Church Plant Update - Feb 2023
Our send off Sunday is March 26. We will begin packing our moving truck the following week and then we are driving to Arkansas. Please be in prayer for our move.
We just returned from a trip to Arkansas. Our main focus was to spend time with our realtor and find a home. We looked at many homes but none stood out, and we eliminated almost everything that we looked at. However, God had another purpose for us. We made some amazing connections with people who were excited for us to plant a new church. We don’t know how these relationships will develop but we continue to connect with people who want to help us plant. This is so exciting as we watch God go before us. Psalm 127:1 continues to resonate in my mind. “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.
This weekend was the 3 Strand network retreat. The network church planters here in the PNW are committed to coaching me via zoom on a bi-weekly basis. I am encouraged to have such great advisors who have all successfully planted churches.
Today I preached at Communion Church in Mount Vernon. What a wonderful church. Everyone was so encouraging and willing to partner with us in through prayer and support. Over the next three weeks, I will be preaching at Crossway as Moises travels to Mexico. Then on March 19th, I will preach at Roots Church in Stanwood WA. Somewhere in that busy schedule we will fly to Sacramento to interview the NAB and see if they are a good fit for us as a church planting partner.
Pray for us! 1. Pray we find a home in Arkansas. We may need to wait until we arrive in April and rent while we look. Pray we have wisdom and patience to wait on God’s provision. 2. Pray for us as we discern where in NW Arkansas the Lord will have us plant. The possible areas to plant a church have changed a bit to either Fayetteville in the south or Bentonville in the north. Pray that we are united in this decision. 3. Pray for our move. March 26th will come quickly. The next update will be from Arkansas.
Why Plant A Church?
I recently sat in a tavern with my friend Jim. I looked across the table and simply asked, “Am I crazy for thinking about planting a church?” Jim did not hesitate in his response. “Everyone who plants a church is a little crazy, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.” My memory may not be exact but that was the general sense of the exchange.
Honestly, I have struggled to see myself as a church planter. My understanding has been that successful church planters were those ministers who had a strong marketing or entrepreneurial personality. Since these are not strengths I could claim, I ruled myself out of church planting. Despite my feelings of being unqualified, the prospect of planting has been a reoccurring question in ministry. At one time, I considered God might use us to plant a sister church, but our church leadership at the time did not share that vision. I took their response to be an external confirmation of my standing internal assumption that God did not plan to use me to plant a church.
So, why the change? What would cause me to accept the challenge at this time in my life? As I begin to form answers to those questions several ideas come to mind. First, we have felt compelled to move from the Seattle area to be closer to family in Arkansas. However, finding a church position close enough to have a significant impact in their lives has proven to be difficult. In eight months of searching, we had not found any opportunities within a reasonable distance of our family—even when extending our search through networking. Second, the churches with whom we had applied and interviewed revealed differences in theology, polity and philosophy of ministry. As a result, we determined, or it was determined for us, we were not a good fit. Even so, this began to give us a new perspective. We could be in a unique position to plant a church which is not being expressed in that area. Third, for the first time in my ministry career we have people and a church who are excited to support us in planting a new church. In previous churches, planting was not a priority that was being considered by church leadership. So, the church planting conversations or offers to partnership with financial support never happened. However, we now have a church that desires to send us out to establish a new kingdom outpost. This partnership has been life-giving for me. I feel propelled by a flood of energy and excitement coming from others who desire to see us plant. It is clear, God’s time for us to plant is now, in this crazy season. It is God who is shaping us on a very personal level and leading us to prayerfully pursue the amazing opportunity to plant a brand-new church.
Church Planting?
Kristen and I are investigating church planting in Northwest Arkansas. We are in the very preliminary stages. Our plan would be to move to Arkansas soon with the understanding that it will take a couple of years to build a core team. Church planting is slow great commission work that requires a mature, motivated and outward-focused core to build a church that will reach the unreached and the unchurched.
Our church here in the PNW is supportive and they desire to partner with us as our sending church. Join with us in praying. We need to immerse our plans in prayer. We are convinced that God will need to open doors and encourage us despite our fears and despite the presently unforeseen obstacles. HE alone can create a new church and cause it to come to life. Without him we can do nothing. Please pray for God’s will to be accomplished through our efforts.
More to come later. This was just a quick update.
As we continue to move forward, this website will change focus. The new purpose of the site will provide updated information on a new church plant in NWA rather than a online resume for existing churches.
Reach out to us via email or phone. We need your support and encouragement and would love to hear from you!
-Bart
The Pastor as Public Theologian - Part 2
I have taken up “The Pastor as Public Theologian” again after being distracted for a time in ministry work and elder prescribed reading. I realize that my first post was a hopeful introduction and that many readers would want to know what further gleanings were gained upon finishing it. There is a lot in this book. This book requires me to read at a slower pace so I can process the depth of the content being discussed.
