Upward / Inward / Outward

“From the teaching of the New Testament it is easily perceived that the church operates in three relationships: upward to God in worship and glorification; inward to herself in edification, purification, education and discipline; outward to the world in evangelization and service ministries.” Charles Brock, Indigenous Church Planting

As churches we delight in the upward, can bask in the inward but at times the outward becomes a struggle. Christ ministry keep a great focus on all three.

Staff effectiveness

I like check list and Don Cousins has generate four different list for measuring the effectiveness of a church. Following is his listing for evaluating staff, individual or multiple

"When seeking to measure the effectiveness of the “staff” ask the following:

- Are those in leadership positions functioning as equippers?
- Are additional leaders being raised up and developed within ministry?
- Is the ministry expanding because newly developed leaders are being deployed in additional leadership roles?
- Are more and more servers (those meeting needs) being identified, developed, and engaged in ministry service?
- Is the ministry increasing in its impact because more servers are actively involved in serving?"

(Cousins, Don, Experiencing LeaderShift, David Cook, 2008, pg 140-141)

Measure the effectiveness of the elders.

Don Cousins in "Experiencing LeaderShift" gives four questions to be asked in regards to evaluating the effectiveness of the elders.

- "Throughout the ministries, services and programs of the church , is the teaching of the Word accurate, anointed, and applicable to life?

- Is the church covered and bathed in prayer?

- Can the Spirit move freely because we're untied and free from the consequences of sin?

- Is the church operating as a true body, fulfilling it biblically stated purpose to one another and the unsaved world?

An important note here: The board doesn't serve as representatives of the congregation. It is not their role or responsibility to represent the people's views or to guarantee that their desires are met. Elders are to serve as representatives of God to the people and to lead the people into obedience to what God says."

(Cousins, Don, Experiencing LeaderShift, David Cook, 2008, pg 136)

Twitter Bible

Yes, now you can have a "Twitter Bible". Todd Rhodades from MMI talks about this new Bible. It seems to change the mean of whole Bible.

new so-called “Twitter Bible,” which summarizes the over 31,000-verse Bible into nearly 4,000 short-form tweets, is being released at the Frankfurt Book Fair this week.

According to The Christian Post, this project was formerly named And God Decided to Chill. The German language book is the compilation of tweets by more than 3,000 German Christians who participated in the church project earlier this year.

In honor of the Pentecost holiday, German Christians used the micro-blogging service Twitter to summarize 3,906 Bible sections into 140 character messages, according to Berlin-based newspaper “The Local.” Though the project was scheduled for May 20-30, it was completed 37 hours ahead of schedule and achieved a world record.

Do Denomations Have a Future

Discussion abounds regard the need for or against denominations. Ed Stetzer piped in on the subjected and said,

Two Faulty Assumptions about Denominations

1. Denominations are a necessary or even integral part of the mission of God.
2. Attempting to interpret the role of denominations in the life of the local church apart from the Missio Dei (the mission of God)

Denominations might not be necessary, but they are valuable. They are good tools to be used in the mission of the church.

Why Denominations Do Have a Future

1. Denominations are inevitable. (Whether positively – for missional cooperation, or negatively – for tribal self-preservation)
2. Younger evangelicals are looking for a sense of rootedness in a fragmented society. (Young, Restless, Reformed / Emerging Church / Deep Church / Ancient-Future / Worship)
3. Churches that belong to denominations have confessional systems and accountability that ground them in orthodoxy.

What Kind of Denominationalism is Desirable?

1. We want to see denominations that are missional as opposed to tribal.
2. We want to see denominations based on confessional consensus.
3. We want to see denominations that value methodological diversity.
4. We want to see denominations that assist local churches, not vice versa.

Why I am staying in our denomination:

• I believe what we believe.
• Churches that belong to denominations are the primary agents of global evangelization.
• Diverse leadership environments stretch me.
• Because God led me to.
• Denominational affiliation is not just about me.

Read the complete blog here

Seminary education

Bob Thune, in Omaha, has a great post about seminary education. Some may not like it but it is worth pondering. Here are some bullet statements that he made. You can read the entire article article here.

