I enjoy feeding birds. Jodi and I have installed several feeders in the backyard and get the opportunity to watch many birds drop by for a snack. It is enjoyable and interesting to watch them.
Along with the birds, I have a number of uninvited guests. These tree rodents (you may call them squirrels) live in the woods near our home. They seem to think that if I put food out, it is fair game.
Now I will admit, though it may be only me, that I have given an inordinate amount of attention to these uninvited guests. In our last home, I kept a pellet rifle by the door and would sneak up on them (picture Elmer Fudd chasing Bugs Bunny) and shoot them off the feeder. My efforts typically resulted in a stunned squirrel breaking into a sprint once he hit the ground and scurrying away until I went back inside. I’ve since given up on this line of attack. Now, it is not terribly unusual to catch me raising a window or stepping onto the porch to clap my hands and tell them to leave. Yes, I actually talk to the squirrels! The problem is, as I make this ridiculous commotion, the birds also head for the hills!
I have noticed that, if I am not careful, I will spend more time considering the squirrels than enjoying the birds. I think about their habits, their lack of manners, the money they cost me in feed, the fact that they are not wearing masks or social distancing (ok, maybe not so much on the last part). I think about all of the starving birds in the world and the piles of wasted grain on the ground once a squirrel hits the feeder. But…rarely do I remember the birds.
I find that many people do the same thing, only in matters far more significant. They think about the vacation they cannot enjoy this year and lose sight of the dozens of vacations in the past. They think of the lost enjoyment of sports and lose sight of the many great times experiences they’ve had in years past. They think of the seemingly endless barrage of restrictions and lose sight of the immeasurable freedoms we all enjoy. They count the numbers of sick in the state and forget the countless numbers of healthy.
Much of life is informed by our focus. If our focus is on the blessings and benefits of the lives we enjoy…our perspective is relatively sunny. If we rehearse the things we have temporarily lost, we will wait on the proverbial “other shoe” to drop. If we obsess with the squirrels, we will miss the birds.
I. Miss. You. That truly is the sentiment of my heart. Someone once said that “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” In many respects that is true. In these days of intentional distancing for a gazillion good reasons, my heart has grown weary in longing for face-to-face community. HOW ABOUT YOU?
While we are so very grateful for the Lord’s grace through technology, how He has provided a way for the church scattered to be gathered through online worship experiences, Zoom groups, and social media, we also know that there is something special about gathering together physically. While the Old Testament rehearses allowances for worship, prayer, even instructions about giving offerings for those scattered and unable to join together, these instructions were an accommodation rather than ideal. Both Old and New Testament…the biblical ideal was for the church to physically worship together.
Does any of this inform us in the midst of COVID-19? I would argue that it does. The people of God are meant to gather. All over the world, believers go to great lengths to gather even in the face of governmental persecution. Others travel hours by foot, bicycle, automobile, rickshaw, bus, train, or trolley to gather in Christian community. The gathered church is instrumental in evangelizing those separated from God through proclamation as well as equipping, encouraging, and even exhorting one another to good works like proclaiming and applying the gospel to the lives of those around us.
With innumerable reasons to gather…and a deep desire to gather…are there reasons to remain scattered physically and gathered online? Yes…both good and bad.
A bad reason to remain scattered is fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that God is not the One who gives us a spirit of fear; rather, He provides us with power, love, and discipline (a word speaking of self-discipline based on wisdom and understanding).
Another bad reason to remain scattered is governmental mandate. Even as I write this article, California state government has inserted itself into worship practices by outlawing corporate singing to God or gathering in groups the state deems too large. While the government cites health concerns, this rationale can become a very convenient vehicle for stifling the practices of our faith. These same governments even go as far as to point to virtual gathering as an acceptable faith alternative. Of course, determining what is “acceptable” worship is a bit above their paygrade. While we as believers are called to obey lawful authorities, we are never called to obey unlawful directives in opposition to God.
