Recently, a friend told me a story about a pastor/preacher he used to work with. Every few weeks this pastor/preacher would gather with his elders and listen to them critique his messages. They would lovingly speak to him about what was being communicated and offer encouragement as well as helpful suggestions. This guy is one of my new heroes. He was part of a new, exciting, growing church, yet he was humble enough to listen to some Godly men about something he knew and loved to do. What a stud!
Who gets the honor of critiquing your life? Not only are you humble enough to receive it, but are you a good enough leader to create this kind of environment. It doesn't happen by accident. Good leaders invite good people to speak truth into their lives. Even if the truth hurts. Scratch that, good leaders invite good people to speak truth into their lives ESPECIALLY when it hurts.
Not only is this the kind of preacher I want to be, but also the kind of man.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
What Does This Equation Tell Us...
Today I had some GREAT conversations at a missions conference about evangelism. I had a rather large banner behind me that had a "math equation" on it. Well, it's not so much an equation as it is a hidden message in numbers and symbols. The banner worked and it created a little buzz at the conference.
The equation is...
+20 = 3 out of 10
3-20= 5 out of 10
-3= 7 out of 10
This is a set of stats I read a few years ago from a church planting researcher. It says that churches that are over 20 years old typically reach 3 new believers for every 10 people that join the church. If a church is between 3-20 years old then half of the new "members" will be baptized in that church. And, for every 10 people that are new members of a typical new church, 7 will be baptized in that church. That means that most older churches grow through transfer growth and most young churches reach the unchurched. I asked the folks coming through the conference today what this tells us about reaching non-believers. They all said, "we should start more churches". Of course, this is the reply I really wanted.
There were a couple of interesting things said during these conversations. Many of the people there are members of older churches. Not one of them argued with the numbers and most of them told me that they hold up perfectly within their church. They asked if these numbers are saying that older churches are dying or losing their fire. This isn't what I wanted to communicate. I explained that if a church is reaching "3 out of 10" in a year, then that is still very, very good. It's also important to remember that few new churches weren't started by old churches. We need both and everything in between. A few folks wrote down the information and are taking it to their churches. One dude, "stole" my banner and is hanging it in his church tomorrow. Fortunately, he's not the pastor and can't get fired. :)
Also, on the banner is says "Live Sent". This saying is not original to me. My boy Jason Dukes came up with that and teaches it every second of everyday. The dude, must dream about living sent! Personally, I love it. God is never stagnant and has never called us to be immobile. The Kingdom is always advancing. You can't be a true disciple without living sent to your community and beyond. If you're looking for a good tagline for your church you might want to steal his. You can also go to www.livesent.com and join in the conversation.
The other thing I did at the conference was put little flip-flop stickers on people who committed to live sent. I explained that to truly go you must have the proper foot wear. We all know the proper footwear are flip-flops. It was cool seeing people walk around with these little reminders. (if you see me in person ask me about the couple that refused the flops)
Today was a good day.
The equation is...
+20 = 3 out of 10
3-20= 5 out of 10
-3= 7 out of 10
This is a set of stats I read a few years ago from a church planting researcher. It says that churches that are over 20 years old typically reach 3 new believers for every 10 people that join the church. If a church is between 3-20 years old then half of the new "members" will be baptized in that church. And, for every 10 people that are new members of a typical new church, 7 will be baptized in that church. That means that most older churches grow through transfer growth and most young churches reach the unchurched. I asked the folks coming through the conference today what this tells us about reaching non-believers. They all said, "we should start more churches". Of course, this is the reply I really wanted.
There were a couple of interesting things said during these conversations. Many of the people there are members of older churches. Not one of them argued with the numbers and most of them told me that they hold up perfectly within their church. They asked if these numbers are saying that older churches are dying or losing their fire. This isn't what I wanted to communicate. I explained that if a church is reaching "3 out of 10" in a year, then that is still very, very good. It's also important to remember that few new churches weren't started by old churches. We need both and everything in between. A few folks wrote down the information and are taking it to their churches. One dude, "stole" my banner and is hanging it in his church tomorrow. Fortunately, he's not the pastor and can't get fired. :)
Also, on the banner is says "Live Sent". This saying is not original to me. My boy Jason Dukes came up with that and teaches it every second of everyday. The dude, must dream about living sent! Personally, I love it. God is never stagnant and has never called us to be immobile. The Kingdom is always advancing. You can't be a true disciple without living sent to your community and beyond. If you're looking for a good tagline for your church you might want to steal his. You can also go to www.livesent.com and join in the conversation.
