Sunday

This past Sunday a gentleman walked to the front of the church. He picked up the microphone and smiled. As music began to fill the Sanctuary he began to sing...

"I'm a thief, I'm a lier, I'm a murder..."

Fearfully, a six year old screams out from the back "what's he doing here?

Deep & Wide by Andy Stanley

Deep & Wide: Creating Churches Unchurched People Love to Attend by Andy Stanley

I was asked to read and review "Deep & Wide; creating churches that unchurched people love to attend" by Andy Stanley. Although I am only 3/5 the way through, here are my thoughts thus far:

The book is divided into five sections, providing the reader with the opportunity to jump straight to a particular section if so desired (and required).

Section 1 - "My Story" - contains the basics of Andy Stanley's adolescent years, the years that he spent watching his father (Charles Stanley) in ministry, from points of confidence, humility, peace, and conflict. "My Story" not only explains Andy's past, it also reveals his approach to ministry and why NorthPoint Church is the way it is.

Section 2 - "Our Story" - gives a glimpse into the story of Christ's Church, the worldwide Church. More than this, section two reveals the mindset and structure of NorthPoint Church - a "church that unchurched people love to attend".

Section 3 - "Deep" - is an outline of the discipleship process, called the formation model, of NorthPoint Church. In these chapters Andy Stanley outlines the "Five Faith Catalysts" of NorthPoint Church and the discussions - or questions - that led to these catalysts. Further he offers questions and topics for church leaders to ponder in each of the five areas of ministry.

Section 4 - "Wide"

Section 5 - "Becoming Deep and Wide"

Although I am only through section 3 at this point I have thoroughly enjoyed the reading of this book. Andy brings to light many of the struggles that leaders in the mainline church has in our culture today. More importantly, he offers topics that must be wrestled with and discussed within any church that truly desires to "win" the lost for Jesus Christ.

Not only is this book a good read and packed with insightful points for church leaders, it presents tools that can be used (and adapted to fit) in any church, of any size, and in any location.

Backed by Scripture, experience, and results, Andy Stanley presents church leaders a tool for leading people into committed and faithful relationships with Jesus Christ. I will highly recommend this book to ANY leader in ANY church setting.

A Thankful Perspective

A couple of things happened this last week that has brought me a new perspective:

Saturday: our youngest son was taken to the emergency room and we spent a total of five hour with him there as the doctor and nurses evaluated his condition.

• While at the hospital I was advised that the tire on our van was flat, soon finding that we had run over a nail.

Sunday: our youngest son was taken to the emergency room twice, then hospitalized overnight. 

• Both my wife and I stayed late into the night with our son in the hospital and stayed up until the early hours of the morning praying, worrying, and praying.
• My wife also spent the night and entire next day with him in the hospital, her absence was felt in a major way.

Monday: our oldest son woke up with a cold, he was unable to go to school.

• My wife and youngest are able to come home in the late afternoon but we are all exhausted from the previous days hospital visits.
• Our youngest wakes up at 3:30 a.m. and decides that he has enough sleep for the night.

Tuesday: our daughter woke up with a slight cold, we were sure she would be the next to get the full-blown virus. 

• Our oldest is still not able to go to school instead we decide to take him to the doctor, finding out that he has croup. 
• Our youngest has adopted a new sleeping schedule that does not include the hours of 3:00 to 6:00 a.m. (some of my favorite hours to sleep).

Friday: our car is unable (or unwilling) to start, the battery is dead.

• The new vehicle models completely lock up when the battery is dead, the trunk will not open, the key is locked in the ignition, and the transmission is locked in park.   
• We have inconveniently parked the car in front of the garage and are unable to get our van out.

Saturday: I threw my back out.

Now, given all of these things, some might think that our family had a right to be a bit tired or grumpy, or even to complain a few times. I might agree if it weren't for what happened on Thursday. On Thursday I had the opportunity to listen to a sermon from Gateway Church located in Caledonia, Ontario (not one of the typical podcasts that I listen to) on the topic of giving thanks to God. In this message they spoke  about the need to be thankful for the large and small gifts from God and introduced the concept; "1,000 to be thankful for". 

