This will take years of practice but here are some practical steps you can take in order to get the process started.
I am writing this from experience and some years ago could fit into most if not all of these descriptions. This is a deadly disease and it creeps up frequently disguised as religious behavior.
We walk a fine line or as Dr. Howell at C.I.U. would say in constant tension as we apply the Scripture. Of course we need to be truth and grace but how frequently do we move to one extreme or the other. So where this is a blog on steps to legalism maybe down the road I will write one on liberalism or easy believism. But without further ado...
1. Stay totally away from the local church
2. Get isolated from others except close family and do nothing but study
3. Always demand either orally or silently that you are right no matter what you say or do.
4. Learn to be critical of everyone else and their puny theological takes on the Scripture
5. Tell others that church history for 2000 years is virtually unimportant and you have some new and very unique takes on God's word
6. Talk about yourself at every opportunity, your favorite word is "I"
7. Write letters to constantly correct leadership in the church in order to get those dummies back on track, remember you are right!
8. Never submit to anyone, especially pastors or elders even if it is Biblical
9. Constantly talk about those around you in a way that is condescending and negative
10. Learn the best way to twist Scripture so that when you are confronted with sin you can justify it in your own mind
11. Tell others to read the Bible and do it, even if you don't. (For example: no church attendance, no small group, no submission to leadership, no humility, no repentance, no church discipline)
12. Make fun of others that go to seminary, because of their lack of discipline to learn it all on their own.
13. If you find that much of your theology is bad, wrong and dangerous call every one else a heretic!
14. Intimidate all those in your family, business or sphere of influence in order to always be in control
15. Pretend to repent if others confront your sin but never allow them to hold you accountable. Because in your heart you know you are right.
16. Make a list of all the places you used to go to church and then rationalize how they were wrong.
17. If you can teach, tell people how much you have studied, give lots of research in order to impress, and tell them they can use none of your materials!
18. Find one or two people that you can constantly put down in order to bring yourself up
19. Never ask family members if they see your main problem as one of legalism, because they might get brave and tell you what they really think
20. Be comforted with this constant and ongoing thought "I'm always right."
Friday, October 31, 2008
Bush Resignation Speech
The following 'speech' was written recently by an ordinary Maine-iac [a resident of the People's Republic of Maine]. While satirical in nature, all satire must have a basis in fact to be effective. This is an excellent piece by a person who does not write for a living.The speech George W. Bush might give:
Normally, I start these things out by saying 'My Fellow Americans.' Not doing it this time. If the polls are any indication, I don't know who more than half of you are anymore. I do know something terrible has happened, and that you're really not fellow Americans any longer.
I'll cut right to the chase here: I quit. Now before anyone gets all in a lather about me quitting to avoid impeachment, or to avoid prosecution or something, let me assure you: There's been no breaking of laws or impeachable offenses in this office.
The reason I'm quitting is simple. I'm fed up with you people. I'm fed up because you have no understanding of what's really going on in the world. Or of what's going on in this once-great nation of ours. And the majority of you are too damned lazy to do your homework and figure it out.
Let's start local. You've been sold a bill of goods by politicians and the news media.
Meanwhile, all you can do is whine about gas prices, and most of you are too damn stupid to realize that gas prices are high because there's increased demand in other parts of the world, and because a small handful of noisy idiots are more worried about polar bears and beachfront property than your economic security.We face real threats in the world. Don't give me this 'blood for oil' thing. If I were trading blood for oil I would've already seized Iraq 's oil fields and let the rest of the country go to hell. And don't give me this 'Bush Lied...People Died' crap either. If I were the liar you morons take me for, I could've easily had chemical weapons planted in Iraq so they could be 'discovered.' Instead, I owned up to the fact that the intelligence was faulty.
Let me remind you that the rest of the world thought Saddam had the goods, same as me. Let me also remind you that regime change in Iraq was official US policy before I came into office. Some guy named ' Clinton ' established that policy. Bet you didn't know tha t, did you?
Now some of you morons want to be led by a junior senator with no understanding of foreign policy or economics, and this nitwit says we should attack Pakistan , a nuclear ally. And then he wants to go to Iran and make peace with a terrorist who says he's going to destroy us. While he's doing that, he wants to give Iraq to al Qaeda, Afghanistan to the Taliban, Israel to the Palestinians, and your money to the IRS so the government can give welfare to illegal aliens, who he will make into citizens, so they can vote to re-elect him. He also thinks it's okay for Iran to have nuclear weapons, and we should stop our foreign aid to Israel. Did you sleep through high school?You idiots need to understand that we face a unique enemy. Back during the cold war, there were two major competing political and economic models squaring off. We won that war, but we did so because fundamentally, the Communists wanted to survive, just as we do. We were simply able to out spend and out-tech them.
That's not the case this time. The soldiers of our new enemy don't care if they survive. In fact, they want to die. That'd be fine, as long as they weren't also committed to taking as many of you with them as they can. But they are. They want to kill you, and the bastards are all over the globe.
You should be grateful that they haven't gotten any more of us here in the United States since September 11. But you're not. That's because you've got no idea how hard a small number of intelligence, military, law enforcement, and homeland security people have worked to make sure of that. When this whole mess started, I warned you that this would be a long and difficult fight. I'm disappointed how many of you people think a long and difficult fight amounts to a single season of 'Survivor.'Instead, you've grown impatient. You're incapable of seeing things through the long lens of history, the way our enemies do. You think that wars should last a few months, a few years, tops.
Making matters worse, you actively support those who help the enemy Every time you buy the New York Times, every time you send a donation to a cut-and-run Democrat's political campaign, well, dang it, you might just as well Fed Ex a grenade launcher to a Jihadist. It amounts to the same thing.
In this day and age, it's easy enough to find the truth. It's all over the Internet. It just isn't on the pages of the New York Times, USA Today, or on NBC News. But even if it were, I doubt you'd be any smarter. Most of you would rather watch American Idol or Dancing with Stars.
I could say more about your expectations that the government will always be there to bail you out, even if you're too stupid to leave a city that's bel ow sea level and has a hurricane approaching.I could say more about your insane belief that government, not your own wallet, is where the money comes from. But I've come to the conclusion that were I to do so, it would sail right over your heads.
So I quit. I'm going back to Crawford. I've got an energy-efficient house down there (Al Gore could only dream) and the capability to be fully self-sufficient for years. No one ever heard of Crawford before I got elected, and as soon as I'm done here pretty much no one will ever hear of it again. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to die of old age before the last pillars of America fall.
Oh, and by the way, Cheney's quitting too. That means Pelosi is your new President. You asked for it. Watch what she does carefully, because I still have a glimmer of hope that there are just enough of you remaining who are smart enough to turn this thing around in 2008.
So that's it. God bless what's left of America.
Some of you know what I mean. The rest of you, kiss off.
PS - You might want to start learning Farsi, and buy a Koran.
Election Day or Judgment Day?
I have spent some time thinking about election day next Tuesday. But as I ponder many of the things that occupy my mind the one thing that most occupies it is the judgment day. Election days will come and go but at the judgment day all things become final.
Jesus Christ, God incarnate did come to planet earth, was born of a virgin, was fully God and fully man, lived a perfect life and was sinless, died on a cross was buried and on the third day and He really rose from the dead. I thankfully have cast myself on the mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and have received Him as LORD and savior of my life. There was nothing in me deserving of nor meriting my salvation. Since it was nothing I did but everything that He did there is no way I can boast. How can I boast about a gift that was freely given and also knowing that I had nothing to offer. If someone were to ask me how do I know these truths it would be based on God's word which I have learned through much study and research is:
1. Inspired
2. Infallible
3. Inerrant
Even if I had not done the research these things about the Bible remain true, whether I believe them to be or not. I have used the example before in training about gravity. You can go to the top of the Sears building in Chicago and say all day long that you don't believe in gravity. But as soon as you jump, your wrong and incorrect belief system will yield to a natural law that will overcome your belief system.
Election day is about who will be our President for the next 4 years but at the judgment day we will have our eternal destinies either secured in heaven or in hell.
I have heard that C.S. Lewis would argue this way with his non-believing friends and family members. He would say something to this effect "Let's say you are right and there are many ways to heaven and no hell at all. Then my believing in Christ this way will still result in me reaching the same destination for eternity. However if I am right in this regard in which Jesus says in "I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me" and you are wrong then you will spend an eternity away from God in hell. C.S. Lewis was arguing a protect yourself from a worst case scenario. If you don't believe in Christ then hell is the non-believers only alternative, and that is worst case.
Election day is a cause for some anxiety and worry based on the candidate of choice and future implications. But judgment day is a cause for the most critical and important thinking one can ever do because your eternity is what hangs in the balance.
Romans 3:23 says this "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Your sin and my sin have offended a holy God to the decree that if not paid for will result in our everlasting punishment. Folks you could spend 50 years building hospitals in third world countries that might save millions of lives and still go to hell. Because your works will not earn your way into heaven. We need someone to pay the full price for our sins and that person is Jesus Christ. When we cast ourselves on the mercy of Christ at the cross, trust and receive Him as Lord and Savior, then He pays the penalty of our sin (past, present and future) and breaks the power of sin in our life. At the cross of Christ there is a great exchange. All of my sin is imputed to Christ and all of Christ's righteousness is imputed to me. Just think of this transaction, He doesn't deserve my sin but takes it on and absorbs it, I don't deserve any of His righteousness but He gives it to me freely. And the truth of the cross of Christ is as follows, to those who are perishing it is complete foolishness but to those who are being saved it is the power of God!
Therefore my time, effort, attention and energy will be spent by God's grace teaching and exhorting others to keep the main thing the main thing. And that is judgment day not election day!
