Elementary Chapel, The Talk, Self-Control and Humility

What I shared @ ECS chapel on September 10 and November 12.  I posted this on our www.ekidzministry.com site as a parent resource.

I have had the opportunity to speak in chapel twice this year and have used this times to speak about two of the character qualities in the book Time for the Talk.

Zollos writes that the talk is not a specific one time conversation you have with your son.  It is  "a process that takes many years and can be profoundly rewarding." 

The book lists 6 character qualities that need to be clarified so you can develop an open discipleship relationship with your son.
Hopefully these definitions can help you help your child.

At the bottom of this post is the Psalm 34:10 song we sang.

This blog post and previous post  are designed to help parents develop a discipleship relationship with their sons and prepare for the talk.

On September 10th I spoke at the ECS elementary chapel.  

My main point was self control.

The verses used were 1 Peter 5:8; Proverbs 25:28; Galatians 5:22, 23

To pursue self control means to live according to the Spirit of God, choosing to glorify God with our lives and deny the sinful nature when tempted to do otherwise.

The big idea was "My life is not my own"

Self-control:  I do what is right even though I don’t feel like it.

Today, November 12th, I spoke again

My main point was humility.

The verses used were Psalm 34:10; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Ephesians 2:4 - 5.

To pursue humility means choosing to accept the fact that your knowledge and abilities are limited and in light of that, you are regularly seeking help and graciously receiving advice and correction.

This idea of humility was connected with this month's theme of thoroughness ("I complete the job all the way.").

To get the job done, we all need help.

Family, Work and Life for God!!

This Sunday in EBC's Young Adult class we looked at Ephesians 6.
Here are the main ideas along with some additional quotes.

The Gospel Centered Family in Ephesians 6:1 – 4.

The main idea is "Paul provides instructions for the Christian household, covering matters of honor and discipleship."

"For those of you who are not yet parents, remember that the whole body of Christ helps train children. Paul seems to assume children are in attendance as this letter is read, along with others who may not be parents. This instruction is for everyone. If you are single, married with no kids, or married with moved-out kids, the kids at your church are, on one level, your kids. The church is a family (see 1 Tim 5: 1-2). What this means is you should love them, pray for them, teach them, and serve them— while recognizing the parents have a unique, special calling to do this." (p. 146)

God Focused Work in Ephesians 6:5 – 9.

The main idea is "Paul gives instructions to slaves and masters, exhorting them to glorify Christ with proper attitudes, work ethic, and a deep awareness of Christ’s lordship."

"Some have estimated that in the Roman Empire there were 60 million slaves (Stott, Ephesians, 250), or one-third of the people in a city like Ephesus. It was an accepted part of the Mediterranean world’s economic life."  (p. 159)

"In 1 Timothy chapter 1 Paul lists particular sins associated with the breaking of the Ten Commandments. The breaking of the eighth commandment (“ Do not steal”) is represented when he mentions “kidnappers,” enslavers, or slave dealers (1 Tim 1: 10)," (p. 162)

The God Empowered Life in Ephesians 6: 10 - 24.

The main idea is "Believers are called to stand firm in the midst of spiritual warfare by God’s power, with God’s armor, and in constant prayer."

"Do not look in the wrong place for strength. Our strength is not in our resources and ability, in how long we have been Christians, in how much we know about the Bible, or in how long we have been in ministry. Our strength is in our union with Jesus Christ and His mighty power (1: 19)."  (p. 176)

All quotes are taken from Tony Merida's Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary), B&H Publishing Group.

Here are some resources related to several different areas mentioned in the Ephesians 6 lesson

Parenting

Emmanuel's family ministry resource page:  www.ekidzministry.com

Slavery

Why did God permit slavery?    www.desiringgod.org/interviews/why-did-god-permit-slavery

Work

Gospel @ Work Conferences resources, go to www.thegospelatwork.com/resources/ 

Prayer

EBC related prayer resources to help your prayer life.  blog.emmanuelbaptist.com/category/prayer/

Crazy Life with a Sovereign God

Here is one of our most recent family pictures.  (Thanks Jenn @   www.libertyphotographyofohio.com)

Now I want to talk to you about social media, this picture and the Christian walk.  I know a lot of people have written a lot about this topic but I want to take some time and share a general principle in the context of my family's life.  Please read through as I get to the point.

