Today I attended a funeral of the dad of a good friend of mine. A real good friend. I met Randy in my driveway in 1962. That is about 45 years ago. At that time, we would never have guessed that we would have continued in relationship for this long.
There were 4 of us altogether. All lived on Oak Ridge St in Richmond, VA. We called ourselves the Oak Ridge Boys. We did so much together. Good Stuff, Bad Stuff - we went through jokes together, girls together, sports together and just about anything else together.
In the early days, we did not have a spiritual life together. We were just guys trying to get all we could out of life. Then one by one we began to encounter Jesus Christ. It took along time from 1972 to about 1980. But the Lord drew each of us to himself.
Now so many years later. We all walk with Jesus, and our wives. We are in leadership in 4 different churches and many different ministries. And we seek to stand with Jesus and with each other whatever it takes. Now the next stage: We stand with each other in the dark days of dealing with the losses of our parents and the transitions of our families. Several of us are now grandparents (not me). And we are beginning to think about the next steps.
Thanks Randy & Boys - you encourage me to stand with you as you stand with Jesus.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
angry
What Can I Pray When I'm Angry?
by Terry Gooding
* Lord God, I pray that I will become wise and learn to hold back my temper. "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control" (Prov. 29:11).
* Help me not go to bed with anger in my heart. "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry" (Eph. 4:26).
* Cause me to put aside anger and wrath from my life. "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage . . . " (Col. 3:8).
* Teach me to be a person who is understanding and slow to anger. "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly" (Prov. 14:29).
* Give me strength to turn away from anger and seek the righteousness of God. "For man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires" (Jas. 1:20).
* Help me not to be the kind of person who causes conflict. "An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins" (Prov. 29:22).
* Guide me so that my anger will not become sin. "In your anger do not sin" (Eph. 4:26).
* Show me how to be careful of my words so that I do not stir up anger in other people. "A harsh word stirs up anger" (Prov. 15:1).
* Teach me not to hold anger in my heart. "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools" (Eccl. 7:9).
(Reprinted from Pray!'s online archives, Issue #28 January/Februry 2002.)
by Terry Gooding
* Lord God, I pray that I will become wise and learn to hold back my temper. "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control" (Prov. 29:11).
* Help me not go to bed with anger in my heart. "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry" (Eph. 4:26).
* Cause me to put aside anger and wrath from my life. "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage . . . " (Col. 3:8).
* Teach me to be a person who is understanding and slow to anger. "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly" (Prov. 14:29).
* Give me strength to turn away from anger and seek the righteousness of God. "For man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires" (Jas. 1:20).
* Help me not to be the kind of person who causes conflict. "An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins" (Prov. 29:22).
* Guide me so that my anger will not become sin. "In your anger do not sin" (Eph. 4:26).
* Show me how to be careful of my words so that I do not stir up anger in other people. "A harsh word stirs up anger" (Prov. 15:1).
* Teach me not to hold anger in my heart. "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools" (Eccl. 7:9).
(Reprinted from Pray!'s online archives, Issue #28 January/Februry 2002.)
Friday, January 12, 2007
Ten propositions on preaching
Ten propositions on preaching
by Kim Fabricius
1. What is a sermon? Wrong question. A sermon is not a what but a who. A sermon is Jesus Christ expectorate. You eat the book; it is sweet in the mouth but bitter in the stomach (Rev. 10:9-11); you spit out the Word and spray the congregation. When grace hits the mark, it always begins with an unpleasant recoil.
2. A sermon starts in silence. Before a preacher preaches, she must not preach, she must listen; and when she does preach, it is only because she has to preach. God gave us one mouth and two ears—and the preacher must use them in that proportion.
3. Sermon preparation is primarily the preparation of the preacher, not of the preached. The preparation of the sermon itself will only be as rigorous as the askesis of the preacher. Pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit—and then work like stink. If the Holy Spirit hasn’t been with the preacher in the study, he’s not going to accompany the lazy bastard into the pulpit.
