Author Archives: Barry

Law or Gospel?

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“I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”

Matthew 5:18

There are many Christians who struggle with understanding the Old Testament in the Bible and how it connects with the Gospel, or the New Testament. Consequently some Christians discount the Old Testament entirely and claim that all that matters is the Gospel and what Jesus said and did. Some go so far as to say that the Old Testament doesn’t apply anymore and was written for a different time, a different culture and a different purpose. In other words, the Old Testament is not relevant to the Christian faith and can simply be discarded as some Jewish history and a bunch of highly questionable stories.

But is that really true? Can we “unhitch” the Old Testament from the gospel as one prominent American preacher has suggested? Is the Law contained in the Old Testament no longer applicable for Christians? Are Christians faced with choosing to adhere to the Law or the Gospel?

The Christian faith is based solely on the work of Jesus on the cross. But it is also built on the truth of the Bible. While the Bible is not the source of our salvation (faith in Jesus is), it is the inerrant and inspired Word of God that was written down for our benefit so that we can know God more deeply and accurately. The Bible contains the history of God’s relationship to man and his prior covenants with the Jewish people (Old Testament) as well as his covenant with all people through Jesus Christ (New Testament). We cannot separate the two parts of the Bible because they reinforce each other and work together for our understanding. Therefore, we must seek to understand how they both apply to us as Christians today.

As Christians, it is true that salvation comes through faith in Jesus and not adherence to the Law (John 3:16). Paul said that the Law shows us our sin (Romans 3:20) and that we cannot be saved through the Law because we cannot possibly keep it (Romans 7:18). Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 that the Law will never pass away, and that He is the fulfillment of the Law. In other words, Jesus did what we could not do (complete obedience to the Law) and gave His life so that we might be free from the Law. So to understand why Jesus came and what He did on the cross we must know the Old Testament to put Jesus into proper context. For without the Old Testament how could we possibly understand why we need Jesus for salvation?

So then, what is the purpose of the Law for Christians and why should we read the Old Testament?

First, as Paul said, the purpose of the Law is to show us our sin. What Paul is referring to is God’s Moral Law such as the 10 Commandments, laws on sexual behavior, etc. (The Jews added many civil and ceremonial laws on top of God’s Moral Law so it’s important to recognize the difference. Jesus freed us from the civil and ceremonial laws, but not God’s moral Law.) In order to believe in Jesus as our savior, we must first acknowledge that we are sinners (breakers of God’s Moral Law) and in need of a savior. John 1:9 reminds us that “if we say we have no sin, the truth is not in us.” Second, Paul also tells us that “the Law is holy, righteous and good” (Romans 7:12) and is what God expects us to try and adhere to. While the Law is no longer the standard for salvation, it is still the standard for our behavior. Third, the Old Testament documents what happens to us when we disobey God and try to do things on our own (Judges 21:25). Fourth, the Old Testament reveals God’s plan of salvation through the prophecies about Jesus that are ultimately confirmed in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus in the New Testament (Isaiah 9:6-7 & Isaiah 53).

So then, how are we to understand the Law and the Old Testament in light of the Gospel?

As for the Law, it is there to remind us of God’s standard for living righteous and holy lives. Just because we can’t keep the Law does not mean it should be disregarded or not obeyed. Obeying the Law does not save us or cause God to love us more. We should obey His Law because of what God has done for us (forgiveness) and to honor Him and bring him glory! And when we transgress that Law, we are called to repent and seek His forgiveness, which He promises to all who seek Him.

As for the Old Testament, can we really just toss it out or disregard some of its contents because it may not seem to make sense to us today? Absolutely not! Just because we may not understand God’s Word in the Old Testament does not mean it either is not true or not applicable today. Jesus often quoted the Old Testament and confirmed its truth. So if He believed it was true and God’s Word, so should we! He also said that the Old Testament is about Him and speaks of Him (Luke 4:16-21). Furthermore, the Old Testament contains many historical events that must be read in light of the language it was written in, the prevailing culture, the geography, the economy, and the political structure at the time in order to better understand what God is trying to tell us or reveal to us about His character and nature.

So for man to somehow claim that certain parts of the Bible don’t matter anymore is the height of arrogance and man placing himself above God. It is either God’s Word or it is not God’s Word. We can’t pick and choose which parts we accept or believe and which parts we don’t. We are not that intelligent! (Isaiah 55:9) As humans, and God’s creation, all we can do is seek to understand God through His Word and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

So the Christian faith is not dependent upon obedience to the Law. But it is also not about just saying we are Christians and doing as we please. Being a believer in Jesus (a Christian) means that we put our faith in Jesus for our salvation AND do our best to obey God’s commands and live a holy and righteous life. In other words, it is not Law or Gospel, it is Law AND Gospel.