A good reason to remain scattered is meekness. Remember that Jesus identified “meekness” as a beatitude. Meekness is power under control. While we have power (the right and the ability to act) we choose to restrain the exercise of that power. If choosing to remain at home is an advantage to others, choosing to defer to the interests of others…meekness…is a good reason.
Another good reason is love. Love for one another and love of neighbor. If I have the flu, it would be an act of love not to place myself in a crowd of people. Doing so could cause them to be infected as well. Consequently, this is why I wear a mask. I want to mitigate my activity of moving about the community by wearing a mask (in case I have something and do not know it) and because doing so demonstrates my care and concern (insert love) toward my neighbors.
Another good reason is wisdom or self-discipline. That was the last of the graces that Paul listed in the verse above. For some who are immune-compromised or at higher risk, it would be crazy to expose themselves to risk unnecessarily. I say unnecessarily because if God directs them otherwise, then it would be crazier NOT to obey His leading. We can rely on information and judgment and self-discipline in being good stewards of our health.
In the days ahead, we as a church family will be making plans to reconnect in small groups, bible studies and other appropriate activities. We will choose to be meek, loving, and wise in how we do it, but we must seek a sustainable and edifying rhythm of worship, community, and mission. We NEED to be together. That’s not an idea of man, or men in church leadership…it is a design from God.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a citadel. Proverbs 18:19 (NASB)
John had enough! “I am sick and tired of these people telling me how to think and what to do,” he said. Then it happened. He wrote a lengthy but scathing post on his Facebook page ripping apart the very foundations of his “friend’s” argument. Now he did not name any names…but it was clear what he was talking about. When the post came across his friend’s newsfeed…he was hurt. Deeply. Hurt.
“It was true,” John declared. “Every word.” He continued, “if people are so sensitive that they can’t handle a little truth, then they should just get off of Facebook or stop following me.” Mary (John’s wife) pressed him to call and apologize. John did and his friend said it was ok…but their relationship was a little icy from that point forward. It was just not the same. What’s worse, John’s friend hit a rough patch in his marriage a few months later and because his connection with John had been damaged, John didn’t find out until the papers were filed.
While the story is fictitious, it really does represent a “mash up” of similar tales that are all too real. I am afraid that in our “speak truth” culture, we do damage to relational bridges far more often than we realize.
“I’m not wearing a mask! They don’t help anything and it is all a conspiracy anyway.”
“People who won’t wear a mask are ignorant and haven’t seen the research. It’s a small thing to ask, if you really care about people around you!”
Suddenly, good friends can find themselves no longer “good friends” or “friends at all” over some snappy retort or emotionally charged allegation. And to what end?
Jesus created all of us for relationships. We are to love “one another” in the body. That’s a command. We are to engage our culture and seek to bring everyone we meet into a “growing, reproducing relationship with Jesus Christ.” Yet, we set fire to relational bridges with the kindling of opinions and fuel of hubris. That is often not our intention. We don’t want to offend a brother or damage our gospel bridge…but we often do. Proverbs reminds us over and over of the danger of unchecked words. Here in today’s proverb, we find another truth…that once the relationship is damaged, it is harder to be recovered than breaking into the gates around Fort Knox.
These days of social distancing have been equal parts of testing and encouragement for me. I love seeing how the body of Christ rises up to serve their neighbors. I love seeing pictures of families playing games together, doing schoolwork together, and studying the bible together. I love seeing families freed from the stresses of incessant commitments to dance, sports, events, and travel. I love seeing parents breathe.
How about you? Do you long for the days of jamming your schedule full of extracurricular activities again? Don’t get me wrong! I love sports and love watching parents cheer on their gymnasts, future ballerinas, and the like. I think all of these things are good; I just think that living with some intentional margin could be beneficial for us all as well.
In these days, many of us have been given a gift. We have the opportunity to restart. We can begin again. There is no need to rush right out and rebuild everything as it was before. What if we, instead, planted some intentional markers in our lives…boundary stones if you will, that became immovable points that we built our lives around?