So I’m not denying the importance of sound, rigorous theological training. I’m simply questioning whether seminary is the place to get it. Here are some of my concerns:

• Seminary pulls pastors “off the streets” for 3 or 4 years to isolate them in a sterile academic environment. While this might be great for paper-writing, it’s really bad for missional living.
• The nature of the business means that seminaries are always juggling the best interests of students, faculty, donors, and accrediting agencies. These players are never in agreement, which means that no one is ever happy.
• Seminaries seek to accomplish theological training apart from immersion in a local church. Though most require their students to be active in a church, seminaries tend to be a breeding ground for Monday-morning-theologians who want to critique the church rather than serve it.
• Because professors are pressured to publish and gain tenure, the classes they teach are often little more than laboratories for their latest projects. One seminary student in our church told me that every one of his classes this semester uses a book written by the professor.
• Seminaries have to pay the bills, which means it’s in their best interests to keep students around as long as possible. Seminaries continue to promote the M.Div. as the “flagship” degree – even though a 2-year M.A. with well-chosen electives is often just as good, and about $15,000 cheaper.
• Seminary graduates tend to exit with heads full of theology, but without worshipful hearts or authentic relationships with non-Christians. I am aware this is an over-generalization. But unfortunately it’s an accurate one.
• Because of a seminary’s need to cater to a diverse student body, most seminaries can’t offer a truly systematic theological education. Students end up having to piece together the fragmented bits of data they’ve accumulated in so many haphazard, out-of-sequence courses. The idea of a cohesive “body of learning” is all but lost in the modern academy.

Results oriented thinking

I enjoy this story by Elisabeth Elliot, "One day Jesus said to his disciples: "I'd like you to carry a stone for me." He didn't give any explanation. So the disciple looked around for a stone to carry, and Peter, being the practical sort, sought out the smallest stone he could possibly find. After all, Jesus didn't give any regulations for weight and size! So he put it in his pocket. Jesus then said: "Follow Me." He led them on a journey. About noontime Jesus had everyone sit down. He waved his hands an all the stones turned to bread. He said, "now it's time for lunch." In a few seconds, Peter's lunch was over. When lunch was done Jesus told them to stand up. He said again, "I'd like you to carry a stone for Me." This time Peter said, "Aha! Now I get it!" So he looked around and saw a small boulder. He hoisted it on his back and it was painful, it made his stagger. But he said, "I can't wait for supper." Jesus then said "Follow Me." He led them on a journey, with Peter barely being able to keep up. Around supper time Jesus led them to the side of a river. He said, "Now everyone throw your stones into the water." They did. Then he said, "Follow Me." and began to walk. Peter and the others looked at him dumbfounded. Jesus sighed and said, "Don't you remember what I asked you to do?" Who were you carrying the stone for?"

Wesley's Small Group questions

John Wesley's Small Group Questions:

1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?

2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?

3. Do I confidentially pass onto another what was told me in confidence?

4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work , or habits?

5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?

6. Did the Bible live in me today?

7. Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?

8. Am I enjoying prayer?

9. When did I last speak to someone about my faith?

10. Do I pray about the money I spend?

11. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?

12. Do I disobey God in anything?

13. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?

14. Am I defeated in any part of my life?

15. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?

16. How do I spend my spare time?

17. Am I proud?

18. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisee who despised the publican?

19. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I going to do about it?

20. Do I grumble and complain constantly?

21. Is Christ real to me?

Invation reception

The percentage of American adults who are somewhat or very willing to receive information about a local congregation from:

Personal conversation with a family member ... 63%

Personal conversation with a

friend or neighbor from church ...................... 56%

Newspaper ads ............................................... 46%

Letters mailed to the home ............................. 45%

Television ads ................................................. 40%

A visit to their door .......................................... 24%

LifeWay Research North American Mission Board.

Kansas City Kansas

Today, July 13 Curtis Young pulled his car filled with his belongings into Kansas City to begin the great work of planting a gospel centered, missional focused, kingdom minded church that reproduces. The Kansas City area has 11 communities that are growing at a rate greater than 10%. While there are some wonderful churches in Kansas City, KS only 10% of the people attend an Evangelical church. Please join me in praying for God to draw people to Himself using Curtis to proclaim a clear gospel message.

Sunday School Study

Kent Schaffer has an interesting article about the benefit or lack of benefit of children going to Sunday School. While I have some questions about the study, it does cause me to evaluate and ponder how we are currently doing Sunday School in most of our churches. Take a minute or two and read the article.