Jenn Kujawa did a great job of working with our family during a cooler fall day.  She even got Joel to show his teeth when he smiled and that is a huge thing.

But I want to talk about the black/white, crazy family picture.  If you have done family pictures formally or not so formally you have probably done a "crazy" family picture.   They are usually fun and sometimes even turn out good.  I love that one of us.

Here is where I get real honest.  That picture is "crazy" but it is not nearly as out of control as life sometimes seems and is in our home.  The "craziness" in our house is not as picturesque as that nice b/w photograph.  Tears are shed.  Voices are raised.  Temper tantrums are thrown.  And those are just some of the things I do.

In our social media culture it is real easy to go to the extremes.
Share wonderful, beautiful pictures and talk about how perfect life is.  
According to their posts, they appear to have no problems, challenges or difficulties.  Things seem to always work out just the right way in just the right time.  And by right way and time I mean the way they wanted things to work out at the time they wanted them done.
or
Blast anybody and anything that doesn't make me happy.
Everyone in the world seems to be against this person's happiness.  The bus driver, the older couple in the parking lot, the cashier, the cook, the waitress, the government, the pastor, the neighbor, that guy who sings that song "Happy."  They are all plotting against this person.

If you cannot think of someone that falls into these two categories, there is a good chance YOU are one of the two.  (O.K. that was meant to funny but with a hint of truth. )

Our communication with others on social media, in a small group or at church is not meant to show that we have it all under control.
Our communication wherever we are needs to show people the hope we have in our BIG God and our GREAT Savior Jesus.

I am thankful for skilled photographers like Jenn Kujawa, Sarah Kraft, Whitney Keeler, Bill Carr, Amy Kelly and Tim Benedict and others I may have forgotten who have done a phenomenal job of capturing "moments" and making my family look good in print and digitally.

I am even more thankful for an AMAZING LIFE CHANGING GOD who makes Himself look good in our lives.  In the good, not so good and bad.
I am thankful that while I was weak, powerless and His enemy, He showed His tremendous love by sending His Son to die for my sin (Romans 5:6 - 8)
I am thankful that on my best days, I still need God and His grace in my life.

Our social media status, our prayers, our attitudes and our interactions with others should reflect this Jerry Bridges quote:
"Our worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace.  And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace."

As I look at that "crazy" picture of my family and think about all the "likes" and comments it has received on facebook, I smile.
Part of the smile is because of how cute the picture is.
But most of the smile is because it reminds me of God's grace in the life of my family.

As a father, I have the awesome responsibility of pointing my kids and wife to Jesus Christ.
While at the same time realizing I fail in my own walk with God.
BUT in the pointing and walking, I need to be actively depending upon God's strength, wisdom and love.

As a pastor, I have an even greater responsibility of helping other families and individuals grow in their personal relationships with Jesus while growing in their relationships with other members of the church.
There are times when I know I fail in these tasks
BUT I also know I need to keep pressing on, seeking the Lord and seeking to grow in those areas I fall short.

There are times when I think a better representation of our family would be
Joel and Josiah at each others throats.
Jadyn laying on the floor crying.
Krista looking at me with a "What are we going to do now?" look.
And me pulling out my hair!

While I know that picture may not get very many likes or cute comments,
I do know that God is the one I need to be looking towards each and every day!
I want people to know that...
  I don't have it all together
  I am not falling apart
  I am trusting in the One who created the world.
  I am trusting in the One who defeated death and gives life.

God Helps Those Who Admit They Can't Help Themselves!

This morning I had a great opportunity to speak at the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil outside Planned Parenthood.
The basic message I wanted to communicate was that the message of Hope and Life is ultimately about the Glory of God.

While the planners were hoping for more people this morning.  I added some comments in my message to help put the event in perspective.  These comments are italicized below.





Here are my notes:

This morning we are here to be a voice for the voiceless.

I entitled this message God helps those who cannot help themselves.

Now you may have heard the saying “God helps those who help themselves.”
While many say this is their favorite verse, it is not a bible verse. As a matter of fact the message is anti-biblical.