For instance:
If family dinner has been amazing and fruitful, why not make family dinner 2, 3 or 5 times per week a fixed boundary stone?
If daily exercise, or morning quiet time has been fruitful, why not make it a fixed boundary stone?
If working together on memory verses or a family bible study has been fruitful, why not make it a boundary stone?
If shutting off email and rolling all phone calls to voicemail after 6 pm has been fruitful, why not make it a boundary stone?
You may ask, “What good is a boundary stone?”
Long after the COVID-19 pandemic is over, there will be opportunities to join a new bowling league. If it interferes with family dinners, then your decision has already been made—it violates a boundary stone, so it is not a good fit for you. If you are offered a promotion that requires you to work deep into the night returning calls and emails, then the decision is already made because you erected a boundary stone.
If you are like me, you did not plan to be as busy as you were. You always intended more family time. You always wanted to prioritize your faith walk, your rest, and your physical health. You simply added a few little things periodically until there was no longer margin.
My personal goal and pastoral prayer is that we learn from our past and lean on this corrective season. How about you? How will you change your lifestyle moving forward after the pandemic has cleared and life begins to accelerate? I pray that your boundary stones will serve you well.
Some years ago, I found myself working without the structure of an institutional environment. As a work-from-home salesperson, I had almost autonomous control over my schedule. As long as I made my required meetings and hit my assigned production levels, I was “pretty much” my own boss.
Recently, much of America has come to experience this reality for themselves. Many find themselves struggling with pretty common issues that this newfound autonomy brings. There are, though, a few tips…what I would call habits that I found to be helpful. The list is certainly not comprehensive and may not work for everyone; however, some form of these disciplines is essential to flourish in this season.
Habits:
Become your own boss. Most of us do not function well without accountability. We need some structure in our lives to function well. In essence, you have to put yourself in your boss’ (teacher/professor/employer’s) position and set out some measurables (boundaries) if you are to thrive. Examples include: What time do you begin each day? How long will you work? What must you accomplish that day?
Set your Alarm. Just because you don’t have to drive to the office is no reason to slumber on. Get up. Make the most of the time no longer spent commuting. Invest it in something meaningful.
Make your bed. Admiral McRaven gives a phenomenal talk on this subject. I’ve heard the talk many times and read the book by the same title. Listen/watch HERE.
Get dressed. Yep, it is novel to work in your PJs for a week or so but psychologically, something changes when we put on work clothes. Maybe not a coat and tie, but put the PJs away. Shave. Brush your teeth. Fix your hair.
Work a schedule. Some employers monitor this with software. They look to see if you’re logged in and if you are active at your remote workstation. Don’t wait on an employer or teacher to check. Implement your own schedule. Start at 8. Work 2 hours. Grab coffee. Work til lunch. Take a real lunch break. Work til afternoon break. Drink more coffee. Work til 5. Rinse and repeat. Your schedule may vary a little but use a calendar as a tool and schedule the time as if your employer were watching over your shoulder.
Stop working. This boundary is essential. If you answer mail and requests all through the night, you will feel as if you never stop working…even if you are only marginally effective during these times. Set a boundary on your clock.
Turn off the Alerts. Speaking of boundaries, give your full attention to the task ahead of you. That may mean closing your email app, shutting down notifications on social media or even putting your device on silent or night-mode. Every interruption reduces productivity.
If you’re distracted, take a break. Sometimes it doesn’t work. You’re as invested as you can be but your mind is wandering. Stop. Go for a 30-minute walk. Then go back to work.
Exercise. In a work from home environment, it is tempting to never leave home. To never leave your desk. Don’t fall for that trick. Schedule exercise every day. Walk. Ride a bike. Pick up heavy stuff. Do something that gets your heart rate up. Believe it or not, this will sharpen your focus at the office (even if that is in the corner of the dining room table).
