Words of Encouragement

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. - Psalm 23

MONDAY
The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. My husband has been taking our family through these verses in our family devotions. I decided to share with you the things this time has done for me and I hope it will encourage someone today.  In the first verses David writes that God is his shepherd and he does not want.

When my husband asked my youngest daughter what this meant to her, she said that's easy, it means that I have everything I need so I don't need anything. That's not the exact way she said it, but that's the sum of it. What it meant to me was that I have everything I need so I do not have to "want" or to desire or worry about something. God has already taken care of making sure I have what I need. My husband then asked, what do you have? Jackie said, I have food, clothes, everything so I have everything I need.

If we could have the faith as this little one to simply take God at his word. God's word simply tells us that as our shepherd he will take care of what we need and as my youngest daughter said, that's easy, everything I need, God will give it to me. Today, I pray that we accept this simply truth, God is our shepherd and he will give us what we need (in fact we already have it) so we really don't need anything else! We'll talk some more about this.


TUESDAY
...He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

The Lord is my shepherd. He leads. What does it mean to lie down in green pastures and be lead by quiet waters? In order for the sheep to drink from the water, the water must be still (quiet). In other words, God will lead his sheep to the areas where they can be feed and find drink.  God stills the waters in our lives so that we can come to the edge and drink and find our fill.
 
This scripture reminds us of the simply fact that we mentioned earlier, God has everything we need. This is part of that need my youngest mentioned. He gives us food (that green pasture that we can rest in) and he brings us drink at that place of quietness. What stands our for me is I cannot get the "drink", the living water if God does not quiet the waters for me to come near. Christ quiets the stormy waters that keep me from him and he allows me access to him.
 
Today I pray for us to be able to be lead by God to that place where he has proved for us. If we go looking ourselves, we will miss it, but if we allow ourselves to be lead, we will find the food and the water to keep our "spiritual" bodies healthy.
 
 
WEDNESDAY
...he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake...
 
The Lord is my shepherd. Restores me. While God leads me, he will also restore my soul in the process. He will guide me in path's of righteousness for his name sake. The shepherd will care for his sheep and give to them all that they need. He will not allow his sheep to wonder aimlessly without his guidance.
 
God is the one that leads us and in the process he restores, renews and refreshes us. Part of the restoration process takes places because we lie down in green pastures, pastures that allow us plenty to eat. He restores us as he leads us near the quiet waters to refresh us, restore us from the heat of the day that has been used in our daily walking.
 
I hope to encourage someone today to rest in God because he is the one that will restore your soul.  We do not have to become discouraged in our walk because our shepherd will continue to lead us and take care of our needs.
 
I pray for us today that God would restore some soul that is parched from the heat of life and lead them to the quiet waters.
 
THURSDAY
...Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
 
The Lord is my shepherd. No Fear. In this life we find ourselves going through some "death valleys". We find ourselves going into some areas that not only scare us, but we do not think we are coming out of those valleys onto the other side. Yet, David reminds us, we do not have to be afraid. David knew what it meant to be in some death valleys. He was running for his life, yet he had to have held on because he has a promise to become king and it had not happened yet. So he reminded himself, I will not fear any evil against me because I am not alone in these death valleys, you are right with me. Your rod and your staff comfort me. They comfort me because you use your rod to beat back the snakes and scorpians that are ready to attack me and your staff helps to direct me and it reaches out and catches me around the next if I fall in pits I did not see. As my daughter said, it's simply, you have everything I need so I do not have worry or have fear.
 
Today Lord somebody needs you to give them your comfort and remind them that you will continue to take care of them and no "death valley" situation can harm them because you will fulfill in your people what you have ordained them for.
 
FRIDAY
...You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
 
The Lord is my shepherd. Prepared table. I mentioned earlier what my youngest daughter said about having everything you need, so don't worry. As I thought about what she said, I instantly went to this last part of the scripture. I asked myself the question, why shouldn't I want?
 
What is the reason, because the way is made, the table is already set. When I thought about this, I thought about being invited to a dinner party. The host has prepared the food, set the table and she is only waiting for her guest to show up. You have not arrived to the place yet, but when you arrive you will realize what has already been set before you. Are you following me? Our Lord has already prepared every table we will need on this journey. And not only does he prepare it and is waiting for us to arrive to the destination he has the table set so that we can realize it, but he does it even in the presence of our enemies. He shows you off! Even the one that hates you cannot stop what God has already prepared for you. I don't know about you, but I am rejoicing even as I type. On top of setting out the "spread" for me to dine on, he anoints my head (gives me his spirit), my cup runs over (his provisions) and his goodness follows me all the days of my life. What a mighty God we serve.  I have one last note that I must say before I finish. If God does all this provides for us, takes care of us, gives us living water, prepares what we need, even before we come to the place where we realize we need, then shouldn't we be walking in that freedom?
 
