Beautiful North Carolina
When at last the tires were turning, this author was enjoying a retreat in the mountains of North Carolina. If memory serves, the rushing sound of Dog Creek was drowning out the clicking of these keys as I hurried to meet my deadline last month. Deadline met, that day unfolded beautifully. It began with the best cup of decaf coffee I have ever had at Poppies Market in Brevard, NC. Make sure you get a muffin, any muffin, to go along with that cup o’ joe–in 3 days, I tried 3 different ones and had no complaints about any of them! What a cool store, with everything you need to stock a picnic basket or a cabin–Poppies is a delightful and appealing place.
Whether you take it into or out of the area, make sure that you travel part of your mountain trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s not a true mountain trip unless you travel the tops of those mountains that could be considered robbers in that they steal your gaze as they just quietly demand attention as you drive along. Breath-taking, majestic, and a wonder to behold if you take the time to look, really look, at them. Flowers, rocks, trees–living things that feed back into you what life can sometimes strip away. The drive itself was a vacation! Poppies Market
Now, let me take you with me into Cherokee, NC. Funny, when I was planning my little getaway, two friends reacted quite surprised that I would want to spend much time there. Cherokee, NC is a town where the majority of residents belong to the Cherokee Nation. My friends’ dismay came from a good place, as they both love their Native American brothers. The Eagle Dance
I had been there years ago and knew instinctively why they were wondering about my decision. I had seen and taken part in some of the Native American “culture” in the little mountain town that sits on the “boundary” along the Cherokee Nation’s land. Brightly dressed and feather-adorned local residents had lined the streets, performing dances under large tipi’s and singing and playing drums for the tourists who were crowding the small streets for a look at what they deemed to be “native culture.” Other tourists crowded into all the small stores and restaurants whose supply of t-shirts and continuous store fronts seemed to never end. A carnival atmosphere seemed to invade every nook and cranny. Slow moving cars and multitudes of pedestrians added a certain amount of sensationalism to the entire picture. It was definitely not an experience that I look back upon with any type of appreciation, except for what it afforded me on this most recent trip.
Unless you are a Native American reading this story, you and I will never Unto These Hills Sign
understand what it feels like to be told that you can only live in a certain geographic area, or that you must leave land that was yours for generations without any compensation. For the purposes of these articles, the entire history of this great people will not be debated here; however, some facts will come out through the process of exploring the area. It must be said that the Cherokee Nation and other Native American peoples were forced by our “white” ancestors to leave a land that had been inhabited by the “red” man for generations before white men ever thought of looking for this country. It must also be said that our “white” ancestors initiated a chain of events of which the Native American people are still trying to recover. In order to fully experience the true culture and magnitude of a people or a particular area, you must be willing to accept the truth that is housed in both the people and the area. Only then can you be used as a change agent while you are on such a trip as this.
Wherever we go, if our hearts are where they should be, we will always be shown what is grievous to Someone Else. While we, ourselves, cannot go back into time and right was wrong, we can work in this time through acts of prayer and compassion to undo what was done in the place that it matters the most–in the spirit. A hug, a smile, and welcoming word can go a long way to bridge a gap between races that still exists due to the choices and decisions of our ancestors. There are still opportunities to build rewarding relationships with people of all races, when we are seeking to do so.
If you ever decide to go to Cherokee, NC or any other boundary for that matter, do yourself a favor: skip the tourist shops when possible. You know the ones: t-shirts, candy, toys, and items that you saw in the last town you were in–only they had a different name stamped on it. Take a real walk through the culture and history of a people and their place in American history by seeking out authentic establishments. In these businesses, you will find real people who are seeking to live a real life doing what they do best—not exploit the heritage that is theirs. You might even make a new friend or have a conversation that will turn into a memory that no gaudily stamped coaster or key chain can be compared. There are plenty of places to do that in Cherokee.
