Report on Growth Groups

In an effort to promote more options for Christian education and/or discipleship within our church, we introduced Growth Groups this past spring.

As this was a new idea within our church, we were aware that it would begin slow and that it would be a process of introducing people to the idea and to promoting with various individuals. Likewise, we wanted to fit the ultra-demanding schedules of our church family, and of their friends and families. It was for these reasons that we began with only three Growth Groups on three different nights of the week.

All three of these groups began with different leadership personalities as the facilitators, at different locations in and around our community and they all three began with the same discussion questions and discussion format. After only a few weeks it was apparent that the format needed to change and that several of the more mature individuals desired more of a Bible study format rather than a discussion. Likewise, it was apparent that many of the questions and discussion topics were unnecessary and that a beneficial discussion could blossom from four simple questions. These questions are an adaption of the four questions that John Wesley used to use when he first began his small groups prior to the Methodist movement. Likewise, these questions align with our church's ministry process.

1. How is your connection with Jesus this week?
2. What are you doing to foster your own spiritual growth?
3. What opportunities have you had to serve and witness this week and how did you act upon them?
4. What temptations have you faced and how did you overcome them?

Several weeks ago I was becoming a bit discouraged when the participation in the Growth Groups in our church of over 100 had stalled at 18. Of course, I tried not to take it personally but it was, all the same, discouraging. Then, in the midst of these feelings, we hosted our weekly group at our home and it was then that God revealed to me, exactly what we were accomplishing.

We only made it to one of the questions that evening but we had wonderful fellowship, excellent discussions, and several prayers together. My eyes were opened to see that it was not about the number of people that were participating every week, those things are minute and will turn around. No, rather, it was about the accountability, it was about the support, it was about the friendships, it was about living our lives, as Christians, together. You may struggle while I am soaring, I may struggle just as you are achieving a new level of spiritual high. And that is what it is about.

As I wrote about the conclusion of our spring Growth Groups in our church newsletter this month; "we met together to simply live life together. We grew in relationships as we met casually and we grew in our walk with Jesus as we talked about struggles, concerns, and joys. What a great Spring!"

We will be kicking off Growth Groups again this fall, if you are in the area, I invite you to join in.

Testimony in Terms of Sin

I recently finished reading D. Michael Henderson's "Making Disciples One Conversation at a Time" and very much appreciated the insight and knowledge that he brought to the subject of evangelism and discipleship. But it was one particular quote that caused me to stop and contemplate my walk with Christ;

“I groan when I hear Christians give their testimonies in terms of sin. It’s like a man speaking at his own 25^th wedding anniversary talking about all the girls he gave up to marry his wife. ‘Yes, I remember the day when I forsook all others and took only to her.’ Get over it, man. Tell me about the quality of your relationship, the family you’ve reared the things you’ve accomplished as a team.”  (pg. 178)

The point is, being a follower of Jesus Christ is no more a system to manage sin than marriage is a system to control adultery. But so many are living this way, rather than expecting a constant, daily victory over sin, rather than experiencing the relationship with Christ, the joy of walking with Him, and the triumphs of accomplishing His will, they muddle through as if this is what Christ intended when He said in John 10:10, “I have come that you may have life,  and have it to the fullest.”

We, as followers of Christ, have to move past this idea that following Christ is just about overcoming sin and we have got to start walking with Him and experiencing Him fully.

Having the Victory Over Myself

This morning I read a Tweet that John Piper made in which he wrote "No pastor lives up to what he preaches. If he does, he is preaching too low." I thought about this statement at various times throughout the day, I thought about how I pray prior to preparing and delivering the sermon and I thought about how I examine my life and actions before preparing and delivering the sermon. While I saw the truth in this statement from the very moment that I read it early this morning, I did not fully appreciate it until I did a final review of this Sunday morning's sermon.

Tomorrow (Sunday) morning's sermon topic is "Victory Over Self" based on the Scripture of Galatians 5:16-25. But the truth is this: for those of us who have committed our ways to Jesus Christ, our natural desires have been crucified, nailed to the cross, where it has no power to break loose, but is continually weaker and weaker (adapted from a phrase written by John Wesley).

If I am being totally transparent, which I believe is necessary for a successful pastor, I am desperately in need of recommitting my walk and my ways to Jesus Christ. I am desperately needing to commit to crucifying my sinful nature and natural desires and embrace the free life that Jesus promises and has designed for me once again.

My challenge then is to make this daily commitment, to daily crucify myself, my sinful nature, and my natural desires just as Jesus spoke of in Luke 9:23 or how Paul describes it in Galatians 2. If you are in the same boat as I am, I challenge you to do the same.

Benefits of the Routine

I just put our two-year-old son to bed for a forth time this evening. Lately he has had a lot of trouble going to bed and staying in bed. It seems that the last few nights have ended with me putting on my "scary voice" and laying out the consequences of not staying in bed to him. So far this has worked for us.

