Discipleship Is a Who, Not a What
Last year, I wrote an article (“Are You an ‘Evangelism’ or ‘Discipleship’ Church?”) on the tension that I experience between having a very evangelistic heart and seeing the need to disciple people. As a pastor, I am increasingly burdened that we don’t do a good enough job discipling our people. So I identified the problem: People need to be discipled. But I didn’t know the solution until very recently. At least I think I’ve discovered the solution. Bear with me as I share what I’ve found to be true.
At my church (and in many others), we say discipleship happens best in small groups. We push our LifeGroups very hard and encourage people to be a part of them. Nothing wrong with that, but is it the answer? We also believe we grow through our weekly teaching of the Word, even though we know that’s just one way people grow.
However, research and history seem to indicate something else. The book Move: What 1,000 Churches Reveal About Spiritual Growth, by Greg Hawkins and Cally Parkinson, shares some startling lessons from Willow Creek’s REVEAL study and research of over 1,000 churches:
1. The most effective strategy for moving people forward in their journey of faith is biblical engagement. The authors note that biblical engagement is “not just getting people into the Bible when they’re in church … but helping them engage the Bible on their own outside of church.”
2. Serving experiences appear to be even more significant to spiritual development than organized small groups. Why is that? I have a theory I’ll come back to.
3. We don’t challenge people to reflect on Scripture. This is huge. The REVEAL research reveals that if leaders could do only one thing to help people at all levels of spiritual maturity grow in their relationship with Christ, “they would inspire, encourage and equip their people to read the Bible.”
4. Though many churches believe small groups are the solution to spiritual formation, Move reveals, “there is no evidence that getting 100 percent of a congregation into a small group is an effective spiritual formation strategy.”
As I thought about this important research and these insights, I finally started to grasp what they mean to us as church leaders desperately wanting to see our people grow into spiritually mature disciples: We must stop pointing people to a program and start pointing them to a person, specifically Jesus Christ.
When I interviewed at my current church and they asked me about discipleship, I said that it happens in a number of ways. I told them that I love mentoring and one-on-one discipleship, as well as small groups. This is still true, but in hindsight, I missed the key to the whole thing. Let me explain.
You Can’t Delegate Prayer
On a regular basis, I see a counselor and I love how I grow personally through therapy. I meet with a mentor and have always been passionate about mentoring, but this just fills me with more knowledge and sharpens me as a leader. I do a lot of one-on-one discipleship, but the truth is that on a quantitative level, I barely make a dent in my congregation. I can handle maybe three to five (tops) one-on-one relationships with men in my church, and that’s out of a congregation of 500-plus.
Like you, I don’t have enough hours in my day or week to meet with everyone individually. Plus, I see nothing in Scripture that teaches our role as leaders is one-on-one discipleship with multitudes of people. And in fact, Move authors Hawthorne and Parkinson point out that, “Taking too much responsibility for others’ spiritual growth fostered an unhealthy dependence of congregants on the church staff.”
What I do see happening in Scripture is Paul writing to a church and encouraging them to read his letter (the Word of God). I also see Jesus often getting away alone to pray. Just last week, God showed me my desperate need for more prayer in my life and that I need to spend more and more quality time with Him—not just read about Him in one of my books or talk about Him with a friend, counselor, mentor or small group. All of those things are wonderful, but repeatedly, Scripture shows us that there is no replacement for my personal relationship with Christ.
Slave Cemetery Controversy Results in Pastor Leaving Church
A church in Loudoun County, Virginia, has become the center of controversy after the congregation initially refused to memorialize a slave cemetery that was discovered on church property. While efforts are now underway to commemorate the burial site, it was not before the Pastor Mark Jagoe left the church, taking the African American members with him.
“I just didn’t feel like I belonged there any more,” a black woman who wished to remain anonymous told NBC Washington News.
Finding a Forgotten Slave Cemetery
Mark Jagoe (who is white) had been pastor at Hillsboro United Methodist Church for over five years before retiring in October. He found the burial site several years ago while exploring the possibility of expanding the church’s parking lot. While he at first came across markers designating the graves of eight black freedmen, further investigation showed 72 slaves and freedmen were buried in the area.
Jagoe then wanted to use the church’s funds to construct a memorial wall at the site, but the congregation refused. The former pastor claims this decision was motivated by race and says, “It broke my heart.” One former church member, who is white, told NBC there was a generational aspect to the division as well: “It was pointed out clearly that young people came in and…caused trouble.”
Jagoe was further bothered by the fact the church supported the placement of iron crosses on the graves of Confederate soldiers in the church’s all-white cemetery. Loudoun Now reports that the Sons of the Confederate Veterans and United Daughters of the Confederacy supported Boy Scouts in installing the crosses, as well as Confederate flags, in the cemetery. Jagoe says the church’s actions are indicators of “structural racism” within the church. He tried to mitigate the situation by posting a sign explaining the crosses and flags “are not intended to reflect support for white supremacy, or be seen as symbols of structural racism.
“It’s just a repeat of history,” said the woman who did not want to be identified. “Being a person of color, makes you feel like you’re not important, that your past history or your ancestors don’t really mean anything.”
Church Maintains the Issue Was Financial
Hillsboro’s interim pastor, Larry Thompson, counters that in the time he has been with the church he has “not found the people here to be involved in or have any intent at any systemic racism.” According to Thompson, the reason the members initially refused to pay for the memorial wall was because they were concerned about spending too much of the church’s savings on the project. He told Loudoun News the congregation is currently pursuing memorializing the cemetery and that one of the members is seeking federal grants for that purpose.
Various outside parties, such as the city of Hillsboro, the NAACP, and the Loudoun Freedom Center, have since gotten involved in the concerns of the grave site. Mayor Roger Vance is pursuing avenues for commemorating the slave cemetery and told NBC, “I’m hopeful that we will make some progress here and that we can have a really positive outcome. This could be a wonderful story.”
Regarding the church’s efforts to memorialize the site, Jagoe said, “When it works out, that will be great. It’s going to get done and that’s good news.”
Francis Chan: We’ve Replaced Communion With ‘one guy and his pulpit’
In a sermon preached at a Church Together gathering in California, Francis Chan discussed the significance both Scripture and the early church placed on communion. Chan argued the modern American church has replaced communion with the sermon as the center of our modern worship services.
“For 1500 years there was never one guy and his pulpit being the center of the church. It was the body and blood of Christ, and even the leaders just saw themselves as partakers.”
Chan said he had been ruminating on Acts 2:42: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” He said that while he can relate to devoting himself to the apostles’ teaching through Bible study and to devoting himself to prayer, he doesn’t feel as if he’s devoted himself to the breaking of bread and fellowship.
This point was illustrated to Chan when a fellow pastor from India commented on the American church’s response to good speakers and musicians. “You guys don’t show up unless there is a good speaker,” Chan recalled his friend saying. The Indian pastor explained that believers in India gather for communion. “That actually sounds right and biblical,” Chan commented.