I pray today that we do as my daughter said, acknowledge that it's simply we already have what we need and we don't need anything else. We already have what we need, Jesus and that's all we need.

The Week in Review

Foundations of Ministry

Written April 5, 2006

Church Leadership

Church leadership requires one to dedicate him or herself to the work of God. To minister in a leadership capacity with success, one must understand what they are being called upon to do. Two web sites, www.bible.org and www.biblebb.com try to help the leader understand what they are being called upon to do.


The first web site, www.bible.org writes about leadership development. Kenneth Boa, Th.M.; Ph.D., is the writer of the article, Leadership Development. In his article, he uses Jesus as the example to use as a guide for being a successful leader. Boa explains that Jesus picked his disciples and then for the next three and a half years, he taught them and empowered them for ministry (1). He explains that God did not need man as a part of the plan, but it was God’s purpose to use men from the start.


“First, they were well-trained” (2). When Jesus sent out the seventy-two they were given instructions on what to do and how to handle things if there were not received well. Jesus did not leave anything out of their training. Their training was what had the seventy-two rejoicing when they returned with good news of their success. The devil’s powers were stopped because of God’s power working through them. This is important to know and understand that it is through God’s power that all work is done. When one prepares God’s way, the work can be done.

“Second, they had a clear vision: They were impelled by Jesus’ urgent declaration that ‘The harvest is plentiful’” (2). A great leader must take the responsibility to define a clear picture of the mission. “Leadership is not merely a cognitive grasping of concepts…Leadership, like most things, is more caught than taught” (2).

An important fact mentioned is that Jesus took time to prepare for his mission. “Our Lord developed as a servant leader through personal discipline, through ‘reverent submission’…Jesus never invites us to do something he has not done for us first…He doesn’t ask us to love unlovely people without having first loved us in our unlovely state. He does not ask us to serve others without having first served us” (3).

“God has called us into being and is preparing us for a purpose” (3). God is in fact calling us to a purpose but the process is not guaranteed to be an easy one. “The hardships and struggles we endure during the transformation process will eventually provide us the strength we will need to accomplish the tasks our transformed nature will require” (4).

The last point Boa mentions is mentoring is mandatory. “Leadership development should be an ongoing process in our own lives as well as in the lives of those we seek to prepare. We should have multiple mentoring relationships” (5). These relationships consist of the one being mentored, to also reach out and teacher someone else. In these mentoring relationships, the one being mentored will be able to learn from one-on-one contact and experience. This is what Jesus did for his disciples. He took them with him and showed them how to be great leaders.

This article was different than what I thought it would be. This article did not give a list of things one should do. The article instead, calls for the reader to examine one’s self to determine if you are first being mentored and then are you mentoring someone else. It also encourages one to count the cost of leadership. It is not an easy path to take, but all the things one faces are to better them.

The second web site, www.biblebb.com, has an article written by Dr. John F. MacArthur Jr. The article, The Call to Church Leadership, calls for the leader to first be sure of their calling. MacArthur states, “leadership is not won by promotion, but by many prayers and tears. It is attained by confessions of sin, and much heart-searching and humbling before God; by self-surrender, a courageous sacrifice of every idol, a bold deathless, uncompromising and uncomplaining embracing of the cross, and by an eternal, unfaltering look unto Jesus crucified” (1).

MacArthur’s purpose is to help the leader understand the importance of being sure of their call. He states “A man must sense the calling of God as a consuming desire in his heart. He is not fit for ministry if he hasn’t sensed the call or if sin in his life is muffling the call” (2). The desire of the leader has to be the work and not the title or the perceived benefits of the position. Leadership training may help one to be a better leader in application of processes, but it cannot replace the dedication or desire within the heart of the leader. That desire to do the work has to come from God. This is the only desire that will enable a leader to stand in the difficult times.

MacArthur states, “The pastor must understand the responsibility of ruling, preaching, teaching, caring for, loving, and building up leadership in the church. He must set a pattern by example” (3). Boa also states this in his article.

MacArthur states, “the office of church leadership—specifically a pastor or a elder—is limited to men…Although women such as Deborah and Miriam occasionally spoke for God, none of them had an ongoing prophetic ministry” (2). While I agree with several of the points MacArthur states in his article, on this one I disagree.

When I looked up women in the Bible I found several interesting entries. In Exodus 15:20, Miriam is named a Prophetess. The amount of times she spoke does not determine her use unto God. How often one speaks for God is not what determines they are called for the mission. Romans 16:1-2 mentions Phoebe, a servant (and some versions say deaconess) of God. Luke 2:37 writes about the unknown woman that preached in the temple. The fact that her name is not listed, does not remove the fact that she was important enough to list in scripture so that her deeds were forever known. The woman at the well that has been preached about and taught about became one of the first evangelists as she eagerly went to tell others about Jesus (John 4:29).