The first place that you might want to visit is Talking Leaves Bookstore. The name, Talking Leaves, is what the Indians called the papers that Americans wrote on. They said that the “leaves” spoke. And, in many ways, good and bad, they did–through the words that were written on them. The Native Americans had never seen writing, in fact, their own syllabary was created by Sequoyah in the early 1800’s and not adopted by the Cherokees until 1821. Inside of this establishment, the written words on “leaves” still speak. The pages here tell the secrets, spiritual beliefs, and practices of Native Americans, as well as the happy times and sad events in their history. In addition, one can find publications about historical figures, outlaws, and many other highly esteemed men and women who have made a difference in the lineage of all Native Americans. The Native Americans’ colorful past as well their hopes for the future are both topics that are well stocked in this great little store. Taking the time to read about what one will see in this little town can transform the perspective on the Cherokee experience. Unto These Hills tell a story
If you are more of a casual learner, plan on attending a performance of Unto These Hills. This play, written in 1952, is the nation’s second longest-running outdoor drama and is performed nightly at the beautiful Mountainside Theater. The history of the Cherokees is played out by local residents and is an eye-opening, yet entertaining, history lesson. While watching the descendants of those whom the story is really about, it is difficult not to realize how intimately the races are connected. The truth delivered in this play is sobering and educational, yes, but packaged in fresh air, stars, and drama, it’s more touching than any account in any history book you’ll ever read.
Before the show, be sure to enjoy dinner at Paul’s Family Restaurant. Paul's Family Restaurant
Don’t worry, a seat on the deck near the little stream with its rushing water will drown out the traffic on the main drag–trust me on this. The waitress was right: the flatbread tacos were awesome! And for dessert, give yourself permission to enter at least one tourist shop like the Cherokee Fudge & More. It’s just across the street from the parking lot for the shuttle to the play. I don’t know about the “More” but, the “Fudge” will melt in your mouth.
The Native American people are such a wondrous group. They have weathered many storms and managed to retain a remnant of their heritage in today’s modern world. They are actively seeking to maintain their culture and traditions that have supported their walk. I’m sure that their belief in the Great Spirit has something to do with their resiliency in our society and in their every day lives–and after all, isn’t that where the rubber hits the road? — Iris Lloyd, feature writer
Note: Paul’s Family Restaurant, 1111 Tsali Boulevard, Cherokee, NC
Note: This is cross-posted from the Energion Publications Announcements blog. Only the first and fourth part of the series were corss-posted here. Links to all four parts of the series are given in the introduction below.
Pastor Patrick Badstibner is founder of World Prayr (on Twitter). Pat has been providing us with a monthly blog post, but I’m pleased to be able to present this blog post, the second in a series of four weekly posts by Pat, to our Energion Publications family.
Check the World Prayr organization and the World Prayr devotional blog as well. You’ll find a dynamic and growing group of Christians who are practicing the second great command, to love their neighbors as themselves, and thereby practicing the first command as well.
In the first part of this series we mentioned that we would be looking at three different sayings pastors today seem to be making. We also mentioned we would be visiting with my friends Dave and Paula. In the second part we talked about how to go deeper without making clones. The third part was Unmilitary people are not asking what methods you are using in basic training.
This is the final installment to this four part series. Part one we looked at “multiplication or addition which do you prefer?” In part two we looked at “can you really go deeper without making clones” Part three we covered what “unmilitary people are not asking what methods, techniques are you using in basic training?????” With this post we wrap up and prayerfully bring some clarity to this series if you have not caught on yet, as well as provide some challenges for to grab hold of.
First let’s visit with my friends Dave and Paula one last time. This time though let’s skip ahead a few years and see how the advice and leadership encouragement, that Dave gave to his management team, of not worrying so much about losing repeat customers and keeping on concentrating on adding numbers has worked out.
Today Dave and Paula’s head of operations is bringing him a report on the current state of affairs for the business. Let’s listen in as Robert, Dave’s operation manager, brings him the report.
“Hi Robert, I am excited about getting that report today.”
“Well Dave, as you know we had to close one of our stores at the end of last year.”
“Yes, Robert but that was so we can streamline operations as our competition has really been increasing on us with their aggressive training programs”
“You’re right Dave, however our competition’s training programs and their well trained sales force are really hurting us. Our numbers are down Dave, and our sales force is without a lot of answers, and they don’t have the ability to really share why our company is the right way to go. Dave, are you still sure that concentrating on being radical on getting new numbers, while not being as radical training our sales people how to build and concentrate on developing and maintaining relationships with our existing customers is the way to go?”
As Dave ponders this question and wonders if what he has been concentrating on has been effective in producing results. Let us walk away and look at we have learned and discovered along the way in this series by looking at some challenges and asking ourselves some questions.
“Unchurched” and Discipleship
In the last post we looked at what “unchurched” people are not asking. They are not asking what disciple program you are using. So how do you feel now? Is this the right question? Should we be worrying about what unchurched are not asking???
