It was Spring Break weekend and I had been braced for at least a 20% drop in attendance this Sunday in worship. But lo and behold, some people who were supposed to be away wound up coming, and others brought new friends. Then we had other visitors who had never been with us before. All in all a very good turnout.
Worship set -
Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing) - I love the way this gets us moving.
Nothing But the Blood (Redman version) - one of the best examples of older hymns refreshed
Shout To the Lord - we don't sing it often, but when we do we SING it
God of Wonders - on a beautiful Spring day with flowers blooming and the azaleas ablaze...
Come Unto Me - Kira Stoy and Emily Shermer did a great job with this and our son Sean absolutely killed on acoustic guitar. (Proud dad I am :) )
I Surrender All - after my call to go all in, made sense to use this as invitational hymn.
I started by reminding people of all the questions Jesus asked and how when studying that personally, I wondered what would happen if Jesus asked me "What do you want me to do?" Would I think of others, or of God's work at New Hope and elsewhere, or would I go immediately to what was best for me. Obviously from the text, the disciples struggled with that too.
This sermon begins a series on "Big Questions". More about that later as I develop it.
We are doing a service project Saturday, raising money for our partners across the street at Valparaiso Elementary in their "Relay for Life" team effort. Our bit is holding a carnival at New Hope with games, rides, movies and food. It's the Saturday of spring break so hopefully we'll raise a good bit of money for a worthy cause. Great idea from Amy Anderson.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
On Missions
When I think about how we as Southern Baptists do missions - I mean after I get past the incredible people we have placed on the mission field - there's always been something that bothered me. I've sort of narrowed it down to the fact that most Southern Baptists will never actually DO missions, even if they give to Lottie and Annie faithfully every year. Reading this today stirred me to wonder if others are coming to the same conclusion.
We have to change. We have to get as many people in as many ways possible to be ON mission locally, regionally, and globally for Jesus.
Read the rest of the article and pray about how God would lead us all - small and large churches both - OUT and into missional work.
Ernest's last few words are where the SBC needs to go. Missions are too important to leave to the professionals.
More often than not, when you say that a collection of churches is “partnering in missions,” you really mean that small churches give what little money they think they can afford to a larger church or a missions sending agency that will handle mobilization, screening, indoctrination, training, sending, and maintenance of missionaries on the field. This is not “partnering,” it’s outsourcing. Ernest GoodmanThat's what we are doing. There's no attachment there - none of the formative benefits of doing missions. It's just a different box to check off on the do-gooder's guide to church.
We have to change. We have to get as many people in as many ways possible to be ON mission locally, regionally, and globally for Jesus.
Read the rest of the article and pray about how God would lead us all - small and large churches both - OUT and into missional work.
Ernest's last few words are where the SBC needs to go. Missions are too important to leave to the professionals.
A true missions network would not connect churches in order to do missions, it would connect churches who are doing missions.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
It's the Big One
For a long time I have been trying to get some of the other local (Valparaiso) churches to join with us in serving our community. We even created a website as a vehicle to help drive it (www.welovevalparaiso.com). But after letters, emails, and a couple of phone calls, it went nowhere. So I thought, "well, okay God, I tried."
Well, last Wednesday I had a visit from an elder at a local Presbyterian church who was inviting me and my deacons to meet with them next month to discuss how we could serve together.
So I had to break out the Fred Sanford picture.
Be praying we can find some ways to get Presbyterians and Baptists together for Christ. :)
What Do You Want Me To Do For You?
I've been working these last two weeks on some ideas about what we could be doing in the weeks and months to come to see God glorified here at New Hope. Some I've shared openly on here for feedback (and I appreciate all I have received so far) and some I've kept close to the vest. In my heart, really.
Times like this, when instead of giving us a "put tab a into slot b, now stand back and watch it happen" sort of direction, God gives us stillness - don't really sit well with me. Yet I have learned over the years that some of the best things God has ever done came at the end of one of these "sessions."
As I've been working on a series on "Big Questions" to begin next week, I've tripped several times over a question that Jesus asked in the Scriptures. "What do you want Me to do for you?"
I chose "tripped" there to indicate that I'm a little uneasy about what I would answer. There's a tendency to want to wrap your own ambition up with a God honoring request. Here's a quote that might help you understand what I mean.
Times like this, when instead of giving us a "put tab a into slot b, now stand back and watch it happen" sort of direction, God gives us stillness - don't really sit well with me. Yet I have learned over the years that some of the best things God has ever done came at the end of one of these "sessions."
As I've been working on a series on "Big Questions" to begin next week, I've tripped several times over a question that Jesus asked in the Scriptures. "What do you want Me to do for you?"
I chose "tripped" there to indicate that I'm a little uneasy about what I would answer. There's a tendency to want to wrap your own ambition up with a God honoring request. Here's a quote that might help you understand what I mean.
Something has happened in the past thirty or so years that has shifted our pastoral ethic from one of faithfulness to one of productivity and success. I believe this has stirred the fires of ambition. Given the nature of our American culture, this doesn't surprise me. It also doesn't surprise me that the battle with ambition will be a ferocious one, for the tendency toward self-absorption plagues every one of us. For more than twenty years I have attended church conferences. I have observed as we sized each other up to see how quickly we could find out who had the highest attendance, the largest staff, the biggest budget, the most property. The secret that hardly anyone talks about is that most of us want to win the "largest church game." Or at least make a good showing. I am convinced from first hand experience, as well as from paying close attention to the darkness of my own heart, that if all-of-the-sudden thought bubbles appeared over all our heads, we would all fall to the ground in repentance.
Some things in this life just don't make sense
Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii?
How do snowplow drivers get to work in blizzards?
Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways?
And when you transport something by car it's called a shipment, but transport it by ship it's called cargo??
Yeah, those are silly. But here's one that isn't.
Why do kids get spring break when it's the adults that really need the rest? :)
Twice this week I've seen kids Bunny teaches piano come into and out of the sanctuary here with all the energy in the world. When they reached their parent's car, they found them with the seat reclined - just trying to get a little rest. I guess we've always tried to do too much.
30 The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught. 31 Jesus said, "Come off by yourselves; let's take a break and get a little rest." For there was constant coming and going. They didn't even have time to eat. Mark 6:30-31 (MSG)
Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii?
How do snowplow drivers get to work in blizzards?
Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways?
And when you transport something by car it's called a shipment, but transport it by ship it's called cargo??
Yeah, those are silly. But here's one that isn't.
Why do kids get spring break when it's the adults that really need the rest? :)
Twice this week I've seen kids Bunny teaches piano come into and out of the sanctuary here with all the energy in the world. When they reached their parent's car, they found them with the seat reclined - just trying to get a little rest. I guess we've always tried to do too much.
30 The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught. 31 Jesus said, "Come off by yourselves; let's take a break and get a little rest." For there was constant coming and going. They didn't even have time to eat. Mark 6:30-31 (MSG)
You know, there's a reason God set up the Sabbath and said "six days you should work, and then on the seventh you should rest." We cannot keep ignoring how God intended us to live without facing the consequences in frazzled nerves, worn bodies and restless souls. Take some time each day to encounter God in His shalom peace. Make sure you take time to make memories with your family.
But above all, vote for the candidates that will give adults spring break every year. ;)
Do you think recess would be asking too much?
Have a great weekend.
DavidThursday, March 27, 2008
Crazy Idea #3287
We have "game night" once a month here, where the kids and some adults get together and play board games against one another. It's not fun having a 7 year old whip you at Yahtzee. Don't ask me how I know.
What if we got several copies of a PC based game like Cesear 2, or Rise of Nations and had a lan party as well? Might bring in some others in this technologically savvy part of the world. We got engineers on top of engineers here.
Ooooh - we could buy 10 copies of F-15 Strike Eagle or F-16 Falcon and get one of the pilots from the base over here and teach them some humility. :)
Or get some Ranger Camp instructors over to play us in America's Army.
If we did the latter, we could publicize it and maybe get a bunch of folks and build some goodwill with military units here. Awesome people, doing a great job who don't get told "thank you" near enough.
Of course with my game prowess, I'll be over with the elementary school kids playing Trouble, or maybe "Operation".
Whatcha' think?
What if we got several copies of a PC based game like Cesear 2, or Rise of Nations and had a lan party as well? Might bring in some others in this technologically savvy part of the world. We got engineers on top of engineers here.
Ooooh - we could buy 10 copies of F-15 Strike Eagle or F-16 Falcon and get one of the pilots from the base over here and teach them some humility. :)
Or get some Ranger Camp instructors over to play us in America's Army.
If we did the latter, we could publicize it and maybe get a bunch of folks and build some goodwill with military units here. Awesome people, doing a great job who don't get told "thank you" near enough.
Of course with my game prowess, I'll be over with the elementary school kids playing Trouble, or maybe "Operation".
Whatcha' think?
Modern Parables
The power of story. Jesus knew it and used it effectively to get people to remember what he said and apply it to life. Many times I've had people tell me they remember illustrations I have used, when I have the feeling they'd be hard pressed to give me the main elements of the sermon it came out of.
So I've been trying to incorporate more visual and tactile media into what I do and am on the search for more materials. Stumbled across this today. From my initial impressions, the idea and execution are pretty good. Modern Parables
There's a sample lesson and both teaching and student materials available on the website for use. The whole collection is very reasonably priced considering the production values. Really very impressive and I'm looking forward to more from these folks.
There's a list of reviews and quotes on the website. Since I'm SBC and missionally minded, I noted this one. Robert Lewis did an amazing job in his context, so when he recommends, I listen.
So I've been trying to incorporate more visual and tactile media into what I do and am on the search for more materials. Stumbled across this today. From my initial impressions, the idea and execution are pretty good. Modern Parables
There's a sample lesson and both teaching and student materials available on the website for use. The whole collection is very reasonably priced considering the production values. Really very impressive and I'm looking forward to more from these folks.
There's a list of reviews and quotes on the website. Since I'm SBC and missionally minded, I noted this one. Robert Lewis did an amazing job in his context, so when he recommends, I listen.
“Today’s culture has become known as ‘the screen generation.’ Learning comes primarily through seeing. That’s why I am so excited about Modern Parables. It offers the truth of God visually in a way that speaks to our modern world. What a great new tool for the church! I highly recommend it.”
- Robert Lewis, D.Min., Pastor-at-Large, Fellowship Bible Church, Little Rock, AR
Check these out. Why not use what does the best job at reaching into the culture today with the timeless message of the gospel?
Check these out. Why not use what does the best job at reaching into the culture today with the timeless message of the gospel?
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Crazy Idea #... the next one
View Larger Map
As you can see, Valparaiso sits alongside the Bayous off of Choctawhatchee Bay, which is itself behind the barrier islands that Destin etc sit on. On Boggy and again on Tom's Bayou, the city has established parks (Lincoln and Florida). These have beaches and are very popular public areas all year round. They have cookout facilities, rest rooms, and pavilions for use by groups.
Once spring begins, we have teams that go down on Saturday and give away snocones. We get to bless the community and meet people we otherwise wouldn't. Not very effective in terms of drawing people here. What we'd like to do is have worship down there once a month during the summer. And to do that in conjunction with a free BBQ cookout party. We'd bring in a musical group, have them do their thing, I could do a brief devotional talk at some point. Idea again is to establish a presence away from the doors, and meet people who aren't already here.