I included the information regarding women for this purpose; God wants all his children; men and women to prepare themselves for his service. Everyone will not be called to be a Pastor or a minister, but even if you are working with the nursery or the Sunday school children, these same skills apply. You must count the cost of doing the work of God with a cheerful heart. It is important to seek wisdom from those that have gone before you and to impart wisdom to those that come behind you.

Work cited

Boa, Kenneth, Th.M.; Ph.D. Leadership Development. 2005. 4 April 2006. http://www.Bible.org.

MacArthur, John F., Dr. The Call to Church Leadership. 1986. 4 April 2006. http://www.biblebb.com.

Thompson, Frank Charles, D.D., PH.D. The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, 5th ed. Indianapolis, IN: B. B. Kirkbridge Bible Co., Inc., 1988.

The Week in Review

Book Review – Radically Unchurched (part 3)

Personal Reflections

As I have reflected on this book along with the other information from this class, I have sought to find ways that I can improve my personal evangelizing. Along with many of the students from this class, fear was one of the barriers that kept me immobilized. As I have read the material from this class the first step that I plan to take is one of prayer. I need to continue to pray for God’s direction and help as I seek to do his will. I have often found myself freezing up when faced with opportunities to present the gospel to individuals. This course has helped me to see that I have not been alone in how I felt. This has been an encouragement to know that what I am facing is something that I can overcome. The material has helped me to understand the rejection I once ran from is not a rejection of me. An individual not accepting what I share does not mean I am not a success. Success is being willing to present the gospel message and leaving the results to God.

My current situation requires me to think creatively about how to reach others. I spend majority of my day indoors. I work from home as well as take my classes on line. This challenge has not been a discouragement but something that has excited me because of the new ways I believe the Lord is showing me to reach out to others. Some of the sites we looked at had tracts that could be used on line or sent through the mail. I will look into either using those or writing my own. One of the sites had a downloadable presentation that could be added to a website.

I added this presentation to my blog and have had some interest about the information featured. My website, http://home.comcast.net/~inhisword/site/, Williams Innovative Network (W.I.N) was originally started because I had a desire to touch the lives of people that were at work that might not be able to study the Bible as much but had a desire to read something that would encourage them through the day. I created two other blogs where I share the word of God. One of the sites is http://www.tri-productions.blogspot.com/ and is called Tri-Productions. The other site is for youth, http://gemsofjewel.blogspot.com/ and is called Fearfully and Wonderfully Made. I added the downloadable presentation of the gospel to this blog.

The class has also helped me to be more attentive to the concerns of others. Several of the former youth I was a youth leader over are in college and complain they cannot find churches to attend. While I cannot plant a church in those areas, I am praying about something God showed me just recently. I call it, “C.O.M.E.” It means College Online Ministry and Encouragement. I plan to send a link to each of my college students every Sunday with a message/study either through youtube or using the upload capabilities within the blogger account I have. I will give them the scripture and a brief background in the written area and then they can click on the link to watch the message. I am currently asking youth ministers to help my by allowing me to record them giving a message to upload. Several are excited about the opportunity to reach our youth in this way.

I do not expect this to replace church, but I do see it being a tool that can be used two ways. The first way is to help the college student have access to sound teaching when they are not able to catch the shuttles or get to the churches that are often a distance from the campuses. Secondly, I will ask the youth to participate in evangelizing their college roommates or friends. I plan to ask them to share the message with others around them. I have not worked all the details out, however I am in prayer now for God to show me how to complete this task. I believe this became a burden upon my heart in part because of the reading I have had in this class as well as in my class on missions. I was also excited after reading Reid’s statement that spiritual revival often started with our youth. This helped me see that what I desire to do is something that could make a difference. I will be working with three Christian teens this summer to prepare the look and feel of the site. I plan to record these youth before they go back to college to use their messages as the first presented when we go live.

I plan to incorporate evangelism in my teaching. I was recently appointed as the teacher for the New Membership class. I have been given the freedom to create the curriculum, as I feel led. One thing that I believe was missing in the current curriculum was evangelism. I believe if this is taught initially it will be something new members will be more comfortable doing. I have taken ideas if not the actual plans from all the material we have used. I liked the scripture memorization and I believe this would be something helpful. I plan on making scripture cards for each of the new members. They will be printed on card stock and can easily fit in ones pocket or purse. I believe from this class the overarching message has been to make sure the gospel message has been given clearly. I plan to make sure I present the gospel message clearly to the class so they will be able to do the same.