After all one would not expect or even give thought to what someone who has never served in the military had to say about what basic training is like. Why should those who are to be leading, guiding, protecting, and bringing the flock God has placed under them home be giving thought, credence, or consideration to how ones who do not even understand the purpose of that meeting on Sunday and how it should be conducted, much less what questions they should be asking about that church? That is not to say we should not be taking radical steps to reach those who are not part of the church, but to say we should not be lending an ear to what they think it should be doing and how they feel it should be conducted. That is unless on Sunday morning you are actually not going to church but rather instead going to an evangelistic meeting. Remember the Word of God is not written to those who do not know him but rather it is the love letter to believers from God. Shoot, they cannot even walk in the door, get on their knees and expect God to hear their prayers unless they first come asking for forgiveness and acknowledging a need to do it his way.
In fact if you are a church leader reading this and you are catering your service to the “unchurched,” let me plead with you please begin your service by giving the gospel so that those who accept will receive something from the rest of your message. Otherwise you will have lost the purpose of your service when you consider all things.
If one does know Christ and one is still asking those type of questions, you’re calling oneself “unchurhed” because you’re anti-establishment or you have not found that perfect church. Perhaps it would be more appropriate for the Pastor now to be asking “what type of discipleship program are you involved in? If none, why don’t you come try our church?” That would be better than than worrying about what they are not asking.
I am going to make some more bold and radical statements specifically directed at pastors, ministry leaders and anyone else God has led to a place of leadership in his kingdom.
Radical Statements
Ninety percent of Christians today fall into two categories for going or choosing the church they choose. First category, they are going for entertainment, to feel good. These are usually those who are choosing the mega church, the church that has set itself up for entertainment with loud contemporary music and the mega superstar leader. The second category is those who are still going to the same style church their parents went to or those where they feel they have a grown up daddy.
Here is a tip, the music; video usage, lack of media or too much media has no bearing on the discipleship program of the church. In fact one of the common issues of churches today, whether they use traditional hymns and no video media, or they use contemporary style worship and lots of media, is a lack of a discipleship program that is taking believers in Christ, as the writer of Hebrews said, past the point of needing to be taught, to the point of being able to teach. In fact here are the bold statements: If you are going to a church because you’re comfortable, but you are still at the same point years later where you still need to be taught, it may just be time to move onward and stretch you. Church leaders, pastors, ministry leaders: If any of the above can be said of your leadership perhaps it is time to stop and ask ourselves if we are really doing what God called or led us to do. You have great programs, entertaining uplifting music, radical media and you have no programs that are helping those underneath your leadership become craftsmen of the Word of God or have answers in order to defend their faith. You are still using the same ole, same ole methods you used, or have been using for the last fifty years. One can walk into what you are leading and as a friend of mine said today, they can immediately tell who is leading it.
Important Note Here:
Our job is to lead in such a waythat what you are leading comes to the point it no longer needs you. If those you are leading are still coming to you looking for answers or still directing others to you for answers (Example: I am not sure let me ask my pastor?), you may be missing something here. You want to really lead, develop an intensive discipling, training program that enables those who are sitting under it to have answers as to why they believe what they believe. Be as radical in your discipleship as you are in your outreach programs.
Some Direct Challenges
Pastor, let me challenge you to remember the purpose of gathering together.
Church member, let me encourage you by asking you to pray that you will grow in understanding and spiritual insight.
Pastors, don’t try to make your church the happening place. Teach less on leadership and more on the basic doctrinal tenets of the faith and along the way you may just discover you have built and developed some leaders.
Church attendees, stop looking for the happening place, the place that charges your emotional batteries, the place you leave feeling good, and start looking for a body of believers who are supporting, loving, pushing, encouraging, changing, and motivating each other to greater works and love.
Perhaps ask of that church “what type of discipleship programs are you using?”
Here’s another question right now. If a Jehovah’s Witness asked you “why do you believe in the trinity?” could you provide an answer? Is your church teaching you how to answer? If not, what are they teaching you if they are not teaching you how to defend your faith? Church ministry leader, if the majority of those God has given you cannot answer the above question, stop patting yourself on the back as though you’re doing a good job because you’re counting your conversions. Stop justifying your lack of doing your job with the same excuses that have been given in this series. If you are in leadership in God’s kingdom and you are not mentoring, discipling and encouraging those you are leading to the point they are able to teach, you are failing.