So let us show our gratitude to God for sending Jesus to the cross for our salvation by trying to live God honoring and pleasing lives. As the Holy Spirit has brought us to faith through the Gospel (1 Corinthians 2:10) the Holy Spirit will also help us be obedient to God’s Law (Galatians 5:16).

 

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Is Our Training Effective?

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“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.”

1 Corinthians 3:6

One of the struggles I face in leading this ministry is how to evaluate and measure the effectiveness of our training. Just counting the number of pastors and leaders we train is fairly meaningless because it does not capture the impact of the training on each individual that receives it. Additionally, just because someone attends our training does not necessarily mean that they put what they learned into practice and that it has positively impacted their ministry in a tangible or measurable way. Consequently, the impact of any training is very difficult to quantify and measure in an objective manner.

So, how do we evaluate the effectiveness of our training? The only option left is to try and evaluate it subjectively by surveys, focus groups and testimonials.  While this is certainly not comprehensive and only represents the views from those willing to participate, it does reflect the impact that the training has had on those individuals.  And that limited amount of feedback does provide guidance to our training development and delivery and gives us insight into what participants find useful, practical and meaningful for their ministry.

In our 17 years of teaching our Management for Church Leaders™ training we have learned from our participants and trainers several things about our training.  First, we continually hear that our training is very basic, Biblical, and easy to understand. Second, it is often mentioned that our training is very practical and something they can readily implement. Third, many participants like the fact that our training is comprehensive (includes a lot of what the Bible says about management) and is put together in one document which they can reference when necessary. This was our original intent and affirms what we set out to accomplish. And these comments have come from virtually every part of the world where we have trained.

But this feedback does not really answer the question as to the impact of the training. It’s one thing for participants to say they like our training and quite another for them to actually put it into practice and test its merit. For that type of feedback we ask for testimonials and stories from individual participants of how our training was actually used. That information is often harder to obtain because we do not have the ability to contact individual participants several months after they have attended one of our training conferences. So we must rely on our global network of trainers to provide that type of feedback for us when they can.

Recently I contacted seven of our key contacts and trainers around the world and asked them if they felt our training was effective and if so, how they knew. All of them said our training was effective and they knew that because of their personal contacts with some of the participants and the testimonies that they were receiving from them. They also mentioned being able to witness changes in the lives and ministries of those they had trained. Again their observations are limited and subjective but do provide evidence that there is impact from our training.

But I believe that the greatest testimony on the value and effectiveness of our training is that we have a network of 64 pastors and leaders around the world who have invested their time, resources and energy in teaching it to others on our behalf. I do not think they would do that unless they felt that the training was effective and important. While that is not conclusive evidence on its own, it does represent a significant indicator of the potential impact that our training is having.

Finally, I want to share with you a recent testimony that I received from Pastor Wilson Esambe from Cameroon. He is one of our MCL Trainers and has taken our training to many nations in West Africa on our behalf. He wrote, “I give thanks to God for FaithLife Ministries for bringing out the value that was hidden in me. Every month, I make it a habit of reading the manual and teach my church leaders also. Today, they understand the vision of our ministry through training using this manual. This year, we have a target of 60 church plants, as a Senior Pastor, I am relaxed but we have been able to plant 4 churches already. Thank you Mentor Barry. God bless you. Because of the goodness and practicality of the material I am prepared to go anywhere to teach others and sleep anywhere. Nothing is more important than having an organized and well managed church.” While this is only one testimony, it is very encouraging for what we do and shows the kind of impact our training can have!

I know that I will not truly understand or know the full impact that our training has had until I am in heaven. The Bible reminds us in Isaiah 55:11 that “so is my Word that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”  I trust that the Lord (who called me into this ministry 17 years ago) is using each of us who teach our training to impact others and together we will expand His Kingdom on this earth!

So, as a laborer in the vineyard of the Lord, and one who trains others, I am constantly aware that “neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:7)  Our duty and responsibility is to be obedient to God’s call, teach others what He has taught us, and to trust that God will provide the impact and effectiveness according to His desire and purpose!

Amen! Thank you Lord!

 

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Encouraging a Hunger for God

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“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

Matthew 5:6

There is an old saying that “you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink.” It means that if a horse is not thirsty he likely will not drink, even if you place some water before him.  The same can be said of our relationship to God.  We can be led to God, but unless we desire Him we will have no interest. So it is important for us to develop a hunger for God and His Word, so that we may be filled with His Holy Spirit.

I once heard the Rev. David Jeremiah identify the difference between “Spiritual Hunger” and “Physical Hunger” in a sermon of his on the radio. He said that with physical hunger, the more you eat, the less hungry you become until you are full. But with spiritual hunger the opposite is true. The more you eat, the hungrier you get.  You can never have enough. For church leaders it is important to encourage others to have a spiritual hunger for God as well.  We can lead them to God but they must have a hunger for God themselves. When God’s people hunger for Him they desire more of Him and thus grow as disciples.