• It is a shame that we have to have prayer vigils like this. Why? 
• It is a shame that we have to debate in government courts decisions like Roe v. Wade. Why? 
• It is a shame that Emmanuel Baptist Church has a biblical counseling ministry. Why? 
• It is a shame that organizations like the Pregnancy Center of Toledo have to use some of their resources to convince women not to have abortions. Why? 
• It is a shame that we have to have ministries like the Daughter Project. Why?

But I am thankful for each of these things because we live in a sin cursed world and we need these organizations, ministries and opportunities to shine a light on these problems.

It is a shame that in this world we have to make a stand FOR what God has made SO CLEAR!

Read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:2 – 12.

The message of the Beatitudes stands in stark contrast to the message of this world!

That is what I want to talk to you about this morning.

The beatitudes refer to how blessed the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who are in need, those who desire righteousness, those who are merciful, those who are pure in heart, those who are persecuted.
The Bible says:  blessed are those who submit to God and His ways.

The world says: Get whatever you want whenever you want it however you want it!

But here is part of yesterday’s 40 days for life devotional.

“You are not your own,” Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 6. God alone owns us. While He entrusts us to the care of one another, He does not allow any human being to own another. 

A Southern California abortionist, James McMahon, once explained how he justified killing children after 20 weeks gestation by the process known as partial-birth abortion. 

He did not deny that this was a child, but rather asked, “Who owns the child? It’s got to be the mother.” The struggle over abortion is really a struggle over the dominion of God. The Christian individual, and the Christian Church, cannot sit idly by when others declare that God is not God.

1st Corinthians 6 is an interesting chapter because
the first part is about having no lawsuits among those who follow Jesus Christ
the second part of the chapter is about sexual immorality.

This chapter reminds us it is about what God has done and wants to do. 
He is the one who saves and He is the one who deserves the glory. 
Verse 20 says “So glorify God in your body.”
This life is not about our rights and our desires.
It is about God’s sovereignty.

The issue of abortion is not merely a political issue.
The issue of abortion is not merely a social issue.
The issue of abortion is not merely a physical issue.

Now I am thankful for those of you who are here for political, social and physical issues.

BUT I want you to know the reason I am here, and it is what I believe is the greatest reason is because abortion is a DOXOLOGICAL issue.
Let me explain what that means. 
This life and this particular issue are about giving praise to God for who He is and what He has done.

John Piper quote: “God is weaving human life in the womb in his image; don’t kill what he is creating.”

God has set the example by saving the weak and the powerless, US. 
As a matter of fact, God in his grace saved me when I called out to him and said that I was a sinner, I was His enemy.
Each of us is a sinner, an enemy of God, but we must realize the one solution to our sin problem is Jesus.

Romans 5:6 – 8:  You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

As we go to prayer let us remember that the first thing we need to do is submit to God and determine to do things God’s way.

• We can sign petitions
• We can show up at rallies
• We can hold signs

We MUST pray because it is God who does the work.
We MUST pray because it is God who sent Jesus Christ to died & raised him from the dead so that we could have eternal life, if we believe in Jesus Christ as the one and only way to heaven.  

While it would have been great to have more people here this morning, we must remember it is God who does the work.  
You may have heard the saying "God plus one is a majority."  Let me correct that saying.  "God is the majority."
You may have also head people talking about being on the right or wrong side of history" when it comes to certain issues.  I am here to say the most important thing is not being on the right side of history.  It is being on God's side.

It is about God receiving the glory He deserves.

Multiplying Groups

Before getting into Gaining by Losing, here is a reminder about the devotional connected with this week’s memory verse.  Click HERE to read the devotional entitled “A Dad’s Loving Advice.”

When Pastor Duke candidated at EBC, he preached about developing a church planting mindset.  This book Gaining by Losing gives some detailed explanation of what this looks like.  Here are some quotes for the book that were very challenging:

“We live by losing. We gain by giving away. What we achieve by building our personal platform will never be as great as what God achieves through what we give away in faith.” (18)

“You can’t really call yourself a follower of Jesus if you don’t see yourself as sent.  He sends each of us somewhere, to some group, to make disciples of those who don’t know him.”  (34)

“The question is no longer if we are called, only where and how.”  (49)

“Spiritual growth happens not by going beyond the gospel, but by going deeper into it.”  (60)

“Remembering the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ does more to compel generosity than a hundred sermons that pummel you with guilt or inspire you with promises.”  (61)

“One evidence of God’s Spirit at work in a church is when seasoned members begin to put their preferences aside to reach the next generation.” (90)

Bottom line is we want to be about glorifying God and giving so that more people would do that.