There’s also a warning in Scripture concerning communion that we often don’t take seriously enough. In 1 Corinthians 11, Chan explains, there is a warning that if we take communion in an “unworthy manner,” Paul tells us we could bring judgment upon ourselves. In fact, he goes as far as to say there’s a chance we could fall ill or even die. Yet many of us don’t think about this warning when we partake in the Lord’s Supper. Later in the sermon, Chan says the answer is not to avoid communion, but to reconcile oneself to God.
Another point Chan focuses on is the centrality of the practice of communion in the early church. Additionally, Chan says, “for the first 1500 years of church history everyone saw it as the literal body and blood of Christ.” And it wasn’t until 500 years ago that someone “popularized the idea” that the communion elements are a symbol.
At that same time, around 500 hundred years ago, someone put a pulpit at the front of the gathering. This is when we shifted from communion as both the physical center and most important element of the service to “one guy and his pulpit.”
Now, our model for preparing for a service is one person goes in a room by themselves and studies for 20 hours to prepare for a sermon. “Right now we’ve got guys like me that go in a room, study…meanwhile other guys went in their rooms and studied, and then we started all giving different messages, so many contradicting each other.” Chan then borrows an example from 1 Corinthians 3:4 when Paul laments the disunity of the early church. “Pretty soon it’s ‘I follow Piper.’ ‘I follow Chan,’” he explained, giving a modern-day example of the point Paul was making.
“I believe there was something about taking communion as the center of the church and replacing it with a gifted speaker. Not that that gifted speaker is not a part of the body of Christ and a gift to the body of Christ, but the body itself needs to be back in the center of the church,” Chan argued.
Additionally, when we gather we should realize we are gathering with “the eternal body of Christ.” Chan says we often feel “complete in ourselves” because we’re Americans, we’re individuals. But we should think of ourselves as parts of the whole and not complete until we’re all together with the other parts of the body.
The church today is more divided than any time in history, Chan believes. In our modern times, we literally have thousands of denominations. Yet the Scripture tells us that God does not want any divisions in the church. Chan asked his listeners to think about the fact that for a thousand years, there was just one church. What would it look like in the American church if we honored unity in the body of Christ and put it in the center of our services?
Who Should Disciple Children?
Among Children, Family and NextGen pastors and directors, this question often gets tossed around: Who should disciple children?
The question stems from books written over the past two decades which point out that in Scripture, parents are called to disciple children, to raise them up in the faith and teach them about Christ. This is often shared in contrast to the idea of taking children to church for Sunday school and Wednesday nights and letting the volunteers and ministers there do the work of discipleship, rather like sending our children to school to let the experts and professionals teach them.
Most of the time, there are a few common answers that get shared about who should disciple children.
- First, that it is the parent’s responsibility and the church is there to support them.
- Second, that it is a shared responsibility where both the church and the parents partner together.
- Third, that is is the parent’s responsibility but so many parents don’t know how to disciple their kids that it becomes the church’s responsibility.
- Fourth, that it is the church’s responsibility based on the Great Commission and parents, as part of the church, participate in the work of discipleship.
These are all valid points and I appreciate the hearty discussion that takes place around this topic; however, there are a few significant facts that tend to get left out of the discussion, facts that carry a lot of weight and are important for both the church and the home to consider as we continue the conversations.
Who are the Parents?
In 2015, Pew Research surveyed 1,807 US parents with children younger than 18, representing a wide swath of social, economic, racial, and religious demographics. Among other things, the study found that “today, fully 62% of children live with two married parents – an all-time low. Some 15% are living with parents in a remarriage and 7% are living with parents who are cohabiting. Conversely, the share of children living with one parent stands at 26%, up from 22% in 2000 and just 9% in 1960.”
Implications: Many children are not going home to the same set of biological parents each night and spending their time in the same home. Many bounce back and forth between two homes, with two different sets of parents and step-parents, siblings and step-siblings, and rules and expectations; others live with just one parent while others live with grandparents or other relatives or caregivers. When we say “the parents” should disciple children, to whom are we actually referring?
In order to address this reality, many ministries now talk about the importance of discipleship in the “home” or discuss the influence that the “home” has on the faith formation of children. As we consider equipping the home as the place of discipleship, it becomes increasingly important for us to consider who is filling that parental role within the home.
What do we mean by “Who Should”?
One key fact that gets left out of many of the “who should” conversations is that, whether they should or not, parents ARE the ones who “disciple” their kids. Studies show parents have the greatest impact on their children and their children’s faith, far above any church or ministerial context or person (Source). By default, parents are discipling their children.
My guess is what we are actually talking about in the “who should” conversations is intentional discipleship where parents are doing discipleship on purpose rather than incidentally. In other words, are parents engaged in the work of discipleship with intention or are they just accidentally influencing their kids’ faith in both positive and negative ways?
Implication: This is an important consideration because it impacts how we address parents and caregivers in terms of equipping and supporting their work of faith formation in the home. Rather than telling them they “should” disciple children or that it is their job to do so, we begin the conversation by letting them know that they are, in fact, discipling their children all the time and that we, as the church, want to come along side them and journey with them as they do so. This approach immediately changes the conversation from a directive to a cooperative action.
Who Is “The Church”?
One of the major criticisms of the church in many of the books regarding family ministry is that a culture of “professional discipleship” has been created where caregivers think that they can leave the faith formation of their children to Sunday school teachers and children’s pastors rather than engaging with faith in the home.
But, what do we mean when we say “the church?” If we are merely referring to the few volunteers and paid ministry staff that interact with children or the programs, curriculum or activities that our children participate in, we are missing out on a huge portion of the church…namely, the people.
Often the verses found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 are quoted as a mandate for parental discipleship in the home. It’s important to note that the charge to talk about these commandments, to impress them on the children, to disciple the next generation in faith what given to the entire gathered assembly and never once were parents singled out and told that discipleship was their sole responsibility. On the contrary, the command was clearly given in the presence of everyone (Hear, O Israel) and deemed by God through Moses as applicable to the whole assembly. So much so, it is repeated, nearly word for word in Deuteronomy 11:18-20 again in an address to the whole congregation.
Implications: This is a command to disciple is given to all members of the community of faith, to all of our children, not just those who live in our homes. When viewed in this light, some of common excuses for not serving and ministering to children in the church fall short. We can’t say, “I gave my time serving with in Sunday School and youth group when my kids were young. It’s their turn now.” We can’t say, “Well, they aren’t my kids. It’s not up to me to talk to them about God.” We can’t say, “It’s not my responsibility.” I mean, we can say those things, but we miss out on our call of discipleship within the community of faith.
This article about who should disciple children originally appeared here.
Why I’m Still in an Evangelical Church
As 2020 begins, the popularity of the label “evangelical” is drifting downward. When quizzed by pollsters last year, only 1 in 4 American adults described themselves as “evangelical.” Here’s more about evangelicals and the evangelical church everyone needs to understand.
Some of this decline is due to changing demographics, with recent immigrants less likely to call themselves “evangelical” and fewer Americans calling themselves Christian at all. Some of it is due to politics. The election of Donald Trump as U.S. president, thanks in no small part to overwhelming support from white evangelicals, has maximized the political implications of the term. As a result, some Christians are less likely to use the label—including me.