The other thing I did at the conference was put little flip-flop stickers on people who committed to live sent. I explained that to truly go you must have the proper foot wear. We all know the proper footwear are flip-flops. It was cool seeing people walk around with these little reminders. (if you see me in person ask me about the couple that refused the flops)
Today was a good day.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
I Wonder How Peter Took Criticism
Galatians 2
11But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?"
Sweet Fancy Moses! Paul just laid the spiritual smack down on our boy Peter. Not only did Paul call out Peter to his face, but in front of "THEM ALL".
This week I've been wondering how Peter took this beat down. I wonder if he shot back at Paul with "Dude, did you walk with Jesus? I mean like...literally walk with Him?" Or, "where were you when Jesus was killed, hanging with us after the resurrection, and then floated up to heaven?"
After all, this was the guy Jesus had the most intimate of conversations with. The one Jesus appears to have poured Himself into most through His teaching and actions. This guy ate with Jesus and probably slept a few feet from him for three years.
But, maybe Peter was even more aggressive in his come backs. Maybe he said, "Now where were you when Stephen was stoned and we were all be persecuted... Oh, yeah, I forgot you were there doing the killing!" At first I bristle at such a thought, but I don't think I would put anything past Peter. Peter never really employed the "5 second" rule and thought before he spoke.
I have no idea how Peter responded to this rebuke by Paul. It must have been hard to get rebuked by someone younger then him in the faith (maybe physically younger as well). Peter was the first Christian rock star and now another guy has come along to help lead the way. It must have been hard for Peter...
I like to think that in this moment some of Christ's teaching became very clear to him. "Ohhh so that's what He meant by 'new wine into new wine skin.'" I like to think that Peter laid his pride down and hugged the stuffing out of Paul and the Gentiles there and apologized to them all. I like to think that Peter didn't lord over anyone his experience but listened to everyone with a humble heart and loving spirit.
You can't read 1st or 2nd Peter and walk away thinking that Peter wasn't changed over time. I guess I like to think that anyone can change after enough time and enough beat downs.
I guess there is still hope for me and the rest of us "Peters".
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Baptist Press Attacks Mark Driscoll
http://www.baptistmessenger.com/story/96BD30763615DA7B0A54DA34E192EA50
EDITOR'S NOTE: The story contains references to sexual matters that Baptist Press tried to veil somewhat in order to lessen the possibility of offending readers. However, Baptist Press needed to include a reference to these adult elements so that readers might fully grasp the importance of this news item.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--An in-depth New York Times Magazine feature on a controversial Seattle pastor has generated a new wave of debate about vulgarity in the pulpit.
"Who Would Jesus Smack Down," a 3,200-word profile of Mark Driscoll, founding pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Wash., focused on Driscoll's Calvinist theology but, like most secular reporting on the Seattle pastor, began with a vignette on his "racy" sermon topics and casual clothes.
Critics like pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, Calif., however take Driscoll to task over his use of sexually explicit language and "purely gratuitous humor" they say degrades the Gospel and the pulpit.
In a December 2006 issue of Pulpit magazine, MacArthur, a renowned Calvinist himself, complimented Driscoll's theology but said the young pastor suffers from an "infatuation with the vulgar aspects of contemporary society" and models a lifestyle "especially his easygoing familiarity with all this world's filthy fads -- practically guarantees that will make little progress toward authentic sanctification."
On the heels of the New York Times profile, Christian talk show personality Ingrid Schleuter criticized Driscoll for a series of explicit "sex advice" posts on the Mars Hill Church blog -- material appropriate only for married couples but available to any visitor, including children. Schleuter also castigated Driscoll for linking the blog to a website, christiannymphos.org, "which features articles on how a Christian wife can turn herself into a dominatrix, the glories of an-l and or-l sex, and the use of sex toys."
"At a time when American young people are hit in the face with graphic sexuality in every facet of our culture, the church should be a safe haven where the sacredness and privacy of the act of marriage is respected by pastors," Schleuter said in a press release. "Those with sexual issues need to receive private counseling -- not sex seminars in a church auditorium.
"For generations, Christian pastors have managed to convey the Scripture's teachings on fornication, adultery and the beauty of sexuality within marriage without sullying and cheapening it" Schleuter added. "Mark Driscoll is a sad product of our times. While waving his orthodox doctrinal credentials, he has simultaneously embraced the spirit of the age when it comes to his treatment of sex. In the process, he is pornifying the church and only adding to the moral squalor of our culture."
Coarse language has no place in the pulpit, said David Tolliver, executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention.