Finally, I am asking God to use all of my talents and gifts to witness as effectively as I can. I believe he is doing this, as with the creation of the on line messages for the college students. I am excited about being able to share the message of Christ with others. I walk away from this class with a greater desire for a change. The first change I asked God to do was to change me. If there is anything inside of me that is hindering me from doing as he commands, then I seek him to release me from that. Then I seek to be a change agent. I seek God to use me to love people so they can see Christ in me. I want to invade this world for Christ. I seek to live an incarnational life even greater than before. I will also seek more ways of living out servanthood evangelism. I will seek ways of touching people in tangible ways that might open up an avenue to present the gospel. I desire to be a radically changed person touching the lives of the radically unchurched and making an impact for the kingdom.

The Words of Encouragement

"When my life was ebbing away,I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD." - Jonah 2:7-9

If not for your grace. Salvation comes from God. I was listening to a song this morning by Israel and New Breed, titled If not for your grace and I began to think about what that means.

This scripture today is from the prophet Jonah. We know that Jonah was given an assignment from God that he did not want to do so he ran. But in his running from the work of God, he was also running into a dark situation (we find him in the belly of the fish).

Jonah gives this message after he has been rescued by God from his "grave-like" situation. Jonah said when his life was wasting away he thought about God and called to him. When you and I are in some grave like situations we must remember to call on God and know he will come to our rescue. He remembers in the rejoicing about God's goodness that those that hold to false idols lose the grace of God, that grace which saves us from our situation, our circumstances and even ourselves!

He is encouraged that he will keep every vow he has given to God after God came to his rescue. You and I should be thankful for the grace of God that releases us from our grave-like (death) situations. We should be thankful for the grace of God that saves us from sin, but also from the pits that are before us. This grace of God restores, redeems, and releases us. It releases us to worship, to serve so we can keep every vow we have given to the Lord.

So today, think this thought, were would you be without God's grace? I hope you listen today to the song "if not for your grace" on the video's listed on the side of the blog. And when you listen think about the grace of God that saves us.

I pray today that you would set someone free. Someone is in a grave like situation (even if it because of their own doing). Let your grace, God release someone from bondage and set them free; from death to life. We thank you today for your grace.

The Week in Review

Book Review – Radically Unchurched (part 2)

Evaluation

Alvin Reid achieves his intended purpose of showing the state of the church in how she responds to the unchurched. While part of the purpose was to show what churches lack, the main point was to show her how to turn this situation around. Reid makes some basic assumptions regarding the behavior of the church and the culture. He indicates that the church evades the culture (p. 37). He confirms that the Bible does tell believers to be separated from worldliness, however he also admonishes his readers that Jesus’ command is for believers to impact the culture with the gospel (p. 37). Per Reid, the church cannot maintain a stance that evades the culture.

Reid argues that the church tries to pervade the culture. He presents that these are the ones who do battle and seek to overpower the culture by might. He argues the battle is not between unchurched and churched people but between the forces of God and the forces of the Devil (p. 38). Reid’s conclusion is this cannot be a way that the church tries to reach the unchurched. Finally he presents the church as trying to invade the world. This method is one that Reid believes is best because it represents Jesus who invaded the world through his incarnation (p. 39). Reid’s conclusion is that in order for the church to penetrate the culture of the radically unchurched, it must be the power of God at work. It will be more than a change in perspective or desire for the church to invade the culture. It will take the church radically abandoning herself to God (p. 40).

Reid presents as evidence of his stand that a changed life can make a difference in the unchurched culture. He shares several stories about people who stood for what is right and based on that decision, later became some of the greatest influences in the lives of others; one of those was Christ (pp. 56-57). The purpose of these stories was to show how significant one person could be in the lives of people. Reid also illustrates that it will not be the one individual that changes the world, but the entire body, the church. This he says is how the world and the culture will be changed; when the individuals of the church bond together and work as the body should.

I cannot find anything in this book that I disagreed with. In fact, it is refreshing to see Reid’s candor and straightforward approach in his book. He outlines some of the problems that the unchurched have with Christians. One area in particular is the rudeness of believers. For example, he states we make a joyful noise at church but we are rude to servers in restaurants (p. 69).

One section that was interesting was how he explained the post-modern world and its effect on individual’s views. His overarching theme in this section was that the church cannot continue to “do” church the same way if she desires to reach the unchurched (p. 85). Reid posits with this information that revival throughout history has generally started with the young. This was a new learning for me. I believe Reid’s purpose for distributing this information is to awaken the church to involving the young people in the direction of the church. The old thought of the youth as the “church of tomorrow” has to be replaced with the thought that the youth are the “church of today” if any changes are to occur. Reid states that an effective foundation must be laid for the youth that includes teaching them to pray, to study the Bible, to witness, sharing in corporate worship and finally raising the bar for our youth (pp. 103-104). Reid’s plan for reaching the unchurched is done through a clear message, the giving of our testimonies and narratives, worship that draws unbelievers into an encounter with God, employing creative ways to communicate Christ and finally intentionally planting new churches that have the goal of reaching the unchurched (p. 107).