Eat away from your desk. Sure, you could catch up on the news, multitask your email or catch up on Facebook while eating. When you do, you will cheat your mind out of needed rest. Honestly, you are not improving productivity; You are hurting it. Let your desk be the place where you work and the dining table be the place of food, fellowship, and relaxation.
Adopt efficient tools. I know many people hate lists and calendars. Use them anyway. These tools help you see what you have accomplished during the day. They keep you on task. Here’s a hack that will help you. Put your daily schedule on your calendar as appointments. When an interruption occurs, you can tell the person who texted you that you were in an appointment. Just because you can do it at your desk via Zoom, or it is an appointment for reading or praying doesn’t make it less of an appointment. By the way…it is your tool. If something you deem as priority arises, simply change your calendar. You own it.
Use the last 15 minutes (or 30 minutes if you need it) of your day to plan the next day. A mentor once taught me this in respect to writing. He said to always end a day’s writing by beginning the next paragraph, section, or chapter. It is far easier to regain momentum the next morning if you have a starting point. He called this starting on a downhill slope. Everyone who ever rode a bicycle can relate to this.
Major on effectiveness, not efficiency. It may be inefficient to interrupt your day to go for a lunchtime run, but if it makes you more effective then I might argue that the effectiveness actually makes you more efficient. Two observations on this: I study better in the mornings. As a pastor, I find that my mind is sharper in the morning so when I am preparing for sermons, I like to do so before lunch. I try to schedule accordingly. Second, I find that a 20-minute nap (or resting my brain) in the afternoon improves my productivity. Don’t steal time from your employer or your teacher for this. Invest the last 15-20 minutes of your lunch break for it.
Build next week’s calendar on Friday. Take the needed time on Friday before you quit work to put the major milestones on the next week’s schedule. Put in the appointments for exercise, reading/studying/praying/meditating. Mark off time for correspondence (written and phone) and any teleconference meetings. Treat these like hard appointments so when new requests come in on Monday, you have already plugged in the big milestones as priorities.
These habits will need to be personalized a bit for you, of course. That’s ok. All of them have been inspired by others in my life through the years. What I have learned though, is that when I honor these habits, I am actually more effective and more efficient. I find that my anxiousness is reduced, and I am not crunched as badly on deadlines. Plus…I feel like I get to “shut it off” without guilt when I want to close the laptop and put my phone on silent.
If you have some favorites…pass them along in the comments below. I love learning what works for others.
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into
His hands…got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel,
He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the
disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded…You
call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord
and Teacher washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet
(John 13:3-5; 13-14, NASB).
Rarely do people dispute the command of Christ to “make disciples.” (Matthew 28:19) However, many believers that I know struggle to do it. Some would argue (perhaps correctly argue) that the issue is time. “We are too busy.” Others might offer an excuse that they are unqualified. Still, others may resist the command simply because they do not know how to get started. For far too many years, I grew up in a church system that had a program for everything. You took this bible study. You enrolled in this course. You participated in this outreach initiative. Check. Check. Check. All of these good things were intended to provide a pathway to obeying the command to make disciples. The programs were not bad; however, they often became a substitute for obedience.
The passage above is a great example of a solution…and I might go as far as to say that it is the example of the solution. Arise. Grab a towel and basin. Wash feet. Repeat.
There is no substitute for action. Every successful teaching
model involves a moment in time when learners must act with what they have
learned. The local church, by God’s design, is the laboratory where that takes
place (Eph 4:11-13).
A lifetime ago, Jodi and I began teaching 4th grade Sunday School. She heard of a need and decided to exchange one more discipleship class for a chance to teach children. I went along to be with her. I sat quietly for 2.8 seconds. In the year that followed, I learned more about the Scriptures, more about the love of God, and more about discipling others than I had in the previous three years. I learned by doing. God showed me my need. He taught me to depend on Him. He used me to help others grow. The next year, I taught adults and we have been involved in some aspect of teaching ever since.
