About a month ago, I attended District Council -- an annual meeting of Assemblies of God pastors in North Texas. The focus this year was on church planting. More specifically, on CHURCHES PLANTING CHURCHES. The guest speaker shared 3 paradigm shifts that we must have, if we are going to effectively build God's Kingdom in our city. Hope you are challenged by them, as much as I was.
Here they are:
1. We need to shift the focus from OUR problems to GOD'S problems.
2. We need a shift from SCARCITYto ABUNDANCE.
3. We need to shift our focus from building a MONUMENT to building a MOVEMENT.
Each of them has challenged me in a personal way, as well as sharpened my focus as pastor of The Bridge. I pray that God will help me to be a DOER of the Word, not just a HEARER only... Is this your prayer, as well?
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
More Than Words
Shared a message this morning by this same title -- and it is really sticking with me today. (Funny for a preacher to be impacted AFTER his own sermon, huh?) I just can't stop thinking about God's strategy for reconciling mankind: He didn't TELL us about His love, He SHOWED us! Talk is cheap. Even God knows that...
So think about it: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen the glory of the Father." (John 1:14) God sent Jesus to reveal His glory. Now, Jesus sends US to reveal His glory, through our lives. But we have to do more than TALK -- we need ACTION...the kind of action that reveals God's glory!
That sets the bar pretty high, for me. Is my life GLORIOUS? (no laughing please, this is a serious question!) Here's the kicker: I'm a preacher, so that means I "talk" for a living...but now I'm realizing that it takes "more than words" to reach this generation. What a bummer -- now I have to get my hands dirty...
So think about it: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen the glory of the Father." (John 1:14) God sent Jesus to reveal His glory. Now, Jesus sends US to reveal His glory, through our lives. But we have to do more than TALK -- we need ACTION...the kind of action that reveals God's glory!
That sets the bar pretty high, for me. Is my life GLORIOUS? (no laughing please, this is a serious question!) Here's the kicker: I'm a preacher, so that means I "talk" for a living...but now I'm realizing that it takes "more than words" to reach this generation. What a bummer -- now I have to get my hands dirty...
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
What does God have in mind for us?
Great quote from Henry Blackaby's book, "What The Spirit is Saying To The Churches"...
"God is at work around us, and to accomplish this work He personally communicates His will to His people, inviting each church to join in his activity in specific ways. It is not for us to dream our own dreams of what we want to do for God. This is never the pattern of Scriptures. God already knows what He is purposing to do through those He calls to Himself. And He's waiting for us to adjust our lives to His purposes so He can work powerfully through us to redeem our lost world."
and here's the kicker...
"When we hear His call and respond appropriately, there will be NO LIMIT to what God can and will do through His people."
This morning, I spent some time dreaming again about the future of The Bridge, but more than ever before, I want to pursue God's dreams--not my own. Ever stop to wonder what He has in mind for us?
"God is at work around us, and to accomplish this work He personally communicates His will to His people, inviting each church to join in his activity in specific ways. It is not for us to dream our own dreams of what we want to do for God. This is never the pattern of Scriptures. God already knows what He is purposing to do through those He calls to Himself. And He's waiting for us to adjust our lives to His purposes so He can work powerfully through us to redeem our lost world."
and here's the kicker...
"When we hear His call and respond appropriately, there will be NO LIMIT to what God can and will do through His people."
This morning, I spent some time dreaming again about the future of The Bridge, but more than ever before, I want to pursue God's dreams--not my own. Ever stop to wonder what He has in mind for us?
Monday, May 3, 2010
More Blackaby...
"If Jesus provides the model for spiritual leadership, then the key is not for leaders to develop visions and to set the direction for their organizations. The key is to obey and to preserve everything the Father reveals to them of his will. Ultimately, the Father is the leader. God has the vision of what He wants to do. God does not ask leaders to dream big dreams for him or to solve problems that confront them. He asks leaders to walk with him so intimately that, when he reveals what is on his agenda, they will immediately adjust their lives to his will and the results will bring glory to God."
Criticism
I love this quote by Henry Blackaby, in his book Spiritual Leadership:
"Criticism has its most devastating effect upon the immature and the unsure."
How true this is! At times, I've been guilty of the IMMATURE part, without a doubt. When I carry my feelings on my shoulder, it's easy for one challenging word from a friend to offend me, wound me, or knock me off course. That happens all too often when I am not actively growing in my relationship with Christ. I get it.
But the second one hits even closer to home: UNSURE. To the leader who is prone to be a people-pleaser, criticism can be devastating (as Blackaby says). You want so badly for people to follow you, respect you, love you, come to your church, read your book, and so on... So, as long as that stuff matters to you, you're at the mercy of the feedback. If they're happy, you're happy. You need the praise to affirm yourself. You long for the compliments, for without them, you are left with a bunch of "what ifs"...
What if they leave?
What if they stop giving?
What if they don't believe in me anymore?
What if our relationship changes because of this conflict?
What if I'm wrong about this decision, after all?
What if I'm about to blow it?
What if our church collapses?
...Ceases to exist?
...Falls off the face of the earth?!?
But the real question should always be, "What did God say to me?" If I know that, I can lead well. And if I don't know what He's saying, I better find out! Whatever it takes. And until then, whatever the crowd says is meaningless--good or bad. Praise or criticism.
Maybe Solomon said it best, "Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you."(Proverbs 9:8)
"Criticism has its most devastating effect upon the immature and the unsure."