We are looking at buying a "kitchen trailer" to aid in this. It has a stove, two sinks, a refrigerator, and a canopy to serve under. We'd pull it up down there and roll out a generator and cook with propane. Probably give away hotdogs and hamburgers as well as our usual snocones.
We would also use the "kitchen trailer" to aid groups in raising funds, as well as in disaster relief work should that prove necessary again.
So the idea is: worship and cookout in the park once a month on Sunday afternoon/evening - free to the public. Purchase a trailer to aid in that and in other outreaches and ministry.
Sound crazy? Help me think through it.
Crazy Idea #3285
We have people who love to cook, and people who love to eat, and people who like to watch movies.
There are people who share all those traits who are not part of the New Hope family of Christ followers.
What if we offered "Dinner & a Movie" once a month and had our cooks prepare a meal, our nursery and children's folks do their stuff, and show a movie with dessert after so people could mingle and we could make some friends?
Crazy?
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
New Hope @ Worship - Easter 2008
Building on the Good Friday preparation, we wanted to come into worship rejoicing over the miracle of Christ's resurrection. So we prepared a set of music to raise the roof.
All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises
Arise
Hosanna
O Worship the King - (Tomlin version)
I Can Only Imagine (special music sung by Emily Shermer)
Jesus Paid It All
and as we left we sang what might just be my favorite song.
How Can I Keep From Singing
I tried to help the congregation understand first that Easter was a fact, and secondly that Easter matters beyond the hoopla of the one day a year we celebrate. So I talked about the difference between things we can have a preference for and things that are a fact. Had fun getting the congregation to express their preferences for FSU vs UF or UA, vanilla vs chocolate vs Strawberry, Reese's Cups vs Snickers. Then I pushed to help them understand the difference. I then tried to deal with 5 big questions and Easter's answer to them.
All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises
Arise
Hosanna
O Worship the King - (Tomlin version)
I Can Only Imagine (special music sung by Emily Shermer)
Jesus Paid It All
and as we left we sang what might just be my favorite song.
How Can I Keep From Singing
I tried to help the congregation understand first that Easter was a fact, and secondly that Easter matters beyond the hoopla of the one day a year we celebrate. So I talked about the difference between things we can have a preference for and things that are a fact. Had fun getting the congregation to express their preferences for FSU vs UF or UA, vanilla vs chocolate vs Strawberry, Reese's Cups vs Snickers. Then I pushed to help them understand the difference. I then tried to deal with 5 big questions and Easter's answer to them.
The Ultimate Church Slogan Smackdown
Minding my own business, scanning some web pages this morning when I actually noticed some of the Google Adsense targeted ads at the top of the forum page I was on. It was an ad for a church in a city a couple of counties over (so much for targets), and really caused me to wonder what other churches use as their slogans. So today we have for your amazement and amusement, the "Ultimate Church Slogan Smackdown" (say it out loud with plenty of reverb for full effect).
Here's the one that started it all:
"Relevant, creative, & innovative. A real church for real people."
As opposed to irrelevant, dull, and a copycat church for copycat people.
"You never knew church could be like this"
Uh, no. (Insert most horrible images and memories here.)
"You Belong @ First"
Which First? FBC Jacksonville and FBC Dallas use the same slogan.
"A relevant biblical community."
Which one? Pharisees, Sadducee's, Essenes, Samaritans...?
We're all trying to come up with a sound bite to explain what our group of Christ Followers is about. The audience for this though, is not homogeneous. From what I have read lately about the way people look for a faith community to visit, many people check out the websites in the area first.
Do we then put on the website who we are, or who we aspire to be? If we choose the first option, I'm thinking "We're screwed up, You're screwed up" might work. Or "A time tested hypocrite recovery program".
I love the church, but come on guys, we don't have to pimp this ride. :)
Here's the one that started it all:
"Relevant, creative, & innovative. A real church for real people."
As opposed to irrelevant, dull, and a copycat church for copycat people.
"You never knew church could be like this"
Uh, no. (Insert most horrible images and memories here.)
"You Belong @ First"
Which First? FBC Jacksonville and FBC Dallas use the same slogan.
"A relevant biblical community."
Which one? Pharisees, Sadducee's, Essenes, Samaritans...?
We're all trying to come up with a sound bite to explain what our group of Christ Followers is about. The audience for this though, is not homogeneous. From what I have read lately about the way people look for a faith community to visit, many people check out the websites in the area first.
Do we then put on the website who we are, or who we aspire to be? If we choose the first option, I'm thinking "We're screwed up, You're screwed up" might work. Or "A time tested hypocrite recovery program".
I love the church, but come on guys, we don't have to pimp this ride. :)
Monday, March 24, 2008
What Does It Take To Plant or Turn A Church Around?
Resurrection faith.
You have to believe - not in your skills, or methods - but in the absolute fact that in light of what God did on Easter, there is always hope. You will encounter many reasons to cause questions to appear in your mind and even doubts to form in your heart. There will be days that you wonder why you even though you could possibly be used by God to bring the dead to life.
But then comes Easter. And you remember, God can do it. William Willimon, UMC Bishop of North Alabama writes today:
Well, no.
Resurrection changes everything.
You have to believe - not in your skills, or methods - but in the absolute fact that in light of what God did on Easter, there is always hope. You will encounter many reasons to cause questions to appear in your mind and even doubts to form in your heart. There will be days that you wonder why you even though you could possibly be used by God to bring the dead to life.
But then comes Easter. And you remember, God can do it. William Willimon, UMC Bishop of North Alabama writes today:
In a workshop with Paul Borden last year, someone asked him, “You are a natural leader in starting new churches. What is the main thing you look for in selecting new pastors?” Borden responded, “An Orthodox faith, a vivid belief in the Trinity, and of course, a sure faith in the resurrection.”It never ceases to amaze me. How little people really believe that God can do. That he is exceedingly abundantly able to do - to do more than we could ever ask or imagine. How we take resurrection and confine it to two choruses of "Up from the Grave He Arose", then resume our normal programming.
Don’t you find that an amazing response? I thought Borden would say something managerial, “an entrepreneurial spirit,” something like that. Or, I thought he might cite some psychological configuration or organizational expertise in the pastor. No. Borden demands theology, faith in resurrection.
It really makes a huge difference as we go about reaching a new generation of Christians, starting new churches, energizing established congregations, making disciples (our Conference priorities), if Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. If Easter is not true, then why bother?
Since Jesus Christ is raised, let loose, invading a world, returning to the very people who betrayed him, then we work not alone. The risen Christ goes before us. We serve a God who lives to raise the dead--even us. Therefore, we work with hope--not hope in ourselves and our efforts, but with hope in Christ.
Well, no.
Resurrection changes everything.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Living the Resurrection
"The do it yourself, self-help culture of North America has so throughly permeated our imagination that we ordinarily don't give attention to the biggest thing of all - resurrection. And the reason we don't is because resurrection isn't something we can use or control or manipulate or improve on."
Eugene Peterson, from Living the Resurrection pg 13
I LOVE Easter. It's my favorite holiday by far. For us, living away from our families means that it's not a real "family" day. There's no real distraction with shopping and gifts either like there is with Christmas. No real commercialism. It's about Jesus, His resurrection, and being with others who feel that way too in worship of our Risen Lord.
Every year I go into my role as pastor and teacher thinking "If I can just get them to understand and believe, believe and understand - then everything is different - everything CAN change.
When I was looking through the Scriptures this year, I came across this.
32 The whole congregation of believers was united as one— one heart, one mind! They didn't even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, "That's mine; you can't have it." They shared everything. 33 The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them.
14-15 God's Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!
This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?"
Resurrection. Just LIVE It!
Eugene Peterson, from Living the Resurrection pg 13
I LOVE Easter. It's my favorite holiday by far. For us, living away from our families means that it's not a real "family" day. There's no real distraction with shopping and gifts either like there is with Christmas. No real commercialism. It's about Jesus, His resurrection, and being with others who feel that way too in worship of our Risen Lord.
Every year I go into my role as pastor and teacher thinking "If I can just get them to understand and believe, believe and understand - then everything is different - everything CAN change.
When I was looking through the Scriptures this year, I came across this.
32 The whole congregation of believers was united as one— one heart, one mind! They didn't even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, "That's mine; you can't have it." They shared everything. 33 The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them.
Acts 4:32-33 (MSG)
Right there - right in the center of their everyday God-blessed life - was the resurrection. They used it much like a diver uses a springboard to propel their faith to do amazing things. Christ had risen - just as He said. Because He had, everything was possible. We look at the cross and in our 21st century view, see that as the center of everything for the early church.
No.
It was the resurrection.
10 If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we're at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life! 11 Now that we have actually received this amazing friendship with God, we are no longer content to simply say it in plodding prose. We sing and shout our praises to God through Jesus, the Messiah!
Romans 5:10-11 (MSG)
The resurrection was the ultimate reminder of God's power AND His love. They reveled in it, rejoiced because of it, lived in it - everyday. The life after the resurrection is full of possibilities through the power of God.14-15 God's Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!
This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?"
Romans 8:14 (MSG)
It provided a bulwalk against all the hazards and hardships that the early Christians faced, and provided them with a glimpse of God's glory and His grace. It was motivation enough to endure, but not just endure - to undergo the worst - and STAND.
31 I look death in the face practically every day I live. Do you think I'd do this if I wasn't convinced of your resurrection and mine as guaranteed by the resurrected Messiah Jesus? 32 Do you think I was just trying to act heroic when I fought the wild beasts at Ephesus, hoping it wouldn't be the end of me? Not on your life! It's resurrection, resurrection, always resurrection, that undergirds what I do and say, the way I live.
1 Cor 15:31-32 (MSG)
So friends, LIVE THE RESURRECTION! You've been given not just a new lease on life, but a new life today and a new life tomorrow and beyond. You've been led from prison cells into the wide open spaces of God's love and eternal power. Look up!
1 So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. 2 Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ— that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.
3 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life— even though invisible to spectators— is with Christ in God. He is your life.
Col 3:1-3 (MSG)
Join with me to see where our freedom takes us - where this incredible opening we have in the veil of this life leads us into resurrection life today, tomorrow, and the days after that.Resurrection. Just LIVE It!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Twas the Night Before Easter
I had no idea there were so many parodies of Clement Moore's "Twas the Night Before Christmas" having to do with Easter until I Googled that phrase. Everyone seems to have beaten me to the punch.
Having entered the "preacher bubble" some years ago, I tend to forget what the rest of the world is doing during Holy Week, and just how messed up the culture is when it comes to holidays. Now don't get me wrong, I love holidays. But come on. Easter changes everything!
So later this morning I'll stand in front of a congregation and try to get them to think through what an awesomely staggering accomplishment God did when He brought His Son back to life.
This is no "one off" miracle that God did just to make a point.
Easter changes everything.
It's either true or it isn't. And if true, we must decide whether to reject Christ and His amazing offer of forgiveness and restoration, or die in our sins.
(BTW - I'm taking the "it's true" POV) :)
So I'm done with the darkness of Good Friday.
It's Easter. He Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!
Having entered the "preacher bubble" some years ago, I tend to forget what the rest of the world is doing during Holy Week, and just how messed up the culture is when it comes to holidays. Now don't get me wrong, I love holidays. But come on. Easter changes everything!