Not only did I grab a notebook on Thursday and begin to list some things that I am thankful for, I began sharing them with my family and church family, and I have continued, these last few days, to write more and more things that I have to be thankful for - gifts that God is bringing to me and to our family every day. 

And, through this process I have gained a new perspective, in marriage, in parenting, in pastoring, and in life. 

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

I praise God because He exists

I praise God because He exists!

First of all, God is worthy of my praise because He has existed since before time began.

Next, God is worthy of my praise because He will exist throughout all of eternity.

And finally, God deserves my praise because without His existance life would not exist.

So, for all these reasons and so many more, I praise God because He exists.

Humbled, Honored, and Confused

After having preached for a few years now, I know right away if the words I am speaking from the pulpit are not clear or when I am not connecting with the audience. As Professor Howard Hendricks says; “If it is a mist in the pulpit, it is a fog in the pew." 

As I consider this morning's sermon I fear that I may have left our church family with an very unclear message. Yet, I walk away, seeking God's guidance, mercy, and direction for the next time I enter His pulpit. And, when I stand before others proclaiming God's Word next I will, as always be honored and humbled and the opportunity, while being continually confused that anyone would listen for any amount of time to my thoughts and understanding of God's Holy Word. 

Keeping versus Reaching

These insights to the local church were written by Pastor Tony Morgan a few weeks back. After reading through them a few times and giving some consideration I thought I would pass them on.

These insights will be helpful to my Pastor friends and colleagues and also to laity within the church, especially those individuals that are reluctant to change and more progressive models of ministry within the church.

When churches value keeping who they have over reaching people outside the church and outside the faith, their thinking, language and actions tend to look like this:

They program for people who already attend the church.

They create environments that assume only Christ-followers will be present.

They use insider language that’s confusing to people new to the church.

They assume any growth that happens will be initiated by a heart-change outside the church rather than one inside the church.

They never stop ministries because that might offend someone inside the church.

They are slow to do something new because it might offend someone inside the church.

They think it’s a choice between “going deeper” and “reaching the lost” when it’s actually both.

They choose personal preferences over potential ministry impact.

They make decisions based on who they’ll keep rather than who they’ll reach.

Thoughts on Titus 3:1-2

This past Sunday our class was reading from Titus 3;

1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

Of course, just as this verse points to, we began to discuss our view of government, authorities, and politics. We began to talk about a believer's role regarding these matters and when we are to stand up, step forward and declare that "enough is enough".

In light of this, I considered this passage from Titus, Verse 2 specifically struck me, especially the words "slander", "peaceable", and "considerate".

First Paul writes that a believer is to slander no one. This speaks of our leaders and those in authority, but also of our family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors - everyone! This means no gossip, no ill talk, no lies - nothing - no slander.

But then Paul writes that we are to be peaceable. Yet this isn't always easy. There are things that really seem to get my blood boiling and things that upset me and make me downright angry. Is Paul stating that we truest need to be peaceable at all times? Weren't there times when Jesus wasn't peaceable? And, aren't there things in our culture that we are to stand for and to stand against? As believers aren't we called to speak for the rights of the oppressed and persecuted? Aren't we called to preach the Word, be salt in the world, and to be a light for the world? So, how can we do all of this and still be peaceable at all times?

See, that's where the third word comes in; "considerate". There will be things that strike us, upset us, or even upset us. And these are the moments that we must remember to be considerate. As believers we must step back, even remove ourselves from the situation for a time, to evaluate and consider the larger picture. Ask; "Am I angry because this inconveniences me or causes me some sort of personal difficulty?" or "Am I angry because this us something that God's Word speaks against and breaks His Heart?"

If your angry stems from a personal inconvenience than peaceable you must be! Pray for it and it will come. But, if yourconcerned based on an attack on God's will and His way, you must stand against the matter and peace may not be the answer. Yet here is where Paul's final statement cones in; "always to be gentle toward everyone".

Whatever the case, in peace or in conflict, we are called to be gentle. As believers we are called to be hard on sin but not harsh toward sinners.