A disciple of Christ should hunger for God as Jesus did. There is a difference between being a “disciple” and just being a “believer.” A Believer is someone who has a firm religious faith that they take as true or honest. A Disciple, on the other hand, is someone who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another. Therefore, a disciple is more than just a believer because a disciple has an active faith. As James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.” There are many Biblical examples of people who hungered for God. They include faithful people like Abraham, Moses, David, Job, Nicodemus, Mary Magdalene, Peter and Paul. If we also want to be a disciple of Jesus then we should hunger for God as these other disciples did.

Today, we need to encourage all believers in Jesus to develop a hunger for God and so become disciples of Jesus as well. Why should we encourage a hunger for God? First, we know that only God can fill their spiritual “void” and give them true peace. God is the only one who can satisfy their spiritual desires and needs. Second, we were all created to be in relationship with our Creator. We have all been separated from God through sin, and He wants us, and them, back! Third, Christ is the ONLY way to salvation and eternal life.  The Bible says in Acts 4:12 that “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” And lastly, we should encourage a hunger for God because of the blessings God wants to give each of us in this life. If we seek Him first, we will receive everything else (Matthew 6:33)!

How can we tell if someone has a hunger for God? First, they love to worship God. Second, they have a desire to know and understand God’s Word and pursue His will for their life. Third, they want to fill the emptiness in their life and have a relationship with Jesus. Fourth, they are willing to submit to God (James 4:7). This means they want to do His will, obey His commands, and go where He leads. Fifth, they have a desire to serve others and to love others as Christ has loved them. Finally, they have a longing to share the good news with others. They willingly witness and proclaim the gospel.

So, how do we help feed the spiritual hunger of others? First, we should encourage the eating of spiritual food, which is to read God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). To grow in Christ they’ve got to know Christ. Second, we should encourage regular worship. It helps them put the focus on God in their lives. Third, we should encourage the resistance to “sweets” (sins of the world) that diminish one’s appetite for God. Remind them to avoid situations that can lead to temptation and sin and separate them from God. Fourth, we should encourage the feeding of others through service and mission.  In order to receive they must first give away (Luke 6:38). Fifth, we should encourage the development of a Godly perspective. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) And finally, encourage them to develop a strong prayer life. It builds their relationship with their Heavenly Father and reinforces their faith as they see God answer prayer.

Here are a few extra tips on encouraging others to develop a hunger for God:

  1. Be an example – Don’t just tell them, show them!
  2. Do it together – make yourself accountable to others
  3. Focus on the positive – criticism destroys desire
  4. Be proactive – don’t wait for them to initiate activity
  5. Give all praise and glory to God – It is always about Him!

Encouraging others to develop a hunger for God is an important step in discipling them. Let us be examples and show the way!

 

(From Chapter 1 in our Discipleship for Church Leaders™ Training Manual, ©2015.)

 

Lenten Sacrifice

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Lenten Sacrifice: Is it for You or God?

“To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”

Proverbs 21:3

Sacrifice:   noun

1. The destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else
2. An act of offering to a deity something precious

We are now in the season of Lent when many Christians remember and honor the sacrifice that Jesus made for all humanity on the cross on Good Friday. It is also 40 days long (excluding Sundays) which commemorates Jesus’ 40 day journey in the wilderness and his refusal to give in to Satan and his worldly temptations. In ancient times the season of Lent also included fasting for 40 days as Jesus did in the wilderness.  It also included giving of alms, prayer and flagellation (self-wounding to represent penance), which a few people still practice today.

During this time today many Christians traditionally give up (sacrifice) something they value or enjoy in order to honor His sacrifice and to prepare themselves for His coming death, resurrection and victory over Satan and the grave on Easter Sunday. Honoring God this way can be a wonderful demonstration of faith and commitment to following Jesus with one’s life.

But like so many Christian practices, these Lenten sacrifices can end up becoming traditions instead of acts of spiritual commitment and focus.  It perplexes me why so many Christians who practice this “temporary” sacrifice during Lent to honor God go right back to enjoying them after Lent is over. Does sacrificing food or things that we enjoy for 40 days actually draw us closer to God? Are we using this time of sacrifice to spend more time in prayer or the Word? Or does it simply make us feel better about resisting our temptations for a few weeks and then we go back to life as usual where we really haven’t changed?

The purpose of sacrifice is to enable us to let go of the things that we hold more dearly in our hearts than God. But if we go back to them have we truly made a sacrifice for God? Or are we only making a temporary gesture to assuage our own guilt for the things we do that we know we shouldn’t do?  The message of John the Baptist was to repent, or turn away from our sinful behaviors (Matthew 3:1-2). Jesus also began His ministry by preaching repentance (Matthew 4:17). In other words, the call of Christ is to give up living for earthly desires and exchange them for the will of God (1 Peter 4:2).