4. Context, context, context. A text without a context is a pretext. The context of scripture, of course, but also the contemporary context—the Bible in one hand, the broadsheet in the other. The clash of two worlds: scriptura probat mundum.
5. Relevance? Blow relevance! It is God who determines relevance. Who wants to hear about relevance? For example, the forgiveness of sins, the whole of the gospel, is relevant—but not because, as the world thinks, the forgiver finds inner healing, but because the guilty one is a sufferer in need of acceptance and embrace. When relevance rules, the tail of the world wags the dog of the church.
6. The gospel itself is not “Repent and be forgiven”—that is sheer legalism—but “You are forgiven, and therefore now free to repent.” Even pagans say, “If you’re sorry, I’ll forgive you.” More to the evangelical point, how can we repent of sin when sin is only known as sin forgiven, when we can only know ourselves as sinners in the light of grace?
7. Technique? Skills? Voice coaching? Forget about them. A sermon is not oratory, a sermon is sui generis. Besides, all theological speech is broken speech. Moses had a stammer, and Paul was embarrassingly inelegant. Smooth tongues are often forked. What has been called “word-care,” however, is a different matter: the practice of word-care is crucial. Literature, particularly poetry, is the school of word-care. Remember: you are responsible for every word you preach.
8. And the latest technology? Woe unto “techies”! Technically, Richard Lischer observes that “when the brain is asked to multi-task by listening and watching at the same time, it always quits listening.” Substantively, if the medium is the message, how can the medium of IT—icon of postmodern power—square with the word of the cross? Lischer provides a thought-experiment: “What would Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech look like in PowerPoint?”
9. Your congregation: know it, live it, love it. This is the perichoresis of preacher and community, and it must lie at the heart of every sermon. If you don’t laugh and weep with your people, you’ve got no right to expect them to hear you preach.
10. Finally, preach like there is no tomorrow—because there isn’t: in the sermon tomorrow is already today. Homiletics is eschatology. On the other hand, if you haven’t struck oil within twenty minutes, stop boring!
by Kim Fabricius
1. What is a sermon? Wrong question. A sermon is not a what but a who. A sermon is Jesus Christ expectorate. You eat the book; it is sweet in the mouth but bitter in the stomach (Rev. 10:9-11); you spit out the Word and spray the congregation. When grace hits the mark, it always begins with an unpleasant recoil.
2. A sermon starts in silence. Before a preacher preaches, she must not preach, she must listen; and when she does preach, it is only because she has to preach. God gave us one mouth and two ears—and the preacher must use them in that proportion.
3. Sermon preparation is primarily the preparation of the preacher, not of the preached. The preparation of the sermon itself will only be as rigorous as the askesis of the preacher. Pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit—and then work like stink. If the Holy Spirit hasn’t been with the preacher in the study, he’s not going to accompany the lazy bastard into the pulpit.
4. Context, context, context. A text without a context is a pretext. The context of scripture, of course, but also the contemporary context—the Bible in one hand, the broadsheet in the other. The clash of two worlds: scriptura probat mundum.
5. Relevance? Blow relevance! It is God who determines relevance. Who wants to hear about relevance? For example, the forgiveness of sins, the whole of the gospel, is relevant—but not because, as the world thinks, the forgiver finds inner healing, but because the guilty one is a sufferer in need of acceptance and embrace. When relevance rules, the tail of the world wags the dog of the church.
6. The gospel itself is not “Repent and be forgiven”—that is sheer legalism—but “You are forgiven, and therefore now free to repent.” Even pagans say, “If you’re sorry, I’ll forgive you.” More to the evangelical point, how can we repent of sin when sin is only known as sin forgiven, when we can only know ourselves as sinners in the light of grace?