"I am distressed to hear about what some misguided men call preaching," Tolliver said. "Vulgarity has no place in the speech of Christians -- certainly not in Christian preaching. How can Christian preachers expect to 'speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel' unless they vow never to 'let any unwholesome word come out of mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen'?"
Pastors must commit themselves to engage the culture without endorsing it, Tolliver added.
"It is important that pastors address issues like sexuality, but they must address those topics biblically and reverently -- not in a way that titillates or entices," he said.
Addressing sensitive topics like sexuality is important because both church members and unchurched people struggle with those issues, said Bret Robbe, a longtime pastor who now directs leadership and adult publishing for LifeWay Christian Resources.
"We need to learn how to address sensitive topics in appropriate ways because they are real issues in our culture and they present real dangers for people's lives and their relationships with God," Robbe said. "They aren't just issues in the culture; our church members are wrestling with these issues too.
"When we debate issues like these, it helps us get better perspective of what is acceptable and not acceptable," Robbe added. "How do we best address sensitive subjects in a way that both helps people and glorifies God?"
Giving God the honor He deserves must not take a back seat to promoting a sermon series, Robbe said.
"If a pastor is preaching or teaching on an edgy topic just to get the attention of people in the community, and not to glorify God, then he has stepped over a line," Robbe said. "I would never endorse unwholesome speech from the pulpit or anywhere else.
"It's a two-fold issue. We need to remind ourselves what unwholesome talk is, and we need to make sure we are addressing in a biblical way the issues people face."
The thing that confuses me about this article is they never give any examples of what Driscoll has said in his "edgy" sermon series that didn't glorify God. I can only assume they are talking about "The Peasant Princess" and I've listened to the entire thing. I've actually heard many of the sermons 2 or 3 times because Ellie has enjoyed listening to them. I don't recall anything vulgar in them at all. I don't think he's been more "vulgar" then Song of Solomon or Paul in 1 Corinthians 6.
I have learned a lot from Driscoll and appreciate his teaching ministry. I've heard people mention abstract or second hand things about him, but I never hear anything concrete. I've listened for myself and can't find anything either.
Hopefully, he'll just keep doing what he's doing.
And hey, if someone else has another opinion please let me know.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The story contains references to sexual matters that Baptist Press tried to veil somewhat in order to lessen the possibility of offending readers. However, Baptist Press needed to include a reference to these adult elements so that readers might fully grasp the importance of this news item.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--An in-depth New York Times Magazine feature on a controversial Seattle pastor has generated a new wave of debate about vulgarity in the pulpit.
"Who Would Jesus Smack Down," a 3,200-word profile of Mark Driscoll, founding pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Wash., focused on Driscoll's Calvinist theology but, like most secular reporting on the Seattle pastor, began with a vignette on his "racy" sermon topics and casual clothes.
Critics like pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, Calif., however take Driscoll to task over his use of sexually explicit language and "purely gratuitous humor" they say degrades the Gospel and the pulpit.
In a December 2006 issue of Pulpit magazine, MacArthur, a renowned Calvinist himself, complimented Driscoll's theology but said the young pastor suffers from an "infatuation with the vulgar aspects of contemporary society" and models a lifestyle "especially his easygoing familiarity with all this world's filthy fads -- practically guarantees that will make little progress toward authentic sanctification."
On the heels of the New York Times profile, Christian talk show personality Ingrid Schleuter criticized Driscoll for a series of explicit "sex advice" posts on the Mars Hill Church blog -- material appropriate only for married couples but available to any visitor, including children. Schleuter also castigated Driscoll for linking the blog to a website, christiannymphos.org, "which features articles on how a Christian wife can turn herself into a dominatrix, the glories of an-l and or-l sex, and the use of sex toys."
"At a time when American young people are hit in the face with graphic sexuality in every facet of our culture, the church should be a safe haven where the sacredness and privacy of the act of marriage is respected by pastors," Schleuter said in a press release. "Those with sexual issues need to receive private counseling -- not sex seminars in a church auditorium.
"For generations, Christian pastors have managed to convey the Scripture's teachings on fornication, adultery and the beauty of sexuality within marriage without sullying and cheapening it" Schleuter added. "Mark Driscoll is a sad product of our times. While waving his orthodox doctrinal credentials, he has simultaneously embraced the spirit of the age when it comes to his treatment of sex. In the process, he is pornifying the church and only adding to the moral squalor of our culture."
Coarse language has no place in the pulpit, said David Tolliver, executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention.
