I was reading "The Christian Index" this morning. I came across an article that announced the candidacy of Johnny Hunt for the new President of the Southern Baptist Convention. The one paragraph that was weird to me was this...
"In the 21 years of Hunt’s pastorate church membership has increased from 1,027 to more than 16,800. Current average church worship attendance is 6,800."
What does this mean? Is this good? For me, this is frightening. How can a church have 10,000 people absent (on average) in worship if they truly are members of the church? This seems extraordinarily out of whack. I am sure that this is not the only church with numbers like this. I am not saying everyone will be there every Sunday, but this gap is huge and seems to be growing in American churches.
Maybe it's just me, but I don't think this is glorifying Christ.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Whether
Whether is the next word that we want to look at in 1 Corinthians 10:31. Whether says that in any case, such as eating or drinking, that our primary goal is to glorify God. No matter what the circumstances, good or bad, we are to glorify God. Whatever the day unfolds, sunshine or cloudy skies, we are to glorify God.
Whether functions to let us know that everything we do should be subordinate to the this one thing: glorifying God. So, if you decide to munch down on a Snickers bar or gulp down some Diet Mountain Dew you should do it in a way that points to God's heaviness in your life.
The question is then, "How do I eat a Snickers bar for the glory of God?"
1. I can eat it and enjoy it.
2. I can eat it and thank God who provided it for me.
3. I can eat it and thank God for those who were creative in making it.
4. I can eat it and share it with those around me.
Whether just means whatever the case may be I need to do for God's glory and not my own.
Whether functions to let us know that everything we do should be subordinate to the this one thing: glorifying God. So, if you decide to munch down on a Snickers bar or gulp down some Diet Mountain Dew you should do it in a way that points to God's heaviness in your life.
The question is then, "How do I eat a Snickers bar for the glory of God?"
1. I can eat it and enjoy it.
2. I can eat it and thank God who provided it for me.
3. I can eat it and thank God for those who were creative in making it.
4. I can eat it and share it with those around me.
Whether just means whatever the case may be I need to do for God's glory and not my own.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
So
I don't know if you have ever done a one word Bible Study, but it can be a very fruitful exercise. I thought I would do one on my blog and you (all 2.5 of you) can chime in as well.
The first word in 1 Corinthians 10:31 is "So". It means to do something properly and purposefully. Paul has been telling the believers at Corinth how to deal with debatable issues and how to fellowship with both believers and unbelievers. He gives this guiding principle for how to navigate relationships and difficulties.
So in this case means that I should do like Paul says. I should eat and drink on purpose. And what is my purpose...It is to glorify God. I do that by giving thought to how eat and interact with people SO that I display God's greatness in all things, even mundane everyday stuff like eating.
The first word in 1 Corinthians 10:31 is "So". It means to do something properly and purposefully. Paul has been telling the believers at Corinth how to deal with debatable issues and how to fellowship with both believers and unbelievers. He gives this guiding principle for how to navigate relationships and difficulties.
So in this case means that I should do like Paul says. I should eat and drink on purpose. And what is my purpose...It is to glorify God. I do that by giving thought to how eat and interact with people SO that I display God's greatness in all things, even mundane everyday stuff like eating.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
What Do You Love About Your Church
I am going to try something new today. I want to learn from you. My question is "What do you love about your church?" You don't have to be a member of GracePointe Church (the church I pastor) to reply. I want to know what people think about their church.
When you are pastor a church you can sometimes be so far into the organization that you can't see what other people see. Imagine the church as a fruit tree. The Pastors, staff and leadership are like the root system leading up to and thru the trunk. The rest of the tree is made up of branches, limbs, and leaves. They are where the fruit is actually being produced. It's hard to have an accurate perspective when your down on the bottom supporting the top sometime.
So, what I want to know is what do you love about your church? Can you comment back with three things that you absolutely keep promoting if you were the Pastor?
When you are pastor a church you can sometimes be so far into the organization that you can't see what other people see. Imagine the church as a fruit tree. The Pastors, staff and leadership are like the root system leading up to and thru the trunk. The rest of the tree is made up of branches, limbs, and leaves. They are where the fruit is actually being produced. It's hard to have an accurate perspective when your down on the bottom supporting the top sometime.