How true this is! At times, I've been guilty of the IMMATURE part, without a doubt. When I carry my feelings on my shoulder, it's easy for one challenging word from a friend to offend me, wound me, or knock me off course. That happens all too often when I am not actively growing in my relationship with Christ. I get it.
But the second one hits even closer to home: UNSURE. To the leader who is prone to be a people-pleaser, criticism can be devastating (as Blackaby says). You want so badly for people to follow you, respect you, love you, come to your church, read your book, and so on... So, as long as that stuff matters to you, you're at the mercy of the feedback. If they're happy, you're happy. You need the praise to affirm yourself. You long for the compliments, for without them, you are left with a bunch of "what ifs"...
What if they leave?
What if they stop giving?
What if they don't believe in me anymore?
What if our relationship changes because of this conflict?
What if I'm wrong about this decision, after all?
What if I'm about to blow it?
What if our church collapses?
...Ceases to exist?
...Falls off the face of the earth?!?
But the real question should always be, "What did God say to me?" If I know that, I can lead well. And if I don't know what He's saying, I better find out! Whatever it takes. And until then, whatever the crowd says is meaningless--good or bad. Praise or criticism.
Maybe Solomon said it best, "Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you."(Proverbs 9:8)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
See What's Not There
When I read about Abraham, I am always taken back by his OBEDIENCE. Throughout his life, the faith-tests were dramatic, and he passed them with flying colors:
(ch.12) "Leave and go to a land I will show you"
(ch.21) The birth of Isaac, when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90
(ch.22) The sacrifice of Isaac, the son of promise
He met every challenge, it seems, with simple yet strong faith:
"Yet he (Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised." (Romans 4:20-21)
In the same passage (v.17), "...the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were."
So I ask myself, Do I see the same "obey-first-and-ask-questions-later" kind of faith in my own life? All too often, the answer is no. But the Bible unwaveringly says that obedience is better than sacrifice. So, Lord, help me to trust in you more, "being fully persuaded that You have the power to do what you've promised!"
...and to remember, that YOU see what's NOT there...and say that it IS!
(ch.12) "Leave and go to a land I will show you"
(ch.21) The birth of Isaac, when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90
(ch.22) The sacrifice of Isaac, the son of promise
He met every challenge, it seems, with simple yet strong faith:
"Yet he (Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised." (Romans 4:20-21)
In the same passage (v.17), "...the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were."
So I ask myself, Do I see the same "obey-first-and-ask-questions-later" kind of faith in my own life? All too often, the answer is no. But the Bible unwaveringly says that obedience is better than sacrifice. So, Lord, help me to trust in you more, "being fully persuaded that You have the power to do what you've promised!"
...and to remember, that YOU see what's NOT there...and say that it IS!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Dig New Wells
Sometimes my spiritual life loses its sizzle. It goes flat. Becomes predictable. Routine. It dries up, like a well that's empty. Remember the story in Genesis 26, where Isaac re-dug the wells of his father Abraham (the ones that had been stopped up by the Philistines), and then went on to dig new wells? A few observations come to mind...
1. Abraham's wells were clogged because of an enemy attack. Often the Bible uses water to symbolize the presence of the Spirit of God. So, by putting dirt in the wells, the enemy tries to cut off, or dry up the flow of God's Spirit in our lives. What can we do? Start cleaning out our hearts, and prepare to re-dig those wells!
2. If we want God to expand our territory, or enlarge our effectiveness, we need to search for NEW places to dig wells. Where is God leading you? What people or community might he want you to reach into?
3. The hard work of digging wells turns to CELEBRATION when the water springs up! (Gen. 26:32 -- "We have found water!!!")
Ideas for digging new wells:
- Take a closer look at my personal prayer time (both quality and quantity)
- Find a "deeper" book to read, that will challenge me at the soul-level, not
just sharpen my skills as a leader (ie, C.S. Lewis over John Maxwell, or Watchman Nee over Rick Warren, Dietrich Bonhoeffer over Andy Stanley)
- Rediscover personal WORSHIP, not just the Sunday morning kind, by choosing a CD over talk radio while driving.
- Take a 3-day fast (not enough to kill me, but enough to get my attention!)
What new wells are you digging?
1. Abraham's wells were clogged because of an enemy attack. Often the Bible uses water to symbolize the presence of the Spirit of God. So, by putting dirt in the wells, the enemy tries to cut off, or dry up the flow of God's Spirit in our lives. What can we do? Start cleaning out our hearts, and prepare to re-dig those wells!
2. If we want God to expand our territory, or enlarge our effectiveness, we need to search for NEW places to dig wells. Where is God leading you? What people or community might he want you to reach into?
3. The hard work of digging wells turns to CELEBRATION when the water springs up! (Gen. 26:32 -- "We have found water!!!")
Ideas for digging new wells:
- Take a closer look at my personal prayer time (both quality and quantity)
- Find a "deeper" book to read, that will challenge me at the soul-level, not
just sharpen my skills as a leader (ie, C.S. Lewis over John Maxwell, or Watchman Nee over Rick Warren, Dietrich Bonhoeffer over Andy Stanley)
- Rediscover personal WORSHIP, not just the Sunday morning kind, by choosing a CD over talk radio while driving.
- Take a 3-day fast (not enough to kill me, but enough to get my attention!)
What new wells are you digging?
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