Better Than One

Relationships are still essential for continuous church revival and Christ-centered community.  Counselor Larry Crabb has defined encouragement as “the kind of expression that helps someone want to be a better Christian, even when life is rough.”  Are you taking opportunities to provide encouragement to those around you?

Minister to One Another (1 Peter 4:10)  Note all that apply in the past two weeks.  Have you:

• written a note of encouragement?
• checked on the well-being of a friend, church member, or neighbor?
• shared words of affirmation?
• reached out to a newcomer at church?
• invited someone to your home?
• taken a meal to someone sick or home bound?
• mentored a less mature believer?
• prayed with someone?
• planned an activity with another family or friend?
• given time or money to meet a need?
• asked, “How can I help?”

Greet One Another (Romans 16:16)

T  F   When at church, I approach and greet guests.    

T  F   I introduce new acquaintance to my friends.  

T  F   I regularly invite believers to my home.

T  F   I make an effort to remember people’s names.   

Care for One Another (1Corinthians 12:25)   

T  F   I visit or call those who are sick or shut in.

T  F   I share my resources with people in need.

T  F   I try to find out how people are really doing.

Exhort One Another (Hebrews 3:13)

T  F   I am involved in discipling another believer.

T  F   I motivate people to reach their potential.

T  F   I confront people going the wrong way.

T  F   I encourage others to obey biblical truth.

Pray for One Another (James 5:16)

T  F   I often ask people how I can pray for them.

T  F   I stop to pray with people as needs arise.

T  F   I pray regularly with my spouse and children.

T  F   I often pray privately for those facing  struggles.

These ideas for encouraging one another will help and relate to Find It Here 2011.

Taken from revive magazine, a publication of Life Action Ministries

Super Saturday 2010 is a one day training event for all leaders in any church.  The theme this year is:  “Evaluating Ministry Health”.  How is our church and ministries doing?  Do we have enough leaders and workers?  Are they trained and ready to go?  Do the workers or leaders understand their vision and purpose for their ministry?  All other occupations or jobs require people to stay current and up-to-date.  How about our church leaders?  When is the last time they have been challenged to “raise the bar” in their assigned ministry?

There are 6 sites for Super Saturday: 

8-21  Lexington / 8-28  Louisville               

9-11  Williamsburg & Paducah             

9-18  Russell & Bowling Green

It is exciting to be in a state that provides such strong and encouraging training for churches and leaders.  Super Saturday leaders come from all over the state, other states, and LifeWay.  Dr. Chuck Lawless from Southern Seminary will be the large group speaker at Lexington and Louisville. 

It is a great opportunity for churches to travel together and discuss what they expect coming to the event.  When they go home,  they get to review the day, what they have learned, and what next steps they are ready to take.   If you are coming,  Thanks and God bless.  If you are still considering Super Saturday,  go to our website and sign up.  If you cannot come on that day,  who can?  One person can make the difference in your church or ministry.

Hispanic Ministry Track is at FBC, Danville on August 7th and at Cooper BC in Louisville on August 21st.

For More Information:

Registration:  $35 per person

www.kybaptist.org/supersaturday                502-489-3572 or 866-489-3572 (toll free)   supersaturday@kybaptist.org

No Childcare Provided

“I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”      (Phil. 1:6)

We ofter talk about where is God in our churches.  What evidence do we see that God is working?  Are we connected to the One who is Able?  In my discussion with two difference churches, they answered my question.

One pastor told me about his involvement in a mission trip to Honduras.  It was mainly a medical-dental trip to a mountain village that FBC, Laurel, Miss. has supported several years.  Seventy-four professionals, pastors, lay persons gave a week to give people an opportunity to have a new life and body.  Last year this pastor went and 75 people found Christ.  This year 378 people came to Jesus.  Everyday people came from everywhere to see a doctor or dentist.  Many times during the day, the children were separated from the adults.  The adults had a worship time where they were invited to know my Jesus.  The invitation was very definite and the question about following Jesus was given several ways so everyone would know what they were doing.  They even gave information for a card so an elementary teacher who is a Christian could try to follow-up with them.  There is no formal church on this mountain top.  Is God at work?