Reid’s book is one that a pastor or minister should read to have a better understanding of what the unchurched culture looks like. This book can be helpful to a leader as he or she prepares to develop ministries and outreaching tools. This book can also be helpful for Christian Education leaders. Reid’s continual admonishment is for the church to be more involved in evangelism. This book can help a church prepare its teachers first so they can be equipped to incorporate evangelism teaching into their curriculum. This book would also be useful for the average believer that is interested in keeping current on the affairs of the culture and ways to penetrate the world for Christ.

This book contributed to my understanding of the subject by showing me how the church must hold to the unchanging truth while being flexible to change those things that keep the unchurched from seeing the relevance of the church. Reid was clear in his presentation of the church’s need to utilize the New Testament pattern to be effective in a culture that sees the church as out dated and irrelevant. Armed with this information, any church can make radical steps to reach the radically unchurched.

(Come back next week for part 3, my reflection)

The Week in Review

Essay #4 – 1 Corinthians 8:7-13

Paul is speaking to the people regarding purchasing meats that had been used in the worshipping of idols. The heathens would make a feast of the sacrifices (the meat) they had offered and they would invite their friends to partake in this event. What was left belonged to the priest who sometimes sold the meat in the markets (1 Corinthians 10:25).

Paul first addresses that some have the understanding that no idol is above God, but this knowledge is not enough. Instead Paul is asking his audience to understand that love is where the decision process should begin and not simply from what one knows (or thinks they understand). Some understood that food sacrificed to idols would not stop them from having closeness with God. Paul reminds them that everyone does not understand this fact. Some were still accustomed to idols and when they ate such food their conscience was weak and they felt they were defiled.

Paul also states that if you eat food sacrificed to idols, you are no better than those that do not eat. Yet he gives a warning to those that feel free to do so. Paul warns to be careful as you exercise your freedoms. If one’s freedom causes another to stumble, then one is to rethink the freedom they exercise. If a brother or sister is weakened by the things one does, then Paul reminds them it is sin against Christ if they continue to do even that which they have the freedom to do.

Paul was talking about meat but it can also be applied to other areas of our lives in our day and time. The requirement Paul was setting before the people was to do things from the love of God and one another and not simply because of ones understanding on a matter. In verse 1, Paul says knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. When ones actions are based on the love for another, then one will be willing to give up the liberties for the sake of the others faith.

I have an example of this application for our times today. I teach Sunday school class for teenage girls. Several Church organizations were hosting events at a local Black Muslim restaurant. I refused to go and several people did not understand nor appreciate that I would not be involved. I had to explain to them I could not participate in good conscience. I knew I could eat the food and not be swayed to worship the religious beliefs, yet I knew that these young girls were looking at me as an example. If I would go to eat at this place, I could possibly be setting them up to be confused. They could have begun to feel that because I was eating at this place, I was giving my approval of everything about their way of life.

I later found out this was in fact the belief of some of my students. One of my students was confused about why the believers were going and thought it was okay to listen to the things they taught. I then took the student to this scripture and let them know that is why I refused to go, not because I could not, but I did not want to be the reason for anyone’s confusion or stumbling. I did not want to be the cause of another losing their place in God. I did not want to knowingly cause someone hardship. If one loves God then that is the place where one’s actions regarding others will come from. My love for my student’s welfare was more important that my freedom to go and eat.

Paul calls this behavior a sin against Christ. If we looked closer to our actions and realized that when we become what causes another to stumble, I believe we may look at our freedoms differently.

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. - Mark 10:46

I heard a message some time ago preached about blind Bartimaeus. As the pastor was preaching, he ask the question, "How did he (Bartimaeus) get to Jesus? Well my mind being as it is, I began to think. Yes how did he get to Jesus? He was blind, so he could not see him. So how did he make it through the crowd to come to the place were Jesus stood? As I read the scripture again. He cried out again and again to be heard. (verse 49) Jesus hearing him, he stood still and Jesus SAID for him to be called forward. He did not come forward because he was relying on his own ability. He had to rely on Jesus.

The message I got from this was we can not rely on what we see to get to the Lord. For we walk by faith and not by sight. I believe he followed the direction of Jesus' voice. He turned in the direction of the call. His ears were pricked. Are our spiritual ears being pricked? Are we hearing the Lord calling us and are we turning in the direction of the Lord inspite of the obstacles before us. And when we turn toward the Lord, we can receive the blessings of the Lord.

Just as Bartimaeus was in darkness, we can also be in darkness. Darkness or void of light. Bartimaeus was with out the light of the sun, we can be without the Light of the Son. Bartimaeus needed to have Jesus (who is the light) come to disperse his darkness of sight. We need to be filled with the Light of Christ to disperse our darkness of sin.