So, what I want to know is what do you love about your church? Can you comment back with three things that you absolutely keep promoting if you were the Pastor?
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Inherent Distrust
One of the difficulties of leading today is an inherent distrust of authority that plagues our culture. It seems like every day there is new story about some pastor, politician, business leader, teacher or coach getting busted for some kind of immoral or illegal behavior. I think this fuels this fiery distrust in our culture.
The real challenge is today is for leaders to restore the dignity of trust to the people by being people of character and integrity. In other words, if you are a leader you must work hard to have credibility.
The real challenge is today is for leaders to restore the dignity of trust to the people by being people of character and integrity. In other words, if you are a leader you must work hard to have credibility.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Little Distance
Peter had been walking with Jesus for over two years. He had seen Him do miraculous things. But on the night before the crucifixion, Peter fell. He did the unthinkable. He did what he swore he would never do. He denied his relationship to Jesus not just once, but three times. All of the gospels record his denials to one degree or another. (If I am Peter, this stinks. There are only a few things repeated in all the gospel accounts and I get my mistake recorded four times.)
What got Peter in trouble was the same thing that gets us in trouble. In Luke's gospel, we are given a small detail that gives us big insight to what got Peter to go astray. It seems minor on the surface. But it is the root cause of Peter's fall. Luke 22:54 says after Jesus was arrested and led away that "Peter followed at a distance." This is what got him in trouble. It is what gets me into trouble. I sometimes start following Jesus from a distance. I am like a middle schooler who wants to look independent so I walk a good deal behind my parents at the mall so all my friends might think I am on my own. My parent's cramped my style like Jesus does sometimes. What we fail to realize is that we are dependent on Jesus like a child is with his parents. If we try to make it on our own we usually end up falling into some sin we thought we would never commit. We get ourselves in jams that we can't get out of on our own.
I think it's a principle like this...a little distance can go a long ways. James tells us to draw near to God. That's part of what it means to follow. If you create a little distance by neglecting to stay close to Jesus through disciplines of the faith then it won't be long before you find yourself a long way from Jesus. And that's not good.
So, let's close the gap this week and hang close to Jesus.
What got Peter in trouble was the same thing that gets us in trouble. In Luke's gospel, we are given a small detail that gives us big insight to what got Peter to go astray. It seems minor on the surface. But it is the root cause of Peter's fall. Luke 22:54 says after Jesus was arrested and led away that "Peter followed at a distance." This is what got him in trouble. It is what gets me into trouble. I sometimes start following Jesus from a distance. I am like a middle schooler who wants to look independent so I walk a good deal behind my parents at the mall so all my friends might think I am on my own. My parent's cramped my style like Jesus does sometimes. What we fail to realize is that we are dependent on Jesus like a child is with his parents. If we try to make it on our own we usually end up falling into some sin we thought we would never commit. We get ourselves in jams that we can't get out of on our own.
I think it's a principle like this...a little distance can go a long ways. James tells us to draw near to God. That's part of what it means to follow. If you create a little distance by neglecting to stay close to Jesus through disciplines of the faith then it won't be long before you find yourself a long way from Jesus. And that's not good.
So, let's close the gap this week and hang close to Jesus.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Spiritual Birthday
Today is a special day for me. It is my spiritual birthday. I first placed my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord on April 9, 1978. I am happy to be 30 years old in the Lord.
I am thankful to my parents who wrote the date of my salvation in my 1611 KJV Bible. So, I am personally celebrating my second birthday by evaluating and reflecting on what God has done for me, in me and through me for the last 30 years. He has been faithful even when I have not been faithful to Him. He has patiently endured seasons of rebellion and much whining over the years. He has been steadfast in His love toward me. He has taught me in His Word. He has prospered my life. He has allowed me to serve Him. Praise God who through Christ Jesus has given me spiritual life. May He be glorified in me.
I am thankful to my parents who wrote the date of my salvation in my 1611 KJV Bible. So, I am personally celebrating my second birthday by evaluating and reflecting on what God has done for me, in me and through me for the last 30 years. He has been faithful even when I have not been faithful to Him. He has patiently endured seasons of rebellion and much whining over the years. He has been steadfast in His love toward me. He has taught me in His Word. He has prospered my life. He has allowed me to serve Him. Praise God who through Christ Jesus has given me spiritual life. May He be glorified in me.
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