Yet far more significant than labels are beliefs. On that front, there’s good news and bad news.
First, the bad news. A survey by LifeWay Research found that fewer than 1 out of 6 American Christians (15 percent) agree with four basic truths they use to define “evangelical”:
1. The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe.
2. It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.
3. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.
4. Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.
The good news is that the sermons being preached in “evangelical” churches, more than most, still emphasize sin, salvation and scripture. In a fascinating computer analysis of online sermons, the Pew Research Center found that words like “sin” and “salvation” were heard in three times more evangelical church sermons than in all sermons from all churches Pew studied.
Pew’s study gathered nearly 50,000 sermons delivered over a two-month period in Spring 2019 in nearly 6,500 U.S. churches. Pew included in its definition of “evangelical” churches in the Baptist, Missouri synod Lutheran, and Presbyterian-Reformed denominations—including the RPCNA. It also included some historically black churches. You can read the full breakdown here.
What is heartening to me is that, as you can see in the chart below, people had a 99% chance, in any church studied by Pew, to hear a sermon that mentioned Jesus and love. And, contrary to popular belief, you were 11 times more likely to hear the word “love” in an evangelical church sermon than you were to hear “eternal hell.”
Also heartening is that 95% of churches are citing scripture in their sermons, as you can see in the chart below. Put another way, if you attended 20 different churches from the Pew study, only one had a sermon that didn’t quote scripture. Evangelical churches cited scripture a bit more, and Catholic churches cited it less.
But as you can see in the chart below, you had only a 3% chance to hear either the word “sin” or “salvation” in all churches. Put another way, if you went randomly each week to one of the churches in the Pew study, it would take you 33 weeks to hear “sin” and “salvation” in a sermon once each. That means you would hear each word in only 1-2 sermons in an entire year.
That’s not enough, at least for me. I know that I break God’s commandments daily in thought, word and deed. I need regular reminders that even my righteous acts are as filthy rags, that I need the righteousness of Christ. If I don’t get such regular reminders of my sin, I end up relying on myself, rather than relying on Christ. And unless I recognize that I am dead in my sins, I have no need of salvation.
The avoidance or even denial of sin by people in church is hardly a new problem. The Apostle John wrote to Christians about it in the first century: “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. … But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 1:10, 2:1b-2).
I’m not sure even evangelical churches are preaching about sin and salvation enough. But the fact that in 2020 they still do is why—despite the unpopularity of the name—I still belong to an “evangelical” church.
This article about why I’m in an evangelical church originally appeared here.
“Unbroken” Uncut
Louis Zamperini (1917–2014) was a miracle of a man. He truly lived—better, survived—one of the greatest stories ever written. Nonfiction stories are written, too, you know. “In your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:16). Some stories wake us up and remind us of this mouth-stopping truth. Louie’s life could only have been born in the mind and heart of God.
A film opens today bringing Louie’s epic story to the big screen. It’s based on Laura Hillenbrand’s remarkable telling of Louie’s extraordinary story, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption. Louie’s life is a Lord of the Rings trilogy born in the flesh of one strong but feeble man. The Coen brothers (writers), Angelina Jolie (producer and director) and everyone else involved should be applauded for taking on a life as excruciating and inspiring as Louie’s. It is a monumental task—one too large for life, much less for a full-length feature film.
I won’t offer any spoiler alerts, because I don’t believe this article will spoil anything for you—at least anything that’s not already suggested in the title (Unbroken: Survival. Resilience. Redemption.). In fact, having read Hillenbrand’s book, I consider this an anti-spoiler—like reading up on the history and landmarks of Washington D.C. before you spend a week there. I believe you’ll enjoy the film (and Louie) more knowing the full story, especially the pages not covered in Jolie’s 137 minutes.
Worse Than World War II
Unbroken, the film, begins with the trouble-making son of Italian immigrants, chronicles his unlikely and meteoric rise to fame as an Olympian, displays some of the unspeakable horrors of war, and highlights the resilience and strength even weak men can have in the face of agonizing pain and unrelenting terror. What the film does will be intense and emotional enough to sober and inspire most of us. Violence, starvation and torture will even be too much for many. After a plane crash into the ocean, Louie and two fellow soldiers were trapped on a raft for 47 days before they were captured by the Japanese. The Bird—the military officer who held and mercilessly tortured Louie—is rightly, if not inadequately, portrayed as an awful, sadistic villain and criminal. But there are worse horrors hidden in this edition of the story.
The movie simply doesn’t go low enough, and therefore cannot end high enough. If the worst things in life were war, torture and death, then the movie might have done Zamperini justice. Louie himself, though, would testify they are not. There are worse evils and worse fates facing all of us—the darkness within each of us and the darkness we therefore deserve.
Fairy Tale or Horror Film?
Those who don’t read the story will miss the reality that Louie was actually a very broken man—horribly broken by sin and then sweetly broken by God.
Shortly after his feet landed back on American soil, Louie went back with his family to his childhood home in California. They enjoyed food and conversation, unwrapping several years of unwrapped Christmas gifts—everything seemed peaceful, almost normal. Then his sister Sylvia played a recording of Louie’s voice that had been broadcast over public radio during the war. “Take it off! Take it off!” Louie fell into a violent, screaming convulsion—a scene that would sadly mark most of his next several years.
Lois Evans Celebrated for a ‘Life Well-Lived’
On Monday, January 6, 2020, Lois Evans, wife of Tony Evans, was laid to rest. The impact of Lois’ work as a mother, pastor’s wife, and co-founder of the Urban Alternative came up repeatedly throughout the four-hour-long service. The somber service included plenty of levity and celebration, including a couple of running jokes sprinkled throughout the touching tributes.
“Everyone who knew Lois knew that the Word was her first love. Her husband was her second. Her family was her priority and her church was her assignment,” Devi Titus, a friend of Lois’, said in tribute.
Kirk Franklin led a musical prelude to the funeral, which was held at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas. Lead Associate Pastor Bobby Gibson officiated the service, which the Rev. Martin E. Hawkin called a “celebration of a life well-lived.”
Couples in Ministry Spoke About Lois’ Example
Pastors John and Trina Jenkins kicked off a series of comments from couples in ministry who have been friends with Lois and Tony Evans for several years. Here is where the first running joke of the funeral debuted. John mentioned that he and Tony bonded while their wives went shopping and spent “all their money.”
Sonny and Christie Acho remembered Lois for “her grace in handling ministry difficulties.” Sonny talked about the numerous deaths the Evans family has faced recently. So many, in fact, that Sonny thinks Tony should change his name to “Dr. Through It All Evans.”
Conway and Jada Evans thanked Tony Evans for modeling how to lead in a storm, in fact, how to lead in a number of consecutive storms.
Jim Cymbala from Brooklyn Tabernacle spoke at the service while his wife, Carol, was not able to attend due to illness. “Lois had this wonderful trait, this wonderful grace from God which was she was humble,” Cymbala said. “Wasn’t she about the kindest person who walked on the face of this earth?” he asked, to which the crowd applauded enthusiastically.