So later this morning I'll stand in front of a congregation and try to get them to think through what an awesomely staggering accomplishment God did when He brought His Son back to life.
This is no "one off" miracle that God did just to make a point.
Easter changes everything.
It's either true or it isn't. And if true, we must decide whether to reject Christ and His amazing offer of forgiveness and restoration, or die in our sins.
(BTW - I'm taking the "it's true" POV) :)
So I'm done with the darkness of Good Friday.
It's Easter. He Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!
Friday, March 21, 2008
While We Go About Our Business This Weekend
Easter weekend has begun, with churches all over busy holding Good Friday services, Saturday easter Egg hunts, and Easter morning sunrise services. It's a frenzy for some.
Ironic isn't it.
The first participants would have been huddled in darkness, shrouded in secrecy, straining to hear footsteps that might mean the same officials who put their Master to death had decided to handle the rest of the problem. Nerves would have been raw. Tempers short. The dark room's outlines must have seemed fuzzy through bleary, tear stained eyes.
It was as if all the light had fled, all the life they had known - was dead. Buried. Gone. Forever.
Who of us can identify?
Who of us can understand just how lost they felt that Saturday before Easter?
When there was... no hope.
Ironic isn't it.
The first participants would have been huddled in darkness, shrouded in secrecy, straining to hear footsteps that might mean the same officials who put their Master to death had decided to handle the rest of the problem. Nerves would have been raw. Tempers short. The dark room's outlines must have seemed fuzzy through bleary, tear stained eyes.
It was as if all the light had fled, all the life they had known - was dead. Buried. Gone. Forever.
Who of us can identify?
Who of us can understand just how lost they felt that Saturday before Easter?
When there was... no hope.
A Dangerous Time - This Easter
Bob Hyatt issues a timely reminder today.
Look, I'm not saying we shouldn't take advantage of increased visitor attendance and preach the Gospel and hope that God does something amazing in people's lives...
I'm just saying that if that's your strategy- wait for someone to wander within range of your Gospel cannons and then fire on them in hopes of scoring a hit, or worse yet, doing some cool things in the hopes that they might be lured within range, then I think there a better way. Less defined, less able to be controlled by the pastors, less able to brag about at pastor's conferences or have a book written about it... but better. People loving people into your community and into relationship with Jesus.
It doesn't take mailers, banners, and Cirque Du Soleil every week. Just a bunch of loving, welcoming Christ followers. People who genuinely care. People who are seeking relationships with other people, and sharing life with them. A competent all-community gathering where things work well so as not to be a distraction from what God wants to do that morning, sure... but less of a focus on Sunday mornings as the center of community and more of a focus on the community and its revolving around Jesus Himself.
I remain convinced that what we win people with, we win them to.
Go read the whole thing. That guy makes a lot of sense. Not like that's unusual. :)
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Final Good Friday Script
FWIW Here's our 2008 Good Friday Service
Good Friday Worship Order of Service
Welcome and Explanation Pastor David Wilson
The idea behind this service is to give some context for why Christ had to die. It wasn't just "for God so loved" it was that we are sinners and are unable to pay the price for our sins. God is Holy, and we're anything but. So we'll use darkness, drama, Scripture, song and video to help us understand the depth of our sinfulness. In that way I hope we will understand the depth of Christ's loving sacrifice.
Moment of Meditation “Hurt” Johnny Cash (we're running a ppt of sins appearing then fading behind this audio)
“Come Ye Sinners” Bunny and Sean (art of Christ and the crucifixion runs behind this)
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.
"Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked.
"We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered. Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
“When I Survey” - Video (from iWorship DVD with Kathyrn Scott singing)
Bearing His own cross, the soldiers led Jesus to the place called the Skull, which is called in Hebrew,
The soldiers said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be"; that the Scripture might be fulfilled, "They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots."
And they put up above His head the charge against Him which reads, "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS." Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews."
Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."
And those who passed by hurled abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!"
And one of the criminals hanging beside Jesus hurled abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!"
But the other answered, and rebuked him saying, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?”
"And we indeed justly, for we received what we deserve for our
deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And the thief pled, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!"
And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in
The third hour was upon Jesus and darkness fell over the whole land until the final hour.
Jesus cried out “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
And some of those who stood around us there, when they heard it, said, "This man is calling for Elijah."
And immediately one of them ran, and took a sponge, filling it with sour wine, and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. But the rest of them cried out, "Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him."
And about the ninth hour when he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. At that moment, the curtain in the
“The Last Painting” – Video (very powerful video of a painter doing a figure of Christ on the cross)
Thank you. Please depart in silence and return Sunday Morning to experience the JOY OF EASTER!
We'll leave in darkness and silence and await Easter's light.
Good Friday
“The Cup”
Good Friday 2008 @ New Hope
One of the amazing things about this time in which we live is that ministries across the globe can be used by God to help others preach the gospel and impact their communities. While working on Good Friday 2008, I came across worshiptrench.com and found they had made their Good Friday 2007 service available on the internet with explicit instructions - everything you needed. So with their permission, I have adopted "The Cup" as our framework for this years' Good Friday.
We'll use most of it, but add some elements I think will make it fit our "service of shadows" theme. The Johnny Cash version of "Hurt" with the list of sins rolling down in the darkness should fix the understanding in our hearts of how unworthy we are to receive God's grace.
Come Ye Sinners is a plea to - in the light of what we are and what we deserve - to draw near to God. The "Cup" is the cup of God's wrath poured out for our sins on Christ for our benefit and to His pain.
As William Willmon said somewhere "If the church doesn't tell people who they really are, who will?"
Well, we are going to tell.
Here's the lineup, if you have any questions just let me know.
21-Mar-08 New Hope Baptist Good Friday 2008
1 Explanation - sin, wrath, price-paid!
2 Video: "Hurt" - Johnny Cash (runs with a stark background ppt of sins listed)
3 Come Ye Sinners (runs with video from the passion)
4 Video: How Deep the Father's Love (More video from the passion)
5 reading 1
6 pouring and screenshots
7 When I Survey video with Fernando Ortega
8 reading 2
9 pouring and screenshots
10 Alone: Peter's Monologue - from Lifeway's site
11 reading three narrator
12 Nothing but the blood (redmon) praise team
13 reading four narrator
14 pouring and screenshots
15 Were You There congregation (video backdrop)
16 Communion directions
17 Communion Taken deacons
18 the Last Painting (great ending of a painting of the crucified Savior)
We depart in silence to await the Hope of Easter.
Many thanks to our brothers at worship trench for sharing with us.
We'll use most of it, but add some elements I think will make it fit our "service of shadows" theme. The Johnny Cash version of "Hurt" with the list of sins rolling down in the darkness should fix the understanding in our hearts of how unworthy we are to receive God's grace.
Come Ye Sinners is a plea to - in the light of what we are and what we deserve - to draw near to God. The "Cup" is the cup of God's wrath poured out for our sins on Christ for our benefit and to His pain.
As William Willmon said somewhere "If the church doesn't tell people who they really are, who will?"
Well, we are going to tell.
Here's the lineup, if you have any questions just let me know.
21-Mar-08 New Hope Baptist Good Friday 2008
1 Explanation - sin, wrath, price-paid!
2 Video: "Hurt" - Johnny Cash (runs with a stark background ppt of sins listed)
3 Come Ye Sinners (runs with video from the passion)
4 Video: How Deep the Father's Love (More video from the passion)
5 reading 1
6 pouring and screenshots
7 When I Survey video with Fernando Ortega
8 reading 2
9 pouring and screenshots
10 Alone: Peter's Monologue - from Lifeway's site
11 reading three narrator
12 Nothing but the blood (redmon) praise team
13 reading four narrator
14 pouring and screenshots
15 Were You There congregation (video backdrop)
16 Communion directions
17 Communion Taken deacons
18 the Last Painting (great ending of a painting of the crucified Savior)
We depart in silence to await the Hope of Easter.
Many thanks to our brothers at worship trench for sharing with us.
Living in the "different-ness"
To preach the Resurrection is to announce the fact that the world is a different place, and that we have to live in that "different-ness." The Resurrection is not just God doing a wacky miracle at one time. We have to preach it in a way that says this was the turning point in world history. NT Wright
Exactly. It's as if God turned to Satan and said:
"Death? Ha! What else you got?"
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Wrath and Mercy
I've been working feverishly today to try to wrap up the details of our Good Friday service. In past years, we've done a pretty traditional Tenebrae or "Service of Shadows" where the congregation is led through the Scripture readings of the last day of Jesus' life on earth from betrayal to crucifixion and death. We've used hymns as breaks in the readings, and gradually lowered the lighting as we progressed.
Since in our run up to Easter we've spent Sunday nights worshiping in a more interactive and symbol filled way, I decided to try to make this Good Friday service in that mold. I was fortunate to find another church's efforts from last year.
In this service, called "The Cup", the object is to get the participant to FEEL just how distant our sin had drawn us from God's ideal - into the wrath of God, and just what the cost of the price that was paid to satisfy our debt was.
We're hoping that the Holy Spirit will use this worship experience to draw people to the Truth, the Way, and the Life.
Prayers gratefully accepted. :)
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Preach It, Sister
“Every Sunday I preach to at least three people who are dying of something. My general rule of thumb is this: any sermon I preach has to be worth the time they are giving to it.” Barbara Brown Taylor
There's not one activity over the course of my lifetime that I have worked harder at than preaching. I'm constantly evaluating what I'm doing, how I'm doing at it, and looking for ways to be better at it.
Why? It's just a few minutes of people's time, and most will forget what I said by Monday. (At least that's what people say.)
Because Jesus came... preaching.
Because Peter stood in the very seat of power and preached that they were powerless.
Because Paul fearlessly declared Jesus' name no matter the cost.
Because whatever form used, the words of God, delivered passionately as one dying man to others... matter.
Whatever you need to do to make sure you are at the top of your ability to communicate the life changing gospel of Jesus Christ - DO IT.
There's not one activity over the course of my lifetime that I have worked harder at than preaching. I'm constantly evaluating what I'm doing, how I'm doing at it, and looking for ways to be better at it.
Why? It's just a few minutes of people's time, and most will forget what I said by Monday. (At least that's what people say.)
Because Jesus came... preaching.
Because Peter stood in the very seat of power and preached that they were powerless.
Because Paul fearlessly declared Jesus' name no matter the cost.
Because whatever form used, the words of God, delivered passionately as one dying man to others... matter.
Whatever you need to do to make sure you are at the top of your ability to communicate the life changing gospel of Jesus Christ - DO IT.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
How Can We Help Them Learn To Love Him?
The other night, my bride of 34 years having fallen asleep out of exhaustion before I was able to do all the locking up and turning off that is the final approach to sleep, I did something out of my forever love for her. I talked to our son about what it means to be married to your one true love.
About what it means to be in a relationship with her where we both love God and each other fiercely.
About how that love and trust has empowered me to do things for God and for my family that I know I could never, ever have done without it.
And how I pray every day as does his mother that God will bless him in the same way with a wife who will help him become more with God's help than he could otherwise have ever been.
Don't know why, exactly, except that I felt and she felt like he was unable or unwilling to understand that love and what actions result from it. He's a great son, fine young man, very bright, and on the cusp of an awesome life. But at 24, he's never experienced what I have beginning at age 20 to this very day.
Unconditional love from someone (other than his parents) totally sold out to him.