It was only Christ that Bartimaeus needed, and we need Christ and Christ alone. We should seek God to rid our lives of any darkness that would hinder us from walking with spiritual eye sight. The other thing that stood out for me was this, when Bartimaeus called and called to Jesus, the Bible says he (Jesus) STOOD STILL. Bartimaeus through his seeking, his calling got Jesus' attention. Are we through our praying without ceasing, our fasting, our seeking, getting God's attention? For it is then that we can come closer (be called forward) to God's plan for our lives. So as we start this week, let us remember to continue to call out to the Lord. When others would try to stop you, or tell you as they did with Bartimaeus to cease, don't give up. Continue to put God in front of every single thing you do. And in your seeking the Lord this week, ask Him to remove any darkness that keeps you from seeing with clear spiritual vision. For we (God's people) are lost when we have no vision. For with out the spiritual sight to see, we are just the blind leading the blind. God bless you and keep you,Praying for our ability to discern through God's eyes.

The Week in Review

Book Review: Radically Unchurched (part 1)

Bibliographical Entry

Reid, Alvin L. Radically Unchurched. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2002.

Author Information

Alvin L. Reid holds a Ph.D and M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Reid is a professor of evangelism and the Bailey Smith Chair of Evangelism at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Alvin Reid has authored seven books, which include Light the Fire, Introduction to Evangelism, and Evangelism for a Changing World. More information about Alvin Reid can be obtained from his website, http://www.alvinreid.com/ (book cover).

Content Summary

Alvin L. Reid the author of the book, Radically Unchurched, wrote this because he felt the church today has failed to penetrate the hardcore, unchurched culture. Reid presents the problem in the first half of this book. The later portion of the book is dedicated to giving practical ways of reaching the unchurched. He tells you what the issues are and then he gives you some ways of solving those problems.

Reid presents a story in the beginning of his book that depicts a young man named Bill that is newly saved but does not look like one of the traditional members of the church. In this story he shares how this young man came and sat down on the floor in the front of the church because there were no seats left. The normal response would have been for him to be asked to get up or leave; yet Reid tells of how an elder within the church came and sat down next to this young man. Reid presents this story to set the tone of his book. He believes that America has lost her sense of compassion for the radically unchurched or the new believers that look like Bill. For this reason, he states we seldom find them in the church. Reid posits that the church is more a hotel for saints instead of a hospital for sinners (p. 20).

Reid explains the radically unchurched as individuals that have no clear personal understanding of the message of the gospel and who have had little or no contact with Bible teaching (p. 21). Sadly Reid presents a statistic that each year between six thousand to eight thousand Southern Baptist churches report they have not baptized any new converts (p. 23). Reid believes this condition calls for the nation to have a day of fasting, praying and public humiliation before the Lord.

One of the problems listed by Reid is that the church is using old terminology of fifty years ago and people are increasingly unfamiliar with religious words, symbols, or rituals (p. 24). Another problem that Reid lists regarding the unchurched is the stereotypes or myths associated with this group. For example, myth #9 states the unchurched are only concerned about their own needs. One suggestion that Reid gives is one should never assume that any person who falls within the unchurched group is uninterested in the gospel (p. 27). This leads to some of the reasons why believers do not reach out to the unchurched.

Reid argues that some churches try to evade the culture. This is not the way to reach the lost. The church cannot evade (runaway from) or pervade (over power) the unchurched. In fact, the only way the church can make an impact is to invade (penetrate) the lost and present an incarnational life (pp. 37-40).

Reid asserts that the gospel is what is needed to penetrate the unchurched culture. The best way to get rid of darkness, he states is to turn on the light (p. 43). It will be the work of the Holy Spirit that will create this work. He posits in this book that sound doctrinal foundations must be laid first and then the church must build from there. Church planting is one way he suggests to present a place for the unchurched to be able to fellowship as new believers. Traditional churches virtually never reach out to this culture and Reid suggests some new methods need to be established (p. 179). He gives tools regarding how to share one’s testimony and the responsibility of building relationships with the unchurched. Reid’s book like many of the other books regarding evangelism focuses on love being a key factor in reaching the unchurched.

(Come back next week for the second installment of this book review)

The Week in Review

Teaching model of Jesus

Jesus did not allow cultural differences to stand in his way of teaching the important things about the Word of God. Jesus spoke to the woman at the well when this was something not done in his time. This woman had two things against her. She was a woman and she was a Samaritan. The Jews hated the Samaritan people, yet Jesus took the time to offer her an opportunity to hear the things about God. Jesus also used things that the individual would be familiar with and taught lessons using those items. For the woman at the well it was the water. For Nicodemus it was the snake being raised up. He taught that just as they had to look up to live, that all must look up to Jesus to be saved. Jesus also used stories that the people could relate to. He used the everyday things, to teach the deeper things of God. Jesus cared for the individual. Even though he healed the many, he would take the time to interact with individuals one on one.