I was going to write a much longer post but in thinking about what I wanted to communicate, I came up with this statement.

I will be a worshiper and not a judge. I will focus on God’s glory and not my personal preference as I meet with my church family.

It is my prayer that each of us would be remember this.
Throughout this week there will be more posts about a church planting mindset.

"Happy Day" and "My Lighthouse" at Camp Patmos!!

These videos are from the combined chapel of Camp Patmos (www.camppatmos.com) Week #8!
The Pathfinders (middle school) and Juniors loved these songs!



To seek pictures from the whole week click HERE

This World Does Not Revolve Around You!!

Below the video are the character qualities Pastor Dave discussed with the Junior campers and a link to the powerpoints.

Humility:  I don’t know it all and can’t do it all!!

Faithfulness:  God does know it all and is all powerful.  I need to trust Him.

Selflessness:  This world does not revolve around me!

Self-control:  My life is not my own.

Here is the dropbox link for more on each of the lessons:  https://www.dropbox.com/sh/uso4xjsepciasmp/AAB_qm78TihxsTz5CK4elt-xa?dl=0

Read about Reading (alternate title: Read? I’ll just wait until the movie comes out)

I originally posted this at blog.emmanuelbaptist.com

No there is not a movie based on this post coming soon.
But I do want to remind each of us of the importance of reading.

As a Christian writing about the topic of reading, I must begin with an very obvious and necessary reminder.

In the book Lit!  A Christian Guide to Reading Books, Tony Reinke writes “Scripture is the ultimate grid by which we read every book. Scripture is perfect, sufficient, and eternal. All other books, to some degree, are imperfect, deficient, and temporary. That means that when we pick books from the bookstore shelves, we read those imperfect books in light of the perfect Book, the deficient books in light of the sufficient Book, and the temporary books in light of the eternal Book.” (p. 26)

We, the pastors of Emmanuel Baptist Church, have recommended many different books.  We actually have several classes, like our current Christ-Centered Church study, that are based on books other than the Bible.  I was tempted to list some of them but decided not to AT THIS TIME.  However, if you have read a book recommended by an EBC pastor, post the title below.  You could even include a comment or two about the book.

One of the reasons we recommend books is because there is a lot of teaching on topics and specific issues we would like to do but we realize
Godly, Bible saturated books have been written on these topics
we and you don’t have the time to sit in a classroom to learn about every topic
we want to equip you become self-feeders.

Two online resources to help you read more:

Don Whitney writes “By reading one page per day you can read 365 pages in a year, or the equivalent of two full-length books. That may not sound like much, but it’s far better than not reading at all. Moreover, by some accounts this would place you above half the U.S. population in the number of books read each year.”
http://biblicalspirituality.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Read-One-Page-Per-Day.pdf

Here is an article by Tim Challies on how to read more.
http://www.challies.com/articles/read-more-read-better

For a post on how parents can ignite in others a love for book reading, click HERE

HOW PARENTS CAN IGNITE IN OTHERS A LOVE FOR BOOK READING

Thank You for Your Support!!

Krista and I want to thank you very much for your financial and/or prayer support for our Jamaica/Fairview Baptist Bible College (FBBC) trip. 

Here is a video summary our church put together of the trip.



We had a great week working on the administration building at Fairview! Krista was a painter most of the week.  I was a painter, stainer and drywaller.  We were able to put up office walls, lay tile, put in two student bathrooms, install windows and doors, and do A LOT of painting and staining! While we didn't get everything completed, the Jamaicans should have the work finished by May 1st.   You can read and see more about the work at http://ebcjam.blogspot.com/

The teens along with some adults taught the children’s church class at church two the two Sundays we were there.

I also had  a last last minute but great opportunity to preach the first Sunday there. 