7. Technique? Skills? Voice coaching? Forget about them. A sermon is not oratory, a sermon is sui generis. Besides, all theological speech is broken speech. Moses had a stammer, and Paul was embarrassingly inelegant. Smooth tongues are often forked. What has been called “word-care,” however, is a different matter: the practice of word-care is crucial. Literature, particularly poetry, is the school of word-care. Remember: you are responsible for every word you preach.
8. And the latest technology? Woe unto “techies”! Technically, Richard Lischer observes that “when the brain is asked to multi-task by listening and watching at the same time, it always quits listening.” Substantively, if the medium is the message, how can the medium of IT—icon of postmodern power—square with the word of the cross? Lischer provides a thought-experiment: “What would Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech look like in PowerPoint?”
9. Your congregation: know it, live it, love it. This is the perichoresis of preacher and community, and it must lie at the heart of every sermon. If you don’t laugh and weep with your people, you’ve got no right to expect them to hear you preach.
10. Finally, preach like there is no tomorrow—because there isn’t: in the sermon tomorrow is already today. Homiletics is eschatology. On the other hand, if you haven’t struck oil within twenty minutes, stop boring!
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
The End of Innocence
So what was it for you? When did you first realize that the innocence was gone? Was it a particular event? Was it the terrorism attack of 9/11? Was it a divorce? Or a loss of a friend?
Think back to when you did not know any pain or brokenness? Maybe it was childhood memories of a Birthday Party or a trip to the Beach or a Fair or Busch Gardens? It was a time when 'All was right in the World'.
This summer, I had the opportunity to watch my nephew as a 7 year old, who is having some difficulties with a condition similar to autism. I also was able to observe his parents. Their love for James is incredible (of course), but to see how they adjust their life for James' care is a ministry for me. They take long bike rides. There is an incredible amount of treatment required, which they so willingly provide. But it is no exaggeration to say that James has changed their life. But back to James: He is the happiest little guy - He has no anxiety. He is Innocent. He plays and plays. Interacts with people, loves TV. He never realizes all of the care that his condition warrents - and so shall it be.
I remember for me the end of innocence: I was a sophomore in High School. Good Friends, Great community, all was right in the world. In Chem class, I had a friend. Not really a girlfriend, but a girl who I just kinda "played" with. Her name was Amy. She sat in front of me with curly hair - It was a "flirty" relationship, but no real depth. And actually we never spent any time together outside of class.
So on one evening after a football game I remember looking out on Parham Rd and seeing flashing lights like an ambulance - And I remember thinking what is that about. The next morning I discovered that Amy and her boyfriend had been in an accident and were killed. At the time it was a shock, but it did not become a reality until Monday morning when I was sitting in class and the stool was empty, I could see straight through to the front of the class. No one said anything (because we all knew). There was just an empty stool! The end of innocence.
It was the first time I realized that something was terribly wrong in the world. People died. Relationships fell apart. The parents of friends got divorced. Relatives got really sick and died. There were robberies, shootings, crimes and things were broken.
Why would God allow this? Couldn't He stop it? Couldn't He make the Drunk Driver drift to the right into the culvert rather than left into Amy's car.
I think it was God's intention for us to be in relationship to Him just as it was with Adam & Eve. There was only one law. Easy to obey. Yet we couldn't obey it. We were convinced that we could manage life without that relationship. We moved away - and I believe that is when the Universe lost its innocence.
Sin entered the world.
Think back to when you did not know any pain or brokenness? Maybe it was childhood memories of a Birthday Party or a trip to the Beach or a Fair or Busch Gardens? It was a time when 'All was right in the World'.
This summer, I had the opportunity to watch my nephew as a 7 year old, who is having some difficulties with a condition similar to autism. I also was able to observe his parents. Their love for James is incredible (of course), but to see how they adjust their life for James' care is a ministry for me. They take long bike rides. There is an incredible amount of treatment required, which they so willingly provide. But it is no exaggeration to say that James has changed their life. But back to James: He is the happiest little guy - He has no anxiety. He is Innocent. He plays and plays. Interacts with people, loves TV. He never realizes all of the care that his condition warrents - and so shall it be.