It seems that he finds every excuse possible to get up from his bed and to stay out of his bed; the blankets are not straight, he has to go to the bathroom, he wants to kiss us good night just one more time. Tonight was no different and, as I made the trek down the hall and reached deep down to pull out the scary voice, he began to cry, perhaps sensing the frustration in the sound of my footsteps. As I entered his room, he puts one finger up in the air and yells out, between cries, "we just forgot to read one story".

In my rush to get him to bed I had, in fact, forgot to read him a story. After reading him a bedtime story, tucking him in one more time, and kissing him good night. I began to think about our bedtime routine; bedtime drinks, reading stories, praying together, saying good night, singing songs, and more.
When my wife and I started this routine with our oldest daughter five years ago we didn't fully think through the ramifications of the routine; how long it takes every night, all the steps involved, etc. But, although it is sometimes inconvenient and tiring, we see the benefit of each aspect of the kid's bedtime routine and we wouldn't (purposefully) change any of it.

The same is true of our daily devotional time/Bible study/prayer time. First and foremost, it has to be started! Second, it has to be carried out for some time in order for it to become a regular routine. Third, it may, at times, be inconvenient but the benefits of it are immeasurable. The benefits may not be seen at the moment or even the day of this quality, focused time with God, but it will change life forever, this life and the next life.

It's Not Too Heavy.

Yesterday's morning teaching focused on our victory over this world and taught from 1 John 5:3-5.

"This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."

As we touched on God's commands for His followers there was one illustration that seemed to be especially helpful to our church family.

My five year-old daughter is commonly asked to assist around the house with chores, some she likes, others she does not. As we were unloading the car last week she asked if she could carry in some of the groceries with us. We agreed and I handed her a gallon of milk and asked her to carry it inside. As I followed behind her she seemed to be laboring with this eight-pound gallon of milk and, before making it half way up the walk, she set it down turning to me and announcing that it was "too heavy". I understood and did not force her to carry it any further.

Just two days later my wife and I were sitting in the kitchen while our three kids were sitting in the living room playing and watching television. We heard our five-month old son begin to fuss and stopped soon after. The next sight we had was of our five-year old daughter carrying her five-month old, nineteen-pound brother into the kitchen. When I asked her if he was too heavy for her she responded; "he's not too heavy, he's my brother".

You see, that eight-pound gallon of milk was far to heavy for her to carry, yet her brother, who was over two times the weight of the milk was not. Why was that? Because it was her brother. Because she wanted to carry him. Because she loved him.

When we consider the commands of God, there are times when we begin to think, these are too challenging, too hard to keep, too burdensome for us. Yet, 1 John 5 tells us the opposite. So what is the difference? Love! When we have a deep love for God, we want to keep His commands! No longer do His commands seem to be too burdensome. Why? Because we love Him.

Acts 3:6 : what I have I give you

I was reading from Acts chapter 3, it has a lot of great insights. But this morning, verse 6 caught my attention.

"Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

Words spoken to a crippled beggar who was sitting at the temple gate  asking from money. This statement by Peter was followed by a miraculous healing. This statement verbalizes the true Spirit of Christ - give to those in need.

This does not mean that we, as Christians, are to always give to a person exactly what they are asking for, but rather that we should give out of the abundance, out of the gifts, that God has given to us. Read through chapter 3 of Acts and you will notice that this man was begging for money, Peter did not give him money, but rather, he gave him out of the abundance of what God had given to him; the gift of teaching, healing, and leading.

This crippled beggar at the gate was asking for money. This man was poor and helpless due to his disability. Notice the steps that Peter takes here:

1. Peter looked straight at him.
2. Peter spoke to the man and called for his attention.
3. Peter saw through his felt need (money) to the heart of his problem (his crippling disability).
4. Peter spoke healing into his life and into his body.
5. Peter helped him up and walked with him.
6. Peter stood beside the man and defended him.

This is exactly what we are called to do; take notice of those around us, call for their attention, see through their felt need to the heart of the matter, speak healing into their life through the gifts God has given to us, and walk with others, standing beside them and defending them in difficult times.

What are you obsessed with?

We are all obsessed with something or many things. Whether it is ourselves, other people, money, television, the computer, locations, or our possessions, or one of a million other things.

Let's just face it, we are obsessed!

To obsess is "to have the mind excessively preoccupied with a single emotion or topic".

With this definition in mind, I want to be a person that is totally obsessed with Jesus. I want to be a person that is excessively preoccupied with Jesus.

I want to be a person that loves to worship Jesus and takes the opportunity to do so at every chance. I want to be a person that loves to talk and walk with Jesus in readings, study, prayer, and meditation.

But this is just the beginning. I want to be a person that grows to be just like Him; loving and serving just as He did.

And I want to lead others to do the same. I want to lead my family in being totally obsessed with Jesus. I want to lead my church in being totally obsessed with Jesus. I want to lead my circle of influence in being totally obsessed with Jesus.