Like all spiritual practices it comes down to the motivation in our hearts. Are we doing this for God or are we just doing this for ourselves? Jesus said in Matthew  6:17-18, “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Jesus reminds us that when we fast or sacrifice for Him we do not need to let others know or announce it in a way that brings attention on ourselves.  The Bible also tells us in Proverbs 21:3 that “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”  And in 1 Samuel 15:22 it says that “To obey is better than sacrifice.”

So rather than making a temporary sacrifice to try to honor or please God, isn’t it more important that we obey His commands each and every day and sacrifice (give up) our sins to Him instead?

A friend of mine, Pastor Phil Ressler, recently wrote a book entitled “40 Things to Give Up for Lent” (https://philressler.com/40-things-to-give-up-for-lent-the-list/).  In His book he challenges Christians to give up 40 things that separate us from God, including fear, impatience, guilt, hatred, worry, etc., and instead focus on developing Godly desires. Rather than sacrificing something you value to God during Lent, how about taking on some quality of God instead?

I do not want anyone to miss my point here. It is not about ending the practice of Lenten sacrifice. My point is that if we are going to sacrifice something for God, let it be our pride, our selfishness and our sinfulness, not our life’s enjoyments. And let our sacrifice be every day and not just during Lent. And let our focus be on drawing closer to God, not on demonstrating our self-discipline to do without something we enjoy.

Paul writes to the church in Rome in Romans 12:1 and says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – which is your spiritual worship.” He said this to encourage them to live lives dedicated to God. That encouragement also applies to us today!

We truly worship God when we are willing to sacrifice our human desires for His will and to submit our lives to Him daily and unconditionally.

So let us honor God this Lenten season by giving up the sin in our lives “that so easily entangles us” (Hebrews 12:1) so that we can “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith!” (Hebrews 12:2) Let us focus on prayer and being obedient to His commands instead!

Develop These 7 Leadership Skills

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“Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;

teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.”

Proverbs 9:9

Leadership is critical in ministry as it is for any organization.  The success of any ministry will rise and fall on its leadership.  Weak ministries can succeed with strong leadership, but strong ministries cannot succeed with weak leadership.  If we are to achieve success in the ministries that God has called us to, then we must become effective leaders in order to fulfill His purpose through us.

John Maxwell, a leading authority on leadership, says that while some people are born with natural leadership ability, leadership is also a skill that everyone can learn and develop. Therefore, it is important for pastors and church leaders to continue to learn and develop their leadership skills.  A good leader never stops growing and learning.

It is my belief that if pastors and church leaders work at developing the following 7 leadership skills they will become more effective leaders.

  1. Communication

Effective communication is perhaps the most important skill that a leader can possess. Without good communication skills it will be difficult for a church leader to communicate Biblical Truth or influence their followers. Being able to speak clearly, succinctly and effectively enables a leader to motivate, encourage and direct their followers to necessary or desired courses of action. Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” There are 3 skills leaders should develop to become better communicators. First, develop your public speaking and presentation skills. Leaders are frequently called upon to speak to large groups or present solutions to church issues. If your speaking and presentation skills are poor then your results will likely be as well. Second, learn to be clear & concise. Leaders often confuse people when they ramble on about something or wander from the topic at hand. And third, and most important, remember to communicate to be understood, not to be heard. If people only hear your message but do not understand it then they will not be educated, motivated or encouraged by it.

  1. Listening

Many people become leaders because they are able to communicate and articulate issues, ideas and solutions to others in a way that inspires confidence and trust in their ability to lead. But being able to listen carefully and thoughtfully to the ideas of others helps a leader make better decisions and manage the resources of the church more effectively. It is often said that God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason! The Bible says in James 1:19 that we should be “quick to listen and slow to speak.” Furthermore, in Proverbs 1:5 it says, “Let the wise listen and add to their learning.”  Consequently, a good leader is a good listener and good listening results in added knowledge and understanding.  It can also prevent us from speaking incorrectly or poorly (e.g. – putting our foot in our mouth!). A good listener also demonstrates concern and care for others.

  1. Wisdom

Decision making is probably the main factor that separates good leaders from great leaders. Often, great leaders emerge because of the way that they handled a crisis and demonstrated wisdom in the process. The Bible says that, “Wisdom is supreme; therefore, get wisdom.”  (Proverbs 4:7)  Notice that it says wisdom and not knowledge. Knowledge is simply having information about something. Wisdom, on the other hand, is the appropriate application of that knowledge. As leaders we must continue to learn and acquire knowledge (Proverbs 10:14), but we are also called to use wisdom in applying that knowledge as we lead. How does a leader get wisdom? Ask God for it. God says He will give us His wisdom if we ask for it (Matthew 7:7-8)!