Growing as a disciple necessarily requires growing disciples. There is no substitute. I know of no exceptions. NONE. People that God uses to change the world have this in common: At some point, they stand up, grab a towel and basin and begin to serve others. Through that service, God teaches them, expands their influence, shapes their knowledge and changes lives.
Who are you serving?
How are you serving through your church?
Is your faith vibrant…or would you say it is a bit stale?
If you knew you would not fail, what would you attempt for God today?
Happy Valentine’s Day! To many, this is a Hallmark holiday…a great opportunity to sell greeting cards and to clear out inventories of stuffed animals, flowers, and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates. For others, it is a day of pressure…pressure to get everything right. Face it…dating can involve a certain degree of pressure. Still, for others, Valentine’s Day is one more opportunity to simply express our undying devotion to the love of our lives.
Reflecting a bit on the occasion, I began to reminisce on
how Valentine’s Day has shifted for me over the years and then consider the
implication of that shift on the greatest of all love relationships.
In elementary school, Valentine’s Day was a class party day. Prior to the mid-February observance, teachers would distribute a list of names for all of the children in the class. Then mom would run to the store, purchase a box of colorful cards and we would write down names on each card and each envelope so that everyone received a gift.
As I got older, the list shrunk…significantly. While I don’t
recall ever doing so, it is possible that the list of Valentine’s greetings
dropped to only a couple of closer friends…in hopes that maybe one of them
would be my valentine for the day. (I imagine this to be the era of passing
notes that said, “Do you like me? Check YES or NO.”)
Once I found my Valentine (who has been so for more than thirty-five years now) the audience shrunk to one. She is it. Period. It even feels weird to wish others a happy Valentine’s day. I only have one…and while I have many names for her, Jodi is the one and only love for me.
Thinking of this today, I realized that there is an analogy as well for the Lord and His church. When we are “dating” God…He is a good option for the object of our faith. Still, though, there are other kids in the class. There is self-effort. There is personal commitment. There is that god that my neighbor relates to. We are familiar with all of these, perhaps like one better than the other, but we want to keep our options open; so, we give valentine cards to all of them. As we come to mature a bit, it becomes clear that a God is not an option for a prom date or a Valentine’s dinner. We either lock in on our devotion, or He simply moves aside. He never shares the throne room of our hearts with anyone else.
Often, this approach reveals itself in our relationship with our church community as well. We like to date several communities. We have one community for worship, another community for bible-study down the street, and a third community where our kids’ friends go. Each of these communities offers us something, and we like them, but none of them possess our whole heart.
Should they? Does God really expect that we would be
committed to One God, one church, and one person for our lives?
I would argue…YES. I would do so because there is an inherent benefit to both parties in a relationship. Yes, I may really like my group of friends that I meet for weekly bible study, but I don’t really do life with them. I do bible-study. For my corporate worship, I am dating another church. I support another church financially and, when I want to chill out in shorts and flops during the summer, I have a relationship with the online church or the group that meets nearby. In each of these cases, my good intentions seem helpful to me…but they still fall a bit short of the design of relationship…where there is a strong MUTUAL benefit.
Time will tell but the trends are already tipping this
direction: Our “dating” practice is actually shaping an eroding foundation of
commitment in the generation we are discipling. Yep. Our kids are learning that
dating is superior to devotion. Why have one committed relationship when we can
pick and choose the elements from several communities and form what we think is
best for us?
If our daughter announced to us this approach as her new
plan for personal relationships, we would be appalled. If our spouse exercised
this approach for emotional and physical intimacy, we would be destroyed; yet,
this is what we model for our most intimate of relationships…the eternal one!
Perhaps the erosion of faith convictions that we readily
point out around us has less to do with external pressures and far more to do
with loosely held commitments to spiritual monogamy.