Jesus Christ, God incarnate did come to planet earth, was born of a virgin, was fully God and fully man, lived a perfect life and was sinless, died on a cross was buried and on the third day and He really rose from the dead. I thankfully have cast myself on the mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and have received Him as LORD and savior of my life. There was nothing in me deserving of nor meriting my salvation. Since it was nothing I did but everything that He did there is no way I can boast. How can I boast about a gift that was freely given and also knowing that I had nothing to offer. If someone were to ask me how do I know these truths it would be based on God's word which I have learned through much study and research is:
1. Inspired
2. Infallible
3. Inerrant
Even if I had not done the research these things about the Bible remain true, whether I believe them to be or not. I have used the example before in training about gravity. You can go to the top of the Sears building in Chicago and say all day long that you don't believe in gravity. But as soon as you jump, your wrong and incorrect belief system will yield to a natural law that will overcome your belief system.
Election day is about who will be our President for the next 4 years but at the judgment day we will have our eternal destinies either secured in heaven or in hell.
I have heard that C.S. Lewis would argue this way with his non-believing friends and family members. He would say something to this effect "Let's say you are right and there are many ways to heaven and no hell at all. Then my believing in Christ this way will still result in me reaching the same destination for eternity. However if I am right in this regard in which Jesus says in "I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me" and you are wrong then you will spend an eternity away from God in hell. C.S. Lewis was arguing a protect yourself from a worst case scenario. If you don't believe in Christ then hell is the non-believers only alternative, and that is worst case.
Election day is a cause for some anxiety and worry based on the candidate of choice and future implications. But judgment day is a cause for the most critical and important thinking one can ever do because your eternity is what hangs in the balance.
Romans 3:23 says this "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Your sin and my sin have offended a holy God to the decree that if not paid for will result in our everlasting punishment. Folks you could spend 50 years building hospitals in third world countries that might save millions of lives and still go to hell. Because your works will not earn your way into heaven. We need someone to pay the full price for our sins and that person is Jesus Christ. When we cast ourselves on the mercy of Christ at the cross, trust and receive Him as Lord and Savior, then He pays the penalty of our sin (past, present and future) and breaks the power of sin in our life. At the cross of Christ there is a great exchange. All of my sin is imputed to Christ and all of Christ's righteousness is imputed to me. Just think of this transaction, He doesn't deserve my sin but takes it on and absorbs it, I don't deserve any of His righteousness but He gives it to me freely. And the truth of the cross of Christ is as follows, to those who are perishing it is complete foolishness but to those who are being saved it is the power of God!
Therefore my time, effort, attention and energy will be spent by God's grace teaching and exhorting others to keep the main thing the main thing. And that is judgment day not election day!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Workhorse not a Showhorse
Here is John McCain's best speech in exhorting Americans to "stand up and fight."
Free John MacArthur
From Between Two Worlds blog site:There's some great news coming from Grace to You, the ministry ministry of John MacArthur.
I'm told that starting next Wednesday, November 5 (the day after the election), Grace to You will announce a new policy, effective immediately, that all of their mp3 downloads of John MacArthur's sermons will be completely free.
That's 3500 sermons for free--with no strings (like required registration) attached.
Hats off to Grace to You for this generous move!
Make sure to visit the site next Wednesday.
False Prophets and the last days
In the disciples ask Jesus this question; what will be the sign of your coming at the end of the age? And Jesus answers and says "Be sure that no one misleads you." In other words as the last days draw to a close so will the false teachers increase and mislead people.
Here are two false prophets based on what they say as opposed to what the Scriptures say.
Both of them are well known and sell books, tapes and all sorts of material but it isn't Biblical. Beware of Paula White and Larry Huck and here is some video evidence that supports the warning!
Now read what the Bible says about Jesus being the only begotten Son of God:
¶ And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
¶ “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
Folks, always check what is being preached or taught against the plumb line of God's word.
Here are two false prophets based on what they say as opposed to what the Scriptures say.
Both of them are well known and sell books, tapes and all sorts of material but it isn't Biblical. Beware of Paula White and Larry Huck and here is some video evidence that supports the warning!
Now read what the Bible says about Jesus being the only begotten Son of God:
¶ And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
¶ “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
Folks, always check what is being preached or taught against the plumb line of God's word.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Connecting the Seeker-Friendly Dots
Granger Community Church (6th most influential church in America) where the following statistics have been revealed by senior pastor Mark Beeson.
Granger’s own qualitative study revealed that:
47% of those attending Granger DO NOT believe in salvation by grace.
57% of those attending Granger DO NOT believe in the authority of the Bible.
56% of those attending Granger DO NOT believe Jesus is the only way to eternal life.
Would you say this is a church or a conference center?
Folks when almost 60% of the people attending don't believe in the authority of the Bible there is a problem.
Now go to this website LINK which is Innovate 2008. And scroll down the page and look whose name and church appear:
You'll also hear from a combination of innovators outside of Granger:
▪ Steven Furtick, Elevation Church
If these statistics are true of Granger Community after 22 years then what might Elevation Church expect by doing things the same way.
If you want to have your eyes really opened about the danger of this type of ministry and why just click on this LINK.
Granger’s own qualitative study revealed that:
47% of those attending Granger DO NOT believe in salvation by grace.
57% of those attending Granger DO NOT believe in the authority of the Bible.
56% of those attending Granger DO NOT believe Jesus is the only way to eternal life.
Would you say this is a church or a conference center?
Folks when almost 60% of the people attending don't believe in the authority of the Bible there is a problem.
Now go to this website LINK which is Innovate 2008. And scroll down the page and look whose name and church appear:
You'll also hear from a combination of innovators outside of Granger:
▪ Steven Furtick, Elevation Church
If these statistics are true of Granger Community after 22 years then what might Elevation Church expect by doing things the same way.
If you want to have your eyes really opened about the danger of this type of ministry and why just click on this LINK.
Legalism
At the present Nancy and I are in ministry teaching a SS class here in the Queen City. It has been great and probably from time to time I will post some of the blog articles from that website.
I received a call from a good friend yesterday who mentioned to me great Bible teachers that seem prone to legalism. He went on to name two very well known people in Charlotte based on his personal observations. So if Larry should be reading this blog site in the near future here are a couple of articles on legalism.
Our class can be summarized as follows: “Back to the basics of the Bible in such a way that Christ is demonstrated as great and glorious in each of our lives.” However as I have taught over the years, one of the dangers of intense Bible study can be legalism. We need to be on alert constantly against this very deadly disease. And the only antibiotic that can provide the cure is the cross of Christ.
Therefore, before we continue moving forward in our survey of the Bible, I am pulling our tour bus over to the next overview stop in order to look out into the valley of legalism. As many of you know that have been with us for the last 9 weeks, I have exhorted us as a class back to the Bible. In doing so I have encouraged you with a number of tools that can help in your Bible reading, Bible devotion and Bible study. But I also know that some people have processed this information through the filter of “I need to start building a task list or to do list for my spiritual life.” One of the points this past Sunday was as Americans we are hard wired to be legalists. Should you want to hear that flushed out in more detail just refer to the audio link for October 26 or these power point slides from last Sunday.
This Sunday instead of focusing our attention on the problem we will in fact be emphasizing the cure. Now before I give you the homework assignment let me give you a pastoral heads up. The problem that existed in the first 100 years of the church and the big problem that we face now is the same. And the name of the problem is SIN! Please don’t ignore this but seek rather to understand this from the Bible. Read carefully the apostle Paul’s conclusion about the entire human race (pagan, moral man and religious man) in Romans. Remember Romans is the most thorough epistle we have on the doctrine of salvation.
Rom. 3:10 as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
Rom. 3:11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
Rom. 3:12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
Legalism is sin rooted in pride which focuses the attention on my effort and ability in order to merit or get God’s approval. But in me there is nothing good so all I can bring to God are deeds that are in fact unrighteous. I once heard a prominent theologian proclaim “ the best work you ever do in your lifetime, needs to be bathed in repentance.” When I heard it I backed the tape up and listened again. He did not say the worst thing you will ever have done but the best thing needs to be bathed in repentance. Why is that? Because our sinful nature is so utterly sinful that it even taints the most wonderful things that we do in our kingdom work. I must admit hearing that did not help my self esteem or self concept one little bit. But isn’t that the point! If I don’t admit and deal with the problem then I will never appreciate nor apply the solution. Class we are sinners in need of a savior and that savior is Christ. Did you ever see the movie “Amazing Grace?” Well, in that movie there is a conversation between Wilbur Wilberforce and John Newton. At this point Newton is old and looks to be a bit senile. But he says to Wilberforce the following statement, “one thing that I know, I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.”
The key to killing the deadly disease of legalism is the cross of Christ. It may be that legalism has never been a problem for you but what about lust, envy, jealousy, lying, anger, coveting, hating, gossiping, and I could go on but you get the idea. Romans 3:23 states “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Therefore all need the one cure for that problem that is common to every man, woman, boy and girl that has ever lived or will live except for Christ Himself.
I want you to know that this class has not been designed nor will it be taught from a “you” centered perspective. This class will be taught from a “Christ-centered” perspective. We somehow have gotten the notion today that if we market Jesus to unbelievers as the One who can fix their marriage, smooth all relationships, guarantee financial prosperity, take away all their guilt and also keep them out of hell then we are involved in kingdom building. But wanting to not go to hell is not a saving affection because I can want to avoid hell and still not want to be with, love and praise Christ. We in evangelicalism have fallen into the deadly trap of promising the blessings but leaving out the Blessor. We have guaranteed the gifts and yet at the same time diminished the Giver. Many churches today will not talk about the sinful, evil and wickedness in the heart of man that can only be solved by the blood shedding of Jesus Christ. By the grace of God I will not allow that to happen in this class. This will not be about getting your best life now, but rather it will be about how to lose your life now in order that you can save it!