The Pastor as a Prophet, a Priest, and a King
We are familiar with these roles being associated with Christ, the Good Shepherd. The book explores how the Pastor as an under-shepherd to the good shepherd reflects a lesser extent these same roles. I was challenged in each of these roles to see myself and my work among those whom I shepherd. I must think of myself in a priestly role to those under my care bringing them closer to God through the regular sacraments. I must think of myself in the role of prophet to those whom God has given to declare the truth of God and call for repentance. I must think of myself in the role of a king for those whom God has asked me to lead, steward, and protect with every decision. These roles operate in obedience and dependence upon the Good Shepherd
A history of the Pastorate
A history beginning with the early church fathers through modern times demonstrates the importance of pastors. I especially appreciated the portions describing Jonathan Edwards views on pastoral ministry. Many of Edwards’ quotes were new to me on this subject. Edwards had a bold view of his role in the church and society.
In his own preaching, Edwards felt no shame in relating all areas of life to God. If an area of God’s created order seized his attention, he felt glorious freedom to situate it within his God-centered worldview and preach it to his people. This was the outworking of being a gospel minister, the figure who served the kingdom of Christ, which stood over the world, ruling it. Two centuries before Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper would picture Christ saying “Mine!” over all his creation, Edwards was already calling “His!” in his preaching and writing. (p. 85).”
I often feel the hints of caution to declaring the truth of God as it relates to certain topics - even though the scripture speak plainly about them. The subjects of politics, sexuality, and racial reconciliation have become no-no topics for pastors and sermons today. These cultural issues are too uncomfortable so the preference is to avoid them. Edwards would disagree with these modern opinions. God has a lot to say about these topics today and his truth needs to be declared by bold preachers who walk in Edwards’ footsteps.
The Pastoral perspectives section
These sections written by various pastors offer practical ideas given through real pastoral experience. Things I have gleaned from these pastors:
Do not feel bad or guilty for making time to think theologically and prepare theological sermons that speak truth to our world. There are a lot of ministry needs that demand time from pastors and this must be prioritized.
That there is a theology of technology that is derived from the scriptures. The way tools, weapons, and chariots were used in the Bible gives us an understanding of how we use iPads and Livestreams.
Genesis 1-3 speaks to many of our cultural issues today. This should be a sermon series in every church that grounds our cultural discussion. This section of our Bibles needs to be well worn through the frequency of putting it before our people to root it in our minds and hearts.
“True faith is life-changing faith” (p. 97). Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). The fruit of faithful pastoral theologians is not smart people, the fruit is demonstrated by changed lives.
“Theological reflection will never matter to God’s people if they know that it doesn’t matter to God’s preachers.” (p. 99). Preaching must always include passion, an effort to bring theology down to the heart, and a constant redirection of our hearts to the glory of Christ. These elements are vital to communicating theologically.
I am glad to get these thoughts down on paper if for no one else but my benefit. I am realizing now that I am only halfway through the book and yet another installment of this blog will be due as I finish it up.
The Pastor as Public Theologian
I am starting a new book by Kevin J. Vanhooser and Owen Strachan. On the heels of reading Strachan’s book, “Christianity and Wokeness,” I thought I would dive into another one of his books that has been waiting for me in a stack by my study chair. This one is a bit older but already the introduction has me thinking.
The term “pastor” is a metaphor taken from the Latin meaning shepherd. This original metaphor has been overtaken by a host of other metaphors that often leave pastors feeling the enormous pressure to figure out how to operate in a wide landscape of expectations. It leaves me wanting to send a survey monkey link to my congregation asking, "How do you define the role of the pastor?” or “What is it that you think I do?” Vanhooser and Strachen list many of the possibilities. Is a pastor:
CEO?
Theologian or scholar?
Shrewd business man?
Marketing specialist?
Psychotherapist?
Political agitator?
Revivalist or evangelist?
“Builder or Architect” of congregations and buildings?
“Manager” of people and programs?
Negotiator?
Social media influencer?
Diagnostician?
Author?
Team builder?
Professional Christian?
Religious event coordinator?
Story-teller?
Coach?
Social activist leader?
Enigmatic people magnet?
Other _____________________?