We also were able to go into three area schools and share the Resurrection story and the hope we have in Christ.

One of the great truths I was reminded of during and after the trip is that God is doing great things in Jamaica and around the world. 

God is not dependent upon me to do what He wants to do.  However God does give me the opportunity to be part of His plan!

If you want to read more about the trip and check on the ministry at Fairview, you can go to http://ebcjam.blogspot.com/

I wanted to share a little bit of what I shared with Emmanuel after we got back.

Here is a picture of me with some of the students I had the chance to reconnect with on our trip.  And I want to use this picture to remind of the impact of your help on the church in Jamaica.

Many of us see homeless people around the city and look away or drive away.

Marvin, the FBBC on the right, saw the same man at the same corner on the bus route he regularly takes. 

One day Marvin decided to stop and talk to this man.  They have had several conversation about many different things including the Gospel.

When I first saw Marvin on this trip, he came up to me and said “Hello sir!  We need to talk about some ministry things.”   Later that we talked about how to share the Gospel with someone who says he is insane.

Krista also had the great opportunity to connect with one of the female students, Deandra, the only girl in the picture.  She is a Biblical Counseling major who is prayerfully considering going to Brazil, Canada or China to use what she has been learning. 

Marvin is a passionate young man who had a rough childhood but God grabbed a hold us his heart and Marvin wants to share Jesus with others.

Deandra has a gentle caring spirit who grew up in a pastor’s home.  She and her brother attend Fairview.

Casey and William are two unsaved gentlemen who were invited by area pastors to come to Fairview to work alongside us.

PRAY FOR MARVIN AND DEANDRA AS THEY PREPARE!  PRAY FOR CASEY AND WILLIAM

PRAY FOR EACH OF US TO TAKE THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD BEGINNING IN OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS

 Acts 20:24 is a reference I put at the bottom of my emails.  It reads “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
Thank you so much for your support in helping us testify to the good news of God’s grace not only on our trip to Jamaica but also in our ministry in general!

Why small groups in light of the deep, powerful truth in Romans….

While reading through Romans 1:1-17, I was struck by the number of times relationships are mentioned.
Paul wants to meet with the Romans to strengthen them.  Romans 1:11
Paul knows that their faith will be a mutual encouragement.  Romans 1:12
Paul wants to see the fruit among the church and the  rest of the Gentiles  Romans 1:13
Paul needs to share the gospel with different groups.  Romans 1:14
The spread of the gospel from the Jews to the Gentiles makes visible the power of the Gospel.  Romans 1:16

In thinking about Soul Care and the deep truth in Romans, I wanted to share the following quote from the book Community.

We do not have community groups to close the back door of the church.
We do not have community groups because people need to belong or we need to care for one another.
These are good secondary effects of authentic community.
These effects are not the foundation.
We have community groups because we have seen the glory of God and we have been given the  grace to live our lives to exalt the Christ.
We have community groups because we have been reconciled to God and one another.
We have community groups as a proclamation of the goodness of our God and testimony to the completed work of the cross.
This is the foundation for gospel-saturated community that will overflow with life. 

Page 43

The power of the gospel is made known as Jews and Gentiles, Greeks and barbarians, wise and foolish, are saved and brought together by the power of God.

Our Soul Care ministry is not about meeting felt needs.
Our Soul Care ministry is not about caring for people.
Our Soul Care ministry is not about getting more people to 4207 W. Laskey Road.
Our Soul Care ministry is about people growing in their satisfaction in Christ and helping others grow in their satisfaction.
Genuine Soul Care involves helping people understand that their souls will be truly satisfied and cared for only when they rest in Jesus Christ.

REMEMBER, a small group ministry is NOT a silver bullet for relationship building.
It is an attempt to build what needs to be built in a community.  
Biblical relationships are dependent on God's work in people's lives.

Stress is not about your circumstances!

At least one Sunday a month one of the pastors head down to the Aurora for a Bible study/Biblical counseling time.

During these meeting the ladies study a topic like worry or thankfulness.

On March 15, I had the opportunity to teach the on Stress: Peace Amid Pressure.

Here are some thoughts from the time.