"I am distressed to hear about what some misguided men call preaching," Tolliver said. "Vulgarity has no place in the speech of Christians -- certainly not in Christian preaching. How can Christian preachers expect to 'speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel' unless they vow never to 'let any unwholesome word come out of mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen'?"
Pastors must commit themselves to engage the culture without endorsing it, Tolliver added.
"It is important that pastors address issues like sexuality, but they must address those topics biblically and reverently -- not in a way that titillates or entices," he said.
Addressing sensitive topics like sexuality is important because both church members and unchurched people struggle with those issues, said Bret Robbe, a longtime pastor who now directs leadership and adult publishing for LifeWay Christian Resources.
"We need to learn how to address sensitive topics in appropriate ways because they are real issues in our culture and they present real dangers for people's lives and their relationships with God," Robbe said. "They aren't just issues in the culture; our church members are wrestling with these issues too.
"When we debate issues like these, it helps us get better perspective of what is acceptable and not acceptable," Robbe added. "How do we best address sensitive subjects in a way that both helps people and glorifies God?"
Giving God the honor He deserves must not take a back seat to promoting a sermon series, Robbe said.
"If a pastor is preaching or teaching on an edgy topic just to get the attention of people in the community, and not to glorify God, then he has stepped over a line," Robbe said. "I would never endorse unwholesome speech from the pulpit or anywhere else.
"It's a two-fold issue. We need to remind ourselves what unwholesome talk is, and we need to make sure we are addressing in a biblical way the issues people face."
The thing that confuses me about this article is they never give any examples of what Driscoll has said in his "edgy" sermon series that didn't glorify God. I can only assume they are talking about "The Peasant Princess" and I've listened to the entire thing. I've actually heard many of the sermons 2 or 3 times because Ellie has enjoyed listening to them. I don't recall anything vulgar in them at all. I don't think he's been more "vulgar" then Song of Solomon or Paul in 1 Corinthians 6.
I have learned a lot from Driscoll and appreciate his teaching ministry. I've heard people mention abstract or second hand things about him, but I never hear anything concrete. I've listened for myself and can't find anything either.
Hopefully, he'll just keep doing what he's doing.
And hey, if someone else has another opinion please let me know.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Big Story of God: Week 6
Living Sent
Verses to Memorize: Matthew 28:18-20
“Shall I tell you what sustained me amidst the toil, the hardship, and the loneliness of my exiled life? It was the promise, ‘Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end.’” –David Livingstone
Jesus basically had three years to pour into His disciples. Three years to insure that they wouldn’t fall away and that they would have the courage to take His message of salvation to the nations. Jesus knew what they would face after He left them. He also knew they would need tremendous courage to sustain them.
Some of Jesus’ Global Actions…
Matthew 4:23-25
Matthew 15:21-25
John 4:5-26
Jesus’ Teaching on His Global Purpose to His Disciples…
Matthew 5:13-14
Matthew 24:1-14
Luke 13:22-30
Jesus gave a Great Commission to His disciples. It’s stated 5 times in the Bible.
Matthew 28:18-20
Mark 16:15-16
Luke 24:44-49
John 20:21-23
Acts 1:8
Notice the theme of blessings/responsibilities
What can we learn by reading these five commandments?
“So today the Holy Ghost, if we would but hear His voice, would call a halt on much of our religious activity and even our revival plans… and the beckoning finger of the ‘Man of Macedonia’ would call us to the new West which has arisen upon the horizon…” –A.B. Simpson
Verses to Memorize: Matthew 28:18-20
“Shall I tell you what sustained me amidst the toil, the hardship, and the loneliness of my exiled life? It was the promise, ‘Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end.’” –David Livingstone
Jesus basically had three years to pour into His disciples. Three years to insure that they wouldn’t fall away and that they would have the courage to take His message of salvation to the nations. Jesus knew what they would face after He left them. He also knew they would need tremendous courage to sustain them.
Some of Jesus’ Global Actions…
Matthew 4:23-25
Matthew 15:21-25
John 4:5-26
Jesus’ Teaching on His Global Purpose to His Disciples…
Matthew 5:13-14
Matthew 24:1-14
Luke 13:22-30
Jesus gave a Great Commission to His disciples. It’s stated 5 times in the Bible.
Matthew 28:18-20
Mark 16:15-16
Luke 24:44-49
John 20:21-23
Acts 1:8
Notice the theme of blessings/responsibilities
What can we learn by reading these five commandments?
“So today the Holy Ghost, if we would but hear His voice, would call a halt on much of our religious activity and even our revival plans… and the beckoning finger of the ‘Man of Macedonia’ would call us to the new West which has arisen upon the horizon…” –A.B. Simpson
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