Answering this question is essential because it determines how a pastor operates. “It is hard to apply standards of excellence to what pastors do unless we first determine what it is they are (or should be) doing” (Vanhooser). However, the success of pastoral work will be determined by our ability to identify and embrace a biblical vision of this important role rather than blindly grabbing at the diversity of opinions. As we do this we will struggle not to bow to the voice of cultural relevance which uses its controlling influence to demand that we cater to the current felt need (like racism, gender fluidity or politics). We need to understand the grave danger the church finds itself in this ambiguity. A lack of clarity here combined with this pressure can cause a church to drift from its biblical moorings bending to the temptation to draw from other cultural sources outside the Bible to satisfy these voices. For example, consider this quote from Eugene Peterson,
“The vocation of pastor has been replaced by the strategies of religious entrepreneurs with business plans… I love being an American,…[but] I don’t love the rampant consumerism that treats God as a product to be marketed.”
The defined and undefined vocational role of the pastor is crucial for the church. A wrong vision of the role of the pastor can lead to a diminishing of theological concepts like sin, grace, and God. Therefore, the misdirected pastor can lead a congregation in a direction that is far from a biblical ecclesiastical identity and mission as the blood-brought bride of Christ who is actively taking the Gospel to the world.
Is the function of your pastor clear in your church? Is it communicated anywhere? What does your congregation think your pastor does? Was that clearly stated to your pastor when you hired him or at his last performance review?
It is difficult to nail down a consensus from the list above. The response can become a nuanced hybrid of two or three that will change from congregation to congregation. I have met many pastors and they all have different backgrounds and abilities/giftings that enable them to function differently. However, there needs to be an identifiable role that all pastors fill that no one else can. Biblically, there is a call for pastors/elders to be shepherds. The role of the shepherd is to provide loving care, nourishment, protection, and direction for the flock (1 Pt 5:2, John 21:16, Acts 20:28). We should note that Jesus calls himself the good shepherd and defines the role in contrast to the thief who comes to steal and destroy (John 10). The shepherd spends time and develops trust with a skittish group of animals. Sheep need a shepherd to lead them to places where they can graze because sheep will find a cliff to fall from as easily as finding their next paddock. As my wife, Kristen watches Greg Judy videos on Youtube and I begin to read this book, I am learning the complexity in this biblical metaphor. As I write, I am wrestling to distill my pondering into a calling. Perhaps, you are chewing on it also. It is a great topic to revisit and reflect upon.
I’ll end this post here with the primary pastoral role of a shepherd. I'm particularly interested in how Vanhooser and Strachen develop the communication aspect of shepherding as a public theologian.
To be a Christian theologian is to seek, speak and show understanding of what God was doing in Christ for the sake of the world (Vanhooser).
All Things New
And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” - Revelation 21:5
What a statement! In this world of sin, brokenness and death, my soul longs for this Revelation promise to be fulfilled. Maybe your heart yearns for this, too. However, while waiting for this ultimate fulfillment, we often find we don’t have to wait long to see God bring change and new things into our lives.
As I write this blog, God is bringing change and new things to Seed. It is a beautiful story about how God orchestrates the circumstances and events of this world. This week, we begin the process of formally moving forward to merge Seed church into Crossway Fellowship. I wish I could tell you all the details which point out God’s clear direction and provision. But this is a blog and not a novel, so I’ll simply keep to the highlights. Kristen and I started feeling a call to move to Arkansas to be a greater support to our family in late November of 2021. So, we began to pray. At the same time, Crossway Fellowship was led to sell their building and trust the Lord for a new home for their church. They began to pray. Then, God brought us together through a series of conversations stemming from the need for Crossway to have a temporary place to meet. We discovered that we are two very similar congregations with complementary things to offer to the need of the other: First, Seed has land and a building and Crossway has a faithful and healthy leadership and staff. Moreover, both churches contain wonderful followers of Jesus which both churches need. So we both began to pray for the Lord’s confirmation to what we perceived as God’s wonderful timing to make something new.
The leadership of Crossway Fellowship, Seed’s provisional elders, our regional director of NAB and myself discerned this union of churches to be a blessing from God which strengthens both congregations, and which reestablishes a thriving church that will remain on Cypress Way in Lynnwood, Washington for many years to come.
Does this merge come with sadness? Yes it does. All change brings some level of sadness, uncomfortableness, or uncertainty. Seed church will change and fully live into its’ mission of dying to live. The name and identity of Seed church will soon be enfolded into the life and identity of Crossway Fellowship. Leadership will change and Bart and Kristen will prepare to depart and begin ministry somewhere in Arkansas. I have only begun to wrap my heart around these hard realities and feel the sadness. However and most importantly, I am overwhelmed by a powerful comfort from the Holy Spirit assuring me that the name of Jesus will be glorified in His church, and that new life will spring up as the Gospel goes out.
I quoted Herbert Schlossberg in a recent sermon. He said, ”The kingdom of God advances from triumph to triumph, every last one of them cleverly disguised as a disaster.” We will feel loss in this change and perhaps perceive a failure but the truth is that God is triumphant in all He endeavors. I look forward to experiencing all that God will do as he leads us forward!