  1. Follow Through

I read a study some years ago where CEO’s of major corporations were asked if they had any regrets about their leadership over the years. The most common response they shared was a lack of follow through.  In other words, when they delegated tasks or responsibilities to others they had failed to follow up to ensure they were done correctly or on-time. They all recognized that many problems could have been avoided if they had taken the time to simply follow up on what they had given to others to do to make sure it was on target. Assuming things are on schedule and lack of follow through had frequently led to poor results.  Leaders must hold others accountable by following up so as to ensure what they expect to be done, gets done!  Proverbs 14:15 says, “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.”

  1. Flexibility

Leaders are wise to recognize that not all of their followers will agree with them 100% of the time.  There are always different perspectives on most issues and so leaders must be flexible. Leaders must be willing to consider other points of view and solutions while holding on to their principles. Effective leadership requires learning which battles to fight and which ones not to. There are often many ways to accomplish the same goal. Consequently, leaders should remain flexible and weigh all the options before making any critical decisions. The Bible says, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.”  (Proverbs 19:20)

  1. Encouragement

Everyone needs encouragement. Effective leaders understand that a few encouraging words can go a long way in developing people, raising up leaders and growing an organization. Criticism and harsh words, on the other hand, tear people down and hinder organizational progress. Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica to encourage them with these words, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) Therefore, speak encouraging words to those you lead – it will inspire them to do better. Show encouragement to others – it will create more effort in the future. And don’t criticize a good effort, praise it!  It will pay big dividends!

  1. Passion

One of the marks of a great leader is having a passion for what they are doing. Another word for that is commitment. Leaders must be committed to the goals and vision God has given to them and do whatever it takes to succeed within Godly principles and behavior.  Effective leaders NEVER, EVER give up!  They know that, “God’s work done in God’s way will have God’s supply in God’s time!”  Proverbs 16:3 confirms this and says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed.”

 

(From Chapter 4 in our Management for Church Leaders™ Volume #2 Training Manual, ©2016)

2017 MCL Trainer Award Winners!

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FaithLife Ministries would like to recognize the efforts that members of our Global Trainer Network have made in spreading and multiplying our Management for Church Leaders™ (MCL) training last year. As a group, they trained 9,984 pastors and church leaders via 133 training conferences in 29 nations in 2017. That is an increase of 2,340 leaders (31%) trained over the prior year (7,644)! We thank God for their enthusiasm and commitment to training pastors and leaders with our training materials! To God be the glory!

We are pleased to announce the winners of our MCL Trainer Awards for 2017 and they are as follows:

1.  Multiplier Award – Pastor Joseph Senoga Richard of Uganda who trained 1,932 leaders in 2017!

2.  Organizer Award – Pastor Kiyingi Emmy of Uganda who conducted 10 conferences in 10 different locations in 2017!

3.  Missionary Award – Pastor Wilson Esambe of Cameroon who conducted training in 3 nations in 2017 (Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic) and introduced our training to his contacts in 3 others (Jordan, Togo & Ghana)!!

4.  Overcomer Award – Pastor James Ochwo of Uganda, who overcame medical problems, family issues, travel difficulties, and financial struggles to train 861 pastors and leaders in 7 locations in 2 nations in 2017!

5.  Dedication Award – Pastor Sam Abraham of India who demonstrated his commitment to our training by teaching our training in his Bible College and taking our training to 4 other locations throughout northern India, all at his own expense and initiative. In total, he trained 508 pastors, church leaders and Bible students in 2017!

Congratulations to each of our winners for 2017!!

We are so thankful to God and to each of them for their efforts on behalf of this ministry in 2017. The training results they have achieved are truly astonishing, especially in light of our running out of budgeted funds by July! May the Lord bless each one of them and their families & ministries for their commitment to training pastors and leaders along with us! We look forward to how God will use all of us to further His Kingdom in 2018!

 

Where Can We Find Unity?

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“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.”

Luke 6:38

We are all witnesses to the division that exists today within America. And everywhere we hear the cries for unity among all Americans.  We hear it from politicians. We hear it from protesters. We hear it on social media. And we know that unity is important if our nation is to continue to survive and thrive. As Jesus said in Matthew 12:25, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.”

But in order for there to be unity, there has to be something that we all agree on as the focus of our unification. I used to think that our flag and patriotism for our nation would be that unifying thing. But the recent NFL protests have shown that there is no unity on that subject today in America. What about our freedoms and the liberty we enjoy that most of the world is envious of? When some Americans protest free speech rallies and deny freedom of speech to other groups of people it is evident that there is no unity there either. What about Christian values upon which our nation was founded? Surely Americans can agree on those. But continual attempts to remove Christianity and the Bible from our culture prove otherwise. How about law & order? Targeted shootings of police officers, violent protests, disrespect of government officials or those in authority on social media, sanctuary cities, and politically motivated investigations and judicial rulings demonstrate that Americans are divided there as well.