Pastors please consider using not only radical steps in reaching the “unchurched”; trust me, the same ole, same ole is not getting it done, but also using the same radical efforts in building and developing systems to push, pull, challenge, motivate, and encourage those God has put in your charge.
World Prayr family member, World Prayr leadership believes so strongly in that part of World Prayr’s mission it is aggressively doing and taking steps to be in the business of making true disciples; not counting conversions . That not only have we created a page for discipleship resources here: http://worldprayr.org/page/resources
We are also building a pastoral team for that purpose and we will be working with other ministries toward that purpose. Let me also challenge you to take this series of posts to your pastor or whoever you turn to for leadership and to remember these lessons yourself.
I pray this series has challenged you to understand the need for responsible grace, discipleship, personal responsibility and the role of a church in the growth of the believers life.
Thanks for taking the time to read, and reflect on a message that is and has always been very deep to my heart.
Once or twice in a life time an opportunity comes along to say, “Yes” and a job merges with something that has been a life-long love. I am beginning a season like that. I am humbled that God would give me such a gift.
God has gifted each of us for service in His Kingdom. He did not pick out gifts haphazardly. He did not ‘match up’ gifts and child randomly. He has a plan. He has a purpose for our lives.
Peter was the leader in the family fishing business. In order for the family to survive, Peter must have had physical strength and tenacity to do whatever needed to be done. He would have fished in roasting heat and in frigid rain. He fished all night despite no return on his time and effort (John 21). Peter had gifts that gave him the ability to run a business and lead a family. That was the beginning of his service in God’s Kingdom. Peter was faithful in the ‘small thing’ of his family and so God gave him more as a leader in the Church. Was he perfect? Had Peter taken leadership classes and gained certificates and diplomas of achievement prior to his appointment by Jesus? Uh, no. In fact, Peter probably would not have been recommended for ordination or approved by the nominating committee to be in leadership in most churches. He did not support the status quo.
Mary Magdalene would not be beaten down or humiliated into keeping quiet. The assurance of Jesus’ forgiveness meant more than any approval from others. She was fearless to serve in spite of opposition. Her reputation was meaningless to her.
Paul had it all. (Read 2 Corinthians 11) He had a plan on a path for his life. Jesus knocked Paul off that plan. I do not think it is any surprise that Paul’s letters include testimonies about how he wanted to go visit a church there and God said, “No” and sent him here instead. Paul thought he would evangelize the Jews and God sent him to the Gentiles.
God will frequently mess up my plans. When He takes me from an area in which I believe myself to be strong and places me ‘out of my comfort zone’ so that I feel weak, then He is the only one who gets credit for the success. In my weakness, I rely on God to bring me through and direct my path. That is where God wants me to kneel so that He can lift me up to stand firm in Him.
God has gifted us to build His Kingdom. To not use His gifts for what He intended is, at best, a miss on the blessings and, at worse, disobedience. Will I worship (Romans 12) my LORD and Savior in my answer to His call? Or will I say, “No.”
Renee Crosby sharing her passion for Jesus at a recent book signing.BSP: Soup Kitchen for the Soul begins as your testimony about how you found a closer relationship with God when you served at a local soup kitchen. What did you do at the soup kitchen? RC: It began with my husband and me standing behind the glass serving partition and just spooning out food. My son, then 6-years-old, was standing at the front of the serving line greeting each person. We dropped in over the next two weeks and helped out. BSP: How long had you been helping at the kitchen before you ‘got it’? RC: It was almost 9 months. I remember standing at a work table, de-boning a turkey, listening to a woman tell her story. She had left home at 13 and was homeless for the next eight years. “Then I hit rock bottom,” she said. I thought, “What?!! Then you hit rock bottom?” She said she got involved in drugs and that is when she had no where to go but to God. Even though my life had been different than hers, I, too, had come to God when I “ had no where to go but to God”. I finally ‘got it’ that we all come to God the same – with nothing to offer Him in and of ourselves. BSP: What is Christian Pep Rally? RC: Christian Pep Rally, Inc. (CPR) is a non-profit ministry focused on encouraging Christian passion. We organize regional Christian conferences to show the world we are united, excited people for Christ! Through our regional all-denominational conference events we desire to be an instrument of the Holy Spirit to bring Christians and seekers together to worship, and inspire and motivate Christians to live a life aligned with Godly vision and focus.