The City of Dallas also acknowledged Lois’ passing, noting her many contributions to the Christian community and greater community of Dallas, Texas. The resolution, which was read by a member of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, was signed by Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson.
Personal Friends Remember Lois’ Calling to Women
Several personal friends of Lois spoke about the impact her ministry to pastor’s wives had on them and the communities of faith which they represent. Lois held annual First Ladies Conferences for pastor’s wives from 1999-2011.
Titus said Lois had a “unique calling to women, and especially pastor’s wives.” She “caused them to love their homes, their husbands, and their families.”
Rhoda Gonzales said Lois made an “indelible” mark on Gonzales’ life. She encouraged pastor’s wives to create fellowships in their cities, Gonzales explained. She invited pastors’ wives in attendance at the funeral to meet for a brief reception after the service where they could connect and network.
Family Members Honor Lois Evans
Dr. Paul Cannings spoke on behalf of Lois’ siblings, who stood holding hands behind Cannings as he spoke from the podium. Cannings attributed Lois’ character to their parents. “Who you are honoring today is the legacy that was placed into the heart of our sisters is our mom and dad.” Cannings said their mother would gather all the kids together at 6:00 am every morning to teach them the word of God. He also remembered Lois as a person who loved to sing. Again the running joke about Lois loving to shop and dress well came up, as he recalled her always being dressed well for every occasion. Cannings worked under Lois as a national director of Urban Alternative. He concluded his short speech by saying, “We have to stop saying that people die. We have to say that He lives.”
New Jesus Film to Reach Deaf People in Their Heart Language
The Jesus Film Project is collaborating with Deaf Missions to create a movie about the life of Christ for those who are Deaf and hard of hearing. The movie will be filmed with actors and actresses signing in American Sign Language (ASL) instead of speaking aloud. Chad Entinger, who is with Deaf Missions, believes the film will have a powerful impact because it will communicate to people in their “heart-language.”
“The heart-language, it’s related to a person’s identity,” said Entinger through sign language, according to Mission Network News (MNN). “We really believe that God can and will use the movie in sign-language to reach Deaf people.”
The Jesus Film Project and Deaf Missions have compatible goals and are combining their efforts to create a film unlike any other. The former ministry uses movies share the story of Jesus throughout the world, and one of the primary goals of the latter is to translate the Bible into ASL. Their new film for the Deaf community is a crowdfunded project estimated to take three to four years to complete. So far, the ministries have raised $746,000 of the $4.8 million that they need. In December, Deaf Missions posted a 10-minute pilot scene, portraying the account of the woman caught in adultery as recorded in the Gospel of John. You can watch the pilot for free online here.
Deaf Missions Brings the Gospel to an Unreached People Group
As of right now, if those who have hearing loss want to watch a movie about the life of Jesus, their only option is to watch one with closed captioning. This means they can only watch such a film in a foreign language.
Some might be surprised to learn that sign language is not equivalent to a particular spoken language, nor is there one single sign language used by all Deaf people. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) says, “ASL is a language completely separate and distinct from English. It contains all the fundamental features of language, with its own rules for pronunciation, word formation, and word order.” ASL also varies by region and dialect and is distinct from other sign languages, such as British Sign Language (BSL), French Sign Language (LSF), and Chinese Sign Language (CSL).
What’s more, there are around 70 million Deaf people across the globe. This means, says Deaf Missions, “If you put all the Deaf people in the world in one country, it would be the third most populated country in the world.” Yet only two percent of this population has heard about Jesus, in part because of the lack of available resources.
As with any other of the world’s populations, it makes an enormous difference for people to hear about Jesus in their native tongue. One author explains the situation this way:
Our heart language is the one we feel most comfortable speaking, especially when we’re having deep conversations. It’s typically the first language we learned and the one we think and dream in. Deaf people’s heart language is signed, not written. Many Deaf have learned to read, but the linguistic structures of written languages are so different from signed languages, it was like learning a foreign language while simultaneously learning to read. The foreign, written language will generally never feel as natural as sign.
Thankfully, as technology advances, there are more opportunities to bring the gospel to those who have hearing loss. One of those resources is the Deaf Bible app, which provides video translations of the Bible in multiple sign languages. One user said, “I remember how it used to be reading the Bible, having to go through word by word in English. I remember thinking, God, I want to be able to communicate with you. I want to understand who you are.”
But the app has made a significant difference for her. “Before I felt so disconnected,” she said, “but now I have a relationship with God. I feel so close to Him…I’m so thankful for the gift of God’s word in sign language.”
Entinger is requesting financial assistance and prayer as the film continues. “Pray for people who will come and be involved with the production,” he said. “It’s a really big project. And it’s going to require creativity, a lot of time, a lot of energy, to make this successful.”
And of course, pray that God would use this film in a powerful way to reach the Deaf community with the good news of the gospel.
Ongoing Spousal Dispute Leads to Tragedy in Kenyan Pulpit
In front of horrified congregants, a pastor in Kenya stabbed his wife and then himself during the middle of her sermon on Sunday. Elijah Misiko, an assistant pastor at Ground for God’s Gospel Church in Mombasa, attacked Ann Mughoi, his wife of 26 years, with a knife he’d hidden in an envelope. He then used another knife to slit his own stomach and throat, dying on the scene. Mughoi, the church’s senior pastor, died later at a local hospital.
Eyewitnesses described the chaos, as well as the couple’s long-running fight over ownership and leadership of the church, located in the coastal city of Mombasa. Misiko left a lengthy suicide note that details the dispute, police say.
“We could not believe such a thing could happen”
Misiko entered the sanctuary while Mughoi’s sermon was underway, according to worshiper Janet Tole. Then he approached the pulpit, as if to whisper something in his wife’s ear, before stabbing her in the back and hand. Misiko appeared to be aiming for his wife’s heart and throat, church members tell police, but the preacher tried to deflect the knife with her hands. Worshipers’ efforts to assist Mughoi were unsuccessful.
“They have been wrangling over the ownership of the church,” Tole says. “Since they separated, the wife took over the affairs of the church, which angered her husband. We could not believe such a thing could happen.”
Misiko reportedly accused his wife of trying to put the church’s title in her name alone. “At some point, my wife started to betray me,” he writes. “She went behind my back and took control of all [that] we had gotten in 19 years without my prior knowledge.”
In the suicide note, titled “Betrayal and its consequences,” Misiko continues, “I bought a plot with my hard-earned money, and we decided to build a church so that Anna and I can serve God. But why have they locked me out of…worshiping and serving in the church?” He also accuses his wife of keeping their four children away from him and of having “love affairs with young men in the church.”
Reconciliation Attempts Had Failed
In 2017, police briefly detained Misiko when Mughoi alleged he was trying to kill her. Since then, the couple reportedly had been living apart.