I remember for me the end of innocence: I was a sophomore in High School. Good Friends, Great community, all was right in the world. In Chem class, I had a friend. Not really a girlfriend, but a girl who I just kinda "played" with. Her name was Amy. She sat in front of me with curly hair - It was a "flirty" relationship, but no real depth. And actually we never spent any time together outside of class.
So on one evening after a football game I remember looking out on Parham Rd and seeing flashing lights like an ambulance - And I remember thinking what is that about. The next morning I discovered that Amy and her boyfriend had been in an accident and were killed. At the time it was a shock, but it did not become a reality until Monday morning when I was sitting in class and the stool was empty, I could see straight through to the front of the class. No one said anything (because we all knew). There was just an empty stool! The end of innocence.
It was the first time I realized that something was terribly wrong in the world. People died. Relationships fell apart. The parents of friends got divorced. Relatives got really sick and died. There were robberies, shootings, crimes and things were broken.
Why would God allow this? Couldn't He stop it? Couldn't He make the Drunk Driver drift to the right into the culvert rather than left into Amy's car.
I think it was God's intention for us to be in relationship to Him just as it was with Adam & Eve. There was only one law. Easy to obey. Yet we couldn't obey it. We were convinced that we could manage life without that relationship. We moved away - and I believe that is when the Universe lost its innocence.
Sin entered the world.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
well the world says...
"And in that moment I knew Success not greatness was the only god the entire world served." - Drew, Elizabethtown
Friday, October 27, 2006
Franklin Eugene McCain
The Greensboro 4 ,
I had a great opportunity to meet one of the 4 men who as freshmen at North Carolina A&T walked down to Woolworth's and sat at the lunch counter and stayed during serving hours for the next 5 months until they were served. It spoke to me about the power that a student or a community of students can yield. These were men of conviction who saw injustice and were willing and able to stand out for what their convictions convinced them of. They had a strong heart that allowed them to make bold moves. They had available time which allowed them to work out the sit-in around a student's schedule. They had a community of friends and supporters who would come and sit with them and for them when they just needed to be somewhere else, like class. They had the actual belief that what had always been done was wrong and that with a strong but humble voice they couls see change come.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Saturday, July 22, 2006
The Cross of the Servant...
" As for the cross of the Servant, it is not strange to us. In that we stand with the mainstream of Christian faith from the beginning onward, and we do well to do so. We enthrone that crucified Saviour in stained glass, wood and stone - and in doctrine. To that cross we look for salvation. But we want not that cross at all.
Indeed, we would have it the chief business of religion to keep crosses far away. We want a Christ who suffers that we may not have to, a Christ who lays himself down that our comfort may be undisturbed. The call to lose life that it may be found again, to take up the cross and follow, remains mysterious and offensive to us.
To be sure, we labor to bring men to Christ, and we pray, "Thy kingdom come." But our labor we see as a labor of conquest and growth, successful programs and dollars. Can it be that we are seeking to build the Kingdom of the Servant - without following the Servant? If we do so, we will doubtless build a great church - but will it have anything to do with the Kingdom of God?"
~~John Bright, _The Kingdom of God_ p. 154
Indeed, we would have it the chief business of religion to keep crosses far away. We want a Christ who suffers that we may not have to, a Christ who lays himself down that our comfort may be undisturbed. The call to lose life that it may be found again, to take up the cross and follow, remains mysterious and offensive to us.
To be sure, we labor to bring men to Christ, and we pray, "Thy kingdom come." But our labor we see as a labor of conquest and growth, successful programs and dollars. Can it be that we are seeking to build the Kingdom of the Servant - without following the Servant? If we do so, we will doubtless build a great church - but will it have anything to do with the Kingdom of God?"
~~John Bright, _The Kingdom of God_ p. 154
Friday, July 21, 2006
What are the top 6 questions students are asking?