In America there has always been political disagreement. That’s normal and also why we have two political parties. Americans have differing ideas about how to best solve our national problems and our democratic process and freedom of speech are supposed to assure that every viewpoint is heard. In the past we usually found ways to compromise and keep our disagreements civil. As a matter of fact, people around the world have marveled over how we can have such passionate disagreement every 4 years when we elect a new President but have such a smooth transition of power. But compromise and civility seem to have disappeared from our culture.

So where can find unity in our nation today? Perhaps we can all agree to just disagree. But I doubt that will provide a viable solution in the long run. So unless Americans can find a common issue or value we can all agree upon our nation will continue to devolve into various factions and will ultimately fall from within. I currently do not see a unifying value in our culture based on my observations the past several years. But I do know how America can bring civility back into our nation.

The only hope for America (and the world), and the only true unifying value available, is God’s Word and the cross of Christ. All of our conflicts and all of our disunity ultimately result from turning our backs on God and allowing evil and our sinful nature to take over and guide our behavior. His principles for living are contained in His Word and they teach us to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44), to be humble (1 Peter 5:6), to submit to authority (Romans 13:1-2), to look to the good of others (1 Cor. 10:24), to be gentle and respectful (1 Peter 3:15), and to hate evil and cling to what is good (Romans 12:9).  These are the values that Christ represents and that our nation had recognized for many years. Even though we often failed to keep them, they were still the guide for our society and our nation respected them.

God created the world and every human being in it.  He sent His Son Jesus to not only redeem us from our sin but to be an example for us to follow as well.  Belief in His Son Jesus and trust in His Word are the only answers that can bring civility and unity to all of us. That’s because His Word describes the reasons for our conflict perfectly and Jesus provided the only solution for it. Paul wrote in Galatians 5:17 that “the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with one each other so that you do not do what you want.” Furthermore, James writes in James 4:2 that “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” It is clear that our disunity and conflict with each other comes from the sin inside each of us.

So what solution did Jesus provide? First, He willingly went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sin so that we are no longer condemned by it (1 John 2:2). Second, He defeated death and the grave to give us the hope of eternal life (John 3:16). And third, He sent the Holy Spirit to help us overcome our sinful nature so that we can now live righteous and holy lives (John 14:26) in peace with one another.

Jesus is the only solution to our conflict problem. Without Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross for us, it is every man for himself, a dreadful thought indeed! We will only find unity and peace when all people acknowledge the Bible as Truth (2 Corinthians 3:16-17) and Jesus as Lord (Romans 14:11).

As Christians, we already profess Christ and acknowledge God’s Word as Truth. Let us now strive to lead others to Jesus and God’s Word in order to bring His Peace and true Unity into our world this Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!

How to Motivate Stewardship

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“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down,

shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.

For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Luke 6:38

 

It seems that one of the hardest things for church and ministry leaders to do is to motivate people to serve the Lord with their time, talents and treasures.  Some people are too busy, some do not feel that they have anything to offer, and yet others are simply not interested in investing their time or resources in the Lord’s work, preferring to “leave it to the professionals.”  As one digs deeper into God’s Word there is no doubt that all of us have gifts we can use to further God’s kingdom, that God calls us to serve Him and others, and that we are all part of His purpose and plan.  If that’s true, then why do so many Christians fail to honor God with their time and resources?   It is important that we first recognize our role as stewards of what God owns and has given to us to manage for Him. Then, as we learn to become a true disciple of Jesus, stewardship naturally flows out of our love and desire for God and His purpose in our lives.

What is Stewardship?

By definition stewardship is resource management. The dictionary says stewardship is “the conducting, supervising, or managing of something, or the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.” In other words, it is managing the resources that you have been given or that belong to someone else. The Bible says in James 1:17 that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” God not only created everything (Genesis 1:1) but everything we have comes from God! In simple terms it means that we manage what God owns for His benefit! This is a crucial point that we as Christians must understand if we are to manage the resources we have been given appropriately and effectively. These resources include our time, our talents and our money. And for church leaders this includes these same resources that God gives His church.

Jesus taught six principles about stewardship in several parables. In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus teaches that 1) we will have to account for what we did with what God gave us, and 2) that whoever is faithful with what he has, more will be given to him. In the Parable of the Wise Manager (Luke 12:35-48), Jesus says 3) we should be watchful and ready in case the owner comes and asks us to give him an account of his resources and 4) that “whoever is entrusted with much, much will be expected.” And in the Parable of the Shrewd Manager (Luke 16:1-13), He tells us 5) that “Whoever can be trusted with little can be trusted with much” and 6) that we “cannot serve both God and money.” These 6 principles show us that we must manage what God has given us well and to do it for God’s glory and not our own benefit. God will also hold us accountable for what we did with what He gave to us. This applies to us personally as well as to the Church.