So we talked, and he listened. I know he won't understand fully until it happens. But he's been prepped to know what it looks like through 24 years of action and reaction between his parents, and now I've tried to put some framework around it.
In the last few months, I have done some real soul work on who God created me to be and how He has used me, particularly here at New Hope. I've looked hard at my successes and harder at my failures. And I'm learning. And I'm growing. More dependent on God. More confident in Him. And more dissatisfied with where we are.
The information superhighway of the typical Baptist church - those data dumps we often call Sunday School, Wednesday night Bible study, even the sermon - just don't seem to be producing people who love Jesus and live out of that love for Him. We have educated a group of people in the doctrines, added some background context, and even trained them on how to follow.
But only a few do.
Some live their lives in sort of a moral no man's land, using Christianity to avoid the mines. Some live using Christianity as a veneer masking their sins. Some just show up and endure, then go home.
How can we teach them in such a way that they learn to love Jesus?
Once that happens, then transformational discipleship can begin.
About what it means to be in a relationship with her where we both love God and each other fiercely.
About how that love and trust has empowered me to do things for God and for my family that I know I could never, ever have done without it.
And how I pray every day as does his mother that God will bless him in the same way with a wife who will help him become more with God's help than he could otherwise have ever been.
Don't know why, exactly, except that I felt and she felt like he was unable or unwilling to understand that love and what actions result from it. He's a great son, fine young man, very bright, and on the cusp of an awesome life. But at 24, he's never experienced what I have beginning at age 20 to this very day.
Unconditional love from someone (other than his parents) totally sold out to him.
So we talked, and he listened. I know he won't understand fully until it happens. But he's been prepped to know what it looks like through 24 years of action and reaction between his parents, and now I've tried to put some framework around it.
In the last few months, I have done some real soul work on who God created me to be and how He has used me, particularly here at New Hope. I've looked hard at my successes and harder at my failures. And I'm learning. And I'm growing. More dependent on God. More confident in Him. And more dissatisfied with where we are.
The information superhighway of the typical Baptist church - those data dumps we often call Sunday School, Wednesday night Bible study, even the sermon - just don't seem to be producing people who love Jesus and live out of that love for Him. We have educated a group of people in the doctrines, added some background context, and even trained them on how to follow.
But only a few do.
Some live their lives in sort of a moral no man's land, using Christianity to avoid the mines. Some live using Christianity as a veneer masking their sins. Some just show up and endure, then go home.
How can we teach them in such a way that they learn to love Jesus?
Once that happens, then transformational discipleship can begin.
New Hope At Worship - 16 March 2008
Palm Sunday 2008. I continued in the "Red Letters" series into Matthew 9 - Matthew's favorite Day.
All Glory Laud and Honor - call to worship
(Kids brought "palm fronds" down the aisle.
Worship set:
Forever - Tomlin
Blessed Be the Name - Redman
All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
Grace Flows Down
Just As I Am
We had a special piano piece by Jaime and an offertory by Juliet. I'm thrilled to have youth helping lead us in worship.
Matthew 9: 9-13
In order to help people put themselves into the passage, I used folding chairs and sheets of paper taped to them with a description of a person on each. I lined the chairs up with Jesus on one end, and then asked for help in placing people in relation to their closeness to Jesus. I got some help, finally and moved some people. Then got a little more. Then I added some more information about the people. More changes. Bottom line, every single one of them found Jesus.
Tonight was the last of our Lenten Sunday Night worship gatherings. I have really enjoyed trying out a more participatory format, with greater intimacy.
EVENING WORSHIP MARCH 16, 2008
Worship Theme: “Fellowship of Suffering”
Opening Prayer
Intro: “VIDEO: How Beautiful”
Reading : 1 But, oh, how few believe it! Who will listen? To whom will God reveal his saving power? 2 In God's eyes he was like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. But in our eyes there was no attractiveness at all, nothing to make us want him. 3 We despised him and rejected him--a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we didn't care. 4 Yet it was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins! 5 But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed--and we were healed! 6 We--every one of us--have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God's paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us! Isaiah 53:1-6 (TLB)
Jesus died for us, and because of the cross there are new truths in our lives. Because of the cross we have access to the father.
Reading: 19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and by him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross. 21 This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, 22 yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body. As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. 23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don't drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. Col 1:19-23 (NLT)
Video: Mighty Is the Power of the Cross
Because of the cross we have access to God, because of the cross we can make our requests known to him
15 So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into his family —calling him "Father, dear Father." 16 For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's children. 17 And since we are his children, we will share his treasures—for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Romans 8:15-17 (NLT)
Prayer Needs: At this time, if you have a prayer need, would you stand. Those of you who do not, would you please pray for those who do. You may wish to go and put a hand on their shoulder as you pray.
(This was AWESOME! To see the whole group gathered around laying hands on and praying for those who had stood was very moving.)
Video: Someone’s Praying (Ricky Scaggs)
Reading: Revelation 21:3-4;
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever." Rev 21:3-4 (NLT)
One day we won't have prayer anymore because of the cross we will be with God in heaven. One day there will be no more pain, no more loss. Because of the cross we will stand before God. I can only imagine.
VIDEO: I Can Only Imagine
COMMUNION
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. 1 John 4:16a (NIV).
All Glory Laud and Honor - call to worship
(Kids brought "palm fronds" down the aisle.
Worship set:
Forever - Tomlin
Blessed Be the Name - Redman
All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
Grace Flows Down
Just As I Am
We had a special piano piece by Jaime and an offertory by Juliet. I'm thrilled to have youth helping lead us in worship.
Matthew 9: 9-13
In order to help people put themselves into the passage, I used folding chairs and sheets of paper taped to them with a description of a person on each. I lined the chairs up with Jesus on one end, and then asked for help in placing people in relation to their closeness to Jesus. I got some help, finally and moved some people. Then got a little more. Then I added some more information about the people. More changes. Bottom line, every single one of them found Jesus.
Tonight was the last of our Lenten Sunday Night worship gatherings. I have really enjoyed trying out a more participatory format, with greater intimacy.
EVENING WORSHIP MARCH 16, 2008
Worship Theme: “Fellowship of Suffering”
Opening Prayer
Intro: “VIDEO: How Beautiful”
Reading : 1 But, oh, how few believe it! Who will listen? To whom will God reveal his saving power? 2 In God's eyes he was like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. But in our eyes there was no attractiveness at all, nothing to make us want him. 3 We despised him and rejected him--a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we didn't care. 4 Yet it was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins! 5 But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed--and we were healed! 6 We--every one of us--have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God's paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us! Isaiah 53:1-6 (TLB)
Jesus died for us, and because of the cross there are new truths in our lives. Because of the cross we have access to the father.
Reading: 19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and by him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross. 21 This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, 22 yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body. As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. 23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don't drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. Col 1:19-23 (NLT)
Video: Mighty Is the Power of the Cross
Because of the cross we have access to God, because of the cross we can make our requests known to him
15 So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into his family —calling him "Father, dear Father." 16 For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's children. 17 And since we are his children, we will share his treasures—for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Romans 8:15-17 (NLT)
Prayer Needs: At this time, if you have a prayer need, would you stand. Those of you who do not, would you please pray for those who do. You may wish to go and put a hand on their shoulder as you pray.
(This was AWESOME! To see the whole group gathered around laying hands on and praying for those who had stood was very moving.)
Video: Someone’s Praying (Ricky Scaggs)
Reading: Revelation 21:3-4;
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever." Rev 21:3-4 (NLT)
One day we won't have prayer anymore because of the cross we will be with God in heaven. One day there will be no more pain, no more loss. Because of the cross we will stand before God. I can only imagine.
VIDEO: I Can Only Imagine
COMMUNION
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. 1 John 4:16a (NIV).
Saturday, March 15, 2008
When the cheering stops
The last couple of days, I've watched the frenzy of college basketball conference tournaments play out. I even found myself earlier today in a sort of basketball twilight zone, where a rabid Georgia Tech fan finds himself rooting for the hated Georgia Bulldogs playing on the GA Tech home court. I've seen young men hit incredible shots to win big games, and I've seen some young men miss shots that could have won games. In the first, the cheering will be with them forever, I'm sure. For those who missed, I hope they can remember the thrill of competition and overcome the bitterness of loss. Because for most people, it's what you do when the cheering stops that is the key.
We are on the cusp of a very special week as I write this. Sunday will begin Holy Week in Christian churches all around the globe. In thousands of languages and dialects, the story of Jesus' Passion will be told. Don't miss it.
John 12:17-19 (Msg) The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, was there giving eyewitness accounts. [18] It was because they had spread the word of this latest God-sign that the crowd swelled to a welcoming parade. [19] The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: "It's out of control. The world's in a stampede after him."
If Gallop, Barna, or Harris had taken a poll, Jesus would have been proclaimed king in a landslide that Palm Sunday, as even his enemies admitted that His popularity was at an all time high. People thronged to see Him enter Jerusalem.
But within a few days, people in Jerusalem were crying for Him to be executed as a criminal. And so He was. How did Jesus handle not just a change in popularity, but intense rejection? How can we learn from what He did?
No, we'll never enter Jerusalem at the head of thousands of our followers. But we enjoy being praised, and we like being liked. What happens to our convictions when we aren't? What principle can we look at to guide our way?
What did Jesus do?
John 12:27-28 (Msg)
"Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? 'Father, get me out of this'? No, this is why I came in the first place. [28] I'll say, 'Father, put your glory on display.' "
Knowing that this celebration would end, and that the week would find Him bruised, battered, and crucified, Jesus looked not to His circumstances for direction, but to God. It was God's will that He used like a homing beacon. It was His passion to please God and glorify His name that kept Him going.
What are you here for?
Glorifying God. That's why you were placed here in the first place.
Take the next week and use it to redirect your focus off the things of this life. Use the lens of Jesus' Passion to help you push toward deeper things - toward God. People aren't going to always be cheering your efforts you know. Sometimes you will miss that shot at the buzzer. Sometimes you'll dribble off your foot.
But God will always be in your cheering section, encouraging you. The cheering may stop here, but heaven will raise a ruckus when you come home.
Grace!
David Wilson
We are on the cusp of a very special week as I write this. Sunday will begin Holy Week in Christian churches all around the globe. In thousands of languages and dialects, the story of Jesus' Passion will be told. Don't miss it.
John 12:17-19 (Msg) The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, was there giving eyewitness accounts. [18] It was because they had spread the word of this latest God-sign that the crowd swelled to a welcoming parade. [19] The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: "It's out of control. The world's in a stampede after him."
If Gallop, Barna, or Harris had taken a poll, Jesus would have been proclaimed king in a landslide that Palm Sunday, as even his enemies admitted that His popularity was at an all time high. People thronged to see Him enter Jerusalem.
But within a few days, people in Jerusalem were crying for Him to be executed as a criminal. And so He was. How did Jesus handle not just a change in popularity, but intense rejection? How can we learn from what He did?
No, we'll never enter Jerusalem at the head of thousands of our followers. But we enjoy being praised, and we like being liked. What happens to our convictions when we aren't? What principle can we look at to guide our way?
What did Jesus do?