Class, can I teach you this hard but very important truth? In you, apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. there is NO GOOD THING, your heart is evil and desperately wicked! The only thing you want to do is rebel, be in charge of your own life and you do not want to submit to God in any way. As a matter of fact prior to Christ you were at war with God. No, that needs to be stated the other way God was at war with you! So what could possibly allow you in your wicked and evil state to be reconciled to a holy and righteous God. It was God’s gracious gift to you of repentance and faith that turned you away from self as you cast yourself on the mercy of Christ in order to trust in Him.
So this week we look at, yes, the solution to legalism but we could say the solution to sin. You see when we started the four obstacles I listed to Bible study were as follows:
1. Motivation
2. Priority
3. Skills and Tools
4. Spiritual Condition
I could have wrapped all of these up in one word which is SIN. Because SIN will be the one thing that keeps you from the Bible whereas the Bible will be that which keeps you from SIN.
Here are the important study verses that Lord willing I am going to teach on this Sunday:
Romans 1:16
Ephesians 2:8-9
1 Corinthians 1:17-31
Galatians 6:14
Galatians 2:20
1Corinthians 2:1-2
Titus 3:3-7
Here are some words that I would like you to pay attention to as you read and meditate on these verses prior to Sunday.
Gospel
Christ-crucifed
Saved
Regeneration
Justification
Mercy
Boasting
There is only one cure for legalism and that is Christ crucified for our sins! This is not something you can
do but rather it is something that must be done for you! When we start to understand that kind of GRACE,
a GRACE that saves rebellious, evil and wicked men, women, boys and girls then we will start to be
amazed. As GRACE comes down JOY rises in the form of delight, satisfaction and a genuine treasuring of
Christ. And naturally from our satisfaction in Christ a love springs forth from our lives in the form of our
LOVE for others. And now when I perform deeds in the body of Christ they are done not out of a “DUTY”
mentality but rather from a “DELIGHT” mentality. The only cure for legalism is the cross of Christ!
I received a call from a good friend yesterday who mentioned to me great Bible teachers that seem prone to legalism. He went on to name two very well known people in Charlotte based on his personal observations. So if Larry should be reading this blog site in the near future here are a couple of articles on legalism.
Our class can be summarized as follows: “Back to the basics of the Bible in such a way that Christ is demonstrated as great and glorious in each of our lives.” However as I have taught over the years, one of the dangers of intense Bible study can be legalism. We need to be on alert constantly against this very deadly disease. And the only antibiotic that can provide the cure is the cross of Christ.
Therefore, before we continue moving forward in our survey of the Bible, I am pulling our tour bus over to the next overview stop in order to look out into the valley of legalism. As many of you know that have been with us for the last 9 weeks, I have exhorted us as a class back to the Bible. In doing so I have encouraged you with a number of tools that can help in your Bible reading, Bible devotion and Bible study. But I also know that some people have processed this information through the filter of “I need to start building a task list or to do list for my spiritual life.” One of the points this past Sunday was as Americans we are hard wired to be legalists. Should you want to hear that flushed out in more detail just refer to the audio link for October 26 or these power point slides from last Sunday.
This Sunday instead of focusing our attention on the problem we will in fact be emphasizing the cure. Now before I give you the homework assignment let me give you a pastoral heads up. The problem that existed in the first 100 years of the church and the big problem that we face now is the same. And the name of the problem is SIN! Please don’t ignore this but seek rather to understand this from the Bible. Read carefully the apostle Paul’s conclusion about the entire human race (pagan, moral man and religious man) in Romans. Remember Romans is the most thorough epistle we have on the doctrine of salvation.
Rom. 3:10 as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
Rom. 3:11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
Rom. 3:12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
Legalism is sin rooted in pride which focuses the attention on my effort and ability in order to merit or get God’s approval. But in me there is nothing good so all I can bring to God are deeds that are in fact unrighteous. I once heard a prominent theologian proclaim “ the best work you ever do in your lifetime, needs to be bathed in repentance.” When I heard it I backed the tape up and listened again. He did not say the worst thing you will ever have done but the best thing needs to be bathed in repentance. Why is that? Because our sinful nature is so utterly sinful that it even taints the most wonderful things that we do in our kingdom work. I must admit hearing that did not help my self esteem or self concept one little bit. But isn’t that the point! If I don’t admit and deal with the problem then I will never appreciate nor apply the solution. Class we are sinners in need of a savior and that savior is Christ. Did you ever see the movie “Amazing Grace?” Well, in that movie there is a conversation between Wilbur Wilberforce and John Newton. At this point Newton is old and looks to be a bit senile. But he says to Wilberforce the following statement, “one thing that I know, I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.”
The key to killing the deadly disease of legalism is the cross of Christ. It may be that legalism has never been a problem for you but what about lust, envy, jealousy, lying, anger, coveting, hating, gossiping, and I could go on but you get the idea. Romans 3:23 states “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Therefore all need the one cure for that problem that is common to every man, woman, boy and girl that has ever lived or will live except for Christ Himself.
I want you to know that this class has not been designed nor will it be taught from a “you” centered perspective. This class will be taught from a “Christ-centered” perspective. We somehow have gotten the notion today that if we market Jesus to unbelievers as the One who can fix their marriage, smooth all relationships, guarantee financial prosperity, take away all their guilt and also keep them out of hell then we are involved in kingdom building. But wanting to not go to hell is not a saving affection because I can want to avoid hell and still not want to be with, love and praise Christ. We in evangelicalism have fallen into the deadly trap of promising the blessings but leaving out the Blessor. We have guaranteed the gifts and yet at the same time diminished the Giver. Many churches today will not talk about the sinful, evil and wickedness in the heart of man that can only be solved by the blood shedding of Jesus Christ. By the grace of God I will not allow that to happen in this class. This will not be about getting your best life now, but rather it will be about how to lose your life now in order that you can save it!
Class, can I teach you this hard but very important truth? In you, apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. there is NO GOOD THING, your heart is evil and desperately wicked! The only thing you want to do is rebel, be in charge of your own life and you do not want to submit to God in any way. As a matter of fact prior to Christ you were at war with God. No, that needs to be stated the other way God was at war with you! So what could possibly allow you in your wicked and evil state to be reconciled to a holy and righteous God. It was God’s gracious gift to you of repentance and faith that turned you away from self as you cast yourself on the mercy of Christ in order to trust in Him.
So this week we look at, yes, the solution to legalism but we could say the solution to sin. You see when we started the four obstacles I listed to Bible study were as follows:
1. Motivation
2. Priority
3. Skills and Tools
4. Spiritual Condition
I could have wrapped all of these up in one word which is SIN. Because SIN will be the one thing that keeps you from the Bible whereas the Bible will be that which keeps you from SIN.
Here are the important study verses that Lord willing I am going to teach on this Sunday:
Romans 1:16
Ephesians 2:8-9
1 Corinthians 1:17-31
Galatians 6:14
Galatians 2:20
1Corinthians 2:1-2
Titus 3:3-7
Here are some words that I would like you to pay attention to as you read and meditate on these verses prior to Sunday.
Gospel
Christ-crucifed
Saved
Regeneration
Justification
Mercy
Boasting
There is only one cure for legalism and that is Christ crucified for our sins! This is not something you can
do but rather it is something that must be done for you! When we start to understand that kind of GRACE,
a GRACE that saves rebellious, evil and wicked men, women, boys and girls then we will start to be
amazed. As GRACE comes down JOY rises in the form of delight, satisfaction and a genuine treasuring of
Christ. And naturally from our satisfaction in Christ a love springs forth from our lives in the form of our
LOVE for others. And now when I perform deeds in the body of Christ they are done not out of a “DUTY”
mentality but rather from a “DELIGHT” mentality. The only cure for legalism is the cross of Christ!
Monday, October 27, 2008
"For men will be lovers of self"
Pastor, hello pastor...can we have a little less of you in this message and more of Christ crucified for our sins! Listen to the last part of the video as Steven talks about something he wrote. He says was so good that he gave an offering to himself.
Hmmm...check out Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.
Hmmm...check out Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Pornography: A Grave Challenge To Marriages
This from the Vitamin Z blog site:
From the latest EJournal of 9Marks Ministry: An interview with Winston Smith. Winston T. Smith, M.Div., is the director of counseling at CCEF and has extensive experience as a marriage and family counselor. He is the author of many counseling articles, the booklet, Rest, and is currently writing a book on marriage.
9M: How do you think the culture has changed over the last fifteen or twenty years? What do you think marriages are facing now that they may not have faced twenty years ago?
WS: There are probably many cultural pressures that make marriage different than it was even 15 or 20 years ago. I will just point out one because it's one of the most insidious. I've seen time and time again just how powerful and destructive pornography is in marriages. Of course, pornography is more than 20 years old, but what has changed in the last 20 years is technology. In the past there was this shame barrier that you had to be willing to cross. To really throw yourself into pornography, you had to go to a different part of town. You had to get out of your car and walk into a store and be willing to be seen. Your name and your face would be associated with the material that you were handling. Now anonymity seems almost guaranteed. It's not just available to you, it's invading your life. It's promoting itself. It will pop up in your e-mails. It will show up on the movie menu in the hotel room. Probably the classier the hotel, the easier it is to view pornography and the more shamelessly it's displayed.
Pornography is on the offensive against you. It's coming after you. So you have to have real reasons to say no to it, not just because you are going to get caught. That's not a good enough reason because you'll have opportunities to secretly indulge in it. The mode of pornography has changed, and the message has become amplified. Without being graphic, anybody who's seen pornography will probably know what I'm talking about. Pornography is ultimately about anonymous, meaningless relationships where the center of focus is personal gratification.
Sex is wonderful, but sex is intended by God to communicate meaning and purpose. It is intended to communicate God's commitment, covenantal and sacrificial love, tenderness and care. It is not intended to communicate a freedom to do what you can get away with, focus on yourself, and engage in anonymous, meaningless relationships. You take those anti-relationship messages of pornography and pair them with a physiological high and you've got something really nasty on your hands. It doesn't just enslave a person's time and thought life. It begins to invade the rest of their relationships. Those same messages of convenience, pleasure, and self-focus leak all over your life—they don't just stay on your computer .