“Misiko had confirmed their unending squabbles, which he based on both love and sharing of wealth that they had acquired over time,” says police commander Julius Kiragu. The couple, he adds, “had even reported the matter to church leaders, but they were unable to resolve the dispute.” After the investigation is complete, Kiragu says, authorities will “take necessary action” against any church officials.
Church treasurer Peter Kimbada confirms that “several attempts” at helping the couple reconcile had occurred. “Things never worked well,” he says, “and since last year Pastor Elijah stopped coming to church.”
According to one report, Mizigo also tried to kill his wife on December 31, but authorities intervened in time.
Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan … 3 Places Where God Is at Work
Let’s celebrate the amazing truth that God is at work in Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan.
She lived in a godless city and sold her body for sex. By all human perspectives, there was really no hope for her to ever come to faith. She was spiritually hard soil, if ever there was such. But she heard about the salvation of the one true God and put her trust in him. And so it came to be that Rahab the harlot’s name is forever inscribed in the book of Hebrews’ “Hall of Faith.”
God isn’t limited by the terms we give to “hard soil” locations. His eyes don’t get big with distress when we say “10/40 window” or “countries of war” or “threat of persecution.” Just like he has since the beginning, God is working in the darkness to shine his light into hearts and build his church among all peoples.
Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan are three places in Central Asia where God is working and some specific ways to pray.
Northern Iraq
Northern Iraq has appeared in a lot of headlines over the past few years. As ISIS inches its way closer and closer to Iraqi Kurdistan, stability in the region deteriorates. Military checkpoints dot the land and make land travel long and stressful.
Although Muslim in name, most men and women in Northern Iraq indirectly prioritize ethnicity first and religion second. They welcome all things in the name of progress and want economic prosperity. Many hope that Western ideas about success and the good life will carry them into a better future. Some Kurds have achieved a level of success only to realize it does not bring lasting hope. Despite empty pursuits and challenges to the country’s stability, many say the region is more open to the gospel than it has been in a thousand years.
Ahmed* is one example. As a college student, Ahmed was curious about Christianity. He visited a local historically Christian church. As is customary, church members checked his identity card to see if he was Christian or Muslim. Because he was Muslim, they refused him entrance. Ahmed then obtained an official letter from his university dean expressing he was not harmful and was there for educational purposes. They still wouldn’t let him in. The Holy Spirit pursued Ahmed for five years until he encountered evangelical believers and finally heard the truth that set him free. He is now studying to be a church leader.
As men and women like Ahmed encounter the gospel and believe, they often struggle. Fear of persecution is a strong obstacle for many formerly Muslim Kurdish believers, even those who have not experienced mistreatment for their faith.
Pray that believing Kurds will grow in their faith and be bold for the gospel as they share with their families and friends.
Iran
Iran stands out in the Muslim world because Iranians are part of the minority sect of Islam called Shia Muslim. Iranians are Persians who are proud of a history dating back to Bible times. They still speak Farsi, the Persian language, and hold fast to their identity.
Forty years ago, the Islamic Revolution swept the country. Since then, many Iranians have come to a place of spiritual openness. They are fed up with Islam and eager for other options, including Eastern religion and New Age philosophies. Within this spirit of exploration, an overwhelming number of Iranians are finding the truth of Jesus Christ and putting their trust in him.
Many are discovering the gospel via satellite television which, though illegal, is routinely accessed across the country. An unusually high literacy rate in Iran means many Iranians are finding and reading the Scriptures for the first time. Others who cannot read are listening and responding.
Ali* is a farmer with a reputation as a kind and honest businessman. He is also a faithful evangelist. Through Ali, his seventy-nine-year-old illiterate aunt came to faith. She then asked Ali for five New Testaments. When her grandchildren and extended family visit, she makes them read to her. She has joined Ali in kingdom work.
Ali is also engaged in cross-cultural work by sharing with people from different tribes. One day, Ali felt compelled to pick up a hitchhiker, a beekeeper from another tribe. He shared the gospel with the beekeeper and gave him Scripture. The man went home and shared with his ten family members, all part of a minority people group. The beekeeper asked Ali for more Bibles, and now Ali is discipling the beekeeper and helping him share with his family in the village.
Believers like Ali often feel isolated in Iran. They don’t have a local fellowship. The few believers they know live far away. On top of it all, they know they are under constant surveillance by the government.
Pray they will not feel alone. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide and encourage them when the government calls them in for questioning. Pray they will know how to love their enemies.
Afghanistan
War has ravaged the country of Afghanistan for over forty years. The constant change of new regimes and power brokers, who can never secure stability, has worn the people down. They don’t make plans for the future or dream about what next year could hold. They are simply trying to get by.
In this environment, many Afghans are tired of the status quo, even of their religion. Local Islamic leaders often take part in the power play, positioning to get more money or increase their personal power. Meanwhile, fundamentalist Islam as seen on the news wreaks havoc in their land. A spiritual apathy has overtaken many people.
Yet the church in Afghanistan is growing. In today’s global environment, even the poorest of the poor own a mobile phone. People are accessing Scripture on their phones and coming to faith in Jesus.
Hasan* is one of them. He was walking home from high school one day when he felt something come upon him—he felt squeezed from all around. The feeling didn’t leave, and for some reason, it compelled him to find a New Testament. He found one and began to read in secret. As he read, he felt relief from the physical pressure.
One day Hasan’s father walked into the courtyard where Hasan was reading the Scriptures. In a fright that his father would see, Hasan threw the book down the well. Later when the well became clogged, his father discovered the book and beat Hasan for admitting it was his. Hasan promised to not read it again but couldn’t keep himself away. He found the Scriptures online and continued reading. He also discovered testimonies from other Afghans who had put their trust in Christ—he was not alone. Hasan has joined them as a follower of Jesus the Messiah.
Pray for Afghans who feel apathetic about life. Ask that they will understand that their void cannot be filled by the West, a new government, or even being a better Muslim. Pray God will stir many hearts to seek out truth.
New Eyes
We hope this overview gives you new eyes as you see these countries on news headlines. Be encouraged and pray with eyes of faith. Our God is at work.
This article about Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan originally appeared here.
4 Important Lessons From Marathon Runners About Your New Year Goals
As a new year begins there will be a lot of new goals set: physical goals about exercise or weight loss, financial goals about paying off debt or making more money, and relational goals about more time with loved ones. Setting goals can be very helpful because they force conversations about what is going to be important to you in the coming year. And if you set goals wisely, you develop plans for reaching those new year goals and those plans can help you be more disciplined and focused.
What impact does setting and achieving goals have on us? A massive research study was done on marathon runners–which is a good sample to analyze how goals motivate us and impact us because every marathon runner had to set a goal to complete the grueling race and many set goals for how fast they would complete the race.
Here is what the research indicates about new year goals:
New Year Goals Motivate.
Looking at the times of nearly ten million marathon finishers and the data concludes that people are more likely to finish the race right before a goal time – such as 3 hours 59 minutes instead of 4 hours and 1 minute. As one running coach pointed out, “that’s not because human beings are somehow categorically better at running a 3:59 rather than a 4:01 marathon. It’s because human beings make numbers matter. A lot.” The goal, in the form of the clock, is always in front of marathon runners and it is highly motivating. Marathon runners remind us that there is power in keeping a goal in front of you and working a plan to reach that goal.