Certainly, some hold in their heart a sense of wander. (Yes, wander, not wonder). There is a nagging sense that they may be missing out on the BEST by settling for what they presently POSSESS. Personally, I understand. I have seen this a lot through the years; however, the sense of wander has far less to do with what we might be missing and far more with what we are investing. See, spiritual monogamy (what I will prefer to call DEVOTION) is not boring or lacking. It is, at times, however, uncultivated. My satisfaction in relationships with my wife, my church, and my God have only grown exponentially since becoming EXCLUSIVE with them. That satisfaction has as much to do with what I bring to the relationship as it does with what I experience from the relationship.
How can we cultivate devotion in these three spheres?
Three words express the HOW To that is common with all three
spheres: our mate, our church, and our God.
COMMUNION. There is no substitute for intimacy and there is no pathway to intimacy apart from investing time. There must be vulnerability and transparency, and these only come as we learn to trust over time. Over the years I have seen this in my marriage, in the marriages that Jodi and I have invested in helping others, with church relationships, and with God. There is something that grows sweeter and deeper as we determine to get real, stay long, and risk hurt.
CONFESSION. In marriage, in church community, and with God…no one is perfect. We are failed creatures. We will say the wrong thing, neglect the important things, react wrongly, attack maliciously, and, at times, seek self preeminently. WHEN (not if) we do, the only cure is confession. Such occasions require our admission of failure, acknowledgment of the costs borne by others, and the pursuit of restoration. What NEVER WORKS, is to simply forget or to choose to start over. If the grass is greener somewhere else, there is simply a septic drain field underground nearby.
COMMITMENT. Neither of the previous two observations are possible without this final and all-important one. My wife would never have had the resolve to stick with my foolishness through the years without the commitment of June 25, 1988. On that day two kids pledged to actively love one another until death. We did not fully know the implications but we were committed to it and determined to figure it out as we went. The same is true with our relationship with God. He proposed…not with a ring but with a bloody cross (Romans 5:8). He invited us to commit and discover all that this new commitment implied in the context of an eternal relationship. Finally, the same is true of the church. Yep…the church. The Christian faith is a communal faith. We commit to community before we realize all of the faults and failures of everyone in the community. (Consequently, we do so before we disclose all of our stuff too). The commitment is made to one another and then we work out the implications together.
Well, Chris, I think I need to know more before I can make a commitment like that. Sure, I hear you. However, except for the finished work of Christ, there are no guarantees that you can perfectly “weigh out” the decision on. You won’t know who your spouse is until long after you marry him or her. In fact, if truth be told, you and your spouse won’t become who you are to be apart from the mutual influence and benefit of one another in your lives. Same with the church. And in some respects, the same with God. Yes, He is unchanging but you will change and in so doing, will come to recognize, appreciate, and love Him more deeply, passionately, intentionally, willfully, and fully as the years progress. None of this is even remotely possible in the dating zone.
So, stop dating and get devoted. Lock-in. Put a ring on it. Go exclusive and build something amazing…together.
I hear a version of this question periodically: “Does the Bible say I can’t do ___?” The fact that the question is asked encourages me. The person is acknowledging that there is a standard of right and wrong conduct with God, and he/she does not want to violate the standard.
Reading through Leviticus (as part of our church’s reading
plan) is a great reminder of this standard. Lev 23:22 commands God’s people that
when they reap the harvest, they are not to reap to the edge of the field and
they are not to gather the gleanings left behind on the first pass. These
things are to be left for the poor and the alien among them.
Lev 22:19-20 commands that any sacrifice brought to the Lord
must be an unblemished male. It cannot have a defect or it will not be accepted
on behalf of the worshipper.
In these two examples, the people are told what not to do.
They are even told why. While many people seek to live by similar standards
today, I want to suggest that they are less than what God intends for His
people.