John 12:27-28 (Msg)
"Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? 'Father, get me out of this'? No, this is why I came in the first place. [28] I'll say, 'Father, put your glory on display.' "
Knowing that this celebration would end, and that the week would find Him bruised, battered, and crucified, Jesus looked not to His circumstances for direction, but to God. It was God's will that He used like a homing beacon. It was His passion to please God and glorify His name that kept Him going.
What are you here for?
Glorifying God. That's why you were placed here in the first place.
Take the next week and use it to redirect your focus off the things of this life. Use the lens of Jesus' Passion to help you push toward deeper things - toward God. People aren't going to always be cheering your efforts you know. Sometimes you will miss that shot at the buzzer. Sometimes you'll dribble off your foot.
But God will always be in your cheering section, encouraging you. The cheering may stop here, but heaven will raise a ruckus when you come home.
Grace!
David Wilson
Just saying
"The Bible is there to enable God's people to be equipped to do God's work in God's world, not to give them an excuse to sit back smugly, knowing they possess all God's truth." - N.T. Wright
Friday, March 14, 2008
Will the circle be unbroken if we round off Pi?
Today is Pi day.
Remember? 3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375 etc etc etc?
That mathematical constant that defied your TI calculator's poor attempt to finally, once and for all, say what Pi was?
All these years since then, somehow you have managed to live a fairly normal life without ever resolving that question sufficiently. So I think that there's hope for you when I tell you that you can believe in Jesus.
Huh?
Yes. You can believe in Jesus.
I'm writing today to those among you who are struggling with the questions still unanswered about Jesus, the Bible, and God. If that's not you, then please forward this along to your sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, that guy in the next cubicle, your prof in psych class, that neighbor who'll change the subject - you know plenty of them.
There just seem to be a lot of people who will not give Jesus a chance because of some misguided idea that in order to do so, every question they have about Him, God, the Bible, the Church etc, has to be 100%, completely, nailed down. (Of course, those of us who follow Jesus consider something being 'nailed down' as certain, but I digress).
Jesus asked, as near as I can figure, 287 questions of the people around Him while he was here during His earthly ministry. Some people were baffled. Some people intrigued. And some gave incomplete answers at first, but were able to understand the answer later.
Like this man. His name was John, and he spent most of his adult life it seems trying to understand who Jesus was and how it was possible for God to love him. He kept referring to himself, this John, when he wrote everything out for us to read - in the third person, like some sort of Monty Python mode "we are not amused". Except he wasn't kidding. "the disciple that Jesus loved" is the way he'd describe himself.
So he got to the end of his life here, this John. The last few years. He was trying to make sense of it all. This is what he wrote.
1 From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in— we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we're telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us. 3 We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!
1 John 1:1-4 (MSG)
Look very carefully at that again. Do you see any explanation of why what he saw happen... happened? Do you detect any attempt to explain the intricacies of God? No.
Just an attempt to invite others to live the questions with him and experience the same joy.
I'm not saying that we can't learn the deeper truths about God, or that we shouldn't.
What I am saying is that we can live, laugh, cry and experience joy even though some parts of our understanding of God and His work through Jesus remain unresolved to us. Kind of like how we have lived with Pi all these years.
Come. Follow Jesus. Enjoy the journey. Live the questions until the Truth makes Himself known to you.
Grace and peace,
David
Remember? 3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375 etc etc etc?
That mathematical constant that defied your TI calculator's poor attempt to finally, once and for all, say what Pi was?
All these years since then, somehow you have managed to live a fairly normal life without ever resolving that question sufficiently. So I think that there's hope for you when I tell you that you can believe in Jesus.
Huh?
Yes. You can believe in Jesus.
I'm writing today to those among you who are struggling with the questions still unanswered about Jesus, the Bible, and God. If that's not you, then please forward this along to your sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, that guy in the next cubicle, your prof in psych class, that neighbor who'll change the subject - you know plenty of them.
There just seem to be a lot of people who will not give Jesus a chance because of some misguided idea that in order to do so, every question they have about Him, God, the Bible, the Church etc, has to be 100%, completely, nailed down. (Of course, those of us who follow Jesus consider something being 'nailed down' as certain, but I digress).
Jesus asked, as near as I can figure, 287 questions of the people around Him while he was here during His earthly ministry. Some people were baffled. Some people intrigued. And some gave incomplete answers at first, but were able to understand the answer later.
Like this man. His name was John, and he spent most of his adult life it seems trying to understand who Jesus was and how it was possible for God to love him. He kept referring to himself, this John, when he wrote everything out for us to read - in the third person, like some sort of Monty Python mode "we are not amused". Except he wasn't kidding. "the disciple that Jesus loved" is the way he'd describe himself.
So he got to the end of his life here, this John. The last few years. He was trying to make sense of it all. This is what he wrote.
1 From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in— we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we're telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us. 3 We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!
1 John 1:1-4 (MSG)
Look very carefully at that again. Do you see any explanation of why what he saw happen... happened? Do you detect any attempt to explain the intricacies of God? No.
Just an attempt to invite others to live the questions with him and experience the same joy.
I'm not saying that we can't learn the deeper truths about God, or that we shouldn't.
What I am saying is that we can live, laugh, cry and experience joy even though some parts of our understanding of God and His work through Jesus remain unresolved to us. Kind of like how we have lived with Pi all these years.
Come. Follow Jesus. Enjoy the journey. Live the questions until the Truth makes Himself known to you.
Grace and peace,
David
Today is Pi day.
Remember? 3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375 etc etc etc?
That mathematical constant that defied your TI calculator's poor attempt to finally, once and for all, say what Pi was?
All these years since then, somehow you have managed to live a fairly normal life without ever resolving that question sufficiently. So I think that there's hope for you when I tell you that you can believe in Jesus.
Huh?
Yes. You can believe in Jesus.
I'm writing today to those among you who are struggling with the questions still unanswered about Jesus, the Bible, and God. If that's not you, then please forward this along to your sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, that guy in the next cubicle, your prof in psych class, that neighbor who'll change the subject - you know plenty of them.
There just seem to be a lot of people who will not give Jesus a chance because of some misguided idea that in order to do so, every question they have about Him, God, the Bible, the Church etc, has to be 100%, completely, nailed down. (Of course, those of us who follow Jesus consider something being 'nailed down' as certain, but I digress).
Jesus asked, as near as I can figure, 287 questions of the people around Him while he was here during His earthly ministry. Some people were baffled. Some people intrigued. And some gave incomplete answers at first, but were able to understand the answer later.
Like this man. His name was John, and he spent most of his adult life it seems trying to understand who Jesus was and how it was possible for God to love him. He kept referring to himself, this John, when he wrote everything out for us to read - in the third person, like some sort of Monty Python mode "we are not amused". Except he wasn't kidding. "the disciple that Jesus loved" is the way he'd describe himself.
So he got to the end of his life here, this John. The last few years. He was trying to make sense of it all. This is what he wrote.
1 From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in— we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we're telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us. 3 We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!
1 John 1:1-4 (MSG)
Look very carefully at that again. Do you see any explanation of why what he saw happen... happened? Do you detect any attempt to explain the intricacies of God? No.
Just an attempt to invite others to live the questions with him and experience the same joy.
I'm not saying that we can't learn the deeper truths about God, or that we shouldn't.
What I am saying is that we can live, laugh, cry and experience joy even though some parts of our understanding of God and His work through Jesus remain unresolved to us. Kind of like how we have lived with Pi all these years.
Come. Follow Jesus. Enjoy the journey. Live the questions until the Truth makes Himself known to you.
Grace and peace,
David
Remember? 3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375 etc etc etc?
That mathematical constant that defied your TI calculator's poor attempt to finally, once and for all, say what Pi was?
All these years since then, somehow you have managed to live a fairly normal life without ever resolving that question sufficiently. So I think that there's hope for you when I tell you that you can believe in Jesus.
Huh?
Yes. You can believe in Jesus.
I'm writing today to those among you who are struggling with the questions still unanswered about Jesus, the Bible, and God. If that's not you, then please forward this along to your sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, that guy in the next cubicle, your prof in psych class, that neighbor who'll change the subject - you know plenty of them.
There just seem to be a lot of people who will not give Jesus a chance because of some misguided idea that in order to do so, every question they have about Him, God, the Bible, the Church etc, has to be 100%, completely, nailed down. (Of course, those of us who follow Jesus consider something being 'nailed down' as certain, but I digress).
Jesus asked, as near as I can figure, 287 questions of the people around Him while he was here during His earthly ministry. Some people were baffled. Some people intrigued. And some gave incomplete answers at first, but were able to understand the answer later.
Like this man. His name was John, and he spent most of his adult life it seems trying to understand who Jesus was and how it was possible for God to love him. He kept referring to himself, this John, when he wrote everything out for us to read - in the third person, like some sort of Monty Python mode "we are not amused". Except he wasn't kidding. "the disciple that Jesus loved" is the way he'd describe himself.
So he got to the end of his life here, this John. The last few years. He was trying to make sense of it all. This is what he wrote.
1 From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in— we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we're telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us. 3 We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!
1 John 1:1-4 (MSG)
Look very carefully at that again. Do you see any explanation of why what he saw happen... happened? Do you detect any attempt to explain the intricacies of God? No.
Just an attempt to invite others to live the questions with him and experience the same joy.
I'm not saying that we can't learn the deeper truths about God, or that we shouldn't.
What I am saying is that we can live, laugh, cry and experience joy even though some parts of our understanding of God and His work through Jesus remain unresolved to us. Kind of like how we have lived with Pi all these years.
Come. Follow Jesus. Enjoy the journey. Live the questions until the Truth makes Himself known to you.
Grace and peace,
David
Tread Softly
Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
By W.B. Yeats
This is a follow-up to my post about "the Walmart Effect" and isn't any effort to delve into the underlying causes of small church mega internecine squabbles. Yeah, consumerism is rampant everywhere, in every social setting. True, emerging generations are massively enmeshed in that trap that we boomers built. Got that. And no, I'm not whitewashing every mega. I don't know them and maybe somewhere a mega is doing a better job at being a small church than we are. Unlikely, but I could see it happening, and I'd do everything in my power to make it happen if I was say Bill Hybles.
Oh but wait. They were doing that, going to neighborhoods, and now they are not and Randy Frazee is gone. Back to doing what megas do best I guess. But no. That's not why I'm here typing today. I want to get to the heart of the matter. Why I wrote the first post. And this goes out to New Hope's workers, and every other youth worker who reads this.
What I really wanted to write about was youth worker's hearts.
15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for Christians everywhere, 16 I have never stopped thanking God for you.
Eph 1:15-16 (NLT)
That's so true for me when I think of you and your families. I know you are serious about your pursuit of Jesus' call on your lives, and passionate about what He has given you to do. That naturally flows into your relationships with everyone, but especially with those God has given you to nurture and to care for.
I want to tell you thanks. Thanks for being there for them. Thanks for putting your heart on the line again and again. Thanks for caring so much that one 13 year old girl's decision that you feel (as do I) is a step away from a walk with Jesus, hurts your heart.
I'm honored to serve alongside you. All of you.
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
By W.B. Yeats
This is a follow-up to my post about "the Walmart Effect" and isn't any effort to delve into the underlying causes of small church mega internecine squabbles. Yeah, consumerism is rampant everywhere, in every social setting. True, emerging generations are massively enmeshed in that trap that we boomers built. Got that. And no, I'm not whitewashing every mega. I don't know them and maybe somewhere a mega is doing a better job at being a small church than we are. Unlikely, but I could see it happening, and I'd do everything in my power to make it happen if I was say Bill Hybles.
