. Some of these are never married, some are single parents, and some are widows. Whatever the case may be, from never marrying, to divorce, to the loss of a spouse; this number is a large ministry area for the Christians and the church today. Not to even mention that the people who are lost, or out of the church altogether, in this category is unable to number.
The churches everywhere today are largely focused on married couples and their families. There is a huge gap in the divide here. Some churches have tried to establish ministries and programming for young adults who are between high school and the point of getting married. This is a good start, yet it misses the thrust of the ministry context in this area. Christians and churches should, and can, become more intentional about reaching out to divorced and unmarried people who are in that category for a host of reasons. Anyone can easily become judgmental about why these people are single; but instead we need to meet them where they are. Christians and churches should identify and befriend the single parent families; where a person has been widowed or where there has been a divorce. These folks need our acceptance and our support in raising their children with the help of proper role models.
There are many single adults, single moms, and single dads out there who are making the adjustment of living independently. Life alone is hard enough with two, much less just one. The Christian family and the church as a whole could be paramount in helping and guiding these through some of life's basic areas, needs, and/or skills. Take a look around your church house or place of employment to see and meet the unmarried, the single parent families, and the widows. These are people who desperately need friendships with others who can help them cope with many areas and disappointments of life. The people who are lost or out of the church altogether in this category is unable to number.
The churches everywhere today are largely focused on married couples and their families. There is a huge gap in the divide here. Some churches have tried to establish ministries and programming for young adults who are between high school and the point of getting married. This is a good start, yet it misses the thrust of the ministry context in this area. Christians and churches should, and can, become more intentional about reaching out to divorced and unmarried people who are in that category for a host of reasons. Anyone can easily become judgmental about why these people are single; but instead we need to meet them where they are. Christians and churches should identify and befriend the single parent families; where a person has been widowed or where there has been a divorce. These folks need our acceptance and our support in raising their children with the help of proper role models.
There are many single adults, single moms, and single dads out there who are making the adjustment of living independently. Life alone is hard enough with two, much less just one. The Christian family and the church as a whole could be paramount in helping and guiding these through some of life's basic areas, needs, and/or skills. Take a look around your church house or place of employment to see and meet the unmarried, the single parent families, and the widows. These are people who desperately need friendships with others who can help them cope with many areas and disappointments of life. The people who are lost or out of the church altogether in this category is unable to number.
The Music in the Church House
In today's society, people listen to music and sing together in the strangest places, from the church house to concerts and even birthday parties; music has a special way of binding the people together. It enables us to spend extended periods of times expressing the same thoughts and passions. Why does music affect us so deeply? Cause God made it that way is the only answer. Music can bring forth the association of things that happened in certain periods or experiences in our lives. Music and singing has played a huge role in the church of the Lord ever since the day of Pentecost when the church really began. Furthermore, The Bible contains over 400 references to singing and 50 direct commands to sing. God himself sings (Zeph. 3:17) and Jesus even sang with his disciples.
Today in church houses all across the way the people are arguing over hymns or contemporary, praise music or traditional. One church says worship should not be a rock concert, while another says hymns are old school. Should it really be a choice? Can it not be all of the above. As one preacher put it, "God has blessed those with voice and He has blessed those with skill." In other words, if someone uses a guitar or drums to express their self in worshiping the Lord, who are we do judge or argue? If someone can bend those guitar strings like nobody ever could before, should they not be allowed to have a solo in the middle or somewhere in the song that is worshiping their Lord and God? Folks, it takes extraordinary skill to play an instrument, period. It is a skill and gift that is God-given. I will never forget, just a few months ago, hearing a 20 minute version of the "Old Rugged Cross" in a certain church. The song was complete with powerful singers and powerful musicians. It included all the lights and professional concert-style production (yes in the church house). With a piano introduction, two different guitar solos, and even a drum solo right in the middle. When it was done, the alter was full and I was ready to come out of my skin. I had just experienced a total worship of the Lord experience. Seriously, today's church does not need to pit different styles or traditions against one another. They each serve to help the church in different ways. Music can also help the church engage the words more emotionally and more spiritually. Furthermore, the host of heaven is not united in their style of music but in the words of their song (Rev. 5:9-10). What kind of music do people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation sing? We don't know, but the Bible tells us what the focus should be: Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!
So next time you get ready to put down a certain type of music in the church house, ask yourself, what are we doing to encourage our church in corporate music and singing? What are we doing to discourage it? Jesus is the one who makes it all possible. God doesn't hear the church on account of the skill in playing the instruments and in singing. He hears it because of His Son. We should be looking to for music to move us to worship, praise, and celebrate Him who has already done the moving in our own individual lives.
Today in church houses all across the way the people are arguing over hymns or contemporary, praise music or traditional. One church says worship should not be a rock concert, while another says hymns are old school. Should it really be a choice? Can it not be all of the above. As one preacher put it, "God has blessed those with voice and He has blessed those with skill." In other words, if someone uses a guitar or drums to express their self in worshiping the Lord, who are we do judge or argue? If someone can bend those guitar strings like nobody ever could before, should they not be allowed to have a solo in the middle or somewhere in the song that is worshiping their Lord and God? Folks, it takes extraordinary skill to play an instrument, period. It is a skill and gift that is God-given. I will never forget, just a few months ago, hearing a 20 minute version of the "Old Rugged Cross" in a certain church. The song was complete with powerful singers and powerful musicians. It included all the lights and professional concert-style production (yes in the church house). With a piano introduction, two different guitar solos, and even a drum solo right in the middle. When it was done, the alter was full and I was ready to come out of my skin. I had just experienced a total worship of the Lord experience. Seriously, today's church does not need to pit different styles or traditions against one another. They each serve to help the church in different ways. Music can also help the church engage the words more emotionally and more spiritually. Furthermore, the host of heaven is not united in their style of music but in the words of their song (Rev. 5:9-10). What kind of music do people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation sing? We don't know, but the Bible tells us what the focus should be: Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!
So next time you get ready to put down a certain type of music in the church house, ask yourself, what are we doing to encourage our church in corporate music and singing? What are we doing to discourage it? Jesus is the one who makes it all possible. God doesn't hear the church on account of the skill in playing the instruments and in singing. He hears it because of His Son. We should be looking to for music to move us to worship, praise, and celebrate Him who has already done the moving in our own individual lives.
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