Several weeks ago, I was preaching at a rural church that averages nearly 200.  Before leaving, I asked someone how was their VBS that happened several weeks ago?  She said it was great and with the pool party, they had 28 children and adults accept Christ.  “Wow!  That was great!”, I said.  I not sure of all the details.  I think the pool party followed VBS and others followed Jesus at that event.  God was working!

God is moving.  He had no watch or calendar and he does not take vacations.  God is a stream or river and not a stagnant pond. Our church needs not to be an organization but an organic church that is alive, reaching, caring and loving.  Neil Cole in his book, “Organic Church” gives a great picture of going to where the people are and making a difference.  God is at work and invites us to join him.  Evidence is everywhere!

“Thy Kingdom come.  Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10).

I talked to a pastor about his Ministry Toolbox reports.  Two of his strengths were:  Worship and Discipleship.  One of his weak areas was Evangelism.  As we discussed these, he mentioned that one of the problems was changing the heart of the people.  As I was reading in my devotional book “Voices of the Faithful, vol 2″, today’s scripture was Ezekiel 36:26  “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”  God is still in that business.

“Comeback Churches” book mentions that one of the strong comeback function is “Renewed Belief in Jesus Christ and the Mission of the Church”.  I suggest that you consider preaching a series of sermons that relate to Jesus Christ and how he connected to people.  The Gospels are full of Jesus meeting people that illustrate how we can bring people to Jesus.  Neil Cole in his book “Organic Church”, asks the question,  “Are we bringing people to Jesus or are we bringing Jesus to the people?”  Both are right.  Jesus often went to the people but at other times, people came to Jesus.   For people to have a change of heart, they must see Jesus and his love for others. (Visual Bible is a good resource to see a positive Jesus as it literally follows Matthew NIV)  Take time in sermon preparation to think of how your people can use this picture of Jesus and people in their lives.  Help them apply the love of Jesus.

Revelation 2:4 says, “Yet I hold this against you:  You have forsaken your first love.”  Many of our congregations and people have lost their first love.  Read Ronnie Sivells blog before this one “What’s Hampering the Church?”  Could it be that our people have lost their first love?  Mike Glenn in his Tuesday night meetings with young adults at Brentwood BC in Nashville uses a guided prayer to emphasize prayer before worship. (Examples are in Mike Glenn’s book “In Real Time”)  That might be a good idea for your sermon series about Jesus.  Transformation of our people must have a foundation of prayer.

James Dobson said if we didn’t have crisis in our life, would we ever pray?  Some time I wonder.  Prayer should be the first step before we take our next step.  When we need to decide, prayer should answer our question.  Like sheep, can we recognize the shepherd’s voice?

Jim Cymbala, is the pastor of The Brooklyn Tabernacle in Brooklyn, NY.  He says, “Here’s the reality we have to come to grips with – power cannot be taught:  it can only be received.  this is the limitation of preaching.  You can point people to Jesus.  You can tell them about the Holy Spirit.  But you cannot take the Holy Spirit and impart power to them.  Only God can do that.  The goal is to get people to God.  He alone imparts power to His people, and power comes in the answer to prayer.”  If you have not read his book “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire”, take time.

“God want us to come to him empty-handed, weary, and heavy laden.  Instinctively, we want to get rid of our helplessness before we come to God.  But prayer is bringing your helplessness to Jesus.  The very thing we are allergic to – our helplessness – is what makes prayer work.  It works because we are helpless.  Weakness is the channel that allows us to access grace,”  says Paul Miller. 

Many churches that I visit are talking about having a revival.  I usually ask,  “Why?”  Do we want to have a revival to reach the lost?  Do we want a revival to revive us?  There is nothing wrong with a revival but how many happen with little preparation, prayer or otherwise, and no specific purpose.  Byron Pulus says, “Revival and the practice of passionate, persistent prayer are inseparable.”  Dr. Richard Fisher tells us to read Psalm 85 to hear from God.

1. Revival is God’s gracious gift (vv. 1-3, 5-6)
2. Revival is evidence of God’s faithfulness and covenant loyalty  (vv. 1-3, 7-8)
3. Revival is based on God’s Word  (vv. 7-8)

We should be praying for our country.  Others should be joining us as we fall on our knees.  The scripture 2 Chronicles 7:14 is brief and simple but gives direction.