Oh but wait. They were doing that, going to neighborhoods, and now they are not and Randy Frazee is gone. Back to doing what megas do best I guess. But no. That's not why I'm here typing today. I want to get to the heart of the matter. Why I wrote the first post. And this goes out to New Hope's workers, and every other youth worker who reads this.
What I really wanted to write about was youth worker's hearts.
15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for Christians everywhere, 16 I have never stopped thanking God for you.
Eph 1:15-16 (NLT)
That's so true for me when I think of you and your families. I know you are serious about your pursuit of Jesus' call on your lives, and passionate about what He has given you to do. That naturally flows into your relationships with everyone, but especially with those God has given you to nurture and to care for.
I want to tell you thanks. Thanks for being there for them. Thanks for putting your heart on the line again and again. Thanks for caring so much that one 13 year old girl's decision that you feel (as do I) is a step away from a walk with Jesus, hurts your heart.
I'm honored to serve alongside you. All of you.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The Walmart Effect and the Smaller Church
I can vaguely remember when we were in a big church during one of our periods of searching for a church home in Macon. Our family was one of hundreds. Our Sunday school class was huge. The church had great facilities - a separate children's building with a check-in like in a hospital. Every service was televised. The church really had a lot to offer, but we never really connected. This was in the 80's, before the world woke up to the mega and before I became a pastor. Back then, that size church was a rarity. Now there are three that size between 5 miles of my smaller church.
Irony. Most of my secular career was spent with huge multinational corporations selling to other huge multinational corporations - including Walmart. I personally called on Eckerd HQ, K-Mart regional, Publix, Brunos, Big Star, and yes, Walmart. My efforts helped them succeed, often at the expense of smaller chains and independents.
Shoe - meet other foot.
Last night, our youth volunteers were rocked by a 13yr old girl's comment that she might not be with us tonight. When asked why, she said her friend had invited her to one of the local mega churches, and that her family might be going there. This is a girl and a family that we have poured love into again and again. Our volunteers have sacrificed for her large portions of time and money to help her find her way. We've reached out to her and her siblings - to her family. They live around the corner from us. We give them rides home when it's raining. We hug them even though once the little one said "I think all the lice are gone."
She's a teenager. Friends are at the top of her values. She'll always have more outside New Hope than inside. And the mega will always offer more of the glamour of today's youth ministry than we will. But the thing about the people we have working with her and all the ones like her is that we love these kids fiercely and want with every fiber of our being to see Jesus formed in them and in their family.
In the old days, people wouldn't invite other people to church if they were already attending one. It was considered in bad taste. If you were already "churched" then that was great, because it was the "unchurched" that everyone wanted to see find salvation and be included in the church. But today, all of that is by the wayside as big churches try to stay big and get bigger. We are within 5 miles of three megachurches. Like Walmart, they grow by putting the competition out of business. And those three actively market to other church's members.
That's not the way God grows His church. So I do think there's a spiritual battle going on here as well.
I think New Hope is a hard place to be if you don't want to be convicted of your sins and shortcomings with God. We care about souls. Not "nickles and noses" (money and numbers) like big churches do, but the state of people's relationship with God. In Sunday school, Pam is about as passionate as anyone I've ever known and challenging too. On Wed night there's a buzz saw of challenges to your commitment if you are her age. And I hope what I do on Sunday adds some to that mix.
You can't fade into the background, you can't float in and out, and you can't pretend at New Hope. But you CAN where you are one of hundreds or thousands. The devil doesn't like that. So he'd love to see her in a place where if she doesn't come for a week - two weeks, no one will notice. Like we do.
So what does the smaller church do?
Well first, we pray. Pray that God is at work in the life of this girl, even if we can't see Him. Pray that He is at work in her family - the one we have prayed for so often, invited so many times, reached out to. Pray that God will guide us to do what He wants us to do in a way that will offer Jesus' way to every youth and adult.
Then we step back and evaluate what we are doing. It may be that no change is needed. But it may also be that the other 100 or so kids in our city that don't go anywhere are the real target and just maybe we need to be about the business of reaching them. We have assets and liabilities based on our size. So do the megas.
Ours are passion, flexibility, community, and missional purpose. We let kids and youth lead in worship. We invite them to participate to the extent they feel led. We can turn on a dime and get 12ct worth of ministry out of it. We are fierce in our love for one another and passionately purposeful about what we do. We don't just fire up the Xboxes and plasma screens and let the kids play and call that youth group. We're about spiritual transformation. I absolutely believe that's God's plan.
So we'll do what we can do best and let the Good Shepherd place His sheep.
Then we pray and go back to work.
But yeah, I can completely understand why people picket Walmart - today. When our youth people - who put themselves on the line for the youth - hurt - you better believe I do too.
Irony. Most of my secular career was spent with huge multinational corporations selling to other huge multinational corporations - including Walmart. I personally called on Eckerd HQ, K-Mart regional, Publix, Brunos, Big Star, and yes, Walmart. My efforts helped them succeed, often at the expense of smaller chains and independents.
Shoe - meet other foot.
Last night, our youth volunteers were rocked by a 13yr old girl's comment that she might not be with us tonight. When asked why, she said her friend had invited her to one of the local mega churches, and that her family might be going there. This is a girl and a family that we have poured love into again and again. Our volunteers have sacrificed for her large portions of time and money to help her find her way. We've reached out to her and her siblings - to her family. They live around the corner from us. We give them rides home when it's raining. We hug them even though once the little one said "I think all the lice are gone."
She's a teenager. Friends are at the top of her values. She'll always have more outside New Hope than inside. And the mega will always offer more of the glamour of today's youth ministry than we will. But the thing about the people we have working with her and all the ones like her is that we love these kids fiercely and want with every fiber of our being to see Jesus formed in them and in their family.
In the old days, people wouldn't invite other people to church if they were already attending one. It was considered in bad taste. If you were already "churched" then that was great, because it was the "unchurched" that everyone wanted to see find salvation and be included in the church. But today, all of that is by the wayside as big churches try to stay big and get bigger. We are within 5 miles of three megachurches. Like Walmart, they grow by putting the competition out of business. And those three actively market to other church's members.
That's not the way God grows His church. So I do think there's a spiritual battle going on here as well.
I think New Hope is a hard place to be if you don't want to be convicted of your sins and shortcomings with God. We care about souls. Not "nickles and noses" (money and numbers) like big churches do, but the state of people's relationship with God. In Sunday school, Pam is about as passionate as anyone I've ever known and challenging too. On Wed night there's a buzz saw of challenges to your commitment if you are her age. And I hope what I do on Sunday adds some to that mix.
You can't fade into the background, you can't float in and out, and you can't pretend at New Hope. But you CAN where you are one of hundreds or thousands. The devil doesn't like that. So he'd love to see her in a place where if she doesn't come for a week - two weeks, no one will notice. Like we do.
So what does the smaller church do?
Well first, we pray. Pray that God is at work in the life of this girl, even if we can't see Him. Pray that He is at work in her family - the one we have prayed for so often, invited so many times, reached out to. Pray that God will guide us to do what He wants us to do in a way that will offer Jesus' way to every youth and adult.
Then we step back and evaluate what we are doing. It may be that no change is needed. But it may also be that the other 100 or so kids in our city that don't go anywhere are the real target and just maybe we need to be about the business of reaching them. We have assets and liabilities based on our size. So do the megas.
Ours are passion, flexibility, community, and missional purpose. We let kids and youth lead in worship. We invite them to participate to the extent they feel led. We can turn on a dime and get 12ct worth of ministry out of it. We are fierce in our love for one another and passionately purposeful about what we do. We don't just fire up the Xboxes and plasma screens and let the kids play and call that youth group. We're about spiritual transformation. I absolutely believe that's God's plan.
So we'll do what we can do best and let the Good Shepherd place His sheep.
Then we pray and go back to work.
But yeah, I can completely understand why people picket Walmart - today. When our youth people - who put themselves on the line for the youth - hurt - you better believe I do too.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Well?
Alley Violinist
By Robert Lax
if you were an alley violinist
and they threw you money
from three windows
and the first note contained
a nickel and said;
when you play, we dance and
sing, signed
a very poor family
and the second one contained
a dime and said;
I like your playing very much,
signed
a sick old lady
and the last one contained
a dollar and said;
beat it,
would you;
stand there and play?
beat it?
walk away playing your fiddle?
There's something in that poem that relates to being a pastor, one called by God to do His will among people of all kinds, with all sorts of reactions to your attempts to follow God and lead them closer.
I think.
By Robert Lax
if you were an alley violinist
and they threw you money
from three windows
and the first note contained
a nickel and said;
when you play, we dance and
sing, signed
a very poor family
and the second one contained
a dime and said;
I like your playing very much,
signed
a sick old lady
and the last one contained
a dollar and said;
beat it,
would you;
stand there and play?
beat it?
walk away playing your fiddle?
There's something in that poem that relates to being a pastor, one called by God to do His will among people of all kinds, with all sorts of reactions to your attempts to follow God and lead them closer.
I think.
Monday, March 10, 2008
What Does My Reading Say About Where I'm Headed?
I'm here on my day off trying to get over a nasty cold and Bunny and Sean have headed out to Destin to pick up a few things. I've had three phone calls from members, read some of my seminary text, and watched a little TV. (Why do we even have TV - there's nothing there)
For some reason I glanced up and saw the books I have here on my desk. Now I have a couple thousand in my office at church, but these here at home are in sort of a rotation. I'm either using them for background information on what I'm currently doing, reading them for what I might be doing, or rereading them because something in them is causing me to think.
I like to think.
So here's the list.
They Like Jesus, But Not the Church - Dan Kimball
unChristian - Kinnaman & Lyons
The Cross and the Prodigal - Ken Bailey
Searching for God Knows What - Donald Miller
Breaking the Missional Code - Ed Stetzer
Matthew - the Holman NIV Commentary - Anders
Matthew - the Communicators Commentary - Augsburger
The Jesus Creed - Scot McKnight
An Unstoppable Force - Erwin Mcmanus
The Jesus Way - Eugene Peterson
Communicating for A Change - Andy Stanley
The Present Future - Reggie McNeal
Christ Plays In Ten Thousand Places - Eugene Peterson
Living the Questions In Matthew - the Navigators
Crossing Cultures - Lane
To Follow Him - Mark Bailey
A History of Christianity - Paul Johnson
The Moody Handbook of Theology
Man, I need to go find some good fiction. LOL
For some reason I glanced up and saw the books I have here on my desk. Now I have a couple thousand in my office at church, but these here at home are in sort of a rotation. I'm either using them for background information on what I'm currently doing, reading them for what I might be doing, or rereading them because something in them is causing me to think.
I like to think.
So here's the list.
They Like Jesus, But Not the Church - Dan Kimball
unChristian - Kinnaman & Lyons
The Cross and the Prodigal - Ken Bailey
Searching for God Knows What - Donald Miller
Breaking the Missional Code - Ed Stetzer
Matthew - the Holman NIV Commentary - Anders
Matthew - the Communicators Commentary - Augsburger
The Jesus Creed - Scot McKnight
An Unstoppable Force - Erwin Mcmanus
The Jesus Way - Eugene Peterson
Communicating for A Change - Andy Stanley
The Present Future - Reggie McNeal
Christ Plays In Ten Thousand Places - Eugene Peterson
Living the Questions In Matthew - the Navigators
Crossing Cultures - Lane
To Follow Him - Mark Bailey
A History of Christianity - Paul Johnson
The Moody Handbook of Theology
Man, I need to go find some good fiction. LOL
I Think I Heard Jesus Last Night
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.