9M: Do you have any wisdom for pastors and churches for taking the offensive—ways they can be proactive in the battle against pornography?
WS: I think one of the ways churches should work against this threat, very simply, is to start talking about it. And don't just talk about it as something that's out there in the culture, but talk about it as something that's coming after us as individuals and families in the church. Create forums/arenas where people who are battling with it can talk about it without being shamed or treated like second class citizens. Create an open conversation where this problem is treated with the same care, concern, and tenderness as any other sins and struggle.
This is a very simple but bold step. You need to say, "We're going to talk about it like it's a problem in our church, because it is." It is a given. Of course, this conversation should occur as part of the larger culture of discipling and accountability that pastors should be cultivating in their churches.
Then be really practical in giving people tools to do something about it.
* If you have an Internet connection in your home, think of it as a portal to a XXX book store. You have a doorway in your house that leads to an adult book store if you have an internet connection, a cable TV, or satellite connection. So treat it like it's a door that needs to be guarded and locked. It's ok to be entertained with your computer, but you need to know what you're doing and why you're doing it. You're not just grazing on your computer.
* Limit private access to the computer. If you have a desktop computer, put it in a family area with the screen facing the middle of the room.
* There are all kinds of software available that are effective, but no software is foolproof. There are software options that are effective at erecting a barrier (stringing up some razor wire). If you break through, it's because you wanted to break through - not because you were entrapped.
There are all kinds of basic things that we can do to protect ourselves, but we seem to walk around in churches with naiveté. People are assuming, "No one is talking about it so it must not be a problem." I have seen countless examples of pastors and church administrators who've been ensnared by it. I have counseled people who work as cleaning staff who will log onto computers at night and look at pornography in the buildings they are cleaning. Hopefully, some of these suggestions will be helpful in battling this prevalent issue.
See the whole article here
From the latest EJournal of 9Marks Ministry: An interview with Winston Smith. Winston T. Smith, M.Div., is the director of counseling at CCEF and has extensive experience as a marriage and family counselor. He is the author of many counseling articles, the booklet, Rest, and is currently writing a book on marriage.
9M: How do you think the culture has changed over the last fifteen or twenty years? What do you think marriages are facing now that they may not have faced twenty years ago?
WS: There are probably many cultural pressures that make marriage different than it was even 15 or 20 years ago. I will just point out one because it's one of the most insidious. I've seen time and time again just how powerful and destructive pornography is in marriages. Of course, pornography is more than 20 years old, but what has changed in the last 20 years is technology. In the past there was this shame barrier that you had to be willing to cross. To really throw yourself into pornography, you had to go to a different part of town. You had to get out of your car and walk into a store and be willing to be seen. Your name and your face would be associated with the material that you were handling. Now anonymity seems almost guaranteed. It's not just available to you, it's invading your life. It's promoting itself. It will pop up in your e-mails. It will show up on the movie menu in the hotel room. Probably the classier the hotel, the easier it is to view pornography and the more shamelessly it's displayed.
Pornography is on the offensive against you. It's coming after you. So you have to have real reasons to say no to it, not just because you are going to get caught. That's not a good enough reason because you'll have opportunities to secretly indulge in it. The mode of pornography has changed, and the message has become amplified. Without being graphic, anybody who's seen pornography will probably know what I'm talking about. Pornography is ultimately about anonymous, meaningless relationships where the center of focus is personal gratification.
Sex is wonderful, but sex is intended by God to communicate meaning and purpose. It is intended to communicate God's commitment, covenantal and sacrificial love, tenderness and care. It is not intended to communicate a freedom to do what you can get away with, focus on yourself, and engage in anonymous, meaningless relationships. You take those anti-relationship messages of pornography and pair them with a physiological high and you've got something really nasty on your hands. It doesn't just enslave a person's time and thought life. It begins to invade the rest of their relationships. Those same messages of convenience, pleasure, and self-focus leak all over your life—they don't just stay on your computer .
9M: Do you have any wisdom for pastors and churches for taking the offensive—ways they can be proactive in the battle against pornography?
WS: I think one of the ways churches should work against this threat, very simply, is to start talking about it. And don't just talk about it as something that's out there in the culture, but talk about it as something that's coming after us as individuals and families in the church. Create forums/arenas where people who are battling with it can talk about it without being shamed or treated like second class citizens. Create an open conversation where this problem is treated with the same care, concern, and tenderness as any other sins and struggle.
This is a very simple but bold step. You need to say, "We're going to talk about it like it's a problem in our church, because it is." It is a given. Of course, this conversation should occur as part of the larger culture of discipling and accountability that pastors should be cultivating in their churches.
Then be really practical in giving people tools to do something about it.
* If you have an Internet connection in your home, think of it as a portal to a XXX book store. You have a doorway in your house that leads to an adult book store if you have an internet connection, a cable TV, or satellite connection. So treat it like it's a door that needs to be guarded and locked. It's ok to be entertained with your computer, but you need to know what you're doing and why you're doing it. You're not just grazing on your computer.
* Limit private access to the computer. If you have a desktop computer, put it in a family area with the screen facing the middle of the room.
* There are all kinds of software available that are effective, but no software is foolproof. There are software options that are effective at erecting a barrier (stringing up some razor wire). If you break through, it's because you wanted to break through - not because you were entrapped.
There are all kinds of basic things that we can do to protect ourselves, but we seem to walk around in churches with naiveté. People are assuming, "No one is talking about it so it must not be a problem." I have seen countless examples of pastors and church administrators who've been ensnared by it. I have counseled people who work as cleaning staff who will log onto computers at night and look at pornography in the buildings they are cleaning. Hopefully, some of these suggestions will be helpful in battling this prevalent issue.
See the whole article here
Actual News Headlines
Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
No, really? Ya think?
------------------------------------------------------
Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Now that's taking things a bit far!
------------------------------------------------------
Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
What a guy!
-------------------------------------------------------
Miners Refuse to Work after Death
No-good-for-nothing' lazy so-and-so's!
------------------------------------------------------
Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
See if that works any better than a fair trial!
----------------------------------------------------------
War Dims Hope for Peace
I can see where it might have that effect!
----------------------------------------------------------------
If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
Ya think?!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
Who would have thought!
----------------------------------------------------------------
Enfield ( London ) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
They may be on to something!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
You mean there's something stronger than duct tape?
----------------------------------------------------------
Man Struck By Lightning: F aces Battery Charge
He probably IS the battery charge!
----------------------------------------------
New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
Weren't they fat enough?!
-----------------------------------------------
Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
That's what he gets for eating those beans!
-------------------------------------------------
Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Do they taste like chicken?
****************************************
Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Chainsaw Massacre all over again!
****************************** *********************
Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
Boy, are they tall!
*******************************************
Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter
------------------------------------------------------
And the winner is....
Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
Did I read that right?
No, really? Ya think?
------------------------------------------------------
Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Now that's taking things a bit far!
------------------------------------------------------
Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
What a guy!
-------------------------------------------------------
Miners Refuse to Work after Death
No-good-for-nothing' lazy so-and-so's!
------------------------------------------------------
Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
See if that works any better than a fair trial!
----------------------------------------------------------
War Dims Hope for Peace
I can see where it might have that effect!
----------------------------------------------------------------
If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
Ya think?!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
Who would have thought!
----------------------------------------------------------------
Enfield ( London ) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
They may be on to something!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
You mean there's something stronger than duct tape?
----------------------------------------------------------
Man Struck By Lightning: F aces Battery Charge
He probably IS the battery charge!
----------------------------------------------
New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
Weren't they fat enough?!
-----------------------------------------------
Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
That's what he gets for eating those beans!
-------------------------------------------------
Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Do they taste like chicken?
****************************************
Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Chainsaw Massacre all over again!
****************************** *********************
Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
Boy, are they tall!
*******************************************
Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter
------------------------------------------------------
And the winner is....
Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
Did I read that right?
The Idolatry of "Decisional" Evangelism
A short excerpt from this video regarding dangers of pluralism
Homosexuality in America
I haven't written in this blog site on the issue of homosexuality. It is a "hot topic" within the church but this article is a must read.
Pastor B. Podcast October 23, 2008
Well here I go taking a trip down the podcasting superhighway at 90 mph. Just starting to bring some podcasting to this blog site after over a year of posting. I hope you enjoy listening to all or some of these as you browse through the random thoughts and postings of this one Pastor B.
Just to give you a heads up todays podcast has a little Cold Play intro and then Matt Foley motivational speaker that leads us into Joel Osteen. So you can already tell this will be quite exciting as we move and groove, shake and bake, shuck and jive, bring and brag, tell and sell, and slam and jam our way to podcast nirvana.
Hope you enjoy!
Just to give you a heads up todays podcast has a little Cold Play intro and then Matt Foley motivational speaker that leads us into Joel Osteen. So you can already tell this will be quite exciting as we move and groove, shake and bake, shuck and jive, bring and brag, tell and sell, and slam and jam our way to podcast nirvana.
Hope you enjoy!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Preaching the Law
Rick Warren is probably the best known current Christian pastor in America. I would put him a little bit ahead of Joel Osteen at this point. Anyone that can attract two presidential candidates for a debate like Warren has some serious clout. Anyway I am thankful and amazed how God has orchestrated my week. As I have been preparing for Sunday through reading, devotion and study I am being challenged again to the importance of sound doctrine. This came about for me in the last two years as pastor of a small church. Basically people were leaving the church, calling me and emailing me with things that could not be supported in the Scriptures. It wasn't long before I end up in a "Systematic Theology" class at C.I.U. under Dr. Larry Dixon. For me that was the beginning of understanding why the basics of Bible doctrine are so critical today in the church.