At our events we also raise money for local charities and collect items for the communities. We do not want it to be just an event but the jump start of an initial community outreach or the encouragement for greater ongoing outreach of Christ’s love. BSP: How did Christian Pep Rally come about? RC: God gave me a vision to motivate the laity in a venue separate from inside the Church. That was in September 2009. We have had several regional conferences since then. Now after prayerful consideration, our Board of Directors has expanded our outreach to respond, not just in major conferences, but to say, “We will come to your church and share with 10 people or 50 people!” We want to ask the question, “Who is your coach?” It is not your pastor. He is the assistant coach. Jesus is the coach. He is the One who has the plays and brings us on to victory. BSP: You and your family will soon be moving to Colorado. What is next for you there? RC: Revival is next. It has been hard for me to see the end of this ‘season’ in Florida but God has faithfully given me a look into what can be if I am willing ‘to go’. I am praying that I stay ‘hungry’ and can pass that hunger on to others.
Each month we will pose a question to our featured ‘professor’. We welcome questions from our readers. Send in your questions! Henry NeufeldFeatured Teacher: Henry Neufeld, BA and MA degrees in Biblical Languages, owner and editor of Energion Publications, written or co-authored ten books, including What’s in a Version?, When People Speak for God, Participatory Study Guide Series: Hebrews and Revelation. We often say we would like to be a part of an Acts 2 church. With your Biblical languages background would you look at Acts 2 and give us some of the points that would honestly describe an Acts 2 church?
There are a few passages in the Bible that are paradigmatic for the church. In terms of the nature of the church, I would cite Acts 2 (or perhaps 2-5), 1 Corinthians 12-14, and Revelation 1-3 (the letters to the seven churches). The Sermon on the Mount provides the key outline of what the Christian life is to be about.
I don’t mean to suggest that these passages can be read in isolation, but rather that understanding them in their context will provide us with the paradigm for what a Christian is to be, and, in turn, what the church is to be.
While my Biblical languages background helps me in understanding the Bible—that’s why I took that particular course of study—in such chapters, the main outlines are generally very clear in almost any English translation. Too frequently, I believe, we dive into such chapters in order to settle more minor points, while we miss the major outline.
For example, I recall going to Acts 2 along with various other passages in Acts in order to discover just what the gift of tongues was to be, and comparing this to 1 Corinthians 14. The problem is that reading 1 Corinthians 14 without also reading 1 Corinthians 12 and 13, or with just that one question in mind, often leads one to miss the actual emphasis of the passage. Similarly, reading Acts 2 looking for the nature and application of the gift of tongues often means we miss the fact that this was kind of the starting gun for the concept of world missions, something that would become clear if we continued to read the book of Acts.
Acts 2 is a very good place, however, to ask just what the most basic nature of the church is to be. It describes the birth of the church. In a very real sense we can think of the church as in gestation through the ministry of Jesus. With Acts 2 it becomes the church and not just a small group of followers. At the same time that Jesus is removed from them the disciples learn that he is still very much present. Note that while they are written by different authors at different times, the concept of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12) fits tightly with the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2.
So what characteristics describe an Acts 2 church?
I think these are the key ones:
It is a church seeking unity
This theme runs through the chapter, starting with verses 1-4. Being together in one place doesn’t mean that they had no disagreements. Often in seeking unity we also seek absolute uniformity. Love (well defined in 1 Corinthians 13) does not demand that we agree about everything but rather that we learn to work together as a team even when we disagree.
I recall once when I was involved in organizing a city-wide prayer meeting that a young man who had been making calls to churches came to me with a problem. He had called a particular church, but the pastor told him that they saw no reason to participate in a prayer meeting with churches that were “wrong on doctrine.” Under the circumstances there was nothing I could do but tell him to go on to the next church.
I think this “working together in spite of disagreements” is modeled a great deal in the New Testament. At the same time, the church leaders do not abandon doctrine. They discuss and work it out. The paradigmatic chapter for this topic is Acts 15, with the end result that seemed good “to the Holy Spirit and to us.” That is an important line—it seems good to us and the Holy Spirit. If we were willing to get together more often and pray until we can honestly say that something seems good both to us and the Holy Spirit, we might get much further!
It is a church that proclaims
When the Holy Spirit comes on the newborn church, it immediately proclaims. There was no waiting and discussion; they simply got down to the business of proclamation (verses 5-36).
This passage is often the center of debates about the gift of tongues. But let’s skip that controversy and go to the main point. The gift given here introduces a critical theme in the book of Acts, the way in which the gospel spreads from Judea (2-7), Samaria (8), and from there on to the rest of the world. The gift here was for proclamation and was a sign of things to come.