Outreach Lesson from our Children
Each week, I walk downstairs into the Seed kids area to collect the prayer requests from our children. This week, I encountered this drawing on the white board. It made me stop and marvel at the faith of our children and their heart for their neighbors. Don’t miss the message that accompanies the invitation to come and play. One of the stick figures is proclaiming, “Jesus is real!” For our children, outreach is simple and lacking inhibition. For them outreach is full of love as they speak the name of Jesus to their neighbors.
This week we will trunk-r-treat for the community. I invite you to come and practice this lesson for adults that comes from our children! We are not celebrating Halloween. We are using Halloween to speak the name of Jesus and inviting our community to come and “play.” Each trunk r treater will receive a map to Upper Room Church NW who is also doing a trunk r treat event. Included with that map is an invitation to our services at Seed, and an explanation of the Gospel. Now, passing out a tract does not get us off the hook. We want to say the name of Jesus out loud! Lets begin to pray for opportunities to share the Gospel and tell people that “Jesus is real!”
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matt 18:1-3
Fast and Pray
In the day of my trouble, I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. Psalm 77:2
Fasting is not simply choosing for a time to cease eating. In the past, as I have tried to fast, I have wrestled to connect the physical act of refusing food, and the spiritual act of prayer. But, I continued to obey the call to fasting and prayed even though it felt disjointed and forced.
Recently, The LORD gave me a clear understanding of what it means to fast and pray. I learned what it means to be in such spiritual distress in prayer that you do not want to be comforted by food, entertainment, friends, or conversation because you need to hear from God so urgently that nothing else will satisfy you. Suddenly, fasting made sense. Suddenly, it was not something I wanted to avoid, but fasting became the cry of my heart, "NO! I will not be comforted." I will not stop seeking the voice of my God because I need to hear his voice in my trouble. He alone is my refuge.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
This is how God’s people seek the LORD in our times of pain, sorrow and worry. Join me this week to fast and pray for our church and revival.
Prayer Focused
The Word of God, community and prayer are essential and foundational elements for any church. In Acts, we see the promised Holy Spirit coming upon the disciples and them spilling into the streets to proclaim the Good News. Peter gives an amazing sermon and three thousand people come to faith in Jesus Christ. Then, we immediately read these words:
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers (Acts 2:42 ESV).
As we gathered with the Elder team in September, my wife Kristen suggested this verse as an Elder focus for Seed Church. We all heard the words from Acts as she read them and felt a confidence in the simplicity of their direction for us. At the time, we had no idea how difficult the work would be to devote ourselves and to lead in these simple practices during this season of fear and disunity. Our previous church experience told us to just plan a number of church gatherings for the Fall and lead into these practices. However, nothing was simple about gathering, and opinions varied greatly about how or if we even should be meeting together.
Despite the difficulty of gathering in-person, one area that we are experiencing growth in is prayer. Seed Church is learning to be a praying church. How do I quantify this growth? Is it a measure of attendance at prayer meetings? Yes, more people are showing up to pray. But I’m seeing another sign that our growth is deeper.
As we pray, God is answering prayers. He is building our faith in the power of prayer and increasing our dependence on Him. The quality of our prayer time has increased. This is subjective, but I can hear it in how people are praying, and I sense the Holy Spirit directing what we pray about. Also, the quantity of our prayer time has increased as other small groups are gathering to pray. God is causing us to grow in prayer.
You may not be sensing growth in this area of your spiritual life, but as you read this, I hope there is a spark of interest. Here are some ways to grow:
Let us pray for you. Fill out a prayer card and allow your brothers and sisters in Christ to care for you by bringing your request before God’s throne of grace.
Join a prayer gathering. We meet on Zoom every Tuesday night for an hour. Come to listen and learn. Hear others praying without feeling like you have to participate. If God moves your heart to pray along, then add your prayer to Him. We are planning some in-person prayer/worship events once a month, so check out the Seed Life page to stay informed.
Ask for help. If you feel intimidated to pray out loud or have questions about prayer, then we want to help you understand this mysterious blessing that is available to every child of God.
Lord Jesus, cultivate our hearts to know how to pray. Lead us into the depths of dependence and peace that prayer gives us. Amen.
Blessed.
My new church remodeled the parsonage for my family. What a blessing! They have given us the ministry of a home. That’s what God did for us as part of our adoption as sons. We had no family or place but in His grace he provided both and so much more! We have a father who has given us His name. We are his and our provision is secure. No longer do we wonder where our sustenance or shelter will be found. These cares are no longer relevant. God has given us purpose in our sanctification to be made like him in our behavior and thinking. Before the foundation of the world, we were chosen to be made holy and blameless before him! Loved and changed for the better. Our lives are forever changed.