Setting up the learning/teaching:

Women from Emmanuel Baptist Church have been going to the Aurora House, a transitional home for women and their children www.auroraprojectinc.org, for the last several years.  On Sunday nights they have taken meals, organized a game night or planned a Bible study.  EBC women have brought some women from the Aurora House to our Christmas events and Sunday morning services.
What a great way to share God’s love and Word with others.

Over the last couple of months one of the pastors has gone down once a month to cover various Biblical counseling topic.
On March 15, I taught from the booklet entitled Stress:  Peace Amid Pressure.
I want to share a couple of great reminders and challenge I took from this booklet.

What was my learning/teaching:
What I really love about this specific booklet s the fact that it is a study of Psalm 131, “a show-and-tell for how to become peaceful inside” (p. 2).  One of the points Powlison makes at the beginning of the booklet is that “composure i learned, and it is learned in relationship” (p. 4).

Psalm 131:1:  Deliverance from the Noise

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.

This first verse reminds us that much of the noise, pressure and distraction of life is because of what we are treasuring in our hearts, watching with our eyes and concerned about.

Psalm 131:2:  The Process of Peace

But I have calmed and quieted my soul,like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Here is a big truth to remember as you think about calming and quieting your soul.
“Only one thing is strong enough to overpower a stormy life: what God promises to do in and through Jesus Christ” (p. 13).

Psalm 131:3: The Reason for Peace

O Israel, hope in the Lordfrom this time forth and forevermore.

Read Psalm 130 to see some of the things we are to hope in…
there is forgiveness with God
with the LORD there is lovingkindness
and more.

The final, overview section of the booklet is about personalizing Psalm 131.
Powlison uses a great image to help us do that.

1. Identify ladders to nowhere (Ladder of achievement, ladder of appetite, ladder of avoidance).  Stress is often caused when we “chase after impossibilities.”  Stress is more ME than my circumstances.  You are your biggest problem.
2. Come to know Jesus.   Psalm 131 overthrows the powers-that-be to establish the reign of HIm-who-is.  Jesus saves you from sin.  He saves you from yourself.
3. Live the mindset of Psalm 131.  Set your hope in the right place

We all need to remind ourselves of Biblical, life changing truth over and over again.

If you are asking yourself the question “Why am I stressed?”
Consider these two questions:
“What am I pursuing?”
“Is my heart set on Christ and the things of God?”

It doesn’t meet my needs & I don’t want to take the time to invest in others!

“Check it out I’m in really bad shape! Gimme, gimme, gimme – I need, I need, I need, gimme, gimme, gimme…”  Some of you may be familiar with this movie quotes.  Others may not.
This quote ties in well with yesterday’s myth #2.  People can approach their Soul Care groups with this mentality.  It might appear this desperate but it is there nonetheless.
One of the most subtle ways this mentality appears is when someone stops or never starts attending and their reason is something like this “I don’t get anything out of groups like that.”

Myth #3 addresses the idea of the time it takes to develop trust and transparency in a group.

​Myth 2: Small groups exist for others to meet my needs.

Don’t misunderstand. It is a wonderful blessing that our relational needs can be met by one another in small groups. It’s a good thing that if you don’t feel connected, or know anyone, you can join a small group and meet others at the church. But the overarching reality is that small groups exist for you to love God by loving his body, the church. Small groups exist for you to love others with the love of Christ. This is a radically different orientation than expecting others to meet your needs. And when we all have this aim—to love each other with the love of Christ—then we do meet each other’s needs.

Truth: Small groups exist for you to love and serve others with the love of Christ.

Myth ​​3. Trust and transparency take many years to cultivate in a small group.

Consider Acts 2 and how the believers had all things in common, making sure none was in need, breaking bread together, praising God together. How long had they known each other? They probably had been in community for a couple of weeks or maybe months, but not much longer. The reality is that more time together doesn’t always mean more trust and transparency. That just tends to be an excuse. Stepping into a small group, where the expectations are properly set, significant trust can be cultivated from day one.

What prevents you from opening up? Perhaps it’s shame over your sin, embarrassment that your marriage is struggling, or heartbreak over your wayward children. This is precisely what the gospel addresses. Christ took the wrath of God at Calvary and with it took our shame, condemnation, and fear of man. We can in fact be open and honest about where we are with God, because God is actively at work in us to conform us to his image.