As a teacher, we must be willing to interact with our students one-on-one to reach them where they are. Jesus taught by example. He was first an example to his disciples before he sent them out into the world. He told them to pray, and then he showed them how it was done. We as teachers cannot expect our students to simply go with what we are saying if it does not line up with what we are doing. We have to be doers of the word first. Jesus asked questions to those around him to make them think. Jesus taught others by asking them questions that made them think about the answers. He also allowed for them to have questions. When the women at the well and Nicodemus asked questions, Jesus took the time to answer those questions. As teachers, we must be willing to answer the questions that come from our students. We must not get upset because they need to ask them as if this is wrong. We should welcome it because as they ask questions it allows them to think more about the information as well as open up new questions to be discovered.
Jesus left the Holy Spirit to guide us in all truth. The Holy Spirit assists us in our walk. Without the Spirit, we cannot grow to be what we need to be. The Holy Spirit is not a by-product or a last result. He is the one that will empower us to learn and to teach. The Holy Spirit equips us to understand the things of God and to be able to teach them to others. Without the Holy Spirit guiding us in our understanding of the Word, we would not be able to teach. The Holy Spirit is important to the learning process. If the Holy Spirit does not work within our hearts, we will not be able to grasp the things of God. So to be an effective teacher, we must pray and open ourselves to knowledge, wisdom and power that is given by God through the Spirit. Yet we cannot forget that no amount of prayer will cover us not being prepared. We therefore have to be a student first under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit and then a teacher empowered by the Spirit.

Words of Encouragement

The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright; With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt show thyself froward. For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks. For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. Psalm 18:20-30

As believers in Christ, we have some days were we feel low in our spirits or we are feeling defeated. And there are times when we feel our situations are getting the best of us or that we just can't go on. There are times when the enemy is beating you up and you really feel like you are going to lose this battle. That's the time when God's word is there to encourage us and to give us the strength that we need to keep going.

This scripture reminds me that yes, even as I continue to do all that God would have me to do, that I can still feel burdened. But since I am being obedient to God, He will uphold me. God will care for the afflictions of His people. God will light your candle, so that your darkness will be illuminated.

Think about coming into a dark room. You can't see anything, and you don't know where to go, to keep from getting hurt by running into furniture or obstacles in the path. When you turn on the light, or light a candle, you are able to see better the situation before you. That's how God is to His people. He will guide you and He will never leave you alone. He will help you to see clearly what's ahead of you, so that you can side step the pitfalls.

So how do we take advantage of these promises? We have to do as the Psalmist said, we must make sure that we are keeping God's ways. We must not depart from Him to do wickedness. We have the assurance that God's word is tried, it is true. His world will never end, and it will never let us down. He is more than able to handle whatever the situation is.

Family situations, work situations, physical situations. What ever you are facing, God is able to keep you and bring you through the situation. Just as He brought the Psalmist through the troop, He can bring you through the battle. And He can bring you over the wall to safety.

So I'm praying today for our encouragement, joy and peace in the Lord.

The Week in Review

Opposing Viewpoints
Jewel D. Williams

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1 Peter 3:15). This is what Josh McDowell does when asked questions regarding God. The question, “Why Does God allow evil to exist?” is one such opportunity for Josh to give an answer of the hope he has inside.

Josh McDowell states that the question regarding evil is sometimes given in a complex question to the Christian (1). People ask if God is good, why does he allow evil? Others question God’s power and think maybe he is not powerful enough to stop wrongdoing. The scriptures however, make it plain that God is not the creator of evil. This is a result of man’s selfishness.

McDowell goes on to state that the word of God tells of God’s goodness and of his love for man (1). God created man and gave him freedom of choice. McDowell states that true love cannot exist unless it is freely given (1). When Adam and Even disobeyed God, they brought evil into the world. Nick Pollard, the writer of Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult, states it this way, “The Bible is explicit that suffering is not God’s original will for us…I believe that what the Bible says is this: Suffering has come into the world because the world and everything in it has become mucked up” (133). McDowell is also stating that the world became mucked up when man sinned. The world is now abnormal because of sin.

Although evil is in the world, it is temporary. Evil will be destroyed in God’s time. God will right every wrong and put away evil. Christians have to stand in this time for what is right. McDowell states, that believers do not condone what is wrong and stand up for the right (1). This is because God is righteous and he hates evil. When the believer identifies with Jesus he has a duty to bring truth to things that are wrong and speak out when evil is trying to overtake good.