To those who worked to make the parsonage beautiful for our family.. Thank you! For your efforts, hard work, time, and investment we are so grateful!
Pastor Bart
Was it worth it?
When I finished seminary with my MA in Counseling, I said, “I’m so done with school.” That was twenty years ago. Tomorrow, I will take my last final and attend my last class for my MDiv. So, was it worth it? The short and long answer is, “Yes.”
I can study the scriptures in the original languages. What is more, I can pronounce Greek and Hebrew words correctly! I am also leaving school with a fresh way to look at church and leadership. I am a better shepherd for God’s flock.
Was it worth the cost? It did cost me, but it cost my family more. My son has paid for me to be here. He left friends and a familiar school where he belonged. My wife has paid for me to be here. She has worked full-time, so that I could study. She has been exhausted and disconnected from friends and family. My daughters have paid, being far from home, they have had no home to go back to because we sold it. So to my family, I say, “Thank you for paying the cost for me to go back to school.” I hope that you see the years of ministry that come next and feel like these years have been worth it.
What is next? I am praying for God’s direction. I am seeking a place to serve him and the bride of Christ. I am ready to do ministry again.
What to believe?
Has anyone else been frustrated with the conflicting information that we have been receiving about the coronavirus? There are recent questions about when the virus started and how reliable the various models are. There are even questions about the effectiveness of social distancing - should we all move to Sweden? I watch the news every evening in search of truth. I keep expecting a different result yet each evening I find nothing but uncertainty. Do you feel my cynicism? Perhaps you've become cynical along with me.
I hope we are spending an equal amount of time seeking truth in the Bible. I have been reading and re-reading 1 Peter 1 over and over again. I haven't become cynical in reading the Bible yet. I don't think I will either because there is certainty in its pages. Vs. 13 says, "Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Listen, grace is on its way! The fulfillment of the salvation that Peter has been talking about in verses 2-12 is a delivery that will come, and it will be on-time. We can be sure of that in these days of uncertainty.
What is the exhortation/command that Peter gives us in the mean-while? Set your hope by girding up your mind for action, and being sober-minded. It seems that Peter wants us to focus on our thinking and our thoughts! I will say this for the quarantine - I have had some time to start a few new habits. For example, I've started being very intentional about my exercise by running 3-4 times a week. Perhaps you have started something similar to get out of the house, and get a break from Netflix.
Let's be intentional about exercising our minds in God's Word. Learn it. Read it. Memorize it. The uncertainty of the daily news can make our hearts depressed and anxious. But, the Word of God has the power to re-set your hope in what God has done through Jesus Christ on your behalf. Let your mind dwell on the unbelievable grace that you have been gifted in spite of your inability to deserve it. That grace is hope-inspiring. Think about the future grace that will be revealed when you see Jesus face to face, and everything is made new! If you have been looking for hope, it's closer than you think. Seek it and find it in the pages of his Word.
In this you rejoice.
We are facing an unprecedented Easter, as a virus prevents us from gathering as the body of Christ in celebration of his resurrection. Despite our President’s optimism, reality is that the coronavirus will continue to keep us distanced from one another. So, what will it feel like on Easter morning? What will our services be like? Will we wear our Easter best? Will there be Easter lunch afterward? As I look ahead in anticipation, I feel the loss. Don't you?
I'm at home working on a sermon series on 1 Peter. I was pleasantly surprised to find an Easter message in the second sermon I planned for the series. In fact, 1Peter 1:3-6 would be the passage I would preach this Easter.
Listen to the passage.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.6 In all this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
The body of this text is beautiful as it describes our new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The resurrection is what we celebrate at Easter, right! We sing, "Up from the grave he arose! With a mighty triumph o’er his foes!" Or we sing, "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow!" and "Christ the Lord is risen today!" With shouts of praise, we declare our risen Lord because it is by his resurrection that we are given new birth into such a great inheritance. Through the resurrection, we have a living hope, and God's power will keep us until the coming of his final salvation.
The next phrase is what grabs me. "In all this, you greatly rejoice though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials." How true is this for us today. We are suffering. Some are sick and some have even lost family members to this virus. Others struggle financially because of the impact of our economic shutdown. We don't know how long this will last, and worry grips our hearts. So, Peter says to us, "In this, you greatly rejoice!" To be honest, rejoicing seems like the last thing I'm motivated to do.