I have included a short clip that Rick Warren is preaching regarding our responsibility with finances. He uses the analogy that Bill Gates calls us up one day and says I am going to adopt you. So far the analogy works because we have been adopted into the family of God by faith in Christ. Then Warren goes on to say the following, Bill Gates decides to share his entire estate with you BUT only after you have been tested with a little of the money to see how you handle it. What? Does the back half of this analogy work as it relates to the gospel? The answer to that question is NO! The gospel is a free gift and there is nothing you can do nor that you will ever do to be deserving of eternal life in heaven. For those of you tracking with me this week on the blog I am looking at current popular preaching. And many people like what they hear because they have no idea what the Bible says. If it looks good, sounds good and makes them feel like singing kum-by-ya and drinking hot chocolate then it must be good.
Check out this audio clip (thanks to Extreme Theology and Fighting for the Faith, which is where I obtained it)
Rick Warren - is this a law based gospel?
I have included a short clip that Rick Warren is preaching regarding our responsibility with finances. He uses the analogy that Bill Gates calls us up one day and says I am going to adopt you. So far the analogy works because we have been adopted into the family of God by faith in Christ. Then Warren goes on to say the following, Bill Gates decides to share his entire estate with you BUT only after you have been tested with a little of the money to see how you handle it. What? Does the back half of this analogy work as it relates to the gospel? The answer to that question is NO! The gospel is a free gift and there is nothing you can do nor that you will ever do to be deserving of eternal life in heaven. For those of you tracking with me this week on the blog I am looking at current popular preaching. And many people like what they hear because they have no idea what the Bible says. If it looks good, sounds good and makes them feel like singing kum-by-ya and drinking hot chocolate then it must be good.
Check out this audio clip (thanks to Extreme Theology and Fighting for the Faith, which is where I obtained it)
Rick Warren - is this a law based gospel?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Devotion time in Judges
There may be some of you on the 52 week Bible reading plan that is on our blog site? Devotion time this week has been in Judges 12-16. In the book of Judges one reads this phrase quite often "they did evil in the sight of the LORD." Isn't that the core problem with the heart of man? There are many verses that affirm this about man but here are several.
Genesis 6:5 - Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Jeremiah 17:9 - "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick..."
Romans 3:10 - "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
Romans 3:11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
Romans 3:12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
And instead of God exacting His justice by sending a lightning bolt or fire from heaven instead He provides them with a judge. And when these different judges come into power they restore peace to the region and defeat the enemies of Israel. God gives to His own people what they do not deserve, and what do we call that? We call that GRACE and define it as unmerited favor. In the book of Judges you see this continuing pattern, because of their evil the people deserve death and instead God provides to them grace upon grace.
Folks we are no different than those Israelites who were rebelling, worshiping false gods, being sinful and evil. Therefore should God exact His rightful justice on us, in which we would immediately be judged, condemned and sent to an eternal hell. But instead God sends His only begotten Son to absorb the wrath of God for you and me that He did not deserve, and in turn credits to our heavenly account the righteousness of His that we do not deserve. What? Christ gets all my sin and in turn I get all His righteousness! Sometimes in evangelical circles this is called the "great exchange." What do we call that? How about AMAZING GRACE!
Do you see how the book of Judges points us to the One who would eventually come and save us permanently? The Lord Jesus came and defeated our two greatest enemies which are sin and death. He pays in full the penalty of all your sin, past-present-future and also defeats the power of sin. Or as Major Ian Thomas used to say "the life that He lived qualified Him for the death that He died, but the death that He died qualifies us to live now the life that He lived then."
How often do you think, meditate and preach the gospel to yourself? What do you and I deserve? Instead what has God the Father so lovingly and willingly provided? I pray we would see His grace more abundantly, meditate on it more passionately, and live it out among those that God puts in our sphere of influence more consistently!
Blessings,
Genesis 6:5 - Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Jeremiah 17:9 - "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick..."
Romans 3:10 - "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
Romans 3:11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
Romans 3:12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
And instead of God exacting His justice by sending a lightning bolt or fire from heaven instead He provides them with a judge. And when these different judges come into power they restore peace to the region and defeat the enemies of Israel. God gives to His own people what they do not deserve, and what do we call that? We call that GRACE and define it as unmerited favor. In the book of Judges you see this continuing pattern, because of their evil the people deserve death and instead God provides to them grace upon grace.
Folks we are no different than those Israelites who were rebelling, worshiping false gods, being sinful and evil. Therefore should God exact His rightful justice on us, in which we would immediately be judged, condemned and sent to an eternal hell. But instead God sends His only begotten Son to absorb the wrath of God for you and me that He did not deserve, and in turn credits to our heavenly account the righteousness of His that we do not deserve. What? Christ gets all my sin and in turn I get all His righteousness! Sometimes in evangelical circles this is called the "great exchange." What do we call that? How about AMAZING GRACE!
Do you see how the book of Judges points us to the One who would eventually come and save us permanently? The Lord Jesus came and defeated our two greatest enemies which are sin and death. He pays in full the penalty of all your sin, past-present-future and also defeats the power of sin. Or as Major Ian Thomas used to say "the life that He lived qualified Him for the death that He died, but the death that He died qualifies us to live now the life that He lived then."
How often do you think, meditate and preach the gospel to yourself? What do you and I deserve? Instead what has God the Father so lovingly and willingly provided? I pray we would see His grace more abundantly, meditate on it more passionately, and live it out among those that God puts in our sphere of influence more consistently!
Blessings,
T.K.O. from Extreme Theology
Just listen and learn!Scary that this is taking place right here in the Queen City.
Amos 8:11 comes to mind at this point:
“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD,
“When I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water,
But rather for hearing the words of the LORD.
Steven Furtick's methodology is busted by Chris Rosebrough's theology
False teachers abound!
No kidding this is a church and this is a real "pastor" of that church. It is called Guts Church, check out at this LINK.
A new method for evangelism at Guts Church. Yeah folks it will scare the hell out of you!
What is your church preaching?
If not then something does not match up with the same gospel that the apostle Paul was preaching throughout the New Testament!
Do you understand what the gospel is and what it is not? (segment from Fighting for the Faith.com)
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Joel Osteen is a religious Stuart Smalley
Chris Rosebrough from Extreme Theology is a talented podcaster and blog writer. I have never met him personally but really enjoy the work that he is doing for the mainstream orthodox evangelicals. I know those words mean different things to different people. But just listen to this podcast and you will know exactly what I mean. He takes and evaluates Joel Osteen's newest book as it relates to the Christian life. I mean wouldn't you think the pastor of America's largest church is going to give advice about the Christian life? Well all you need to do is see a SNL skit with Stuart Smalley and you basically will have Joel Osteen's message. Here it is "I look good and act good and dog gone it people like me."Here is the podcast that I got from Chris's blog site. If you want to listen to the whole thing then click on this LINK.
Do you have "HEART" Disease?
The leading killer in this country is heart disease. And according to the Lord Jesus in Luke 24 it was a spiritual killer for the two men on the road to Emmaus. I am teaching a men's Bible study in which we are walking through the basic doctrines of the Bible.
Here is what we intend to study:
1. The Doctrine of the Bible
2. The Doctrine of God
3. The Doctrine of Man
4. The Doctrine of Christ
5. The Doctrine of the Spirit
6. The Doctrine of Salvation
Here is an initial Podcast that I am introducing to kick off the "learning and living the word" studios in beautiful Charlotte, NC. Hopefully as you continue to drop by you can listen to this series that I hope will encourage you to read, devote and study your Bibles.
Blessings
Men's Bible Study - October 21, 2008
(last 7 minutes of audio are much better, had some audio problems)
Here is what we intend to study:
1. The Doctrine of the Bible
2. The Doctrine of God
3. The Doctrine of Man
4. The Doctrine of Christ
5. The Doctrine of the Spirit
6. The Doctrine of Salvation
Here is an initial Podcast that I am introducing to kick off the "learning and living the word" studios in beautiful Charlotte, NC. Hopefully as you continue to drop by you can listen to this series that I hope will encourage you to read, devote and study your Bibles.
Blessings
Men's Bible Study - October 21, 2008
(last 7 minutes of audio are much better, had some audio problems)
Monday, October 20, 2008
10 predictions after the election
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.
Reveal Conference at Willow Creek
Some of you may remember that in 2007 the senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, Bill Hybels made a rather astonishing statement at the Summit Conference. It was at this conference that Hybels told the group that during the last 30 years of ministry they (leadership) had made a big mistake. He went on to say that many of the mature and growing Christians left Willow Creek due to lack of in depth Bible study and discipleship. I am paraphrasing but that almost covers his basic statement. Well this year they had the Reveal Conference with all the new data and plans of how to go forward in ministry.
Chris Rosebrough who was at the conference and did live blogging gives a review of the conference. If you are a big fan of Willow Creek and how they are proposing to move forward you might not want to listen to this review. However this is the kind of information that the main stream evangelical church needs to hear and understand the dangerous horizon. Willow Creek has and will have a huge influence on evangelical ministry in this country. They will produce millions of dollars of training material that will infiltrate many churches at many different levels. If you want to hear the entire review from Chris then click on this LINK.
If you want the right to the point review then listen right here.
Chris Rosebrough who was at the conference and did live blogging gives a review of the conference. If you are a big fan of Willow Creek and how they are proposing to move forward you might not want to listen to this review. However this is the kind of information that the main stream evangelical church needs to hear and understand the dangerous horizon. Willow Creek has and will have a huge influence on evangelical ministry in this country. They will produce millions of dollars of training material that will infiltrate many churches at many different levels. If you want to hear the entire review from Chris then click on this LINK.
If you want the right to the point review then listen right here.