Big goals positively impact performance.
The authors of the research study conclude, “Higher goals generally lead to higher performance.” Of course they do. Few would argue that setting easily achieved goals somehow pulls the best out of you. But there is a caution about lofty goals…
Big goals can make us feel worse.
According to the research on marathon runners, there is a painful paradox about setting goals. The researchers conclude “although higher goals generally lead to higher performance, those who perform better, paradoxically, often feel worse because their performance falls below those lofty goals.” So having high goals increases our performance, even if we don’t meet them, but not meeting them can sadden us. The paradox of goal setting is a bit of dilemma. If you set big goals, you will increase your performance and the likelihood of disappointment at the same time. Hmmm. What should we do? So it seems that the art of goal setting is setting big goals, but not goals that are too big.
Even achieved goals will disappoint.
We must remember that even our achieved goals will disappoint us. In his recent song, “Nate,” rapper NF writes: “You might get a glimpse of happiness from your achievements but what you’ll learn as you get older, every time you reach one is you’ll just make another goal that doesn’t lead to freedom.” The paradox of goal setting really points us to the futility of all goals but one. There is only one goal that will not disappoint. When we make knowing Christ our aim and our goal, we enjoy His peace and His life. The apostle Paul wrote: “My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death” (Philippians 3:10).
Set goals this year–even big ones that pull out your best work, effort, and focus. But if your ultimate aim is not Christ, you won’t be satisfied in the end.
This article about new year goals originally appeared here.
What Will You Chase in 2020?
What are your dreams and goals for 2020?
No doubt you have been dreaming about the potential of a brand-new year.
January 1 … just wide-open possibilities before you.
What will you chase?
Here’s one thing I know that is true about 2020 and you.
Life will present many options and opportunities for you in the next 12 months.
Here’s another thing true… you can’t do them all.
The requirements, opportunities, requests, distractions, and the list goes on will chase you every day.
One of the greatest decisions you can make is to get out in front of your own life and decide what you will chase rather than reacting to all that chases you.
Here’s a short list of just a few things that may chase you:
- Opportunities
- Regrets
- Social Media
- Relationships
- Temptations
- Deadlines
- Pleasures
- Unfinished projects
- Dreams
Learn to ignore, drop, release, or run from the things that chase you that don’t add value to your life or the lives of others.
For example, I’m going to “run” from small thinking, time-wasters, and responsibilities that others can do as well or better than I can.
However…
It’s not enough to say no to much of what will chase you in 2020. The only way to truly make progress is to choose what you chase.
What will you chase?
I don’t know the details of your life, but if you make your own list of things to pursue, I’ll bet these 3 make it near the top of your list.
3 Smart Choices for 2020:
1) Chase after the fullness of following Jesus.
What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?
I don’t pretend to be a theologian with “the” answers to this weighty question, but some things are clear. Let’s start with a foundational thought and build from there.
Following Christ is not an item on a list of things to do, it’s a way of living. It’s not a professional commitment or a weekend endeavor; it’s the way you see life, eternity, and how you interact within it.
Following Jesus includes the attitude of his heart, the focus of his thoughts, and the actions of his life.
I’m hesitant to list three bullets to represent the fullness of following Jesus. Obviously, this will fall short. I hope to paint the big picture, and you can fill it out more personally by soaking in the gospels.
- Choosing to love others unconditionally. Even when it’s difficult, Jesus sets the example of loving others and made sacrifices for them.
- Submission to the will of the Father and His Kingdom purposes. Jesus does nothing apart from the Father and sets His will aside for the kingdom of heaven.
- Choosing to serve others with joy and consistency. Jesus is the opposite of selfish in every sense; he lived daily to serve others.
I remind myself not to become overwhelmed by attempting to get all this right. It’s a relationship, not a performance. The closer I am to Christ, and the Spirit’s influence within me, the more I desire to live this way, and the power of the Holy Spirit enables me.
2) Chase healthy and meaningful relationships.
The depth and richness of life come from personal relationships.
Perhaps “chase” doesn’t sound like a very relational word, but I like it because it carries the idea of effort. It communicates the truth that you have to move toward and pursue closeness, or you won’t experience it.
I’m very blessed with many long-term friendships, decades-long. In fact, some even 40+ years. None of them, however, happened accidentally, and all need heartfelt connection, care, and communication to remain real.
Your wiring may be designed for a few close friends or many meaningful relationships, but either way, life has meaning in large part because of the love and care you have for each other.
Lifelong friendships aren’t always easy, but they are always worth it. The following list is a few of the things I’ve learned over the years. I still mess up regularly, but when I get these right, wow, the results are amazing.
7 values for meaningful relationships:
- Courage for honest communication
- Shared experiences
- Commitment to give generously, not just receive
- Maturity to apologize and change
- Focus on the good and overlook human flaws
- Willingness to put the other person first
- Laughter …. Lots of laughter!
3) Chase what produces the most significant results.
The very word “produce” can get many of us in trouble. There is no end to the options and possibilities.
One of the best ways to reduce nearly countless possibilities for 2020 to something reasonable and realistic is to begin by listing only the things that deliver the most significant results.
The list will be very different for everyone, but in concept, it might look something like this:
- Influence the culture where you work in a positive way.
- Improve a specific skill so you become a better leader.
- Start a new hobby or learn a new language.
- Coach and mentor five young leaders.
- Write a book.
- Give generously to someone in need.
- Place strategy and execution over more ideas.
- Improve your physical health through diet and exercise.
What does this list spark in your mind and heart?
Make your list and make it specific and personal to you.
Pray as you think it through.
Perhaps bounce it off a couple of close confidants for their wisdom.
I have an unusually high sense of faith and anticipation for the new year; I hope this post helps you feel the same way.
These three smart choices will not guarantee a year without blemishes and mistakes, but they will create a foundation for a year you are proud of, grateful for, and one of no regrets.
This article originally appeared here.
7 Surprising Reasons Why Kenneth Copeland and Jesse Duplantis Need Personal Jets
I don’t usually comment on other preacher’s lifestyles. And I’m definitely not in the habit of publicly criticizing other leaders, but I thought this issue was worth discussing together.
Maybe you’ve already seen it, but a video recently went viral featuring two prominent prosperity gospel preachers, Kenneth Copeland and Jesse Duplantis, defending their use of personal jets.
It’s so wild, that I’d like to break it down, step-by-step. I’m doing my best not to criticize these guys and their character, but to keep the discussion strictly on the validity (or lack thereof) of their arguments. If you’ve been blessed by their ministry, more power to you.
Also, honestly, I’m not against personal jets if you have the money, but the reasons these pastors give are so absurd they’re almost silly to me. So, as you will see, this post is a little tongue-in-cheek.
Watch the video and follow along, if you’d like.