However, there is a grammatical problem that we need to address. I have a Grammarly subscription that I use to correct all my writing errors. It catches a lot of mistakes! I am grateful to pay the fee in order to write in an intelligible manner. There is one correction that I seem to get all the time, an unclear antecedent. I make this error when my sentence does not clearly identify to which noun a subsequent pronoun refers. For example, I saw a sign that said, "If your dog makes a poop, put it in the bin." It is unclear from the wording of this sign whether you should put your dog or the poop in the bin.
So when Peter says, "In all this, you greatly rejoice," What does he mean by "all this?" We read it and think, “in all this suffering we greatly rejoice.” Or, “in the midst of all this suffering we rejoice.” We feel the suffering and it clouds our understanding. Grammatically, suffering comes after the “this” but in our minds we can’t get see anything but our pain. We need to re-frame our predisposed tendency and focus on what Peter is actually saying. When Peter says, "this" he refers to what Christ has done through the resurrection. Read it again with a focus on our new birth, our living hope, our unfading inheritance, our faith guarded by God's power until he comes back. "This" is an overwhelming reason to rejoice in any circumstance, in any suffering.
Where is your focus? Easter is a family tradition for the church that focuses us on the mighty power of God, raising Jesus from death into life! It is a sign for us that God's resurrecting power is at work in us by faith. Listen to Romans 8:1, "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you."
As we remember the resurrection this Easter, let us not forget that there is power for us in the midst of our current crisis. There is the power to hope, the power to love, the power to proclaim the Gospel with boldness in Jesus' name. In all "THIS," we greatly rejoice because we have a savior who is ALIVE and who rose from the grave. Sinclair Ferguson says, “not rejoicing is a denial of what God has done.” If that is true, it is vital to our faith that we rejoice because by rejoicing we declare what we believe about Jesus. Jesus is our joy. So, this Easter, despite the confusion, uncertainty, sorrow, and pain, let us declare through our rejoicing words, faces and actions that Jesus is ALIVE and that He has saved us.
Post Virus Church
Tomorrow our family, like so many others worldwide, will gather for online church. This form of the gathering is now the norm for the unforeseeable future. We gather on the couch in the living room, huddled around the laptop, and we sing and watch the sermon together. Do you miss the corporate gathering as I do? I miss the voices of my church raised together in worship. I miss being a part of a congregation of people who share a common faith. I miss their faces. I miss the social contact of hugs and handshakes.
I know that it's all we can do to respond to the present needs and pull off the weekly online gathering. The work involved in transitioning church services and mobilizing people to serve those desperate for help must be overwhelming. However, amid this crisis, I wonder if anyone is looking ahead to the days after the virus subsides? I am learning that good leadership looks forward and prepares for the future.
I'm not critical of church leaders. Instead, I'm thinking out loud and inviting conversation. Here are some questions I have:
Will fear continue to keep people at home even after our society returns to normalcy? How will church leaders encourage members not to forsake the gathering (Heb 10:25)? We have created a format that people may prefer. Will churches continue this online format?
Will our churches have new visitors in light of the virus? Will church leaders be ready to welcome and embrace them?
Will the church be ready to help those who have suffered job loss and financial setbacks due to our cultural shutdown? How generous can we be to aid those who need basic food and shelter needs? How are we preparing our people for that now?
How will we help those who are grieving the loss of family members? Who is thinking about how to do a funeral that no one can attend? I've never seen an online funeral. How does a pastor minister to family and friends in this format? I'm sure pastors will figure it out, but now is the time to prepare.
How does the church support local and community municipalities, schools, and hospitals as they prepare to re-engage regular community rhythms? Will there be new and different opportunities for which the church can assist?
How do we keep the church and our people from insulating and isolating so that our community thrives post virus? It's time to look up and look forward.
I don't want to discourage doing excellent ministry work. I see so many church leaders doing awesome work and making crucial decisions during this pandemic. We don't know what the future holds, but I do know that the church will need strong leadership to move forward.
I'm starting to think about the post virus church.
James 5:1-6
I'm writing a devotional for Calvary Englewood for next week's sermon preparation. It will be posted on-line so the congregation can get primed for the sermon.
I'm putting it out here to get some feedback and to give my words some time to simmer.
James isn't preaching a cotton candy, rainbows, and unicorns sermon . This passage feels more like a punch to the face.
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you (James 5:1-6).
I'm so glad I don't consider myself rich. But, the world won't let me off the hook and would point a giant foam finger at me that says, "Top 99%" of the world's wealth. It's crazy how much Americans make over and above the rest of the world. Do a search for "global wealth calculator" on google and enter your income. It's pretty eye-opening.
We may be rich, but there is always someone richer. We idolize the wealthy. We want the life they have. I know I have dreamed about how great life would be if I just had a little more money. The Bible says that money is the answer to all things (Ecc 10:19), but it also says the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim 6:10). So, is it good, or is it dangerous?