It is a church that makes disciples
Besides it being Peter, the apostle, who makes the first proclamation, but further, those who were converted that day devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles (42).
There are two sides to this leadership. First, the leaders are recognized as those who lead and teach. Second, the leaders spend their time teaching everyone. Now that may sound like a statement of the obvious, but often our modern church leaders are often people who preach on Sunday and do administration. The Acts pattern has everyone in action.
There is no Christian who does not have the call to make disciples.
It is a church that gathers
The newborn church immediately begins gathering to learn and to break bread. They are, in fact, so unified that they hold all their goods in common and take care of one another. There are debates about whether this is the best way for the church to live, in a sort of communism. But that is not the critical issue. The question is whether we trust our fellow church members as our own body enough to share in that fashion. The answer, I believe, is “no” and that means we need to continue in prayer for the unity of the Spirit in the church.
I want to draw attention as well to the breaking of bread. Communion, or the Eucharist, is often reduced to an occasional and perfunctory ritual. In the early church—the earliest church—I believe it was the center of gathering because it symbolized our unity as part of the body of Christ.
I would suggest reading Acts 2 a number of times prayerfully, each time asking, “How can I put this into action in my own church. I think we would all be amazed at what could be accomplished if we let the New Testament give us the principles of our church life.
Pastor Patrick Badstibner is founder of World Prayr (on Twitter). Pat has been providing us with a monthly blog post, but I’m pleased to be able to present this blog post, the first in a series of four weekly posts by Pat, to our Energion Publications family.
Check the World Prayr organization and the World Prayr devotional blog as well. You’ll find a dynamic and growing group of Christians who are practicing the second great command, to love their neighbors as themselves, and thereby practicing the first command as well.
First you should know this is a four part series and I pray you will take the time to follow along and keep up. With each part I promise to bring home a point and prayerfully lead into the next part of the series. For those who take the time to read any part, let me thank you ahead of time. For those souls who are brave enough to follow all four parts, I shall pray God gives you an extra blessing covering your eyes.
[The series will be published here weekly, with each part appearing on a Monday. – ed]
I want to take a look at three different sayings that seem to be popular among those that refer to themselves as pastors today, while at the same time visiting with some friends named Dave and Paula (well the names have been changed to protect the innocent but the situations are true) and how those sayings might play out in other scenarios of life. While also looking at maybe some erroneous teachings or views as it comes to the subject of discipleship in the church.
Let me tell you just a bit about my friends, Dave and Paula. Dave and Paula own a business in which they own three paint stores in a very busy metropolitan area. Their stores are surrounded by old standards doing business in the same old way with the same methods and techniques that have been used for over thirty years or longer. Dave and Paula have done quite well, obviously since they have three stores now– in spite of being surrounded by these large well supported corporate retail giants. They have used updated methods and techniques to reach, build, and sustain their customer base.
We are not going to look at just their business though; we are also going to look and see if their obvious business savvy has translated into personal wisdom. Then as I said we are going to take a minute and look at some popular sayings we may find being said by pastors today.
Recently with Dave and Paula
Recently Dave and Paula had a meeting with some of their store managers and it was brought to their attention that customer referral sales were down twenty-five percent. This was not good news to Dave and Paula as they had built, and still believed that their business was built, on referrals and they had no desire to be in the addition business but rather wanted to be in the multiplication business. However, Dave’s answer shocked their managers as he said, “We have the systems, market studies, everything in place and the numbers show that we are growing by leaps and bounds. Perhaps we cannot help it if our numbers are down for repeat business and customer referral. Let’s keep adding numbers and we will not have to worry about the rest. After all it is not our fault if we have the systems in place and people are not coming back as often. Let’s just keep creating radical methods of getting new customers in and stay on a steady course with an occasional twitch here and there. Sound Good!” Funny though, it left all Dave’s managers going “hmmmmm!” Does it really sound good?
Now what do you think? Is Dave’s advice sound to his management team?
Funny Thing
I read recently where a pastor said “We have the systems in place, it is not our fault if they are not growing.”
“Ah! Pat you say this is a church not a business.”
How right you are! Only two issues:
The great commandment found in Matthew 28:
18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a]the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
is not telling others how to be saved, or just bring others to Christ or go grab those who aren’t buying yet. It is, however, “go make disciples.” *A disciple is someone buying hook, line, and sicker and whose life is being immersed in the truth of the Word of God; such that they in turn are producing additional disciples.