Friday, October 17, 2008
The Abundant Life
This comes from Pastor-teacher Ken Silva, at Apprising Ministries
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:9-11, KJV)
You Can’t Handle An Abundant Life Unless You’re Born Again
So, you want an abundant life; then first of all you must come to understand the truth that mankind does not deserve anything from God but death for our rebellion against Him. And no, that doesn’t sound pleasant; but spending an eternity in conscious torment in a literal place Jesus Himself referred to as Hell sounds just a bit less pleasant, doesn’t it? One must come to God on the narrow road of following Christ; complete surrender, no questions asked, or go your own broad way with the esteem of self: “I want what I want and I want it now,” which ends in Hell.
Those are your choices. And I tell you in the Lord that anyone who promises you otherwise is lying to you. But you say: “God wants me to have life and that more abundantly.” Who is saying He doesn’t? However, God’s idea of an “abundant” life e.g. for Jim Elliot and Nate Saint was for them to be murdered by the very people they were trying to reach for Christ. That was their driving purpose; this was how these “followers of Jesus” were missional in seeking the best life now that God could give them. Still want to be a “Christ-follower”; or more accuarately, a Christian?
Then consider the great Apostle Paul’s abundant life by his own testimony:
in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:23-28. KJV)
O and now let’s look at the greatest abundant life ever lived, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Who is only God Himself in human flesh. The Father’s idea for His “abundant” life was for all of the disciples of His only begotten Son to abandon Him; for Christ to be brutally crucified and punished for our sins. So away with all this seeker sensitive rubbish; this centered on self and man-pleasing infomercial gospel of pseudo-Christianity! Don’t listen to all this worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge” (1 Timothy 6:20, NASB)
The Spirit prompts me today and so I come before you with a Word from God; and this is what the Lord says: “These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face” (Psalm 50:21). But now in all your great human wisdom you think that mankind is just too sophisticated for the “old-fashioned” and horribly “out-dated” preaching of Christ on the Cross and then letting God the Holy Spirit do His work so that it is God alone Who receives the glory?
Friend, let me ask you: Do you want to come to the Master’s table for what you think is upon it? Or, rather are you coming to Jesus whether there is anything nice on His table for you or not? For you see, your abundant life will only begin when all you desire is the Master Himself.
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:9-11, KJV)
You Can’t Handle An Abundant Life Unless You’re Born Again
So, you want an abundant life; then first of all you must come to understand the truth that mankind does not deserve anything from God but death for our rebellion against Him. And no, that doesn’t sound pleasant; but spending an eternity in conscious torment in a literal place Jesus Himself referred to as Hell sounds just a bit less pleasant, doesn’t it? One must come to God on the narrow road of following Christ; complete surrender, no questions asked, or go your own broad way with the esteem of self: “I want what I want and I want it now,” which ends in Hell.
Those are your choices. And I tell you in the Lord that anyone who promises you otherwise is lying to you. But you say: “God wants me to have life and that more abundantly.” Who is saying He doesn’t? However, God’s idea of an “abundant” life e.g. for Jim Elliot and Nate Saint was for them to be murdered by the very people they were trying to reach for Christ. That was their driving purpose; this was how these “followers of Jesus” were missional in seeking the best life now that God could give them. Still want to be a “Christ-follower”; or more accuarately, a Christian?
Then consider the great Apostle Paul’s abundant life by his own testimony:
in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:23-28. KJV)
O and now let’s look at the greatest abundant life ever lived, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Who is only God Himself in human flesh. The Father’s idea for His “abundant” life was for all of the disciples of His only begotten Son to abandon Him; for Christ to be brutally crucified and punished for our sins. So away with all this seeker sensitive rubbish; this centered on self and man-pleasing infomercial gospel of pseudo-Christianity! Don’t listen to all this worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge” (1 Timothy 6:20, NASB)
The Spirit prompts me today and so I come before you with a Word from God; and this is what the Lord says: “These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face” (Psalm 50:21). But now in all your great human wisdom you think that mankind is just too sophisticated for the “old-fashioned” and horribly “out-dated” preaching of Christ on the Cross and then letting God the Holy Spirit do His work so that it is God alone Who receives the glory?
Friend, let me ask you: Do you want to come to the Master’s table for what you think is upon it? Or, rather are you coming to Jesus whether there is anything nice on His table for you or not? For you see, your abundant life will only begin when all you desire is the Master Himself.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The doctrine of Christ
Dr. Bruce Ware teaches at East Cooper Baptist Church this past week on the doctrine of Christ. Here is a small snippet of his teaching during this conference. Bruce is one of the leading authors, teachers and theologians of our day. What a privilege and joy to sit under his teaching during these last few days.
Another "Osteen" book
This time Victoria Osteen (Joel Osteen's wife) has a book out called "Love your Life." Here is an interesting and personally I think an excellent review by Lisa Miller from Newsweek.
Change we can "count" on
Folks if Barack and Joe get in the White House then we can "count" on some change in the way of new math. Watch these videos and see what I mean.
J-O-B-S is a "three letter" word and now there are at least 57 states - that is change you can "count" on!
J-O-B-S is a "three letter" word and now there are at least 57 states - that is change you can "count" on!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Podcast with Dr. Bruce Ware
Greetings from Charleston, South Carolina. Nancy and I have been here during the last week preparing for and hosting Dr. Bruce Ware and his wife Jodi. They came to East Cooper Baptist Church in which Bruce was asked to speak on the doctrine of Christ. The conference concluded last night and was a great time of learning and discussion on this vital area of Bible doctrine.
For those of you who don’t know Dr. Bruce Ware I have posted a short bio that may help bring you up to speed on his background and ministry.
Bruce Ware received a B.A. in English from Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington. He later earned his M.Div. and his Th.M. from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon, before he moved to Pasadena, California, where he completed his formal education with a Ph.D. in Philosophical Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Dr. Ware currently serves as the Professor of Christian Theology at The Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Prior to his current occupation, Bruce has held teaching positions at Bethel Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota; Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon; and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.
Books Published:
Perspectives on the Doctrine of God: 4 Views (Editor)
Broadman & Holman - 2007
Serving God with Determined Faith: Studies in the Book of Nehemiah
Lifeway Press - 2005
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Relationships, Roles, and Relevance
Crossway Books - 2005
God's Greater Glory: The Exalted God of Scripture and the Christian Faith
Crossway Books - 2004
Their God is Too Small: Open Theism and the Undermining of Confidence in God
Crossway Books - 2003
God's Lesser Glory: The Diminished God of Open Theism
Crossway Books - 2000
Still Sovereign: Contemporary Perspectives on Election, Foreknowledge, and Grace (Editor)
Baker Books - 2000
The Grace of God, The Bondage of the Will (Editor)
Baker Books - 1995
Last night I had the opportunity to talk with Bruce about his background, past writing, present day ministry and thoughts about ministry in general. I hope this podcast will encourage you as we continue to commit ourselves back to the word of God for His glory!
For those of you who don’t know Dr. Bruce Ware I have posted a short bio that may help bring you up to speed on his background and ministry.
Bruce Ware received a B.A. in English from Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington. He later earned his M.Div. and his Th.M. from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon, before he moved to Pasadena, California, where he completed his formal education with a Ph.D. in Philosophical Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary.Dr. Ware currently serves as the Professor of Christian Theology at The Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Prior to his current occupation, Bruce has held teaching positions at Bethel Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota; Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon; and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.
Books Published:
Perspectives on the Doctrine of God: 4 Views (Editor)
Broadman & Holman - 2007
Serving God with Determined Faith: Studies in the Book of Nehemiah
Lifeway Press - 2005
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Relationships, Roles, and Relevance
Crossway Books - 2005
God's Greater Glory: The Exalted God of Scripture and the Christian Faith
Crossway Books - 2004
Their God is Too Small: Open Theism and the Undermining of Confidence in God
Crossway Books - 2003
God's Lesser Glory: The Diminished God of Open Theism
Crossway Books - 2000
Still Sovereign: Contemporary Perspectives on Election, Foreknowledge, and Grace (Editor)
Baker Books - 2000
The Grace of God, The Bondage of the Will (Editor)
Baker Books - 1995
Last night I had the opportunity to talk with Bruce about his background, past writing, present day ministry and thoughts about ministry in general. I hope this podcast will encourage you as we continue to commit ourselves back to the word of God for His glory!
Interview with Dr. Bruce Ware
Monday, October 13, 2008
A letter to a pastor friend...(strong as potashe)
A friend of mine who is a pastor was involved in a church that was becoming divisive. The church held several congregational meetings and openly discussed many of the problems with the entire body. It became very negative and unfortunately many of those who were unhappy and dissatisfied were unaware of the impact of their negative testimony.
There was a godly couple who sat through each of the meetings and then sent and email to this pastor as of the last meeting. I am posting in hopes that those who are presently involved in the church will see how destructive thoughts, words and actions can be by those who are church going members. But remember going to church makes you no more of a Christian than sleeping in the garage makes you a car.
I am doing a blog series or it seems to be developing "when churches divide." It is my hope and prayer that former members of our church can also recognize some of the mistakes, and use those as positive stepping stones as they are now in other ministries.
Here is the note:
Thank you for your encouragement. It is easy to see the faults of others and overlook our own faults. I am as guilty of that as anyone. I only heard a small part of the entire meeting. I hope that my perspective would have been different if I had been at 9:00 to hear the full dialogue. I literally had to bite my tongue to keep from speaking up but since what I had in mind to say would have been very unkind, though true I'm glad I kept quiet.
I can only see this situation from my perspective though I am trying desperately to understand the words and attitudes that I observed yesterday. What I see in God's Word is a clear directive for elders and their responsibility. From my understanding of scripture, the members of the church are to follow the leadership of the elders, not expecting to be consulted or even made aware of every single decision that is made. I don't think that scripture would have the flock follow elders who are involved in unrepentant sin, however, from what I heard yesterday and what I know of the elders, that is not the case with The XYZ Church. Also, I believe that elders are to graciously rule over the flock. This means that decisions will be made that are in the best interest of the church while keeping with the teaching of scripture. Again, I believe that this was the intent on the part of the elders. There is no way that any group of elders, regardless of how wise, could avoid ever making a poor decision. This is an unreasonable expectation. The complaints that I heard yesterday were, in my opinion, petty and revealed an unbiblical expectation of church leadership. If this is what you and Janet have dealt with in the last several years, you are facing a very large reward in heaven.
