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)

Over the last month, I have observed Sunday schools starting a new year.  Some are excited and ready but many are not prepared or enthused about another year of Sunday school.  I wanted to share several ideas for “raising the bar” for Sunday school.  However this morning, I saw an email article by Rodney L. Pry in defense of Sunday school.  Here is how he starts:

“For more than 225 years, Sunday school has been the primary Christian-education program for persons of all ages in Protestant churches.  But, in recent years, general interest in Sunday schools seems to have declined.  In fact, statistics tell us that over the past 20 years, attendance has dropped more than 25 percent.  He shares primary reasons why Sunday school is as important as ever.  I want to piggy-back on these reasons and add what you can do to “raise the bar” or “kick it up a notch” concerning Sunday school.

1.  The priority of School school needs to be raised.  Do we talk about SS in worship?  Do spotlight different age groups or classes? Do we talk about the values of Sunday school?  Often SS becomes the organization that is always there but rarely noticed.  Praise it and and continually highlight it.

2.  Sunday school is normally the largest organization in your church.  This organization can provide you with service groups, ministry teams and volunteer people.  Every department or class needs to be organized so individuals have value and responsibilities.

3.  Sunday school is the Bible teaching arm of your church body.  “The word goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”  (Is. 55:11) The congregation has to grow in their love for the word.  People need to be enrolled in SS or Bible Study.

4.  Bible Teaching is extremely important but Making Disciples can also happen in Sunday school.  If  we do not teach to make disciples, we are missing one of the best discipleship arenas to reproduce disciples.

5.  Most Sunday schools think of fellowship as one of their main functions.  Fellowship and relationships go hand in hand to help people find their place and feel comfortable.  The circle of fellowship must be open and not closed to keep people in our body.  Fellowships need to happen on a monthly basis.

6.  Sunday school leaders can plan by evaluating the past, prioritizing needs, setting goals, and creating actions for each SS year.  This helps to motivate leaders by measuring their progress and achievements

7.  Does your Sunday school expect new people to come to Sunday school?  As I visit different churches and their Sunday school, I notice no spirit of excitement or expecting new people to walk through the doors because no one has been inviting.        Invest – Invite – Involve

8.  Is Sunday school not relating to adults?  That is a question that has be asked for years.  However with our renewed interest in reaching young adults, we might want to think about renaming Sunday school.  Several options are:  Bible Study, Bible Fellowship, Life Groups, Connect Groups.

Let me return to Rodney Pry’s closing comments:

“The general lack of interest in the church and the Bible is certainly one of the biggest reasons for the decline in Sunday school.  In fact, Barna Research tells us that only about 30% of all Americans attend church on a regular basis today. 

God doesn’t change.  The Bible doesn’t change.  But, the world and people have changed greatly in recent years.  And, because people have changed, the ways that we teach people of different ages in the church and Sunday school must also change.

Why is Sunday school important?  Because the Bible and the central character of the Book – Jesus Christ – are important!  If you believe that Jesus Christ is important, shouldn’t you have the desire to learn more about Him by reading the Bible and then coming together with other Christians to really dig into God’s word in Sunday school?”

“For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  (Heb. 4:12)

Cally Parkinson who is the brand manager for REVEAL at Willow Creek Association, utilizes research tools and discoveries to help churches better understand spiritual growth.  She wrote about 4 principles to help deepen spiritual growth in REV magazine.  She gives the secret for getting the people in your church to evangelize 60% more often than they do today, tithe 60% more, and to serve the under-resourced 20% more of the time.

 PRINCIPLE #1:  Get People Moving

“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.” - Colossians 1:28

“We’re not here to make you a Baptist.  We’re here to make you a disciple of Christ.” – David Uth, senior pastor, First Baptist of Orlando, Florida

Growing churches make it clear to first-time visitors that they intend to grow everyone in their congregation into fully devoted disciples of Jesus Christ.  These churches offer and heavily promote either membership or newcomer classes, many modeled after the Purpose Driven Life four-step process.  They position these classes as “not optional”  and the senior pastor is typically directly involved in teaching at least one of  the classes.  Some churches offer 8 or 4 week new member orientation.  Some churches teach during Sunday School to get members and guests coming before worship.  Other churches use 3 hour orientation on Saturday AM or Sunday afternoon.  I know of one church that used only one hour of Sunday School to help new members and guests to understand his church and even invited them to join the church during this class.  One Sunday during this class 28 people came and 17 joined the church.  Every church and congregation has to find what works for them.  Remember these classes are for new members and interested guests. What time works for them, not you?  The average retention rate of new members in American churches is 35%.  If a new member class is offered, it jumps to 72%.