A pastor’s main focus and main task is not to reach those who are not part of his flock.
Ah! Heresy, Heresy, that’s it! I am not going to read any more how Pat gets off with such nonsense. I did not say it, God did, several times in His word; let me show you a couple of instances:
1. In 1 Thessalonians 5:12, we see Paul speaking to believers, encouraging them to not make it difficult for those who labor for them. Key word and point Paul is speaking to believers.
2. Wherever scripture refers to the office of pastor, or title, it refers to words like shepherd, overseer, and elder.
Now, a question: Is a shepherd’s first job is to concentrate by getting more sheep or to concentrate on protecting, guiding, and helping grow to maturity the sheep he already has?
If we define an organization, ministry, or church that focuses heavily on adding numbers and reaching those that are not in their organization, ministry, or church as being in the addition business, then we may define and state that one whose leadership focuses heavily on impacting and changing the lives, or on building its current base as being in the multiplication business. We state they are in the multiplication business because they are building those currently involved in order that they may reach those who are not.
So having looked at what a Shepherd’s main job is do you see any similarities between Dave’s advice to his team and what a lot of pastors today are saying? Do you feel Dave is in the addition business or the multiplication business as it pertains to building and growing his business?
Is the church you’re leading or going to in the multiplication business or in the addition business? Are you going to church just because you like the music, you come out emotionally feeling good, or are you going to a church that is radically taking the same steps to bring to maturity those who are currently in church as they are those who are not in church.
If part one made no sense to you wait for part two I promise as we move forward in this series the message of the series and the points of the message will become clearer and make more sense if they do not as of yet.
Or did you expect me to reveal all the points in part one?
Part two: Can we really go deeper without making clones (coming July 5).
I remember the first time I heard the song “In the Secret” by Andy Park. It was a whole new concept in worship music. It was a simple song. It didn’t have four verses and a chorus. The music brought the style of what I loved in worldly music into the church. Many people were appalled that we were allowing the world to infect the church.
Then I read how Charles Wesley took bar songs and gave them new lyrics. “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing” or “Hark, The Herald Angels Sing” could have first been sung in a pub! I no longer felt guilty because I tapped my foot, clapped my hands, and even shuffled my feet a bit in church. Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dances. Miriam answered them,
“Sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously.
The horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.” Exodus 15:20-21 (WEB)
It is Biblical to worship God with our songs. Over the centuries the ‘transportation’ of the worship has evolved in various stringed instruments, percussion, horns, and yes, even our demeanor in the worship. Each step in the evolution has brought with it concerns. Some concerns are well-founded as we, the Church, questioned whether we were influencing the world or the world was influencing Church. Some concerns were based in fear; in a rigidness that did not want to allow change because change is scarey and often unknown. Change upsets the balance of what has always been. Hillsong United, David Crowder, Chris Tomlin, Kristian Stanfill, Charlie Hall, Jesus Culture, Christy Nockels, The Glorious Unseen Have you heard of them? They are some of the Miriam’s, David’s, and the Charles Wesley’s of today. And there are so many more who bring us forward into worship. If you are like me and are not familiar with most of these names and attend a corporate worship that includes unfamiliar songs, before you stomp your foot and complain – stop, look around, and ask God what He thinks. Are there more new people, especially young (under 50) people, coming and staying in your fellowship? Corporate worship is by far the usual ‘front door’ for visitors in the church. If the style of worship or specific songs do not ‘work’ for you, buy yourself some CDs and worship in your car! Is God showing you how to be a ‘grown-up Christian, a leader who thinks of others before him/herself?
Rev. Geoffrey LentzGeoffrey D. Lentz is a native of Pensacola, Florida and serves as the associate pastor of First United Methodist Church in his hometown. With a B.A. degree in Psychology from the University of West Florida and a Master of Divinity from Duke University, Rev. Lentz combines his knowledge of ancient church history with creative and innovative worship in his church’s fourth Sunday morning service called ICON. This cutting edge, tradition rich, and Christ centered style of worship is rapidly becoming the example for the future of Christian worship. He is currently working on a Doctorate of Ministry with a focus on preaching and liturgy through Drew University.