1. If I heard it correctly, God gave these pastors personal jets so they wouldn’t have to ride in a metal tube filled with demons … like the rest of us. Yes, there is the danger of demons–especially if you’re in the back of the plane, but, as pastors, aren’t we trying to reach people for Christ? Shouldn’t they look at air travel as a metal tube filled with lost souls who need saving? Calling them demons seems a weeee bit self-serving in this argument.
But let’s move on.
2. These pastors don’t believe you can conveniently pray on a commercial plane so the natural solution is a multi-million dollar personal jet. Problem solved. If only all our leadership problems had such a simple solution. In fact, sometimes I hear my kids fighting in the car when I’m trying to pray–so I should probably get a limo with a chauffeur, right? Baby I’m worth it. I kid, I kid.
3. These pastor need personal jets because the commercial airlines are a mess and it could “agitate their spirits.” I would agree that traveling on commercial airlines can bring on the stress, but, um, that’s called life. Toughen up buttercup. There are a lot of things that agitate our spirits, but spiritualizing everyday stress doesn’t quite cut it for me.
4. They have personal jets so they can talk to God, alone. Um, I have a multi-million dollar solution–it’s called journaling. I’ve had some of my best times with God on a plane. Surrounded by people, even! Real, live people.
5. They claim the devil could lie to us and make us feel like these “fat cats” flying around in their personal jets for ministry is dead wrong. Again, using the devil in this instance feels more flimsy than anything. Placing the devil against them–and their use of personal jets for ministry–feels a little self-serving too.
6. They are in the “soul business” so they need a jet to get to tough places. Every pastor is in the soul business and, yes, there are a lot of remote places that need the gospel. But do these remote places have landing strips for personal jets? Is it really that hard to get to the places they want to go using commercial airlines? I’ll admit, if it’s true, it actually carries some weight. Someone should do a little research to see if they’re flying into Papua New Guinea every other day.
7. They also need a jet because, well, SLEEP! All I have to say is foxes have dens, my friends, foxes have dens…
All kidding aside, I’m not really criticizing the fact that these pastors have personal jets, as much as I’m criticizing the reasons they give for having one–reasons that seem to separate them from the rest of us because of their spiritual value/influence. I think pastors can have nice things, but when you have to make up crazy excuses about those things, well, the red flags go off for me.
As leaders, we’re under the spotlight and our decisions need to be discerning and wise. Again, if your ministry can afford a personal jet, then that’s something you need to take up with God, but please don’t say you’re using it to avoid riding in a metal tube with demons… just say it’s comfortable and it gets you where you need to go.
That’s it and amen.
Fanatic Discipline: Lesson #1 From Jim Collins’ Great By Choice
Jim Collins and Morten Hansen’s latest book, Great By Choice, is the result of a nine-year research project aimed at answering one question: “Why do some companies thrive in uncertainty, even chaos, and others do not?” Our world is unstable, uncertain, and filled with unanswered what ifs. And while we cannot predict the future, as the authors observe, we can create it. And a handful of companies have done so exceptionally well.
Collins and Hansen identified what they call “10x Companies.” They write: “We set out to find companies that started from a position of vulnerability, rose to become great companies with spectacular performance, and did so in unstable environments characterized by big forces, out of their control, fast moving, uncertain, and potentially harmful” (p. 7).
Starting with 20,400 companies, their rigorous research identified seven 10x companies including Amgen, Biomet, Intel, Microsoft, Progressive Insurance, Southwest Airlines, and Stryker. These 10x companies beat their industry index by at least 10 times. And they did it during chaotic environments.
For example, in the chaotic airline environment from 1972 to 2002 filled with fuel shocks, deregulation, labor strife, air-traffic-control strikes, interest-rate spikes, hijackings (including 9-11), recessions, and multiple bankruptcies, Southwest Airlines had a stock return 63 times better than the general stock market. Had you invested $10,000 in Southwest Airlines on December 31, 1972, it would have been worth $12 million by the end of 2002.
How did the 10x companies achieve such astounding results in such uncertain environments? Collins and Hansen’s extensive research reveals three core behaviors that set the 10x companies apart from their comparison companies. Over the next three posts, I’ll explore each of these behaviors.
The first behavior is FANATIC DISCIPLINE. Discipline is “consistency of action” (p. 23). It’s not the same as regimentation, measurement, hierarchical obedience, or adherence to bureaucratic rules. “For a 10xer, the only legitimate form of discipline is self-discipline, having the inner will to do whatever it takes to create a great outcome, no matter how difficult” (p. 23).
The authors compared Fanatic Discipline to a 20 Mile March. Imagine you start in San Diego with a goal to march all the way to Maine. Your goal is to march 20-miles per day, everyday, regardless of the weather. You don’t do less (you have ambition to achieve), and you don’t overreach and do more (you have self-control to hold back). 10x companies identify what their 20-mile march is.
Collins and Hansen observe, “The 20 Mile March creates two types of self-imposed discomfort: (1) the discomfort of unwavering commitment to high performance in difficult conditions, and (2) the discomfort of holding back in good conditions” (p. 45). For example, despite all of the chaos in Southwest Airlines’ environment, they generated a profit for 30 consecutive years. However, they were self-disciplined to “hold back in good times so as not to extend beyond its ability to preserve profitability and the Southwest culture” (p. 45).
So what does a good 20 Mile March look like? It has seven characteristics:
- A 20 Mile March uses performance markers that delineate a lower bound of acceptable achievement.
- A 20 Mile March has self-imposed constraints.
- A 20 Mile March is tailored to the enterprise and its environment. There’s no all-purpose 20 Mile March for all enterprises.
- A 20 Mile March lies largely within your control to achieve.
- A 20 Mile March has a Goldilocks time frame, not too short and not too long but just right. Make the timeline of the march too short, and you’ll be more exposed to uncontrollable variability; make the timeline too long, and it loses power.
- A 20 Mile March is designed and self-imposed by the enterprise, not imposed from the outside or blindly copied from others.
- A 20 Mile March must be achieved with great consistency. Good intentions do not count.
Collins and Hansen observe that a 20-Mile March might be tied to earnings growth but it can also be tied to non-financial areas. For example:
“A school might have a student-performance march. A hospital might have a patient safety march. A church might have a number-of-converts march. A government agency might have a continuous-improvement march. A homeless center might have a getting-people-housed march. A police department might have a crime-rate march. Corporations, too, can choose a non-financial march, such as an innovation march.” (p. 51)
Stryker’s 20 Mile March was 20% annual earnings growth and innovation via lots of product iterations and extensions. Intel’s 20 Mile March was to double the complexity of components per integrated circuit at minimum cost every 18 months to two years. Microsoft’s 20 Mile March was an innovation march that consisted of continuous iterations of software products.
Organizations can survive without a 20 Mile March when times are good. But failure to embrace a 20 Mile March in good times makes the organization that much more vulnerable during the bad times. Collins and Hansen observe, “The 20 Mile March helps you exert self-control in an out-of-control environment” (p. 61). A good 20 Mile March keeps you from over extending yourself and thus making you susceptible during an unexpected downturn.