PRICIPLE #2:  Embed the Scriptures in Everything

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. ” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“Church leaders have got to bleed the Bible when they’re cut.” – Todd Wagner, senior pastor, Watermark church , Dallas, Texas.

The REVEAL research found that the most influential catalyst of spiritual growth is personal time spent in reflection on Scripture.  I heard David Waggoner last week when he taught his book “The Shape of Faith to Come” say the same high priority about reading the Bible.  Churches report Bible engagement levels that are 50% higher than database average, inspirited by church cultures that embed the Bible in everything – from weekend preaching to personal interactions around the church water cooler.  Whether their strategy is as simple as verse-by-verse Bible teaching or as complex as a customized Web-based devotional program, churches have to be single-minded in their determination to embed the Bible as the central influence in their church culture.  For Baptists, Sunday School/small groups are at the heart of helping people make the Bible the blueprint of their life.  Many tools can be used for creating a church culture that walks the talk of being centered on the word of God.

PRINCIPLE #3:  Create Ownership

“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelist, and some to be pastors and teachers…so that the body of Christ may be built up.” – Ephesians 4:11-12.

“Church isn’t something you go to…it’s who you are.” – David Bish, senior pastor, Tri-County Church, DuBois, Pennsylvania.

To own the vision of a church is to posses it on a personal level, to embrace it as a part of your identity.  This goes well beyond a sense of belonging, of “fitting in,” to a church community.  The ministry vision tends to be shouldered by a team of dedicated lay leaders who help the pastor unite the church body in a common purpose.  The congregation must believe the vision, understand it, and live it.  Evidence of ownership is the extraordinary about of time the congregation dedicates to the church, as well as the low number of stalled and dissatisfied people in the church.  Through these strategies of preaching, testimonies, training and corporate challenges, churches intentionally create the expectation that ownership of the church vision – and the mantle of church leadership – is shared across the church body.

PRINCIPLE #4:  Pastor the Local Community

“You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16.

“Christianity is not a spectator sport.” – John Sullivan, senior pastor, Spirit of God Fellowship, South Holland, Illinois.

“Take the city for Jesus” is the cry of many churches.  Their people are in the thick of their communities – sitting on local boards, canvassing blighted neighborhoods to identify and serve needs, going into corners where you wouldn’t normally find the church.  Creativity abounds in their outreach efforts.  From busing hundreds of disadvantaged kids to Sunday services, to cooking hot dogs on city streets to break up drug deals, to refurbishing a bankrupt hospital in a needy neughborhood  – churches are the hands and feet of Christ in their communities.  Partner with other churches to do community ministries.  This is kingdom work not just my church looking good – It is Jesus looking good!  Build bridges to the people in your community.  They will not just walk into your church.  Find the book “The Church of Irresistible Influence” by Robert Lewis to ignite your community outreach.

The good news is that the key to all of these objectives is found in Luke 10:27, in which Jesus tells us: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart…and love your neighbor as yourself.”  If you challenge your people to grow spiritually – in other words, to grow in their love for God and for others-then behaviors like evangelizing, tithing and serving develop naturally as a result. 

In Divine Design – part 1, we looked at how God has designed us with different spiritual gifts, passions, abilities, personalities, and experiences.  When we understand our  S.H.A.P. E. (look at Erik Rees’s book “S.H.A.P.E.”) or we find our P.L.A.C.E. (www.placeministries.org) of service, we better fit into the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:14-27 is a great discourse and explanation of the body and its parts or members.

• All parts of the body are needed whether great or small.  One part cannot say to another, “You are not needed.”
• God has given greater honor to the parts that lacked, so that there should not be  division  in the body.
• Each part or member needs to have concern for each other.  Read the Mouse Story:

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to  see the farmer and his wife opening a package.  “What food might this contain?”  He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.  Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warming, “There is a mousetrap in the house!  There is a mousetrap in the house!”

The chicken clicked and scratched, raised her head and said, “Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave cncern to you, but it is of no consequence to me.  I cannot be bothered by it.”  The mouse turned to the pig and told him, “there is a mousetrap in the house!”  The pig sympathized but said, “I am so very sorry Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray.  Be assured that you are in my prayers.”  The mouse turned to the cow.  She said, “Wow, Mr. Mouse I’m sorry for you.  But it’s no skin off my nose.”

So the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer’s mousetrap alone.  That very night a sound was heard throughout the house like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.  The farmer’s wife rushed to see what was caught.  In the darkness she did not see that it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.  The snake bit the farmer’s wife.  The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she returned home with a fever.

Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup’s main ingredient.  But his wife’s sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.  To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.  the farmer’s wife did not get well.  She died, and so many people came for her funeral the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

So the next time you hear that someone is facing a a problem and think that it doesn’t concern you, remember that when one of is threatened, we all are at risk.  We are all involved in this journey called life.  We must keep an eye out for one another and be willing to make that extra effort to encourage one another. -copied - 1 Cor. 12:25-26

God has the last word about spiritual gifts and our shape or place in the love chapter of   1 Cor. 13:1-14.  Love covers all concepts of our divine design.  It blankets all members of the body.  Without love, our design, serving, and giving, is worthless.

Divine design is given to us for meaningful service and the common good.

The church is the bride of Christ and we are members who have been divinely designed to Glorify God and Build Up the Body.

“Divine Design” is a HGTV show that features Candice Olson taking a room in a home and transforming it into a divine design.

In reality, God takes us in our sinful mess and transforms us into a “Divine Design”.  As we become a follower of Jesus Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit who blesses us with spiritual gifts.  Paul, in writing to the Corinthians, said, “Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.” (1 Cor. 12:1).  Paul recognized that Christians should know and use their spiritual gifts.  This whole chapter (1 Cor. 12) deals with gifts of the Spirit.  It is exciting to understand that as a Christian, you are designed by God through the Holy Spirit.

We have this divine design for two main reasons:  1) Glorify God and 2) Edify Others.  Our divine design does not make us look good, better, or great.  Spiritual Gifts enables each one of us to give glory to God in what we do and say.  It also helps grow the body into fullness, unity, and diversity.

God has carefully selected each believer’s spiritual gift and place of service within the body.  Our servant profiles are not of our choosing, they are by God’s design.  There are several ways to look at a complete profile design of God’s work.  People in our congregations want to find their SHAPE so they can serve in the right PLACE in our church or body.  Erik Rees wrote a book called S.H.A.P.E. that helps people understand their design and purpose.

S piritual Gifts

H eart/passion

A bilities

P ersonality

E xperiences

We want people to volunteer and serve in our Sunday school, discipleship, missions, music, deacons, preschool, children, youth, adults and other areas.  But do we help our congregation to understand their divine design and S.H.A.P.E. so they can be excited about their P.L.A.C.E. of service?

We will continue to look at how people can be encouraged to serve in our churches in Divine Design – part 2

As I was driving one day, I saw a large sign in the church yard that said, “We Love Children.”  It grabbed my attention, and I thought if I lived nearby, I would like to check out this church because of the sign.  If you put a sign like this in your church yard, be sure to back it up with actions that say, “We Love Children.”  People should be warm and friendly to children as they come into the building.  Be ready for guests – clean, equipped, and staffed. Involve older adults to be “grandparents” to younger adults and children.  Be intentional in inviting young families to come to church.

 In addition to Sunday School, RA’s, GA’s, TeamKid, Bible Drill,  Awana,  and music programs, good children’s ministries often include other uniquely designed  programs.  Sherman Baptist Church with David Tucker as pastor brings in nearly 80 children on vans from area schools for an after school program on Tuesdays.  The children do their homework and participate in Bible Drill.  As parents pick up the children, church workers  meet them and establish relationships with the family.  The church family prays individually for each child and family.  Monthly on Fridays, Sherman BC has successfully offered LEGO Night with 35 or more children and families coming.  This is a fun and effective way to reach into the community. Summertime continues to offer opportunities to connect with children through Vacation Bible School and camps.

Do We Love Children?  “Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

On HGTV, David Bromstad who won last year’s Design Star, hosts a show called “Color Splash”.  When I walk into many churches, color splash is not what I see – anemic, plain, same, white, off white.  There was a time that painting church walls white was cheap, simple, and safe.

However in our culture today, adults are noticing what color is on the walls.  Youth (students) in the past always wanted to redo their area walls with “grab you” colors and design.  I was sitting with a pastor in Panera Bread shop and he asked me if I felt the ambience and the energy and solitude in the restaurant?  I had noticed Panera’s color scheme. 

I have visited Boones Creek Baptist Church which was organized in 1785.  It is in a beautiful country setting with a building of history.  One day I entered by the side door that led into the preschool and children’s area and I found a color splash that made me feel like I was in a 2008 building.  The church secretary, Jennifer, and her mom had brought a dated walk-out basement setting into an inviting, warm, and creative area.

This is the information Jennifer sent me when I asked for color splash help.  “We used semi gloss paint, in American Tradition Colors.  The exact colors were Purple Royalty (Purple), Sunspark (Yellow), Fresh Persimmons (Orange), and Water Fountain (Blue).  My mom is just painting things on the walls as they come to her, but it is all in a Noah’s Ark theme.  The borders for the pictures are tomato red and white.”

Try a little “Color Splash” – It is a simple outreach tool.