Geoffrey and his wife, Elizabeth (Liz) live in Pensacola with their two children, Luke and Eliza. Geoffrey enjoys the outdoors, reading, music, and Duke University Basketball. Geoffrey is author of The Gospel According to St. Luke: A Participatory Study Guideand co-author of Learning and Living Scripture: An Introduction to the Participatory Study Method. The ICON service at your church is said to be “cutting edge, tradition rich, art embracing, and Christ centered”. Many churches struggle with promoting themselves as relevant in the 21st century and avoiding the pitfall of becoming just another venue for “entertainment”. How do you take the vision of ICON and bring it and the people to worship?
I believe that the church’s biggest problem today is not that we are not focused enough on making God relevant to humanity, but that we are not focused enough on making humanity relevant to God. The fascinating thing is that in the postmodern world we live in, authenticity is the most relevant thing of all. At ICON, we believe that there is no contradiction between being cutting edge and tradition rich. We use two large high-definition screens and have a progressive rock worship band, but a Christian from any century of Christian history would be comfortable with the order of worship (our order of worship is based on Justin Martyr’s early second century description of the early church worshiping).
The service centers around the celebration of Holy Communion every Sunday. Practicing the Lord’s Supper provides the congregation with a time to respond to God’s call and be transformed into the body of Christ. For 2000 years the Lord’s Supper has kept the Lord’s Day Christ-centered. In a world that tells us everything should be centered around us or around the consumer, we find that being as Christ-centered as possible changes lives and draws in even the ‘unchurched’. Maybe Jesus was on to something when he said, “seek first the kingdom of heaven and all else shall be added” (Matthew 6:33). The modern church spends too much time focusing on the perceived needs of people so that often we forget about God. When we focus first and foremost on the worship of God, we proclaim our belief that what people need most is God in their lives. Many contemporary services today give people what they want but not what they need. Our goal is to give people what they need and trust God that it (He) is really what they want .
WorshipThe Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (WEB)
Emily Capes, Director of Youth Ministries at First United Methodist Church, Pensacola, FL took some time in her busy schedule and to share her heart for the young adults and the ministry to which God has called them. BSP: As a youth pastor, what is your focus with your group of young people? EMILY CAPES: My focus is to have a team of adults who grow in their understanding of teenagers and then build one on one relationships with my students. So that they grow to know a God -who is not a product that will take all of their problems away but is a living, moving, existence who will walk with them and talk with them and call them to live a life that is greater than they can even imagine. We live in a culture where everything is being sold to us in a way that we believe that we will be happy when we buy into the product. Even Jesus is packaged this way in many ministries. FellowshipBSP: You are in a large church so do you find “keeping the focus” more difficult? EMILY CAPES: I do find that “keeping the focus” is harder in a larger church. I know that some students have slipped through the cracks because we weren’t able to connect with them because there are so many kids at different functions. I do try very hard to have as many adults walking alongside of the students to try to be present to as many as possible.
Also, as a larger church – there is an expectation to do things well. And that means better organized planned activities and programs. Which means that we have to be incredibly intentional to not miss the individuals in the process. Organization is not a bad thing but it shouldn’t be the first thing over relationships with students. Students aren’t always organized. They need your attention when you feel like you should be “doing” something… BSP: What tools do you use to reach your young people? EMILY CAPES: Some of the tools are typical ones – videos, internet, current worship music, games, go to dance recital and sporting events, meet for breakfast or coffee, communicate on Facebook or texting and stay current with the things in their culture. Other than that – what they really need is people who have the time to be present to them. It doesn’t really matter what you do or use as long as they know that we are truly interested in them. PrayerBSP: How has the ‘new’ ICON service has reached (or not) the youth? EMILY CAPES: Our students do use worship music as part of our Sunday evening activities – but I wouldn’t call it a worship “service”. But I do believe that we worship there – through song and conversation and service to our community. Many students do come to ICON but I believe that ICON has impacted the youth ministry by bringing in new families with students who are slowly starting to get involved. BSP: What can we as parents, church leaders, and older adult members of Christ’s Body do to encourage our young adults to “grow up in the admonition of the Lord”? EMILY CAPES: Honestly, what we as adults need to do is live out our faith alongside of the students’ lives. So many churches put the young people in another building so they can have their own space to play in, mess up and “do their own thing” – which might seem like a good idea but honestly it removes them from some of the best examples of the Body of Christ. I believe it would also strengthen the church to involve the students in more aspects of all of the church ministries. We as adults can also learn from seeing Christ lived out in the teenagers lives as well.