“If my people, who are called by my name,

will humble themselves and pray and seek my face

and turn from their wicked ways, them will I hear from heaven

and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Prayer is the foundation to our church, life, relationships, and country.  We cannot be reminded too much!

“revive” magazine is a publication of Life Action Ministries – the summer issue is all about prayer.

I really do not like conflict at church, work, or home.  But being involved in all three, I realize that you cannot avoid conflict in any ongoing situation.  You can be careful and not step on hidden mines but eventually one will get you.  How do you handle conflict?  Do you enjoy conflict?  I have been with people at work, church and couples in  marriage who delight being involved in conflict.  Some times we get touched or drawn into their mess.

In the Leadership Team at Kentucky Baptist Convention, we have great, prepared, and experienced leaders who will provide conflict resolution with your congregation.  It takes time, energy, and willingness to put everything on the table and have a third party assist you in looking and listening to yourself.  It is not an easy process.  Karl Babb can assist you in this area.

Have you thought about being conflict proactive with your congregation.  Instead of reacting to conflict in the body, why not better prepare your people to handle conflict.  When I supervised other staff members, I always discussed conflict in our initial meeting.  I told them we would have conflict at some point or other so I wanted them to know how we could approach conflict with each other.  In the first 6 weeks at a church, I think the pastor should have a conflict sermon.  If you are beyond that early stage, preach a conflict sermon once every year.  It could help your people better  relate and love each other.

Most congregations and people want to use Matthew 18:15-19 as the foundation to handle conflict in the body, but I think Matthew 18:20-21 does a better job at simplifying what is needed to resolve conflict.  Forgiveness is at the heart of moving beyond conflict to unity.  Many other scriptures talk about right Christian attitudes that we need to present and shared.  The body is a family of God that needs to be transparent to the community.  They do not need to be called dysfunctional and a congregation that is always arguing. 

Three G’s for Confrontation

1. Glorify God(I Cor. 10:31)  You can glorify God even in the midst of conflict.  “How can I please and honor the Lord in this situation?”
2. Get the log out of your own eye (Matt. 7:5)  Before you confront, ask yourself if you have a critical, negative, or overly sensitive attitude that has led to unnecessary conflict.
3. Gently Restore(Gal. 6:1)  Remember to:  Pray for humility and wisdom – Plan your words carefully – Choose the right time and place – Ask for feedback form the other person and listen carefully – Recognize your limits (only God can change people)  Rom. 12:18,  2 Tim. 2:24-26  Condensed from “The Four G’s” found on www.PeaceMaker.net

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”  Phil. 2:5

Ministry Toolbox is a software package that the church purchases from the Kentucky Baptist Convention for $200.  The church owns the software and can administer the survey yearly or as often as they want without additional cost to the church. 

Many teams at Kentucky Baptist Convention are starting to use Ministry Toolbox which includes a congregational 46 question survey of 12 key areas of church life, thus addressing the question, “Where are we as a church?”  (worship, evangelism, Sunday school, culture, discipleship, ministry stewardship, vision, fellowship, missions, student ministry, and administration) 

There are project suggestions a church can implement to enhance each of the 12 areas (Up to 20 for each key area).  This helps answer the question, “How can we improve?”

Each project idea comes with a step by step action plan summary to accomplish the project.

The survey results help the church see the difference between their perceptions and actual behaviors.  Most surveys are not behavior based but only deal with perceptions.

Survey Reports help the church compare the difference in leaders’ perceptions and scores versus those the of the entire congregation.

There are three types of questions on the survey: 

1.  General perception questions (How I feel the church as a whole is doing in each of the 12 areas). 

2.  Personal perception questions (How I feel I am doing in each of the 12 areas).

3.  Behavior based questions (What I am actually doing in each of the 12 areas).

Using the behavior grouping report ministry leaders could begin asking “What can I do to increase the presence of this behavior in our church?”  (Example:  A report showed that 6% of the people keep a list of names of people they hope to reach.  A ministry leader could challenge his Sunday School Class to develop a “10 Most Wanted List” and place it in their Bibles to pray for the 10 people they most want to see come to Christ.)