Psalms 136:26 (NLT)
We've been meeting during the weeks leading up to Easter in a special time of worship on Sunday nights. The object is to grow closer to God and each other as we explore just what Easter cost God and just what it means for us. So I've planned each service with the aim to do as much as we can together. No sermon, more sharing.
Each week I've used certain symbols to remind us of what God has done. We had "veils" of paper that we tore as we contemplated what God did through Jesus' death on the cross in tearing the veil in the temple that separated the people from the presence of God. We had bread baking one night in the sanctuary as we celebrated communion. We wore name badges last night that proclaimed us "guilty" that we took off and affixed to the cross to testify that through Christ's death, we were made right with God.
And I've used many different videos - both music and drama, to help us grasp how wide, and how deep the love of God is for us.
My hope is that we have experienced the presence of God together these past few weeks.
But last night, I think I heard Jesus' voice.
I had passed out a sheet of paper which had on it a list of Scriptures that told of God's love for us. I began by reading the first verse, and then each person to my right read the next verse.
Sitting there in the stillness, hearing the voices of these people I've grown to love so much read the words of God's love letter... just took my breath away. Each person read. Some have strong and clear voices, and you could hear the conviction in them. Others spoke softly, but clearly in love. Our friend Allan uncharacteristically stayed to worship with us. He's developmentally disabled, but can read. With the help of his friend Joe Stoy, Allan became a part of our expression of love for God. Then the wavering voices of Robert and Virginia Hughes, aged saints among us were testimonies not just to the lives they have lived, but for Who they have lived them.
It was an experience with the Body of Christ I will never, ever forget.
At the end of the circle was Ian, the youngest among us. The number of verses ended with two repetitions of "His love endures forever." His mother and then his father read those. Ian looked at the paper and at his parents and then spoke "His love endures forever."
Yes it does. And through the voices of God's people, young and old, I think I heard Jesus.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.
Psalms 136:26 (NLT)
We've been meeting during the weeks leading up to Easter in a special time of worship on Sunday nights. The object is to grow closer to God and each other as we explore just what Easter cost God and just what it means for us. So I've planned each service with the aim to do as much as we can together. No sermon, more sharing.
Each week I've used certain symbols to remind us of what God has done. We had "veils" of paper that we tore as we contemplated what God did through Jesus' death on the cross in tearing the veil in the temple that separated the people from the presence of God. We had bread baking one night in the sanctuary as we celebrated communion. We wore name badges last night that proclaimed us "guilty" that we took off and affixed to the cross to testify that through Christ's death, we were made right with God.
And I've used many different videos - both music and drama, to help us grasp how wide, and how deep the love of God is for us.
My hope is that we have experienced the presence of God together these past few weeks.
But last night, I think I heard Jesus' voice.
I had passed out a sheet of paper which had on it a list of Scriptures that told of God's love for us. I began by reading the first verse, and then each person to my right read the next verse.
Sitting there in the stillness, hearing the voices of these people I've grown to love so much read the words of God's love letter... just took my breath away. Each person read. Some have strong and clear voices, and you could hear the conviction in them. Others spoke softly, but clearly in love. Our friend Allan uncharacteristically stayed to worship with us. He's developmentally disabled, but can read. With the help of his friend Joe Stoy, Allan became a part of our expression of love for God. Then the wavering voices of Robert and Virginia Hughes, aged saints among us were testimonies not just to the lives they have lived, but for Who they have lived them.
It was an experience with the Body of Christ I will never, ever forget.
At the end of the circle was Ian, the youngest among us. The number of verses ended with two repetitions of "His love endures forever." His mother and then his father read those. Ian looked at the paper and at his parents and then spoke "His love endures forever."
Yes it does. And through the voices of God's people, young and old, I think I heard Jesus.
I Think I Heard Jesus Last Night
Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.
Psalms 136:26 (NLT)
We've been meeting during the weeks leading up to Easter in a special time of worship on Sunday nights. The object is to grow closer to God and each other as we explore just what Easter cost God and just what it means for us. So I've planned each service with the aim to do as much as we can together. No sermon, more sharing.
Each week I've used certain symbols to remind us of what God has done. We had "veils" of paper that we tore as we contemplated what God did through Jesus' death on the cross in tearing the veil in the temple that separated the people from the presence of God. We had bread baking one night in the sanctuary as we celebrated communion. We wore name badges last night that proclaimed us "guilty" that we took off and affixed to the cross to testify that through Christ's death, we were made right with God.
And I've used many different videos - both music and drama, to help us grasp how wide, and how deep the love of God is for us.
My hope is that we have experienced the presence of God together these past few weeks.
But last night, I think I heard Jesus' voice.
I had passed out a sheet of paper which had on it a list of Scriptures that told of God's love for us. I began by reading the first verse, and then each person to my right read the next verse.
Sitting there in the stillness, hearing the voices of these people I've grown to love so much read the words of God's love letter... just took my breath away. Each person read. Some have strong and clear voices, and you could hear the conviction in them. Others spoke softly, but clearly in love. Our friend Allan uncharacteristically stayed to worship with us. He's developmentally disabled, but can read. With the help of his friend Joe Stoy, Allan became a part of our expression of love for God. Then the wavering voices of Robert and Virginia Hughes, aged saints among us were testimonies not just to the lives they have lived, but for Who they have lived them.
It was an experience with the Body of Christ I will never, ever forget.
At the end of the circle was Ian, the youngest among us. The number of verses ended with two repetitions of "His love endures forever." His mother and then his father read those. Ian looked at the paper and at his parents and then spoke "His love endures forever."
Yes it does. And through the voices of God's people, young and old, I think I heard Jesus.
Psalms 136:26 (NLT)
We've been meeting during the weeks leading up to Easter in a special time of worship on Sunday nights. The object is to grow closer to God and each other as we explore just what Easter cost God and just what it means for us. So I've planned each service with the aim to do as much as we can together. No sermon, more sharing.
Each week I've used certain symbols to remind us of what God has done. We had "veils" of paper that we tore as we contemplated what God did through Jesus' death on the cross in tearing the veil in the temple that separated the people from the presence of God. We had bread baking one night in the sanctuary as we celebrated communion. We wore name badges last night that proclaimed us "guilty" that we took off and affixed to the cross to testify that through Christ's death, we were made right with God.
And I've used many different videos - both music and drama, to help us grasp how wide, and how deep the love of God is for us.
My hope is that we have experienced the presence of God together these past few weeks.
But last night, I think I heard Jesus' voice.
I had passed out a sheet of paper which had on it a list of Scriptures that told of God's love for us. I began by reading the first verse, and then each person to my right read the next verse.
Sitting there in the stillness, hearing the voices of these people I've grown to love so much read the words of God's love letter... just took my breath away. Each person read. Some have strong and clear voices, and you could hear the conviction in them. Others spoke softly, but clearly in love. Our friend Allan uncharacteristically stayed to worship with us. He's developmentally disabled, but can read. With the help of his friend Joe Stoy, Allan became a part of our expression of love for God. Then the wavering voices of Robert and Virginia Hughes, aged saints among us were testimonies not just to the lives they have lived, but for Who they have lived them.
It was an experience with the Body of Christ I will never, ever forget.
At the end of the circle was Ian, the youngest among us. The number of verses ended with two repetitions of "His love endures forever." His mother and then his father read those. Ian looked at the paper and at his parents and then spoke "His love endures forever."
Yes it does. And through the voices of God's people, young and old, I think I heard Jesus.
New Hope @ Worship Mar 9, 2008
The day the time changed.
My pastor friends were asking, "did the time change hurt you guys?" My answer was "maybe, but people out sick and out of town hurt more." There's so much lingering sickness in the area, still.
Beautiful day.
Our music today:
The Heart of Worship - classic to prepare to be in God's presence
True Worship Song - really enjoy this one
Your Name - awesome song
Come Thou Fount - tied in so well with the message
I Surrender All - all
And a special musical offering by our littlest praise team members: "I'll Fly Away".
The message came from Matthew 7:13-29 - the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus was testing His congregation to see if they understood what He was asking them to do and challenging them with choice and consequences. I really felt that God was dealing with some people as we went through the wringer together.
Sunday night: We continued our special worship meeting for pre-Easter. I distributed several pieces to be used in worship. "Guilty" name badges, a stripe of red ribbon, and a sheet of Scriptures telling of God's love for us. The name badges were placed on at the beginning of worship and taken off and placed on the cross as we came to take communion. The ribbons were to represent the "stripes by which we are healed".
EVENING WORSHIP MARCH 9, 2008
Worship Theme: “Loved”
Opening Prayer
Intro: “The Truth” - (grabbed this video off Youth Specialties site - very impactful)
By Any Means Necessary – Reading 1
Hosea 1:2 says: When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, "Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord."
Video – “How Deep the Father’s Love” - Fernando Ortega - You Tube
Go, show your love again – Reading 2
Hosea 3:1-3 says: The Lord said to me, "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes."
[2] So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about [10 bushels] of barley. [3] Then I told her, "You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will live with you."
Video: What does Love Sound Like? - Worship media purchase - worked well
Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. [7] Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. [8] But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:9-10 (NIV)
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. [10] This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
What does love look like?
(Now we focused on the stripes)
John 15:13 (HCSB) No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.
PRAYER BEFORE COMMUNION
Video: In Christ Alone - Great hymn set to images from the Passion of the Christ - You Tube
PERSONAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
EACH PERSON COMES AND TAKES COMMUNION WHEN THEY ARE READY. TAKE A PIECE OF BREAD AND TAKE A CUP OF GRAPE JUICE. WHEN WE ALL HAVE THEM, WE WILL FIRST EAT THE BREAD, THEN DRINK THE JUICE.
1 John 4:16a (NIV)
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.
To wrap things up, I played a video of a guy who calls himself "Juan Mann" who goes to public places offering "Free Hugs". I prefaced it by saying "love wins". Great and inspiring. - You Tube
My pastor friends were asking, "did the time change hurt you guys?" My answer was "maybe, but people out sick and out of town hurt more." There's so much lingering sickness in the area, still.
Beautiful day.
Our music today:
The Heart of Worship - classic to prepare to be in God's presence
True Worship Song - really enjoy this one
Your Name - awesome song
Come Thou Fount - tied in so well with the message
I Surrender All - all
And a special musical offering by our littlest praise team members: "I'll Fly Away".
The message came from Matthew 7:13-29 - the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus was testing His congregation to see if they understood what He was asking them to do and challenging them with choice and consequences. I really felt that God was dealing with some people as we went through the wringer together.
Sunday night: We continued our special worship meeting for pre-Easter. I distributed several pieces to be used in worship. "Guilty" name badges, a stripe of red ribbon, and a sheet of Scriptures telling of God's love for us. The name badges were placed on at the beginning of worship and taken off and placed on the cross as we came to take communion. The ribbons were to represent the "stripes by which we are healed".