Stewardship is not a matter of “if” or “when”, but “how.” It is also not subject to our circumstances but is rather an attitude of the heart. As disciples, we are called to give to God (Matthew 22:21) and to give cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7).  God also calls us to give sacrificially (Matthew 19:21) and generously (Romans 12:8). Since God first gives to us we should also want to give back to Him as well as to others. We must recognize that God is the true motivator for our giving and understand that He created us for a purpose. We are all gifted by God and called to use ours gifts to serve and build up the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:7). This means that we are to give of our time, talents and treasures in ministry to others. It’s not just money that is His, it’s EVERYTHING we have! And how much we give will be a measure of our love for Him and what He has done for us.

Stewardship Flows Out of Discipleship

So why are there Christians who give so little time or resources to the work of the Lord? Within each of us there is conflict between our human nature and our spiritual nature. In Galatians 5:17 Paul writes, “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” Our sinful nature tells us to keep everything we have for our own needs, to take care of ourselves first. We need to deny the sinful nature that is within us which produces greed and selfishness.  Instead, we need to take on the spiritual nature that the Holy Spirit gives us that will produce service and sacrifice. We do that through the process of discipleship where we strive to be more like Christ.

In order to do that we need to read and study God’s Word so that we can learn His ways. Then, as we become obedient to His commands and submit to His will, we begin to live Holy lives and develop a heart like His. When we do that, we draw closer to God and begin to see things the way God does. And when His Holy Spirit is active in our hearts and lives, we will be convicted to give, serve and love like Him so that stewardship naturally takes place. As our faith grows, we will not need to be told to give, serve and love, we will be compelled by His Holy Spirit to do so with everything we have!

Stewardship is a response to God, not a prerequisite for faith. It flows from a heart responding to the grace that God has given to each of us. Stewardship does not produce faith. It is faith that produces stewardship.

Consequently, if the Church wants to see more stewardship then its leaders must focus on discipleship. When Christians are discipled and develop a heart like God’s, they will respond to meet the church’s needs because they will already be compelled by the Holy Spirit to do so.

(From Chapter 4 in our Discipleship for Church Leaders™ Training Manual, © 2015)

 

Leadership Styles

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What’s Your Leadership Style?

 

“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the Body of Christ may be built up”

Ephesians 4:11-12

 

God has called each leader to lead according to their own abilities in order to prepare God’s people for works of service and to build up the body of Christ.  How we each lead, however, is a matter of personal style and comfort.  As leaders, we typically lead, manage, and operate in a way that suits our own personality, giftedness and experiences.  In some circumstances the way we lead can be very effective while in others they can be ineffective.  Understanding our leadership style and the styles of others, therefore, can help us to be more effective in how we apply our leadership abilities in various situations.

According to George Barna in his book “A Fish Out Of Water” (Integrity Publishers, 2002), there are 4 styles of leadership that emerge from his research on business and church leaders. First, there is the Directing Leader. This type of leader is typically a visionary person who focuses on action and results, not details. Second, there is the Strategic Leader.  This type of leader likes to analyze information, evaluate different scenarios, and develop and shape plans to achieve goals. Third, there is the Team-Building Leader.  This type of leader is more concerned with people relationships and the inclusion of people and likes to organize people to achieve goals. Finally, there is the Operational Leader. This type of leader develops processes to implement plans and likes to build systems to track and monitor results.

According to George Barna, each leader tends to be dominant in one of these 4 styles.  However, all leaders have some aspects of each style and are often able to use each one as needed. Nevertheless, he suggests that leaders surround themselves with other leaders who have different leadership styles. In this way they will complement your leadership style and will often see things in a way that you do not. Scripture reminds us that, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22).

It is critically important that leaders also understand situational leadership. A leader’s dominant leadership style will not always be effective in ALL situations. So leaders must first determine which leadership style will be most effective for a given situation. For example, if a leader is setting a new course for their ministry then a leader should use the Directing leadership style because action is needed.  If on the other hand a leader needs to develop plans for their ministry they should use the Strategic leadership style because analysis and planning are needed. If a leader needs to resolve conflict in their ministry then they should apply a Team-Building leadership style because it involves working with people. Finally, if a leader wants to incorporate new technology in their ministry, that would call for using the Operational leadership style because systems or processes are needed.