Church and community

"This church across the street has been here sixteen years. In the whole time it has been here, I a have never seen this church do anything to improve the community. The church hasn't tried to improve the poverty situation, hasn't tried to feed the hungry, and hasn't tried to make anything better in the world right next door to it. Why would I want to be a par of that church?"

These are comments record in face-to-face interviews in "Lost and Found" by Ed Stetzer. As I read those words I wonder what I am I doing for my next door neighbours? What would people say about the church I belong to?

I grew up in a church with the attitude that you knock on the door and try to share Christ with them. If they don't listen, to bad for them and go to the next person. In college my evangelism class required that we pass 100 tracts out a week to the same homes. I did what was asked, but was in such a rush to get the job done that there was no results. I was only interested in getting the class requirements finished. The other method that was used was invited them though mass media and they will come.

What is your church doing for the next door neighbour?

Spiritual sitcom or depth?

Are churches a spiritual sitcom? A sitcom presents a problem, some humour and ends in thirty minutes with a solution. Sermons can go the same way, A great illustration that brings a smile, a problem addressed, and a simple solution is given all in thirty minutes. Walk away and have no more questions because I just gave you the answer. While I agree the Bible gives all we need for "life and godliness" there are time we wrestle with understanding what it means and how it applies. We can't explain eschatology in 30 minutes leaving no questions. We can't resolve election and freewill by a few wonderful verses that support our view. We can't explain why a nine year old boys life was ended when a toolbox fell crushing his head in a few simple lines. Do we allow people to wrestle with scripture? Do we let people know we garble with scripture because we don't have all the answers?

Some great thoughts taken from Lost and Found, by Ed Stetzer

"Here are a few practical 'take-aways' that will help cultivate depth in your ministry.
- Teach the entire Bible, even the difficult sections.
- Foster discussion in Bible Study and teaching.
- Address tough topics and answer difficult questions.
- Do no be afraid to say, 'I don't know'
- Empower everyone to look for answers.
- Place a priority on Scripture memorization.
- Distribute the responsibility of spiritual growth to both leaders and learners.
- Provide opportunities to learn about worldview and other regions.
- Make apologetics a priority.
- Provide exegetical Bible teaching.
- Sing theologically sound music.
- Promote life application to Scripture.
- Establish climates of honesty and openness.
- Provide multiple bible study options per week.
- Encourage examination.
- Pray

Thoughs about the unchurched

I am currently reading “Lost and Found” by Ed Stetzer, Richie Stanley and Jason Hayes. This morning as I read in it I was challenged by some of the data.

Here is one chart that was listed in the book. (pg 38)

“What Can Churches do?

“If a church presented truth to me in an understandable way that relates to my life now, I would attend. 63% agreed.

“If people at church cared about me as a person, I would be more likely to attend. 58% agreed.

“I would be willing to join a small group of people to learn more about the Bible and Jesus. 46% agreed.

“If music at church sounded similar to my favorite type of music, I would be more likely to attend. 31% agreed.”

Just from these questions and responses it is clear that keeping a focus on a clear gospel message has a great impact. The great “show” is not the answer. We seem to put a high priority on music yet, while important, it is not the answer.

Another statement on page 43 said that 77% of those surveyed “think Christianity today is more about organized religion than about loving God and loving people.”

One last comment about the Christians reputation. When asked, do Christians get on your nerves, 46% agreed that Christians do get on their nerves.

How does the unchurched person see my life?

Are the unchurched willing to hear about Christ?

I am currently reading the book, "Lost and Found" by Ed Stetzer, Richie Stanley and Jason Hayes. In their study they made a statement that is very encouraging. Here is what he said on page 37, "Almost 90 percent of the unchurched twenty to twenty nine year olds said they would be willing to listen if someone wanted to tell them about Christianity.
"The stakes are raised when a friend talks to an unchurched person. Three our of five younger unchurched respondents agreed they would be willing to study the Bible if a friend asked them to do so.
"The Christian conversion of a friend may directly impact an unchurched person. Just under half of the unchurched in their twenties agreed that a friend becoming a Christian would have a positive effect on their relationship."

Keep sharing the gospel message.