EVENING WORSHIP MARCH 9, 2008
Worship Theme: “Loved”
Opening Prayer
Intro: “The Truth” - (grabbed this video off Youth Specialties site - very impactful)
By Any Means Necessary – Reading 1
Hosea 1:2 says: When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, "Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord."
Video – “How Deep the Father’s Love” - Fernando Ortega - You Tube
Go, show your love again – Reading 2
Hosea 3:1-3 says: The Lord said to me, "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes."
[2] So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about [10 bushels] of barley. [3] Then I told her, "You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will live with you."
Video: What does Love Sound Like? - Worship media purchase - worked well
Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. [7] Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. [8] But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:9-10 (NIV)
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. [10] This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
What does love look like?
(Now we focused on the stripes)
John 15:13 (HCSB) No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.
PRAYER BEFORE COMMUNION
Video: In Christ Alone - Great hymn set to images from the Passion of the Christ - You Tube
PERSONAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
EACH PERSON COMES AND TAKES COMMUNION WHEN THEY ARE READY. TAKE A PIECE OF BREAD AND TAKE A CUP OF GRAPE JUICE. WHEN WE ALL HAVE THEM, WE WILL FIRST EAT THE BREAD, THEN DRINK THE JUICE.
1 John 4:16a (NIV)
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.
To wrap things up, I played a video of a guy who calls himself "Juan Mann" who goes to public places offering "Free Hugs". I prefaced it by saying "love wins". Great and inspiring. - You Tube
Friday, March 07, 2008
Have I Already Said That?
After preaching for several years now, I'm realizing that I fall into habits and routines. When I awaken to one, if it's not helpful, then I do what I can to change. One of those habits relates to the use of personal illustrations. My closest advisor has sent me this today. Looks like it's time again. :)
Thursday, March 06, 2008
How Much Should We Expect?
If you've been reading the last few weeks you're probably aware that I have been seriously questioning the current discipleship model that we and most every other church is using. I've been investigating what has been and is being used in every nook and cranny of the internet as well as on my shelves.
Day before yesterday, I was thinking and praying about our youth and it suddenly occurred to me that I could not confidently call on any of them to give a sincere, coherent, and unforced testimony of what God had done in their life.
So last night with the permission of the husband and wife leading the current youth study, I stepped into the room and basically told the youth that they needed to step out and step up.
Told them it was time they ramped it up and became part of the Body. That every Christian should be able to give a testimony of what they were, what Jesus did, and what He's doing in their life to make them more like Him. That I wanted to see them lead this church out and into service and not just sit back and let everyone else do the work.
Last thing I did was issue a challenge for them to tell their story on Sunday morning to the whole church. That I would make time available anytime one of them wanted to tell the rest of us what Jesus was doing in their life.
Then I was out with a quick look at the leaders and a "let me know who's willing to do what a Christian does."
Craziness. Totally unplanned. Not from me. So we'll see what the HS is up to.
But dear readers, shouldn't we expect every follower of Christ to be able to tell their story of what Christ has done and is doing in their life? I feel as though we've lowered the standards to met the population at large and walked away from what a disciple really is.
What do you think?
Day before yesterday, I was thinking and praying about our youth and it suddenly occurred to me that I could not confidently call on any of them to give a sincere, coherent, and unforced testimony of what God had done in their life.
So last night with the permission of the husband and wife leading the current youth study, I stepped into the room and basically told the youth that they needed to step out and step up.
Told them it was time they ramped it up and became part of the Body. That every Christian should be able to give a testimony of what they were, what Jesus did, and what He's doing in their life to make them more like Him. That I wanted to see them lead this church out and into service and not just sit back and let everyone else do the work.
Last thing I did was issue a challenge for them to tell their story on Sunday morning to the whole church. That I would make time available anytime one of them wanted to tell the rest of us what Jesus was doing in their life.
Then I was out with a quick look at the leaders and a "let me know who's willing to do what a Christian does."
Craziness. Totally unplanned. Not from me. So we'll see what the HS is up to.
But dear readers, shouldn't we expect every follower of Christ to be able to tell their story of what Christ has done and is doing in their life? I feel as though we've lowered the standards to met the population at large and walked away from what a disciple really is.
What do you think?
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
A Glimpse of New Hope!: Dazed and Confused
My good friend Mr Ian Anderson had an event a couple of weeks ago. He
was supposed to be picked up by his aunt Blythe from Valparaiso
Elementary and ferried by her to his piano lesson across the street at
New Hope. Blythe was there at the appointed time and no Ian. She went
in and asked about him, and they exchanged looks that said "huh?"
followed by a "he already left."
She flew over to New Hope, where Ian had arrived minutes earlier and
begun his piano lesson. Immediately Blythe flew into him "Ian Thomas
Anderson" you were supposed to ride here with me today. You scared me
to death." (When they use your full name, it's never good. Don't ask
me how I know.)
Ian looked at her and said "I'm sorry. I must have been dazed and confused."
It happens.
My heart tells me that a lot of people are that way. They are dazed
and confused by the difference between what they have heard and
understood about the message of Jesus and what they see lived out by
the people who bear His name.
And the only way to change that is for those of us who follow Him to
love Jesus so fiercely that we change our actions to square with our
beliefs. To love God with all our heart and soul, and to love our
neighbors like Blythe loves Ian. She would have pursued him to the
ends of the earth and done anything to make sure he was safe.
We cannot do any less with those who don't know Jesus.
So don't just believe it - LIVE IT OUT LOUD!
Grace!,
David
was supposed to be picked up by his aunt Blythe from Valparaiso
Elementary and ferried by her to his piano lesson across the street at
New Hope. Blythe was there at the appointed time and no Ian. She went
in and asked about him, and they exchanged looks that said "huh?"
followed by a "he already left."
She flew over to New Hope, where Ian had arrived minutes earlier and
begun his piano lesson. Immediately Blythe flew into him "Ian Thomas
Anderson" you were supposed to ride here with me today. You scared me
to death." (When they use your full name, it's never good. Don't ask
me how I know.)
Ian looked at her and said "I'm sorry. I must have been dazed and confused."
It happens.
My heart tells me that a lot of people are that way. They are dazed
and confused by the difference between what they have heard and
understood about the message of Jesus and what they see lived out by
the people who bear His name.
And the only way to change that is for those of us who follow Him to
love Jesus so fiercely that we change our actions to square with our
beliefs. To love God with all our heart and soul, and to love our
neighbors like Blythe loves Ian. She would have pursued him to the
ends of the earth and done anything to make sure he was safe.
We cannot do any less with those who don't know Jesus.
So don't just believe it - LIVE IT OUT LOUD!
Grace!,
David
Dazed and Confused
My good friend Mr Ian Anderson had an event a couple of weeks ago. He
was supposed to be picked up by his aunt Blythe from Valparaiso
Elementary and ferried by her to his piano lesson across the street at
New Hope. Blythe was there at the appointed time and no Ian. She went
in and asked about him, and they exchanged looks that said "huh?"
followed by a "he already left."
She flew over to New Hope, where Ian had arrived minutes earlier and
begun his piano lesson. Immediately Blythe flew into him "Ian Thomas
Anderson" you were supposed to ride here with me today. You scared me
to death." (When they use your full name, it's never good. Don't ask
me how I know.)
Ian looked at her and said "I'm sorry. I must have been dazed and confused."
It happens.
My heart tells me that a lot of people are that way. They are dazed
and confused by the difference between what they have heard and
understood about the message of Jesus and what they see lived out by
the people who bear His name.
And the only way to change that is for those of us who follow Him to
love Jesus so fiercely that we change our actions to square with our
beliefs. To love God will all our heart and soul, and to love our
neighbors like Blythe loves Ian. She would have pursued him to the
ends of the earth and done anything to make sure he was safe.
We cannot do any less with those who don't know Jesus.
So don't just believe it - LIVE IT OUT LOUD!
Grace!,
David
My good friend Mr Ian Anderson had an event a couple of weeks ago. He
was supposed to be picked up by his aunt Blythe from Valparaiso
Elementary and ferried by her to his piano lesson across the street at
New Hope. Blythe was there at the appointed time and no Ian. She went
in and asked about him, and they exchanged looks that said "huh?"
followed by a "he already left."
She flew over to New Hope, where Ian had arrived minutes earlier and
begun his piano lesson. Immediately Blythe flew into him "Ian Thomas
Anderson" you were supposed to ride here with me today. You scared me
to death." (When they use your full name, it's never good. Don't ask
me how I know.)
Ian looked at her and said "I'm sorry. I must have been dazed and confused."
It happens.
My heart tells me that a lot of people are that way. They are dazed
and confused by the difference between what they have heard and
understood about the message of Jesus and what they see lived out by
the people who bear His name.
And the only way to change that is for those of us who follow Him to
love Jesus so fiercely that we change our actions to square with our
beliefs. To love God will all our heart and soul, and to love our
neighbors like Blythe loves Ian. She would have pursued him to the
ends of the earth and done anything to make sure he was safe.
We cannot do any less with those who don't know Jesus.
So don't just believe it - LIVE IT OUT LOUD!
Grace!,
David
Your friendly neighborhood anthropologist
The new term started at Rockbridge Seminary last Tuesday, and yours truly went out on a limb by selecting "Understanding Other Cultures". My thoughts were that maybe it would give me a new set of "eyes" to see the community here with. Here's the course description.
I'm really not sure if it is going to be immediately applicable, but I definitely felt that this was the course I should take. I was bummed to find out that anthropologists don't get to dress like Indiana Jones.
Has anyone approached their community in this way? I know Rick Warren went door to door as he developed "Saddleback Sam" - the profile for who they targeted. Anyone else?
Course Description
Develop skill sets to interpret a different cultural context and to create strategies that build bridges to that community. Emphasis will be given to building understanding and discernment for persons of different cultural, social, and religious backgrounds.
The course is taught during an eight-week term that includes a course introduction week, six Learning Units, and a learning evaluation week. All units are designed to help the learner fulfill the learning objectives of the course. Learning units may include lecture and research materials, outside reading, learning community discussion, and church-based assignments. The professor serves as a ministry learning mentor, providing almost daily interaction and facilitation among the learners.
Course Competency
This course will help you develop the following ministry competency:
Respects persons of different cultural, social and religious backgrounds. (#34 on Rockbridge Seminary’s list of 35 Ministry Competencies)
Course Goal and Indictors
As a result of completing this course, you will gain skill sets to help you understand persons of different cultural, social, and religious backgrounds. To demonstrate learning, you will:
1. Use six proven anthropological tools to understand another person or group of persons
2. Apply the use of these anthropological tools to a cross-cultural evangelism context
3. Identify a cross-cultural people group that God is calling you to understand
4. Develop approaches for effective intercultural communication
5. Identify challenges related to cross-cultural communication and hermeneutics
6. Analyze your verbal communication style and how it can influence cross-cultural communication
7. Participate in an online learning community of fellow students that discusses cross-cultural ministry
8. Probing the wisdom and experience of a mentor related to understanding other cultures
9. Assess at the conclusion of this course your continued learning needs related to understanding other cultures
I'm really not sure if it is going to be immediately applicable, but I definitely felt that this was the course I should take. I was bummed to find out that anthropologists don't get to dress like Indiana Jones.
Has anyone approached their community in this way? I know Rick Warren went door to door as he developed "Saddleback Sam" - the profile for who they targeted. Anyone else?
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