One of my summer projects was to draft a curriculum to use as the base of a seminar that could be offered to new students (and old if they were interested) about some of the fundamental issuews facing students on campus. Well it is now on the thin side of summer break - and I haven't thought about it yet.
So what are these issues or questions?
What about science and faith?
What about evil & suffering?
Is the Bible authoritative today?
The question of syncretism... Are there many ways to God? Aren't all religions basically the same?
So what are these issues or questions?
What about science and faith?
What about evil & suffering?
Is the Bible authoritative today?
The question of syncretism... Are there many ways to God? Aren't all religions basically the same?
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
La Vida Cruciform
What if I really began to live my life everyday shaped by the cross of Jesus?
Would behaviors change?
What would I add to my life, and what would I take away?
Jesus spent every day of His 30plus years focused on one goal. That is, He was moving towards the cross. He knew it. He knew why.
When he ate with the tax collector - He did it shaped by the cross.
When he got down on the same level as the woman caught in adultery - He was shaped by the cross.
When he called the disciples - having pre-knowledge about them - He was shaped by the cross!
When He was teaching and loving those 12 men in John 17 - He was shaped by the cross.
When Jesus came along side those 2 disciples on the way to Emmaus in Luke 24 - He was shaped by the cross.
To determine what it means to be cruciform today think about what Jesus did in any given situation and then think about what you would do or how you would handle it. That will show you the difference.
When you can genuinely do things the same way as Jesus, and have motives that are not linked to what others may think about you - that is cruciform. When you stop asking Why or saying: "Not now Lord!" then you're beginning to life life cruciform...
** (thurs am:) As I reread this post I realized that last 2 paragraphs sounded a lot like "What Would Jesus Do" and with full apologies to Charles Shedd, that's not exactly what I meant. I think what I meant was - it's like an apprentice in the presence of the master craftsmen. It's not just changing behavior. It's allowing the craftsmen to guide and direct the apprentice to learn the skill with his guiding hands and words. It's not just doing religion "martyform" but it is thinking abt ALL I do cruciform - shaped by the Cross.
Would behaviors change?
What would I add to my life, and what would I take away?
Jesus spent every day of His 30plus years focused on one goal. That is, He was moving towards the cross. He knew it. He knew why.
When he ate with the tax collector - He did it shaped by the cross.
When he got down on the same level as the woman caught in adultery - He was shaped by the cross.
When he called the disciples - having pre-knowledge about them - He was shaped by the cross!
When He was teaching and loving those 12 men in John 17 - He was shaped by the cross.
When Jesus came along side those 2 disciples on the way to Emmaus in Luke 24 - He was shaped by the cross.
To determine what it means to be cruciform today think about what Jesus did in any given situation and then think about what you would do or how you would handle it. That will show you the difference.
When you can genuinely do things the same way as Jesus, and have motives that are not linked to what others may think about you - that is cruciform. When you stop asking Why or saying: "Not now Lord!" then you're beginning to life life cruciform...
** (thurs am:) As I reread this post I realized that last 2 paragraphs sounded a lot like "What Would Jesus Do" and with full apologies to Charles Shedd, that's not exactly what I meant. I think what I meant was - it's like an apprentice in the presence of the master craftsmen. It's not just changing behavior. It's allowing the craftsmen to guide and direct the apprentice to learn the skill with his guiding hands and words. It's not just doing religion "martyform" but it is thinking abt ALL I do cruciform - shaped by the Cross.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Cruciform
OK, so I've learned a new word. Cruciform. Dictionary.com says: Cru-ci-form(krs-fôrm)
adj. Shaped like a cross;
To put this adjective in front of anything makes it take on incredible meaning: cruciform church, cruciform evangelism, cruciform preaching...
I'm not sure about words not related to kingdom work, cruciform breakfast, cruciform car repair, but for eccleiastical words - WOW! it has incredible impact.
Do I approach my discipleship, shaped like the cross? Am I an evangelist, shaped by the cross? Is my church - shaped like the cross.