For more information regarding Ministry Toolbox, email Alan Witham, Team Leader for Church Development at Alan.Witham@kybaptist.org

In the last blog, we discussed briefly “Change in the Church”.  Today we want to expand change to unity and to relationships in the church.  IgniteUS, Inc. newsletter shared this information I used in the last blog:  In any church, approximately 47% of the people in a congregation are highly resistance to change.  17% are devoted to peace, don’t make any waves.  They always side with those who oppose change.  The collective resuts is we face a 64% opposition force in almost every church in introducing change.

Unity of the congregation is affected by the attitude of the members relating one to another.  In an attitude of cooperation, family, and forgiveness exists within a local congregation, the change process can be relatively tranquil.  However, if undercurrents of bitterness, resentment, conflict, and malice have be festering unexpressed among the members, the change process will likely expose them and the process will not be characterized by tranquility.  These ungodly attitudes may even exist among members of the leadership.  Therefore, negating the vision, mission or purpose of the congregation.

Scripture provides clear guidelines for addressing conflicts.  Reconciliation is the goal at every step.  The conflict resolution process is to be characterized by initial privacy, love, caution, meekness, and escalation only in the absence of repentance. 

Offenses between believers will happen.  “Love covers a multitude of sins” is a good word that is designed to handle all of our offenses.  The scriptures indicate that the forgiveness that God provides to us as a result of Christ’s death is to be automatically applied to every situation of offense.  For relatively minor offenses, immediate forgiveness is the requirement.  Matthew 18:21-35 helps us understand the importance of forgiveness in the body of Christ. 

More serious offenses are be handled initially in loving private, face to face conversation between the two parties as per Jesus’ instruction in Matthew 18:1-20.

Constant teaching of scriptures such as:  Acts 4:32; Romans15:5-6; Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 4:3-6; Philippians 2:1-4 should be applied to the entire congregation.

Many churches are using “40 Days of Love” with the book “The Relationship Principles of Jesus” by Tom Holladay.  Nothing is more important than relationships and God loves people more than anything.  I really believe that the growth of a church depends on relationships.  Relationships  are painful and wonderful.  We all live the drama that plays out between these two truths.  In a small church everything hinges around relationships.  The first question people will ask when a change is proposed is “How will this affect the relationships in this church?”  If it is believed that the change will harm the relationships, it is likely to be rejected.

We need to take a look at the relationship principles of Jesus.  We need to move in the direction of relating to others the way Jesus did.  If you’re looking for an adventure, you’ll find it in having the faith to put your relationships first.  Our goal is relationships that are transformed by the example and power of Jesus Christ. 

Love God with All Your Heart!

Love God with All Your Soul!

Love God with All Your Mind!

Love God with All Your Strength!

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself!

Mark 12:29-31

Do you often ask for change to wash your car, wash your clothes or to even use a parking meter?  Most restrooms provide space to change a baby’s diaper.  I have to take my car in for an oil change every 5000 miles.  But how is change happening in your church.  Do things change on a regular basis?  Do they seldom change?  Does it feel like things never change in your church.  I received two emails this week relating to change in the church.

Dennis Bickers in his monthly Bivocational Ministries newsletter writes that he often talks about change in his workshops.  “I know it upsets a lot of the people there.  They don’t want to change anything about their churches and see no good reason why change is important.  These same people will tell you they want to see their churches grow, but they do not seem to be able to connect growth to change.  The simple fact is that if your church could grow by continuing to do the same things it has been doing, it would be growing.  Is your church seeing steady growth?  If it is then by all means keep doing what your’re doing because it’s working.  However, if the church isn’t experiencing growth then something needs to change.” 

IgniteUS newsletter stated that change process is difficult for each local congregation.  “In any local church approximately 47% of the are highly resistant to change.  17% are devoted to peace, don’t make any waves.  They always side with those who oppose change.  The collective result is we face a 64% opposition force in almost every church in introducing change.”

Dennis Bickers says pain is one of the major reasons people do not like change.  “Someone has said that change management is really pain management.  We laugh at the people who sit in the same pews each week, but that really shows the length to which people do not want to change.  To change anything in the church takes us out of our comfort level, and that is painful.”

