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!

We Are Gifted & Called to Minister

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“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.  All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines”

1 Corinthians 12:7, 11

The Bible says that each Christian is given a spiritual gift(s) for use in building the Body of Christ.  But what exactly are spiritual gifts?  Are they the same as our skills and talents?  How do we know what spiritual gift(s) we have?  Why are they important? And how do we know when and how to use them?  These are typical questions many Christians ask when it comes to understanding their role in the church or in the Body of Christ.

What Are Spiritual Gifts?

Spiritual Gifts are those abilities that the Holy Spirit gives to the followers of Christ to equip them for ministry. As we see from the Scripture above from 1st Corinthians 12 they are given for the common good and as the Holy Spirit determines. In other words, we cannot manufacture them ourselves. They are gifts from God. Also, the Holy Spirit gives them as they are needed to whomever He chooses. Our skills and talents may be Spiritual gifts, but only to the extent that we use them for God’s purposes and not our own selfish ambitions.

Spiritual gifts fall into 3 main categories. First, there are Ministry gifts. These are the gifts of Apostle, Pastor, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher. These are mentioned by Paul in Ephesians 4:11 when he wrote that “It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers”, and are often referred to as the five-fold ministry. Second, there are Practical gifts. These are the gifts of Service, Encouragement, Giving, Leadership, Mercy, Helps, and Administration, and can be found in Romans 12:7-8 and 1st Corinthians 12:28. These are gifts God gives to enable Christians to minister to others. Thirdly, there are Charismatic gifts. These are the gifts of Wisdom, Knowledge, Discernment, Prophecy, Tongues, Interpretation, Faith, Healing, and Miracles, and are found in 1st Corinthians 12:8-10. They are spiritual manifestations and powers and are the ones most often associated with the general term of Spiritual gifts.

(There are other gifts mentioned through the Bible, but these 21 gifts are the ones that are specifically mentioned in the New Testament.)

Why Are Spiritual Gifts Important?

Spiritual gifts are important for the church because they form the foundation of each Christian’s call to ministry. God has gifted every Believer with gifts He wants us to use to further His Kingdom here on earth. These gifts were given to each of us so that we can use them to serve others according to God’s calling and purposes. Paul says in Ephesians 4:12 that these gifts were given to us “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”  Since all Believers are part of the Body of Christ, we all have a role to play in expanding God’s Kingdom on earth. And that role is largely determined by our Spiritual giftedness. In other words, every Christian is called to be a minister for Christ and is equipped to do so with the spiritual gifts God has provided.

How Should Spiritual Gifts Be Used and Applied?

There are 4 ways we are called to use our spiritual gifts:

1. To build up the church

“Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:12

2. To serve others

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4:10

3. To glorify God

“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.  If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” – 1 Peter 4:11

4. To reveal God’s character

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. – Galatians 5:22

Notice that these are all God focused and not man-focused. Each of us is gifted to serve the Body of Christ. That does not mean that we are called into full-time ministry. Some are and some aren’t. But we are all called to be ministers for Christ in our homes, workplaces and anywhere we may go. And if we don’t use our gifts to minister to others and build up the Body of Christ then we are neglecting our call and responsibility to God.

So How Do We Find Out What Our Spiritual Gifts Are?

There are many spiritual gift assessment tests that are available on-line to determine your spiritual gifts. One that I have used and found to be quite helpful can be found at http://www.kodachrome.org/spiritgift. After answering all of the questions they will email you the results with a nice analysis. They do ask for a small donation to help their ministry if you take their test, but it is not required.

Knowing our spiritual gifts is an important factor in determining how God may be calling each of us to minister inside and outside of the church. I would encourage all of us to know our spiritual gifts so we can prayerfully consider where we may be called to be a minister for Jesus!

There’s a Fork in the Road Ahead

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“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”

Proverbs 14:12

In life we all have many choices to make. We choose where to go to college, where to work, what career to pursue, where to live, who to marry, etc. Some choices we make can have a big impact on our lives, such as those mentioned above, while some are minor and only affect our day to day living, like what to eat for lunch or what to wear today. But underlying every decision we make is the most important choice we must make every moment of our lives. That choice will determine our earthly future as well as our eternal future as well.

You see, ultimately there are really only two paths in life we can choose. We can choose either to follow God or we can follow Satan. That’s it. There is no third option (following ourselves or following the world is really following Satan because his aim is to convince us not to follow God). Following God means to follow His Son Jesus, obey what He taught, and to serve others as He served us. Following Satan means to deny God and Jesus, obey our own intellect, and to serve ourselves. Many people try to follow both paths, but that doesn’t really work. It’s like trying to mix ice cream (holiness) with manure (evil). No matter how you do it, the ice cream will be impure and not worth eating!