While any leader can employ every one of these 4 leadership styles themselves, they should consider letting another leader on their team who has the appropriate leadership style as their dominant one manage the situation.  So if a situation calls for the analysis of a problem and the development of a plan, the leader could delegate the leadership of that project to another leader who has the Strategic leadership style as their dominant one. This would likely produce the most effective outcome.

It is also important to keep in mind that applying the wrong leadership style in a situation has consequences. First, your leadership could be resisted if it doesn’t fit the situation. Second, you could damage your credibility if your handling of the situation fails because you used the wrong style. Third, you could create unwanted conflict that arises from using the wrong style to resolve an issue. And finally, the ministry could stagnate or suffer because the style that was used does not resolve the problem at hand.

So what’s your dominant leadership style? For some of you it may be obvious. But for others it may not be. There is a test you can take to determine your dominant leadership style. Click here to take the test.

As a leader, knowing your leadership style can help you to be more effective in managing people and projects within your ministry. Applying them correctly will also enable you to be more effective as a leader.

 

(From Chapter 3 in our Management for Church Leaders™ Volume #1 Training Manual, ©2010.)

Are You a Church Attender or Christ Follower?

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“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”

John 8:31-32

I read a wonderful book a few years ago entitled “Not a Fan” by Kyle Idleman (Zondervan, 2011) where he talked about the many Christians that attend churches who are more like fans of Jesus than followers of Jesus. He shared a story of a man who came up to him after a speaking engagement and made a comment about his prodigal daughter that left the church when she graduated from college. The man said, “We raised her in church, but we didn’t raise her in Christ.” I had to ask myself the same question. Did we raise our children in the church or in Christ? It is a question every Christian parent should be asking themselves. But it’s also a question every church should be asking of itself.  The reality is that not everyone who attends a church is seeking to follow Jesus.

There has been a steady movement in our culture towards a secular society and away from Christianity and church attendance over the past 50 years. So, it is obvious to me that as a nation we have raised more church attenders than Christ followers.  We now live in a secular society and when surveys show that 75% of Americans say they are Christian, it only confirms that this is true. When I grew up in the 1960’s it seemed everyone (who was not Jewish) went to a church. It was part of the fabric of our culture. But that is not true anymore. Both Gallup polls and Barna Research confirm that Church attendance has declined dramatically in America since then. Their reports show that there are more people today who attend church only once or twice a year, identify as atheists, or have no religion at all.

So, how did this happen? Why are so many people leaving the church, and why has the culture become more secular? It would seem to me that it is because we raised a generation of church attenders who were going to church but not really following Jesus or living according to Biblical teaching.  It was in many ways self-inflicted. The culture is not responsible for teaching others to follow Christ. That is the Church’s job. And apparently it did not do as well as we thought it did even though churches were full on Sundays. Today it is clear that the secular culture has more influence over our nation than the Church does. Whether that’s due to poor discipleship, deviation from Scriptural authority, or other factors, it is the reality today in America.

But I also believe that the Church is much stronger today because the true followers of Christ are the ones who have stuck around and strive to be the church and do the ministry Christ has called them to. The followers of Christ are the ones who hold to the truths of the Bible, obey Jesus’ teaching and seek God’s will in what they do. Following Jesus is not easy and there is a cost to doing so.  Jesus said in Luke 14:27 that, “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” and also in Luke 14:33 that, “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”  These are very difficult teachings for many people to accept. The Bible also says in 1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Those who follow the culture (world) can therefore not be followers of Christ. Consequently, those who have left the church were merely attenders and not really Christ followers. When given a choice to follow Jesus or follow the culture, they made their choice to follow the culture.  The challenge for the Church today is how to get them back in order to disciple them!

Pastors and church leaders, therefore, need to put greater focus on helping people coming to church to engage in its ministry. They need to put their efforts into discipleship and ministry participation. It will not be easy, but it is necessary if the Church is to be the Church and not merely a building where people gather once a week for an inspirational message and some singing.

So, which are you? Are you a church attender or Christ follower? Are you merely attending church because it is what you have done on Sunday morning your whole life? Or are you ‘being the church’ because you desire to follow Jesus, seek His will, serve God and serve others? This is the ultimate question we as Christians must all ask ourselves.

The Holy Spirit asked me that question when I was on my first mission trip in Kazakhstan in April of 1996, and it absolutely changed my life. My answer then is the same today. I desire to follow Jesus with my life each and every day. I am not perfect, I am a sinner, and I often fail to do what He wants me to do. But I put my life in His hands and look to Him for guidance, direction, provision and truth. And I have certainly been blessed by doing so. I don’t believe anyone can ever know the riches and blessings of God unless they submit to His leadership in their life and experience first-hand what Jesus meant when He said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

I have experienced that fullness by following Jesus. You can too. But you won’t unless you stop attending church and instead become the Church!

Lord, help us to encourage other Christians to become followers of Christ and NOT just church attenders! Amen!