So what is the other side? Isn't the church still the church even if I don't say CRUCIFORM? I think what it does, at least for me, is it puts a renewed focus on what the subject is all about. Sometimes if I'm in discipleship mode - it can really be all about me. But if my discipleship is cruciform then it means that I've gotta get out of the way. It's all about Him.
adj. Shaped like a cross;
To put this adjective in front of anything makes it take on incredible meaning: cruciform church, cruciform evangelism, cruciform preaching...
I'm not sure about words not related to kingdom work, cruciform breakfast, cruciform car repair, but for eccleiastical words - WOW! it has incredible impact.
Do I approach my discipleship, shaped like the cross? Am I an evangelist, shaped by the cross? Is my church - shaped like the cross.
So what is the other side? Isn't the church still the church even if I don't say CRUCIFORM? I think what it does, at least for me, is it puts a renewed focus on what the subject is all about. Sometimes if I'm in discipleship mode - it can really be all about me. But if my discipleship is cruciform then it means that I've gotta get out of the way. It's all about Him.
Monday, July 17, 2006
and SO the Old Testament.... yea what was I thinkin'
In this summer when I am putting some work into spiritual formation and spiritual direction, I decided to take a class in Old Testament Theology. I'm in Charlottesville, taking a 1 week intensive at the C'ville Christian Study Center. I'm trusting in the midst of this that the Holy Spirit will somehow translate OT theology to Spiritual Formation stuff.
In class last night, we spent 3 hours in Genesis 1-3. And I learned that because of issues related to the Fall, "Life is Upside Down (inversion) and Inside Out (expulsion)." In other words things are incredibly messed up! God's design was for us (humans) to be vice-regents (with Him) over the earth. We were designed to worship Him and rule the world. Positionally, it was to be God, us, animals; but in the fall - humans took orders from the serpant (animals) and disobeyed God. We flipped the order from God -> Human -> Animals TO Animals -> Humans -> God. Then while we were supposed to be in the Garden - because of our disobedience we were kicked out (expelled) from the Garden.
Now hasn't it been that way ever since? I find myself so controlled by the earth and not really having dominion over it. I'm concerned about the weather everyday (maybe too much so). I fear the wind (hurricanes). I jump when a dog barks. When I'm working in the yard I'm looking for snakes. And really I'm not a fearful guy! ALSO: It's hard work for me to worship God - but easy for me to worship about everything else that crosses my mind or eye. I know how it's supposed to be. I know I want to worship God and rule the world, but the disobedience problem still gets in the way.
Well it's gotta be about Jesus, I am reminded (as I read Genesis) of Philippians 2:5-11. Jesus is the answer He is the ruler who shows us in his humanity how to rule and in His divinity how to be worshipped.
Philippians 2:5-11 --
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Now that is a perspective I can understand: Paul also says: "Copy me as I copy Christ."
In class last night, we spent 3 hours in Genesis 1-3. And I learned that because of issues related to the Fall, "Life is Upside Down (inversion) and Inside Out (expulsion)." In other words things are incredibly messed up! God's design was for us (humans) to be vice-regents (with Him) over the earth. We were designed to worship Him and rule the world. Positionally, it was to be God, us, animals; but in the fall - humans took orders from the serpant (animals) and disobeyed God. We flipped the order from God -> Human -> Animals TO Animals -> Humans -> God. Then while we were supposed to be in the Garden - because of our disobedience we were kicked out (expelled) from the Garden.
Now hasn't it been that way ever since? I find myself so controlled by the earth and not really having dominion over it. I'm concerned about the weather everyday (maybe too much so). I fear the wind (hurricanes). I jump when a dog barks. When I'm working in the yard I'm looking for snakes. And really I'm not a fearful guy! ALSO: It's hard work for me to worship God - but easy for me to worship about everything else that crosses my mind or eye. I know how it's supposed to be. I know I want to worship God and rule the world, but the disobedience problem still gets in the way.