James warns the rich. He calls for weeping and wailing because their desperation and panic is coming. He predicts that every safety net and comfort on which the rich depend will soon dissolve right before their eyes. James also exposes their injustice and self-indulgence. The wealth that they have enjoyed has been earned from stealing from the needy. Now their wickedness has caught the attention of the Lord Almighty. Judgment will surely follow. They are fattened with ill-gotten gain for a punishment that will slaughter them. Even worse, the rich are also condemning and murdering the innocent just for kicks. The language James uses in this indictment is harsh, explicit, and gratuitous.
Remember, these are our idols. Being rich is the goal. It is who we want to be. James would caution us in our unspoken aspiration. Listen to Paul and let his words find a place in your heart and let them stick.
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want" (Phil 4:12).
Lord, convince our fickle hearts that these words are truth. AMEN.
Preaching that preaches.
When I preach, I pray, "Present to my view things pertinent to my subject, with fullness of matter and clarity of thought, proper expressions, fluency, fervency, a deep emotion to accompany the words I speak, and grace to apply them to people's consciences" (A Puritan Prayer for Preachers by Trevin Wax adapted from the Valley of Vision).
Being in seminary has me on the sidelines of ministry, which is a remarkable vantage point to examine my previous ministry. I have re-thought my earlier ideas about leadership, shepherding, and preaching. Much of that re-orienting has come from being a church attender. It has taken months for my professional Christian eyes to view church just like everyone else who walks through the doors. Having emerged from this reformation, I believe I see things I hadn't seen since pre-ministry almost 30 years ago. Wow, has it been that long?
Preaching that is only informational is not preaching to me… it's boring. I'm not trying to be negative or "judgmental," so hear me out. The scriptures are amazing and worth getting worked up about. However, everyone can tell through your preaching if it doesn't do anything for you. And, if love for and excitement over God's Word for his people doesn't transmit through your words, face, hands, feet, and eyes, then how are we supposed to get excited about it?
That's why I love this portion of this prayer. The words, "fervency" and "deep emotion" are preaching words. I'm not talking about emotionalism or lunacy. I also desperately need the clarity of thought, proper expressions and fluency that the prayer requests. What I am talking about is a "public display of affection." I have to give a big thank you to Mark Hallock for that explanation. I will never forget it because he shows us what that means every time he gets in the pulpit. He loves God and he loves His Word.
So when you hear I'm preparing to preach, join with me in asking God to present to my view things pertinent to my subject, with fullness of matter and clarity of thought, proper expressions, fluency, fervency, a deep emotion to accompany the words I speak, and grace to apply them to people's consciences. AMEN.
Proverbs 30
I love this passage of scripture. It is beautiful and poetic in its description of God’s wonderful creation and in revealing my limited ability to comprehend it all. The author makes lists of things too wonderful for him, things that make the earth tremble, things that are small but wise and powerful, and things that are majestic to watch. The awe and wonder of our creator’s creativity is a canvas at which we often do not find ourselves lingering or being captivated. We are like children in a museum running past masterpieces to find the gift shop and to gawk at its trinkets. However, the power of great art is that it awakens us to beauty and enriches our being. So, it is most effective on those who are seeking and who know their deficiency.
How amazing is the author who declares, “I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out.” He adds to this, “ Surely, I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.” Here is a humility that is begging to receive and open to see God’s wisdom.
The author makes two petitions before his death. First, remove far from me, falsehood and lying. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches. Strange requests in our culture and perhaps in his as well. He has a singular desire for truth and contentment driven by his passion for God. Don’t give me too much so that I say, “Who needs God.” And don’t give me too little so that I steal and dishonor the name of God. He wants to be faithful to God and sees the dangers that our material needs can create.
Humility is the quality expressed that leads to wisdom. The one-liners or nuggets of truth sprinkled within this chapter all speak to humility. There are truths for sons and daughters, for the unclean, for the angry for the greedy, for the immoral. The author ends, asking, “Have you been foolish?” “Have you been exalting yourself?” “Have you been devising evil?” His questions include a bit of wisdom, “Cover your mouth because foolish talk produces outcomes that you will regret.”
Wisdom knows when to stop talking and seek God. I’ll admit I’m a talker. But, I am encouraged by this passage that God has placed wisdom all around me if I will stop in humility, linger in awe, and learn from Him.
Colossians 1:21-23
Here’s a look inside my early sermon prep.
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation[a] under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
After reading and re-reading this passage, two words pop out at me.
The first word is "you" in verse 21. "And you" is essential because of the context. Jesus is reconciling to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross (Col 1:19). The scope of the reconciling power of Jesus on the cross encompasses everything… and everything includes you! It was important to God that you were reconciled.