Pollard states, “The good news of Jesus is that he provides us a complete solution to our suffering. We can’t. My appeal to people is not to put off accepting God’s solution until they have a full explanation – because they never will” (132). McDowell also states that people are still bothered that God even allows evil in the first place (1). People question the wisdom of God in giving man a choice in matters. This is when one has to realize that God’s purposes are sometimes above man’s understanding. This is the reason God tells man not to lean to his own understanding.

The Bible informs man how and why evil came about, it does not tell why God allowed it to happen. One must trust that God is all wise and all knowing and his reasons for allowing things is beyond one’s comprehension. Pollard adds this encouragement with this statement, “God doesn’t provide a complete explanation of suffering, but he does provide a complete solution for it” (131).

What is the solution God provides? Pollard gives two such solutions: an ultimate one and a meanwhile one. The ultimate solution is as mentioned by McDowell, God will conquer all evil. There will be no more suffering or evil. God is delaying the time of this for his purpose of allowing others to come to a saving relationship with him.
The other solution to suffering “in the meanwhile” states, God gives his people the strength to go through. Prayer is one tool that believers have that helps them. When one prays for others, the belief is God will answer. We do not know if he will answer now or in that ultimate time, yet we can have hope in his answer.

How can evil or suffering bring about any benefits? I believe this may also be a question on the minds of people when they ask why God allows evil. One cannot always see evil or suffering bringing anything but pain and hardship. Pollard however states differently when he tells the story of a seventeen year old that said her life was falling apart. “How could anything good ever come out of this? I was tempted to answer her question by suggesting possible ways. But that wouldn’t have been right. I could listen, but only God could answer that for her. Two days later she became a Christian, and God began that transformation process” (140).

That is the one addition that I would make to Josh McDowell’s answer. One may not understand the evil and suffering that goes on in the world, but God does. He did not create it, but he is allowing it until the time he has appointed to bring it to an end. In the meantime, in his wisdom he is using it to draw people. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). One may not understand how God does it, but if an individual puts their trust in God, he is able to keep them. Suffering and evil will not disappear, but God is sufficient through it. There are times when suffering or evil happens in the world and draws one to question, God are you there? It is in those times that if one allows, God can use that time of suffering or evil, to show himself real to the seeker.

The Week in Review

A Preaching Plan –
What are the Benefits?

It was discussed that the preacher needs to have disciplines in his or her life. One discipline that can be beneficial to the preacher is having a preaching plan. What is a preaching plan and what are the benefits? The author, Donald E. Demaray (2006) in the book, Introduction to Homiletics gives the benefits as well as what a preaching plan entails.

A preaching plan is basically the preacher mapping out what he will preach for a given amount of time. The plan may be three months or what works best for the minister, thus saving him time. However, Demaray says that it does much more when he states, “But mapping a preaching program does more: It relieves the mind of the burden – a big burden – of deciding on text and theme every week.” (p. 86). The first benefit of a preaching plan is to help the minister to be a better steward of her time. If she is preparing a preaching program she not only saves time but also the stress of trying to find the many themes needed each week.

The second benefit of a preaching program is that it becomes a guide to the parishioners. Demaray adds his insight on this one point when he states:
“Preaching through a book of the Bible, or part of a book, feeds both pastor and people with food prepared by a special chef – Paul in the case of Ephesians, Luke in Acts, John in 1 John, etc., each coming up with their own recipes” (p. 87)

The preacher or pastor that uses the preaching program is able to plan a well-rounded meal for his parishioners. He is able to plan messages around a theme or what he feels is needed for the people. This way the people are able to eat the meal as Demaray states.

Presenting to the church a balance of the scriptures helps to prevent the body of believers from becoming prey to cults because of lack of teaching.
“A preaching diet accounts in no small measure for communicating truth or error, moral integrity or laissez faire behavior, spiritual health or inadequate health maintenance. God’s people receive thorough grounding and nurture if they hear the full scope of Bible truth. Programmed preaching helps the pastor set an adequate table Sunday after Sunday. Do you suppose cults come on the scene in part because preachers ignore certain Bible teachings?” (Demaray, p. 87-88)

In summary, the preaching plan or program helps the pastor to prepare what he will present to his congregation. In doing so, he is able to save time as well as ensure that a balanced program is presented to the people. One benefit is people are helped, encouraged and fed a complete “diet” as well as a pastor that is strengthened as well. The example of being fed is a good analogy. If a mother were to plan a meal for her family, she would not serve the same foods for seven days. She would balance the meal out between different foods. She would do this to make sure her family has received the nutrients they need and can only receive from different foods. She would do this also to help keep her family interested in what is being presented to them. This is what the preacher does when he prepares his preaching program. The preacher is presenting to his family a different meal at each sitting so they will receive the nutrients they need that will come from the different dishes presented to them. This is how the preacher protects and cares for the family. He uses the tools available to keep the family safe.