In my next post, we’ll explore the second behavior of the 10x companies. Until then, Collins and Hansen offer a concluding key question: “What is your 20 Mile March, something that you commit to achieving for 15 to 30 years with as much consistency as Stryker, Southwest Airlines, Intel, and Progressive?”
Free Video Download: Scripture Meditation
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Download this free video of various Scripture meditations to begin your next worship gathering.
Help your congregation to meditate on the truth of the Bible as they prepare for worship and a new year.
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Some People Skip Bible Verses
It’s always surprising and saddening to me when people that look like they really love the Lord suddenly start talking or living in ways that are seriously contradictory to the Scripture.
Sometimes Christians get so passionate about a set of Scriptures that they begin raising a few above, and at the expense of, the rest of the Bible. Essentially, they are picking and choosing what they like in Scripture, and they are leaving out other things God has said.
Augustine said, “If you believe what you like in the Gospel and reject what you don’t like, it is not the Gospel you believe but yourself.”
Here are 12 important ways we can avoid this mistake and dedicate ourselves to following God’s Word fully:
1. Dedicate your life to the whole counsel of God.
We are called to rightly divide Scripture (2 Timothy 2:15). We should be on a life-long pursuit to know God more through His Word, and to love God more.
We must follow the whole counsel of God. We cannot follow one Scripture at the expense of others. For example, yes you are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ alone, but God’s Word also calls all those who believe to follow what Christ has commanded and to grow in holiness.
You have to consider the whole of Scripture to rightly interpret any single verse of Scripture.
Most Christians are not trained in understanding God’s Word, and so their pastor as well as books and teachings from Bible teachers who exhibit a love for the Lord and godly living can be helpful tools on this journey to follow the whole counsel of God.
2. There is wisdom in many counselors.
I grew up in a charismatic denomination but over the years have had the opportunity to see churches of many shapes and colors within Evangelical Christian circles. This has given me more of a balanced and wise understanding. I have learned so much from Christians who are different than me.
Don’t hide in one circle of Christianity only. Learn to listen and understand others’ perspectives. It will give you a broader, more balanced perspective on the Scripture (Proverbs 11:14).
4 Money Mistakes Youth Pastors Make
You love working with students and despise working with money. That’s why you’re a youth minister and not an investment banker. But you also know the fastest way to lose your job is to mismanage your church’s money. You’re doing the best job you can with the funds you’ve been given, but it’s easy to mess up without even thinking about it. These are the four most common money mistakes I see when I help youth workers manage their budgets:
1. Paying sales tax sometimes or all of the time. Depending on your state, as much as 7 percent of your budget could go to sales taxes if you’re not careful. It takes just a little bit of work on the front end to figure out tax-exempt systems, but after that, it’s a no-brainer to make sure you don’t pay what you don’t have to pay.
2. Being too optimistic when paying deposits or buying tickets. I know, it would be awesome if 80 students showed up for the Switchfoot concert, but if that’s never happened before, you can’t count on it. Don’t get stuck with 40 extra tickets—that’s like setting $1,200 on fire.
3. Failing to negotiate totally negotiable prices. Imagine you ran a retreat center that was running far below capacity during the off-season. Would you rather rent your space at discounted price or not rent it at all? Can you imagine how many fundraisers you could cut if you asked for and received a 20 percent discount on your next big rental?
4. Focusing on saving pennies instead of making a few big wins. I know a guy who would call his volunteers to ask them to cut pizza coupons from the Sunday paper. It saved him a few dollars, but he would have saved hundreds of dollars and hours of time if he’d just called the pizza place and asked for a church, nonprofit or large group discount.
Now it’s your chance to be the teacher. What is one of the money mistakes you’ve made? How did you fix it? 
Diverse Leaders Offer Solution of Amicable United Methodist Split
Sixteen leaders within the embattled United Methodist Church (UMC) have released a proposal that essentially offers a United Methodist split as a solution to the church’s internal dispute over marriage and gender issues. One reason the proposal is distinctive is because of the influence and diversity among those who signed it.
“We humbly offer to the delegates of the 2020 General Conference the work which we have accomplished in the hopes that it will help heal the harms and conflicts within the body of Christ and free us to be more effective witnesses to God’s Kingdom,” said Bishop John Yambasu of Sierra Leone, according to United Methodist News (UMN). Yambasu was instrumental in initiating the proposal, which was also worked on by well-known mediator Kenneth Feinberg.
“I believe this is a fair and equitable solution that puts decades of conflict behind us and gives us a hopeful future,” said Bishop Thomas Bickerton of the New York Conference. “It became clear that the line in the sand had turned into a canyon. The impasse is such that we have come to the realization that we just can’t stay that way any longer.”
An Amicable United Methodist Split As a Solution
The “canyon” Bickerton was referring to has to do with the Special Session of the General Conference that took place last February, during which the UMC voted on its stance on marriage and same-sex relationships.
Delegates had to choose between two plans. One was called the “Traditional Plan,” which upheld a view of marriage as being between one man and one woman and put restrictions on LGBTQ members who wished to be clergy. The other was called the “One Church Plan,” and it allowed particular churches to come to their own conclusions about gay marriage and LGBTQ clergy. The decision was highly divisive, with 449 voting against the One Church Plan and 374 voting in favor of it. Controversy also surrounded the outcome when The New York Times reported that some of the delegates who participated in the UMC vote were not authorized to do so.
Fallout has continued since that vote. Some UMC colleges have decided to leave the denomination or at least to evaluate their relationship with the UMC. In July, seven Mississippi churches did decide to leave the United Methodist Church. One left, not because it disagreed with the UMC’s vote, but because the members felt the denomination was sidetracked by a debate that should not be taking place to begin with. Last November, five bishops in the UMC’s Western Jurisdiction refused outright to follow the Traditional Plan. Around that same time, leaders with the Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA), who support the Traditional Plan, expressed that they were preparing to break from the UMC and to form a new, traditionalist denomination.
Now another step has been taken in the direction of a United Methodist split. According to UMN, a “diverse, 16-member group of United Methodist bishops and other leaders” has published a nine-page document called “Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation.” The proposal outlines the terms under which churches may amicably leave the UMC. A congregation that wishes to separate would get $25 million and get to keep its property. At the same time, says UMN, the proposal anticipates “ecumenical agreements and cooperation on some fronts.”
UMN notes that this proposal for a United Methodist split would only take effect once approved by the 2020 General Conference, which is to take place this May. However, there is potential for the proposal to have significant sway because of the diversity of the parties involved in it, “including bishops from around the global connection and advocacy group leaders often sharply at odds.” These parties include Rev. Keith Boyette, who is the WCA president, and Jan Lawrence, who is the executive director of Reconciling Ministries Network and who identifies as LGBTQ.
Because leaders from opposing viewpoints have cooperated to achieve this agreement, UMN says “the potential seems strong that the separation proposal can end or at least greatly reduce the denomination’s decades-long struggle over how accepting to be of homosexuality.”
Said Boyette, “I believe this is a fair and equitable solution that puts decades of conflict behind us and gives us a hopeful future.”
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