In Mark 10:17-27, Jesus encounters the wealthy “ruler” of the people. Think of a mash-up between a religious scholar and a local government official. These guys interpreted the Law of Moses and set policy on applying it in the community. This man came to Jesus and affirmed all of the “thou shalt nots” he had abided by. I have not murdered, I have not stolen, I have not lied, etc. Jesus never chastised the man for keeping the Law. (NOTE: Some today will lecture a person who holds to a moral code. A man just yesterday dismissed the need to be part of a church when I asked him where he attended. He told me “the church was in Him.” IOW…there is no command for me to worship with a group of people on the Lord’s day. He was saying, in essence, “That’s not part of the deal for my Salvation. I asked Jesus into my heart”).
While Jesus did not chastise the ruler for keeping the Law,
He also did not leave the conversation there. “One thing you lack: go and sell
all your possessions and give to the poor and follow Me” (Mark 10:21). In this
statement…which I would suggest is exemplary of the teachings of the New
Testament, Jesus says that His followers have an AFFIRMATIVE DUTY to advance
Christ’s agenda in the world. It is not enough to not steal…we must generously
give. It is not enough to not lie (since we could do that by saying nothing). We
must speak the truth (in love and with humility). It is not enough to not murder.
We must promote abundant living.
The point is that the church (the family of Christ-followers) has the responsibility to advance the King’s agenda.
Reflect today on this:
I know you have not murdered your neighbor, but have you helped him live an abundant life?
I know you did not promote some wrong perspective of God, but how did you advance the right view?
I know you did not oppress the poor, but how did you act generously to provide for him/her?
The church (that’s us) was not called to play “prevent
defense” until we are taken up into heaven. We are charged to advance the ball,
step by step, until we reach the other end of the field.
“I believe that Sunday morning is for the gathering of
God’s people. Evangelism is what we want our people to do outside the walls.
Our time ‘inside’ is for our people to worship, be edified, and to be
encouraged.” While this statement is a “mash-up” in itself, a statement
like this can be heard around the table at times among preachers over coffee.
“I am preaching for the invitation every week. I am
looking for the lost guy, the distant guy, the displaced guy every week. Every
sermon. Every week! If I lead silent prayer, I am going to give an invitation
to respond.” Ok, maybe this statement appears a little embellished…but I
have heard its parts and the theme of it over and over through the years. I
have even said most of these!
So, which is it? Is the Sunday morning gathering for the
wayward or the worshipper? Is the goal to see the lost saved, or the saints
encouraged? I think the question itself obscures the correct answer because it
seeks an either/or response…rather than a both/and.
As such, let me briefly explain why I preach to unbelievers
every week. Let me first affirm that I believe that the church comes together
weekly, usually on Sunday, and does so for the purpose of worship, fellowship,
exhortation, encouragement and equipping. This is not in conflict with my
reasons below; rather, this sets the stage for them.
I preach to unbelievers on Sunday because they are there. In a church of any size, from four to forty-thousand, there is a good chance that someone listening has yet to truly yield to Jesus as Lord. Sometimes, this person is new. He or she was recently invited, dropped by, or happened among God’s people for some other reason. At other times, this unbeliever is religious and may even be a member. Perhaps he or she prayed a prayer at some point in the past but did not yield to Christ. He may have exclaimed “save me,” but like the “rich, young ruler,” he was unwilling to do what Christ required.
I preach to unbelievers on Sunday because sometimes God’s people act like it. My challenge to unbelievers is always that they would respond to the love of Christ displayed at Calvary’s cross and turn, by faith to Christ as Lord. That prescription is true and effective whether someone is on the “outside” of the family of faith…or is “eating swine snacks in the far country” of Christ’s kingdom. The answer for all rebels is to come to (or back to) Christ by faith.
I preach to unbelievers on Sunday because it trains other believers how to do it. Many small group leaders stand (or sit) and give a lesson to a group weekly. Where did they learn to do that? Sitting under a pastor in the worship gathering on Sunday! I have tried for years to teach these gifted leaders that a second sermon is not the call of the hour; rather, the small group environment is about conversation and application. Trying to change that behavior has always proven to be challenging because these precious teachers learned it honestly. I preach to unbelievers on Sunday so that God’s people will learn how to do so as well. I want them to present God’s truth faithfully, God’s love gracefully, God’s plan compassionately, and God’s call to respond winsomely.