I had several thoughts while sitting in the meeting. First, what would a lost person see of the gospel of Jesus Christ from the comments that were made yesterday? If Christians are to be known by their love for each other, what are we missing? Why is the gospel not enough to bring love, unity and grace to our body of believers? Please know that I am not questioning the power of the gospel but I didn't see a body of believers graciously working through differences with the purpose of resolution and edification. What I witnessed yesterday could have been accomplished by unbelievers. As believers, we must be different from the world. If not, we make the gospel useless in our lives.
The other thought I had yesterday was, "Do we as a church not have anything better to do than argue with each other? There are lost people to be saved, the hungry to feed, the hurting to comfort and we are arguing with each other." I realize that conflicts must be discussed and resolved but the small things in life require us to give grace and overlook each others faults.
The suffering my husband and I have faced in the last three years has colored my perspective about everything. My view of any conflict that does not bring about resolution seems to be wasting the very life we've been given. Because of Jesus Christ, we are capable of living a life of love and unity with other believers. If we fail to do this, we give up the defining characteristic of being a Christian and lose our testimony to the lost world.
I have said enough, probably more than I should have said. I knew that I would write to you and Janet this week but had planned to wait a few days to cool off. However, when I read your email, it all poured out. I hope you know that my intention in sharing this is not to burden you and Janet further, but to try to make some sense of this situation. Please feel free to correct my thinking or understanding of all of this. If I have misunderstood anything, please let me know.
I am so thankful for the leadership in this church and pray that God continues to guide and comfort you in the way He has for our church.
Walking By Faith,
Joe and Janet Smedley
There was a godly couple who sat through each of the meetings and then sent and email to this pastor as of the last meeting. I am posting in hopes that those who are presently involved in the church will see how destructive thoughts, words and actions can be by those who are church going members. But remember going to church makes you no more of a Christian than sleeping in the garage makes you a car.
I am doing a blog series or it seems to be developing "when churches divide." It is my hope and prayer that former members of our church can also recognize some of the mistakes, and use those as positive stepping stones as they are now in other ministries.
Here is the note:
Thank you for your encouragement. It is easy to see the faults of others and overlook our own faults. I am as guilty of that as anyone. I only heard a small part of the entire meeting. I hope that my perspective would have been different if I had been at 9:00 to hear the full dialogue. I literally had to bite my tongue to keep from speaking up but since what I had in mind to say would have been very unkind, though true I'm glad I kept quiet.
I can only see this situation from my perspective though I am trying desperately to understand the words and attitudes that I observed yesterday. What I see in God's Word is a clear directive for elders and their responsibility. From my understanding of scripture, the members of the church are to follow the leadership of the elders, not expecting to be consulted or even made aware of every single decision that is made. I don't think that scripture would have the flock follow elders who are involved in unrepentant sin, however, from what I heard yesterday and what I know of the elders, that is not the case with The XYZ Church. Also, I believe that elders are to graciously rule over the flock. This means that decisions will be made that are in the best interest of the church while keeping with the teaching of scripture. Again, I believe that this was the intent on the part of the elders. There is no way that any group of elders, regardless of how wise, could avoid ever making a poor decision. This is an unreasonable expectation. The complaints that I heard yesterday were, in my opinion, petty and revealed an unbiblical expectation of church leadership. If this is what you and Janet have dealt with in the last several years, you are facing a very large reward in heaven.
I had several thoughts while sitting in the meeting. First, what would a lost person see of the gospel of Jesus Christ from the comments that were made yesterday? If Christians are to be known by their love for each other, what are we missing? Why is the gospel not enough to bring love, unity and grace to our body of believers? Please know that I am not questioning the power of the gospel but I didn't see a body of believers graciously working through differences with the purpose of resolution and edification. What I witnessed yesterday could have been accomplished by unbelievers. As believers, we must be different from the world. If not, we make the gospel useless in our lives.
The other thought I had yesterday was, "Do we as a church not have anything better to do than argue with each other? There are lost people to be saved, the hungry to feed, the hurting to comfort and we are arguing with each other." I realize that conflicts must be discussed and resolved but the small things in life require us to give grace and overlook each others faults.
The suffering my husband and I have faced in the last three years has colored my perspective about everything. My view of any conflict that does not bring about resolution seems to be wasting the very life we've been given. Because of Jesus Christ, we are capable of living a life of love and unity with other believers. If we fail to do this, we give up the defining characteristic of being a Christian and lose our testimony to the lost world.
I have said enough, probably more than I should have said. I knew that I would write to you and Janet this week but had planned to wait a few days to cool off. However, when I read your email, it all poured out. I hope you know that my intention in sharing this is not to burden you and Janet further, but to try to make some sense of this situation. Please feel free to correct my thinking or understanding of all of this. If I have misunderstood anything, please let me know.
I am so thankful for the leadership in this church and pray that God continues to guide and comfort you in the way He has for our church.
Walking By Faith,
Joe and Janet Smedley
Couples I met as a senior pastor - who are you?
When you pastor a small church for a period of four years you meet all kinds of people within the body of Christ. They tend to fall in one of two categories:
1. Those who model a Biblical example within the church
2. Those who model a non-Biblical example within the church
Jesus teaches on the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:13 through the end of the chapter that you are either one or the other. For example there is the wide gate or the narrow gate, the good tree or the bad tree, the house built on sand and house built on rock.
Therefore I am giving examples of actual people I met and even keep journal about in my days as a pastor. Since many of my conversations have been written down I again am hoping to one day write a book on this four year period of my life. The book "When a small church closes" will focus on how to help others avoid the problems and pitfalls of a start up church. The names will be changed but the conversations and things I write will come from actual experiences with those in the church.
Again in this list the names have been changed but there are real people described in each of these types that you will read about in this article. My question is who are you or more important who do others think you are? Why not show them this list and get them to reveal which one best describes you!
Gary and Genny Genuine - This couple has no pretense, masks or trying to be something they are not, just the real thing. People know when you get around this couple that what you see is what you get and what you see and get you like.
Abe and Abegail Agenda - They may look sweet and docile but they are like ducks going around the water at your local lake. Everything looks good on the surface but underneath they are kicking up a storm. Normally they are older and rigid in the ways church should be done. Their motto becomes "have it my way."
Earl and Ester Edify - This couple knows the importance of building others up in the body of Christ. They are natural encouragers and seem to always have the right thing to say at the right time that brings honor and glory to Christ.
Harry and Henrietta Hypocrite - they look good, sing, teach and even hand out cookies on Sunday but they are not genuine. They gossip, tell about how they did things in there former church and even question if leadership is capable. They end up in leadership and sometimes in small groups to the point that they when they get mad and finally leave others go with them.
Their motto is "we are looking good, smelling good and talking good but we just aren't living good."
Paul and Pauleen Post Modern - this couple thinks we need to find out what music draws the crowd, especially the young crowd and then provide it. They think we have too much preaching and sermons should be short motivational stories that make people feel good. Paul and Pauleen are in to comfort without any conviction. Their motto is "we don't need more conversions in the church we just need to have some good conversations."
Charlie and Coleen Critical - It doesn't matter how you do it or what you do they will find a way to criticize it. A pastor told me that a couple approached him with a problem in the church. He listened and suggested that it might be the very thing that God was leading them to do. They got upset with his answer and said "if that is the best you can come up with then we are going to leave the church." Their motto is "why be part of the solution when you can continue pointing out the problem."
Sam and Sally Servant - this couple lives to give themselves to others. It is a joy to watch them take the initiative to bring a meal, cut grass for an elderly couple or take young children to school for a single mom who is sick.
Ned and Nellie Non-Biblical - this couple when approached about not using their gifts, reading the Bible, or leaving over the color of the carpet use experience and feelings instead of going to the word of God. If they don't feel it then they just don't do it. If you ask, can you support this kind thinking or action based on the Bible they will say things like "not really." Their motto "we don't know what it means but that's ok because it can mean what we want it to mean-right?"
Larry and Lea Leader - this couple has the gift of leading in a way that people want to follow. They are gentle and kind, but if necessary can be firm and bold when it comes to providing Biblical leadership for others in the group.
Ben and Bonita Been-Around - This couple looks the part except they have been to 12 other churches over the years. Upon talking to this couple each church they left has been somewhat off in doctrine, method of understanding of this couples skill and abilities. Their motto "we leave right before church discipline can arrive."
Earl and Edie Expert - This couple lives by the statement "if we want your opinion then we will give it to you." They know what to do and how to do it. Some of the things they share and implement have been on their minds for years and years. And now that the group is gathered and they are the so-called experts the attitude comes out my way or the highway. However sometimes enough is enough, and if challenged they will take their ball and go home! Their motto "it's not as easy as it looks to always be right."
Ted and Thelma Teflon - whenever they are approached regarding problems they have caused you can be sure that nothing sticks to them. Their motto "we didn't do anything wrong, just ask us."
Dick and Darlene Deflective - this couple has the extraordinary ability to put everything back on those that come in contact with them. The strategy is not to deal with the problem but deflect it away from themselves. By the way they are first cousins of Ted and Thelma Teflon. You might hear statements like the following "of course we would join small groups if the leadership team would stop having people in them." Their motto "take it easy greasy because the problem your trying to lay on me has got a long way to slide."
Pedro and Patsy Positive - this couple is always a ray of sunshine when they show up to any church function. They always look for and find the good from each situation into which they are placed. Others find it easy to be around their good nature and positive attitude.