Well it's gotta be about Jesus, I am reminded (as I read Genesis) of Philippians 2:5-11. Jesus is the answer He is the ruler who shows us in his humanity how to rule and in His divinity how to be worshipped.
Philippians 2:5-11 --
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Now that is a perspective I can understand: Paul also says: "Copy me as I copy Christ."
Friday, July 14, 2006
Discipling Part 2
Am I approaching this all too simply?
In a conversation this AM, I said: "There is a great need for men to "disciple" men." In reply, a friend said, "Discipleship is really hard!".
As you can probably imagine, my quick reply was: "Oh, it is not. It is very easy if you can just take a little initiative, then you can disciple." The conversation got kindof intense at this point. As the talk ensued we really embarked on the 2 primary tracks of discipling, Curriculum and Process.
His reply to me was: "Discipling is more than just hanging out with another man. It is intentionally helping him grow in:
1) Assurance of salvation
2) Daily study of the Word
3) Articulating the whole Gospel to a seeker.
4) Learning to forgive and offer forgiveness.
5) Being in a church, a small group and regular fellowship.
6) Talking to God regularly. (prayer).
Most men do not have the knowledge or the resources to be able to train another man in these areas. They really just have the time to spend daily time in the Word themselves and try to raise their families in a Godly way."
OK, I was pretty upset at this point!
I cannot take exception with these points. I really believe them! I actually kindof use these "topics" in my discipling. It is the classic Curriculum model of discipling. But my struggle is the attitude of how we need to be prepared in order to disciple (or evangelize, or share a testimony or whatever). And we are so "busy" or whatever that we cannot take the initiative. I would contend - like riding a bike - once we start doing it we get better & better!
Am I totally naive here?
Of course discipling is more than getting together and talking about the World Cup (which we men tend to do). But I am convinced, as I meet with another guy, talk about sports, then family, then work, then 'How I(we) have seen God at work in my(our) life this week' then we are "discipling". Or maybe we can talk about how the sermon on temptation on Sunday really helped me in my personal struggles this week.
So for me Discipling is less about agenda and curriculum and more about taking initiative, getting to know another believer and sharing the big picture of what God is doing in us and around us. It's a process of helping another believer learn to grow closer to Christ.
In a conversation this AM, I said: "There is a great need for men to "disciple" men." In reply, a friend said, "Discipleship is really hard!".
As you can probably imagine, my quick reply was: "Oh, it is not. It is very easy if you can just take a little initiative, then you can disciple." The conversation got kindof intense at this point. As the talk ensued we really embarked on the 2 primary tracks of discipling, Curriculum and Process.
His reply to me was: "Discipling is more than just hanging out with another man. It is intentionally helping him grow in:
1) Assurance of salvation
2) Daily study of the Word
3) Articulating the whole Gospel to a seeker.
4) Learning to forgive and offer forgiveness.
5) Being in a church, a small group and regular fellowship.
6) Talking to God regularly. (prayer).
Most men do not have the knowledge or the resources to be able to train another man in these areas. They really just have the time to spend daily time in the Word themselves and try to raise their families in a Godly way."
OK, I was pretty upset at this point!
I cannot take exception with these points. I really believe them! I actually kindof use these "topics" in my discipling. It is the classic Curriculum model of discipling. But my struggle is the attitude of how we need to be prepared in order to disciple (or evangelize, or share a testimony or whatever). And we are so "busy" or whatever that we cannot take the initiative. I would contend - like riding a bike - once we start doing it we get better & better!
Am I totally naive here?
Of course discipling is more than getting together and talking about the World Cup (which we men tend to do). But I am convinced, as I meet with another guy, talk about sports, then family, then work, then 'How I(we) have seen God at work in my(our) life this week' then we are "discipling". Or maybe we can talk about how the sermon on temptation on Sunday really helped me in my personal struggles this week.
So for me Discipling is less about agenda and curriculum and more about taking initiative, getting to know another believer and sharing the big picture of what God is doing in us and around us. It's a process of helping another believer learn to grow closer to Christ.
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