Finally, I preach to unbelievers on Sunday because the gospel encourages the believer. When I talk about being far from God and God’s redemptive plan, I am reminded of my days choosing to live far from Him and how “He sought me, and bought me, with His redeeming blood.” When I find someone bored with the Gospel, I immediately know something is amiss. How do you get bored with your own birthday? When the gospel is proclaimed to the believer it elicits one hearty, worshipful response: AMEN!
Why this article? Well, I am immersed in the subject
presently…and it was on my heart. If you have thoughts, feel free to drop by,
chime in, and we can chat. As always, I’d appreciate your help in clicking
LIKE, sharing the article, or sharing a comment about it. This not only
encourages me; but, it also helps broaden the audience of those who may benefit
from it that don’t yet subscribe personally.
The life of a Christ-follower is one of community. Individuality is not part of the program. I know that in the West, and particularly in the United States, the value of individualism is romantic. We celebrate the Lone Ranger. We applaud the trailblazer. We resist accountable community.
Such was not the culture of the early church and it is not
the tone of the New Testament. In fact, the idea of individuality is often the
subject of warnings. There is great value in community.
Several brothers from by doctoral learning “community” (cohort) at SBTS
Somewhere along the way, people got the idea that matters of
faith were private matters. While faith is highly personal, it is never
private. We may confess sins privately, but we declare God’s forgiveness
publicly; and, at times, we confess those sins publicly within the
context of community (James 5:16) so that others will pray for us. This
provides for us the tool of accountability.
I suggested in a recent article that a small gender-exclusive group of believers, typically a close communion of 4-5 people who are committed to meeting regularly, reading the bible together and praying with one another is a powerful tool for spiritual growth. Those groups work best when they have these characteristics:
They are joined by invitation. There needs to be some chemistry (or at least potential for chemistry) if the group is to flourish. This is why I suggest that the first place to find people for this group is among existing circles…like a Connect Group. [Connect Groups are how my church organizes small group ministry].
They have a defined objective. Meeting to “hang out” may feel like an “organic” approach to community; however, it is its own version of stress-inducing. These communities should have an objective. We will meet to ____. I suggest that the reason to meet is to discuss insights from a Bible-reading plan that everyone in the group embraces.
They have a confidentiality ethic. As the group begins to discuss how the Scriptures “spoke” to them during the previous week, there will come a time when someone will share a personal or even private struggle with a stronghold or sin. This is not an act of WEAKNESS but of COURAGEOUS STRENGTH! I say that because I only do men’s groups (of course) and men are terrible about not wanting to share defects with one another. For honest and helpful sharing to occur, there must be a sense of trust that what is shared will “go to the grave” of those who hear it.
There must be an exit strategy. How do we get off the bus? In my experience, many of these groups default to an insular nature within a few weeks. As relationships grow and trust is confirmed…a band of brother (or sisters) is established. The easy thing is to stay together forever. This tool for spiritual growth can become stagnant at this point and ultimately loses missional effectiveness. It needs new blood. This is why I suggest only a “one-year” group. In fact, I recommend that the group form with a clear understanding that each member will identify 3-4 others during the year that they can begin meeting with when this group concludes. [Note: A group that concludes does not mean that friendships dissolve; rather, the multiplication of groups provides for increased friendships.]
If you are not part of a D-Group (which is what I call these
accountability communities) and would like some specifics on how to start one
(or perhaps join one), give me a call. I have some recommended resources that
will help you get started successfully.
If this year is to be a year of advancing in your development as a Christ-follower, you will NEED partners in an accountable community. CHOOSE now to take that step and I guarantee that when you look back at the end of the year, you will be blown away at what God does in your life!
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