Mack and Mabel Mono-ministry - they take a ministry and own it, do it and build a fence so high around it that it would take an act of congress to get into it! When Mack and Mabel show up they dominate and dictate their own ministry area. There is no Timothy support or back up plan. And if others offer. Their motto for others who want to involve themselves in their ministry "do not go away mad, just go away."
Henry and Henrietta Humble - this couple finds it very easy to yield to, submit and follow church leadership in their mission and vision. Even though they are wise and have much church experience they never let their "egos" get in the way of their ministry. They are constantly promoting unity and highly respectful of the way the Lord uses different gifts to have His name exalted.
Sammy and Sandy Snitch - this couple comes to attend but really never joins. However they call and meet with pastor in order to give inside information on some of the problem people. Their motto "maybe this pastor will confront them on the sin that we are too intimidated to discuss with our family member, friend or co-worker."
Fred and Farrah Flexible - this couple believes in being part of the team and are adaptable in almost in church situation. They never say things like "in our former church we did it this way." Because they understand with different churches, people, personalities and plans that things may in fact change along the way. Their lack of rigidity and narrow thinking makes it easy to be associated and involved with them in ministry.
Grant and Gertrude Grumpy - it doesn't matter what you preach, teach, or what you do, this couple finds a way to be and stay unhappy. Their motto is "of course we are happy just look at our face."
Barry and Beverly Biblical - this couple loves to teach the Bible and they really live the Bible. They are totally supportive and part of the leaderships vision to get people back in the word and get the word back in the people. Barry is a great teach and Beverly is a key supporter and encourager of her husband but also of others in the church. They love doctrine and have suggested "Bible Doctrine" by Wayne Grudem as a good starting point for most Christians. When they were first handed the book in a leadership meeting they took it, read and digested it because leadership had made decision to teach Biblical doctrine to the congregation. It was their leadership in this area they helped many come along to recognize how deficient they were in really understanding their Bibles.
Asa and Anna Apologetic - this couple loves to defend the faith. However they know how to do it in a way that others are drawn to their style and personality. They have given themselves over to study of the word of God in such a way that they help others understand the real authority of the Bible.
Ned and Nellie Know it all - when you have ministry ideas, plans and strategies this couple can tell you immediately why they know it won't work. As a matter of fact you can hand out sound reading material that is widely accepted by the church, and even leading seminaries, and they will hand it back with an attitude and say "I already know it all." Their motto "there is a limit to how smart you can be but no limit to how dumb you can be."
Tom and Tessa Team Player - this couple really knows that there is no "I" in the word "team."
What a tremendous pleasure it is to have this couple work with leadership and never against it.
They are constantly asking how can we be part of the solution and not part of the problem. On Sunday morning you will find them in a corner with a couple encouraging them to participate and get involved in the church. They really understand how to support and build up the leadership not just in talking about it but actually doing it in the way they live!
1. Those who model a Biblical example within the church
2. Those who model a non-Biblical example within the church
Jesus teaches on the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:13 through the end of the chapter that you are either one or the other. For example there is the wide gate or the narrow gate, the good tree or the bad tree, the house built on sand and house built on rock.
Therefore I am giving examples of actual people I met and even keep journal about in my days as a pastor. Since many of my conversations have been written down I again am hoping to one day write a book on this four year period of my life. The book "When a small church closes" will focus on how to help others avoid the problems and pitfalls of a start up church. The names will be changed but the conversations and things I write will come from actual experiences with those in the church.
Again in this list the names have been changed but there are real people described in each of these types that you will read about in this article. My question is who are you or more important who do others think you are? Why not show them this list and get them to reveal which one best describes you!
Gary and Genny Genuine - This couple has no pretense, masks or trying to be something they are not, just the real thing. People know when you get around this couple that what you see is what you get and what you see and get you like.
Abe and Abegail Agenda - They may look sweet and docile but they are like ducks going around the water at your local lake. Everything looks good on the surface but underneath they are kicking up a storm. Normally they are older and rigid in the ways church should be done. Their motto becomes "have it my way."
Earl and Ester Edify - This couple knows the importance of building others up in the body of Christ. They are natural encouragers and seem to always have the right thing to say at the right time that brings honor and glory to Christ.
Harry and Henrietta Hypocrite - they look good, sing, teach and even hand out cookies on Sunday but they are not genuine. They gossip, tell about how they did things in there former church and even question if leadership is capable. They end up in leadership and sometimes in small groups to the point that they when they get mad and finally leave others go with them.
Their motto is "we are looking good, smelling good and talking good but we just aren't living good."
Paul and Pauleen Post Modern - this couple thinks we need to find out what music draws the crowd, especially the young crowd and then provide it. They think we have too much preaching and sermons should be short motivational stories that make people feel good. Paul and Pauleen are in to comfort without any conviction. Their motto is "we don't need more conversions in the church we just need to have some good conversations."
Charlie and Coleen Critical - It doesn't matter how you do it or what you do they will find a way to criticize it. A pastor told me that a couple approached him with a problem in the church. He listened and suggested that it might be the very thing that God was leading them to do. They got upset with his answer and said "if that is the best you can come up with then we are going to leave the church." Their motto is "why be part of the solution when you can continue pointing out the problem."
Sam and Sally Servant - this couple lives to give themselves to others. It is a joy to watch them take the initiative to bring a meal, cut grass for an elderly couple or take young children to school for a single mom who is sick.
Ned and Nellie Non-Biblical - this couple when approached about not using their gifts, reading the Bible, or leaving over the color of the carpet use experience and feelings instead of going to the word of God. If they don't feel it then they just don't do it. If you ask, can you support this kind thinking or action based on the Bible they will say things like "not really." Their motto "we don't know what it means but that's ok because it can mean what we want it to mean-right?"
Larry and Lea Leader - this couple has the gift of leading in a way that people want to follow. They are gentle and kind, but if necessary can be firm and bold when it comes to providing Biblical leadership for others in the group.
Ben and Bonita Been-Around - This couple looks the part except they have been to 12 other churches over the years. Upon talking to this couple each church they left has been somewhat off in doctrine, method of understanding of this couples skill and abilities. Their motto "we leave right before church discipline can arrive."
Earl and Edie Expert - This couple lives by the statement "if we want your opinion then we will give it to you." They know what to do and how to do it. Some of the things they share and implement have been on their minds for years and years. And now that the group is gathered and they are the so-called experts the attitude comes out my way or the highway. However sometimes enough is enough, and if challenged they will take their ball and go home! Their motto "it's not as easy as it looks to always be right."
Ted and Thelma Teflon - whenever they are approached regarding problems they have caused you can be sure that nothing sticks to them. Their motto "we didn't do anything wrong, just ask us."
Dick and Darlene Deflective - this couple has the extraordinary ability to put everything back on those that come in contact with them. The strategy is not to deal with the problem but deflect it away from themselves. By the way they are first cousins of Ted and Thelma Teflon. You might hear statements like the following "of course we would join small groups if the leadership team would stop having people in them." Their motto "take it easy greasy because the problem your trying to lay on me has got a long way to slide."
Pedro and Patsy Positive - this couple is always a ray of sunshine when they show up to any church function. They always look for and find the good from each situation into which they are placed. Others find it easy to be around their good nature and positive attitude.
Mack and Mabel Mono-ministry - they take a ministry and own it, do it and build a fence so high around it that it would take an act of congress to get into it! When Mack and Mabel show up they dominate and dictate their own ministry area. There is no Timothy support or back up plan. And if others offer. Their motto for others who want to involve themselves in their ministry "do not go away mad, just go away."
Henry and Henrietta Humble - this couple finds it very easy to yield to, submit and follow church leadership in their mission and vision. Even though they are wise and have much church experience they never let their "egos" get in the way of their ministry. They are constantly promoting unity and highly respectful of the way the Lord uses different gifts to have His name exalted.
Sammy and Sandy Snitch - this couple comes to attend but really never joins. However they call and meet with pastor in order to give inside information on some of the problem people. Their motto "maybe this pastor will confront them on the sin that we are too intimidated to discuss with our family member, friend or co-worker."
Fred and Farrah Flexible - this couple believes in being part of the team and are adaptable in almost in church situation. They never say things like "in our former church we did it this way." Because they understand with different churches, people, personalities and plans that things may in fact change along the way. Their lack of rigidity and narrow thinking makes it easy to be associated and involved with them in ministry.
Grant and Gertrude Grumpy - it doesn't matter what you preach, teach, or what you do, this couple finds a way to be and stay unhappy. Their motto is "of course we are happy just look at our face."
Barry and Beverly Biblical - this couple loves to teach the Bible and they really live the Bible. They are totally supportive and part of the leaderships vision to get people back in the word and get the word back in the people. Barry is a great teach and Beverly is a key supporter and encourager of her husband but also of others in the church. They love doctrine and have suggested "Bible Doctrine" by Wayne Grudem as a good starting point for most Christians. When they were first handed the book in a leadership meeting they took it, read and digested it because leadership had made decision to teach Biblical doctrine to the congregation. It was their leadership in this area they helped many come along to recognize how deficient they were in really understanding their Bibles.
Asa and Anna Apologetic - this couple loves to defend the faith. However they know how to do it in a way that others are drawn to their style and personality. They have given themselves over to study of the word of God in such a way that they help others understand the real authority of the Bible.
Ned and Nellie Know it all - when you have ministry ideas, plans and strategies this couple can tell you immediately why they know it won't work. As a matter of fact you can hand out sound reading material that is widely accepted by the church, and even leading seminaries, and they will hand it back with an attitude and say "I already know it all." Their motto "there is a limit to how smart you can be but no limit to how dumb you can be."
Tom and Tessa Team Player - this couple really knows that there is no "I" in the word "team."
What a tremendous pleasure it is to have this couple work with leadership and never against it.
They are constantly asking how can we be part of the solution and not part of the problem. On Sunday morning you will find them in a corner with a couple encouraging them to participate and get involved in the church. They really understand how to support and build up the leadership not just in talking about it but actually doing it in the way they live!