Monday, June 25, 2018

Effective Ministry

We spent this last week on a mission trip with our youth--and I'm home now, trying to catch my breath, encouraged by seeing the truth of God's Word at work.



When we minister within our churches through Bible studies, teaching, and our lives, we may wonder what, if anything, we're accomplishing. Days are long, rest is rare, tests and trials abound.

But as I reflected on our experience this week, the phrase "[equip] the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ" came to mind (Ephesians 4:12). And that, I realized, is the test of effective ministry. It begins with the pastor and leadership. Their equipping affects parents, Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, and lay leaders which then trickles down to every area of ministry. And the teaching of those in authority is reflected by service to others.

No service? No effective ministry. Know service? Know effective ministry.

Before passing the buck to your pastor or leadership team, it's important to recognize our individual responsibility. Am listening to and responding to the equipping God has provided in my local church? If so, how am I equipping others to serve and build up the body of Christ?

If that's not happening, it's time to stop and evaluate what's really happening.

In our case, youth serve alongside and under adults in many different ways in our local church. This week, as we ministered together in both manual labor and spiritual endeavors, they did so with a cheerful heart and ready hands. Service doesn't determine spiritual growth, but the result of spiritual growth is service; a love for God and others that makes itself evident in outward speech, attitude, and action.

It's a valid test for my own life as well. Am I serving only when others' eyes are on me? Or am I regularly, intentionally, secretly serving others for the glory of God? It's the test of effective teaching and ministry.

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

“So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

“Pray, then, in this way:

‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
'Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
‘Give us this day our daily bread.
‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]

For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.


Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. (Matthew 5:1-18, emphasis added)



Sunday, June 17, 2018

Hide and Seek

When was the last time you watched children play hide and seek? As a child we would play Sunday mornings--after we were ready for church, but Mom needed to take care of herself. Apparently she could see Dad "hiding" in the kitchen, but we never could. We'd come tearing around the corner only to be grabbed with a roar, squeezed with a squeal, and let go. Adults see things kids are oblivious to--either they can't or don't want to see them, so they don't.

https://www.boredpanda.com/funny-children-hide-and-seek/

In reading Jesus' sermon on the mount, the same is true of adults.We don't want to see our sin for what it is. We call it "discernment," "overlooking and offense," or other nicely coined term instead of lying, deceit, or unforgiveness. Jesus called out the people for greed, anger, covetousness, worry, adultery, and hypocrisy, among others. It doesn't matter if we see sin for what it is, God does. God sees what is done in secret and He rewards it.

So one question is, "What kind of rewards are heading my way?" Based on what God alone sees (even if people don't), what's been happening in my mind and heart. That's an examination we need.

The next question might be, "What needs to change?" And this, perhaps, is the harder question with a more difficult answer. I could try to clean up my act (and I probably should). I can try to be more aware of the sin lurking in the corners of my heart and God's holiness (that's a good idea, too). I can try to look out for and love others (that's not bad). But the greater answer is that there is nothing I can do to get rid of my sins of the past or prevent sin in the future. There's just too much of it. It runs deep. And it follows me. Just when I think I'm making progress, it resurfaces. The answer, then, is not me, but someone else. Someone greater, someone better, someone holier who will do it for me.... And that's where Jesus comes in.

The challenge is to admit I can't. I can't change myself adequately. I can't do away with sin. I can't fix the past or prevent the future. I. Simply. Can't. But Jesus did--and Jesus can.

I don't know about you, but today, I need Jesus. When I run around the corner of life, whether I see it or not, He's already there--with a squeeze and a roar. Will you run to His arms or run away? The choice is yours.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’


“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall." (Matthew 7:13-27)

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Follow the Leader

The point of this blog is to refresh those of us in ministry--and we should all be involved in full-time ministry whether or not we receive financial compensation. Jesus was not about blocks of time, divvying up work, home, friends, fun, and "ministry" or church. When He says, "Follow me," that's what He means. You. Follow. Me.

Jesus wasn't referring to changed behavior, although that should happen. He wasn't referring to being homeless or eating a specific diet, taking on political figures or drawing large crowds. So what did He mean?

http://www.inekekamps.com/photography/follow-the-leader/


- You. Whomever "you" are. God gave you a specific temperament (Psalm 139). He put you in a specific place at a specific point in time (Acts 17:26-27). He already knows every day of your life (Psalm 139:16). You are you. God made you that way. He designed and purposed your work, life, marriage, family, ministry, environment, location, friends, etc. He knows exactly who and where you are. So when Jesus, through His Word and by His Spirit, says, "Come," He isn't expecting someone different. He's talking to you, and He knows who you are. He's not disappointed or surprised to discover your failings or struggles. He is calling you for your benefit (not His--although the goal is His glory).

- Follow. Based on social media, we think "follow" means I can experience your life vicariously. That was not the meaning of the word in 1st century Israel. The literal interpretation is, "come." When Jesus calls us to follow, He intends for us to go to Him (versus our liberal interpretation of Him coming to me, serving me, answering me, caring for me). Going to Jesus, following Jesus, means I give up my desires, plans, and modus operandi. I learn of Him (Matthew 11:28-30). When confronted with a dilemma, personal struggle or sin, I seek to address it the way Jesus would. He is my reason for living. Pleasing Him is my goal (2 Corinthians 5:9, 15). I choose to leave behind what others value, what I once valued, and put Jesus front and center. I no longer measure myself any standard but His because He bought me with His precious blood (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Peter 1:18-19). I belong to Him. I am His slave and bond servant. He is my master (Luke 17:7-10).

- Me. Who is this Jesus? I must know Him to follow Him. I cannot follow Jesus if I am not reading His Word and submitting myself to its truth. I am not following Jesus if I don't care to talk to Him. To go to Him, to follow the way He leads is to love others more than myself. To follow Jesus is to give up my "rights," to be humbled and humiliated, to sacrifice for others, to please and obey God. To follow Jesus is not a list of doing, but a way of being. It is leaning on God instead of myself; trusting God to provide instead of worrying or seeking control. There is more to Jesus than I can every put into words or begin to know and understand in a single human lifetime. But God has given me enough. His Spirit, Word, and people can and will actively guide me in Christlikeness when He is at the center.

So the question: Am I following Jesus? How am I following Him today? This moment? If not, what needs to change? If so, how am I praising and thanking Him? That is clear evidence of His presence.

 All the way my Savior leads me,
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.

"All the Way My Savior Leads Me" by Fanny Crosby, 1875