Truth: Trust and transparency are fruits of recognizing we are all recipients of God’s abundant grace for the forgiveness of sins.

Reality: Soul Care is messy!

From Gospel Coalition article entitled “5 COMMON SMALL GROUP MYTHS (AND THE TRUTH TO HELP TRANSFORM YOUR GROUP)” by Steven Lee
http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/five-common-small-group-myths-and-the-truth-to-help-transform-your-group

What expectations do you have of our Soul Care ministry specifically and small groups in general.
Over the next five days this blog will at these five different myths.

Myth 1. A successful small group will not be relationally messy.

While most people wouldn’t explicitly say so, they expect their small group be without relational messiness. They go in thinking that these people will be their best friends (more on that later), and when they find out they’re nothing alike they wonder if they’re in the right group. When someone in the group is passive aggressive or talks way too much about politics, you’re looking for the closest exit. Yet the reality is that small groups are composed of sinners all along the same journey of faith. They’re going to get messy relationally, which is precisely why we have the gospel of grace that shows us how we ought to be long suffering and humble toward one another (Phil. 2:1-11).

Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes in Life Together:

The serious Christian, set down for the first time in a Christian community, is likely to bring with him a very definite idea of what Christian life together should be and to try to realize it. But God’s grace speedily shatters such dreams. Just as surely as God desires to lead us to a knowledge of genuine Christian fellowship, so surely must we be overwhelmed by a great disillusionment with others, with Christians in general, and, if we are fortunate, with ourselves.

Truth: Small groups are where the grace of God overcomes all types of relational messiness through the blood of Jesus.

Reality: Soul Care is messy!

From Gospel Coalition article entitled “5 COMMON SMALL GROUP MYTHS (AND THE TRUTH TO HELP TRANSFORM YOUR GROUP)” by Steven Lee
www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/five-common-small-group-myths-and-the-truth-to-help-transform-your-group

What expectations do you have of our Soul Care ministry specifically and small groups in general.
Over the next five days this blog will at these five different myths.

Myth 1. A successful small group will not be relationally messy.

While most people wouldn’t explicitly say so, they expect their small group be without relational messiness. They go in thinking that these people will be their best friends (more on that later), and when they find out they’re nothing alike they wonder if they’re in the right group. When someone in the group is passive aggressive or talks way too much about politics, you’re looking for the closest exit. Yet the reality is that small groups are composed of sinners all along the same journey of faith. They’re going to get messy relationally, which is precisely why we have the gospel of grace that shows us how we ought to be long suffering and humble toward one another (Phil. 2:1-11).

Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes in Life Together:

The serious Christian, set down for the first time in a Christian community, is likely to bring with him a very definite idea of what Christian life together should be and to try to realize it. But God’s grace speedily shatters such dreams. Just as surely as God desires to lead us to a knowledge of genuine Christian fellowship, so surely must we be overwhelmed by a great disillusionment with others, with Christians in general, and, if we are fortunate, with ourselves.

Truth: Small groups are where the grace of God overcomes all types of relational messiness through the blood of Jesus.

Disciple making in the church

Disciple-making in the church IS NOT the list of programs going on in the church building.
Disciple-making in the church IS NOT merely the scheduled events on the church calendar.

Disciple-making in the church IS the people of God-glorifying God by loving others.
This love needs to be shown THROUGH caring actions of individuals in the church and the church as a whole.
This love needs to be spoken THROUGH Biblical words of individuals in the church and the church as a whole.

This can be done through a church program like Monday nights at Groceries 4 Life, Thursday nights at the Biblical Counseling ministry, Saturday mornings at UPWARD games.
This can also be done through everyday activities like meeting with someone to read the Bible or discuss a book over a cup of coffee, doing family worship with the kids, talking with your neighbor outside while shoveling the snow (if it is not subzero weather).

This love needs to be shared WITH those who don’t know Jesus Christ as their LORD and Savior and need to be challenged to repent of their sin and call out to Jesus to save them.
This love needs to be shared WITH those who know Jesus Christ as their LORD and Savior and need to be challenged to grow closer and closer to Him.

This love needs to be shared BY anyone who has been saved by the overwhelming grace of God!