Following God is to follow the path of holiness, goodness and righteousness. God is good and all His ways are good (Psalm 119:68). Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 that “we cannot serve both God and money.” Money often represents the world or our own desires. When we try to please the world or ourselves we are not serving God. The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 5:13 that we are “not to use our freedom to indulge in the sinful nature, but rather to serve one another in love.” The pathway of God is submission to His ways and His commands (James 4:7). Any other path does not lead to God and only leads us to death as Proverbs 14:12 above states. And any path that does not lead to God is from Satan.

God’s Word also teaches us that Satan’s path is wide and God’s path is narrow (Matthew 7:13). In other words, it’s often easier to follow Satan’s path because there’s plenty of room for us to maneuver around life’s obstacles to obtain our self-indulging goals. But we are left on our own to figure that out. However, God’s path is narrow and more difficult to navigate and so we must submit to His leadership and trust in His will for our lives. He keeps us on the path to holiness and righteousness and leads us around and through life’s obstacles. And as Jesus said in Matthew 7:13, God’s path leads to life but Satan’s path leads to destruction!

So, which path are you on? Are you on God’s path or Satan’s path? Is the path you’re on leading to life or destruction?

The good news is that there’s a fork in the road ahead! The path to God is just a step away and is always there for us. We don’t have to continue down the wrong path. We don’t even have to walk backward along the path we’re on to get on God’s path. No matter what choices we have made up to now, we can still choose today to follow the path to God and experience the life we were meant to have and all the fullness of life He has to offer! Though the world does not recognize it, God’s path offers hope, freedom from sin, and a life more rich and abundant than we can imagine!

So don’t let Satan deceive you with his offering of all the treasures and trappings of this world. It’s an illusion. It’s a bait and switch deal. He seduces you to follow his path with promises of riches and fame. You may get them, but they won’t last, they won’t fulfill you, and there is a cost! If you listen to him and follow his path, in the end you will end up in hell (separation from God). Is that really the result you want? If it is, you are free to make that choice and God will not stop you or force you to follow Him. The truth is that God does not send people to hell. Instead, people choose hell by refusing to follow God. But I doubt that anyone would really choose Satan’s path if they knew that hell was where they were headed. They end up there because they chose not to follow God.

God makes His path available to anyone, anywhere and at any time. He wants us to choose His path. That means we must choose Jesus, the only path to God (John 14:6)! God promises us a life filled with His goodness if we simply put our faith and trust in Jesus. We don’t have to do anything but let Him lead and guide us. If we do, He will show us a truly abundant life filled with hope, joy, peace, blessings, and the assurance of heaven!

Six Lessons Christians Must Learn From Church History

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“Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it.”

George Santayana (1863-1952)

Church history reveals some lessons that Christians today would be wise to consider and reflect upon. The Christian Church has existed for 2,000 years, but it has changed and evolved significantly over that time. It is therefore important to look back and learn the lessons from the history of the Church that can help us chart a way forward today.

A few years ago I read a wonderful book on the history of the Church written by Dr. Bruce Shelley entitled, “Church History in Plain Language” (Thomas Nelson, 2008). He does a great job of documenting and summarizing the key events in the history of the Church. Based on his book, I would like to present 6 lessons that we as Christians should learn from Church history that will enable us to more effectively go forward in building God’s kingdom on earth.

Lesson #1: The Church is, and always will be, Holy Spirit driven.

As the Bible documents in the four gospels, the early Christian Church began in Jerusalem after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The disciples were witnesses to these facts. But Jesus told them to wait for the Holy Spirit. Luke writes in the book of Acts of how the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. As a result, they disciples were led by the Holy Spirit and the Church grew rapidly as they spread the good news and lived lives very different from the prevailing Roman and Jewish cultures. Throughout history the Church has grown significantly when there was either persecution or a spiritual revival, as in England in the early 1800’s and the USA in the early 1900’s. Man can never build the Church on earth on his own apart from the Holy Spirit. The Church began under the power of the Holy Spirit, grew under the power of the Holy Spirit, and continues today only under the power of the Holy Spirit! (“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord.” – Zechariah 4:6)

Lesson #2: The Christian faith must be defended against false teaching.

In the first few centuries of the Christian faith the biggest challenge was defending this new belief against false gospels from gnostics and others who tried to add human logic to what God had done through Jesus.  They early Church needed to solidify the basic doctrine of Christianity centered on the work of Jesus and His teachings for this new faith. The doctrine of the Trinity, and who Jesus really was, was affirmed through the council at Nicaea in 325. The basic theology of Christianity has been challenged continually over the years as man tries to add human reason to God’s Word and His saving work through Jesus. False teaching must be challenged in order to preserve the true faith. (“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them – bringing swift destruction on themselves.” – 2 Peter 2:1)

Lesson #3: The joining of Church & State is a bad idea.

When Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in 312 AD, overnight Christians went from persecuted rebels to favored status in the Roman Empire. In 380 AD, his successor, Emperor Theodius, made Christianity a requirement for all Roman citizens. Thus the Christian Church was joined to the power of the state and assumed a moral responsibility for the whole society. In 768, Charles the Great, also known as Charlemagne, ascended to the throne and successfully fought off the Muslim invaders and was the first Roman emperor to be ‘coronated’ by the pope. This ensured protection of the Church against Islamic incursions. The crusades were the Empire’s response to the Islamic invasion and capture of Jerusalem and they had the approval of the pope. In the end the crusades were a dismal failure as they did not dislodge Islam from Jerusalem and led to further division with the Christian Church. During the Middle Ages conflicts continually arose over the power being wielded by both the Church and the State. Jesus never required faith in Him to be forced on anyone. He came to save us from our sin and today still invites people to let Him change their hearts one by one. (“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16)

Lesson #4: The Church  must be built on a Biblical foundation.

Because of this conflict between and within the Church and State in the Middle Ages, many voices began to speak out against the power and corruption of the Church. Chief among them was a German monk named Martin Luther. He published his 95 theses (or statements for debate) on the door of the Catholic Church at Wittenberg, Germany in 1517 that challenged papal authority. He was ex-communicated from the Catholic Church for his refusal to recant his statements. This led to the Reformation and the formation of several new church bodies that separated from the Catholic Church in protest. They were the Lutheran, Reformed, Anabaptist and Anglican Churches, and hence known as “Protestant”. At issue was whether or not authority came from the Bible or from the Pope. As Martin Luther stated at his trial at the Diet of Worms, “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Holy Scriptures or by evident reason-for I can believe neither pope nor councils alone, as it is clear that they have erred repeatedly and contradicted themselves-I consider myself convicted by the testimony of Holy Scripture, which is my basis; my conscience is captive to the Word of God. Thus I cannot and will not recant, because acting against one’s conscience is neither safe nor sound. God help me. Amen.” The Christian faith must always be based upon the Bible and its teachings. (“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Lesson #5: Christianity and Science are NOT mutually exclusive.

The world entered a new era after the Middle Ages that challenged the people’s view of the world and how it worked. New discoveries in science and math could now explain the world as never before and this ushered in the age of reason, also called the age of “enlightenment.” Since man could now know and better explain how the world worked, intellectualism replaced faith in God and His Word. But are Christianity and science mutually exclusive? Science has never been able to repudiate one fact of the Bible. On the contrary, science continues to affirm the facts of the Bible, especially in the field of archeology. Darwin’s theory of evolution as to the origin and evolution of species has never been proven and is still a theory, despite its widespread acceptance. To me, science is simply discovering what God already created. Science has not refuted the Bible, it has confirmed it! (“For by Him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him.” – Colossians 1:16)

Lesson #6: Man will always try to replace God with himself.

As the world progressed in its knowledge of science and technology, liberalism invaded universities (which were Bible based at the time) and the Church. Many Christians began to try and reconcile modern thought with Biblical teaching and refused to accept the authority of God’s Word alone on many issues. They believed that truth must pass the test of human reason. Consequently, universities abandoned the Bible and liberal theology in the Christian Church began to grow. Today it manifests itself in prosperity theology, acceptance of homosexuality, and other false teachings that go beyond or outside of Scripture. These are all an attempt to make God subject to our intellect rather than adhere to His teaching as found in His Holy Word. (“Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7)

 

As we look back on the history of the Christian Church, we see that many of the issues the Church faces today are not new, but have existed for ages (church vs. state, reason versus faith, man versus God, etc.). The above lessons remind us that the Christian faith, unlike every other religion, is not based upon a set of rules requiring strict adherence. But rather it is based on the fact that God appeared as a man in Jesus Christ, who suffered and died on a cross to redeem mankind and pay the price for all sin, and who made a way for the human race to live with their Creator forever. It’s about faith in the work of one person, Jesus Christ, God’s Son, and belief in the Bible as God’s true Word.

When man tries to supplant God’s Word and God’s work with human reason and man-made practices, we end up with denominationalism, conflict, tyranny and disunity. It’s the eternal battle of man versus God for control of our lives. And until Christians learn to submit to God in obedience and rely solely on God’s Word as ultimate truth, we will continue to see man attempt to make God what he wants Him to be, and the Church will suffer as a consequence.