Ronnie Sivells shared this information about change in our “10 Proven Principles for Turnaround Growth”.  In his book, “Leading Through Change,” Barney Wells says there are basically four kinds of change:  1. Personal Change,  2. Ministry Change,  3. Infrastructure Change,  4. Facility Change.  The right kind of PREPARATION is necessary for uneventful change to take place.  Wells sites the following steps:

1.  PRAYER!

2.  PREPARATORY PREACHING AND TEACHING!

3.  BUILD LOVING RELATIONSHIPS!

4.  ONE TO ONE COMNMUNICATION WITH DECISION MAKERS!

5.  RELY ON KEY PERSUADERS AND DIPLOMATS!

6.  IDENTIFY SIMILAR INNOVATORS!

7.  USE HISTORY AND TRADITION!

8.  SAMPLE THE CHANGE!

9  EVALUATE!

A changeless church is a dying church.  Change is best implemented when the congregation buys into it.  If they feel a part of the process, and that change is not being forced on them, and that there is good reason to justify change, most will at least give it a try.  People do not want to be part of the landing if they were not part of the take-off! 

Next blog writing, I will address change, unity, and relationships.

“Sing a new song” (Ps. 144:9) reminds me of the redemptive process of my spiritual journey.  It also relates to our church music discussions.  “Comeback Churches” by Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson identified their worship mood of comeback churches as celebrative and orderly.  Celebrative can mean different things.  It doesn’t mean that every worship style will look alike.  There is a sense that when we gather together for worship, there is a sense of celebration, energy, passion, joy and gladness.  There is something worth celebrating that we have to focus on and talk about.  There were churches in the research that discovered their passion for God often by examining their worship. 

Worship matters.  It is about God and not about what we like or don’t like.  We sit around and talk about our style and forget about loving and adoring God.  Worship cannot end the refocusing process but it has often been the beginning.  Many churches in the research began their transformation by focusing on their worship first.

Most comeback churches experienced changes in worship.  How can you lead the church to consider some new ways to express themselves in worship?

1. Make sure there is a biblical foundation for everything you do.
2. Teach what the bible says about worship
3. List churches in your area that offer worship that is connecting people with God in a celebrative way.
4. Visit these churches
5. Consider trying some different worship in your own church
6. Bring it home and discuss the following:                                                                                                                                What are these churches doing?                                                                                                                                               Why are they doing it?                                                                                                                                                             What impact is it having?                                                                                                                                                        What are we doing different from them?  And Why is what we are doing not working?                                               What can we learn?  What can we try?                                                                                                                                 What could we incorporate or implement into our church?

In REV magazine, I found an article by Stephanie Caro about worship planning.  She said her church was not a megachurch or even a large church.  We’re just a plain old struggling mainline denominational church with about 150 in worship on Sundays.  Here are her 10 worship planning commandments:

1. There must be coffee.
2. We don’t use a printed order of worship.
3. Every week is different.
4. Each Sunday has a clear theme and spiritual life lesson.
5. Communicate the message in at least five ways.
6. The entire service is the message.
7. We target our services to be about an hour.
8. When we do have a sermon, which is most Sundays, the length is 12 to 14 minutes.
9. We don’t use official greeters.
10. Cultural graphics are important.

In the last 12 months, Stephanie said that her worship service has experienced a 37% growth in attendance.  In a recent survey of regular churchgoers, over 90% said they leave church without having “felt a touch from God”  We want more for our people.  I know you don’t agree with every commandment but some encourages us to think about what we are doing.

What is the appropriate worship for our context?  People in Peru worship differently from people in Malaysia because they are in a different context.  When Rick Warren planted his church in Orange Co. California, he surveyed what radio station was listened to most and built his worship music around that style.  I know churches who are secure and stayed in their traditional worship style.  I know others who are in the process of moving from traditional to blended in the next months.  I know churches who are satisfied with their blended worship.  I know others who are ready to start offering a contemporary service to reach younger adults.  What form of music and worship would God use in this context to bring Himself the most glory and honor?  How can we have worship here that transforms us and transforms our community and makes Jesus more widely known?

“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, Look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his Glory and Grace” – Helen Lemmel

I’m coming back to the heart of worship – And it’s all about You.  It’s all about You, Jesus – I’m sorry, Lord for the thing I’ve made it – When it’s all about You – It’s all about You, Jesus -Matt Redman

That I’ll wake up to find Your glory defined – And I will finally bow at Your feet – I will lift up Your name in honor and praise – When I cross over Jordan, I know that I’ll be running home to You – Building 429