But, I was alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, which is the story of every believer. Despite my rebellion, Christ has provided a substitute that is so sufficient you could use the word, overkill. "Overkill" does seem insensitive because it did kill Jesus. However, His reconciling work in His body of flesh by His death is infinite divinity offered as a substitute for the comparably insignificant and finite human race. I was incredibly sinful, but his sacrifice was more magnificent. It was so much higher. The result of this reconciliation is that He will present me holy and blameless and above reproach before the throne of God. This is my story. It is the work of Jesus in may past, present, and future.
The second word is "if" that begins verse 23. If? Can there be any question of Jesus' work being thwarted or disrupted? I wrote yesterday about the Perseverance of the Saints (Phil 1:6). So, I don't think this condition negates the work of Christ. I do think it speaks to our response and responsibility to ἐπιμένω or to stay in the faith. I think it means, "Do not walk away!" even if you could, "Don't do it." Live in it. Immerse yourself in what Jesus has done and will do in reconciling you to the God of creation. He is your Father twice, first in your creation and second in your reconciliation through Christ Jesus.
I'll be preaching this in a couple of weeks so you can listen to the final product when I post it on the sermon page. Stay tuned.
2 Peter 1:1-15
Identity is powerful and it forms our habits.
It is easy to read this passage and focus only on what we should be doing. We focus on the imperative to add to our faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, and godliness. The beauty of this passage is what God has done for us and who he has made us. Let's not miss it. Now, I know that Peter is speaking in sweeping generalities. However, notice that God's divine power has granted you and me all things that pertain to life and godliness. His giving and revealing power are working through the knowledge of God himself. He is the one who has chosen us and called us to know His glory and excellence. Wow.
Next, He gives us promises that are precious and great. These promises grant us the ability to share or partake of the divine nature. What does that even mean? Do you participate in the divine nature? Perhaps these promises provide a guarantee of our salvation. Paul told the Philippian church that he was "confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil 1;6). Our great God isn't powerful to save us once. His power and sacrifice are sufficient to keep us saved until he comes again. If we are chosen then we are His, no question.
Paul also tells the Romans 'That we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" and that "nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37-39). We, therefore, have a connection to the great redeemer. If this is true about me, then how great is my connection to him? Would I call myself a partaker of the divine nature? Is it how I would identify?
All this talk of partaking in God reminds me of the ordinance of communion. I'm so glad that Jesus asked us to remember him in this way. We should remember our Lord in communion and do it often and together. This gathering is like a holy family meal. There is unity around our table. We are bound together, and we are bound to him.
Yes, we need to confirm our calling and election by growing in faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, and godliness. But let's remember who we are and let that identity fuel our struggle and desire to be like Jesus.
The Wall
The six stages of spiritual growth from The Critical Journey, by J. Hagberg and R. Guelich describes a wall that must be overcome to move from the active stage 3 to the inward stage 4. I have spent a lot of time thinking about my walls. There seems to have been a series of them.
The active stage of spiritual development is a stage of activity and involvement. It is typically a stage that focuses on performance and achievement. Churches love people who reach this stage because they dive in and get stuff done. The next stage of inward growth internalizes knowledge of God and slows the frenetic activity of Martha into Mary’s focus on Jesus (Luke 10:38-42). Let’s not get distracted with an argument about Mary and Martha.
The point is that there is a wall that separates these spiritual stages. We often experienced this wall in unexpected tragedy or suffering. It’s a place where what we have learned so far in our spiritual development meets a challenge, and our faith needs to deepen.
A classmate related the wall to a swamp in his life. I place that sucks you in and keeps you from moving forward until you deal with the muck that is holding on to you. It reminds me of Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress, where Christian gets stuck in the slough of despondency. I wonder how these two systems of spiritual development match up and if there are any other similarities.
For me, the process of growing out of a performance and achievement-focused spiritual mentality has been hard. It has been rewarded and reinforced in my church ministry experience. As a result, I have found myself slammed against the walls that God has used to get my attention. Or if I use the swamp metaphor, I have been stuck and often sucked back into the mire so many times.
I can say that there is freedom on the horizon. God doesn’t leave us on the wrong side of the wall or stuck in the swamp. I am so thankful that God has a plan that will get us through. He is patient and never wastes the pain. Pain has a purpose, and it is so effective in getting our attention.
As a side note: I think it is so easy to think of myself farther on the path than I actually am. It is a gift when God says, “you are here” with an arrow point to a spot on the journey. If I don’t know where I am, I can’t get to where I need to go. Not seeing myself acurately is one of the ways I make my spiritual growth more complicated than it has to be.