31 Days of Mindful Proverbs Excerpt: What You Think About

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March 25, 2019

The actions that we produce are driven by our thoughts. Before we make any steps in a particular direction, it is best that we hold ourselves accountable by processing our very own thoughts.

The Word of God teaches us how powerful and influential our thought patterns are; it directs the course of our life. Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

Let’s take for example the illustration of lusting after someone in our heart, continually. As the thought of lust comes in our mind, it is our responsibility to process why we thought of lust, how we plan to respond to this thought and whether this thought will become a recurring thought. If we have thoughts of low self-esteem, we do not have to be defined as a person with low self-esteem or allow these thoughts to control us. We claim and utilize the power within us, by countering our thoughts with faithfulness and confidence. As powerful, thinking human beings, we have to master the art of directing our thought patterns into a fruitful, positive and productive direction. Yes! We can accomplish this task, but it will require some work.

We all are faced with maladaptive thoughts at times, and we all have the ability to channel our thoughts and direct our actions. The initial stage of mindfulness is awareness. Before we are able to challenge a thought process, we have to be aware of that thought and judge its content. Let’s go back to thoughts of lust. A great place to start is to first identify that the thoughts we are having are lustful. After our thought is identified, we then weigh whether it is productive or destructive, which is guided firstly by our belief system and moral standard. Any thought we have should be judged by asking ourselves the question: Is it maladaptive or worth adapting; is it life-bearing or marked with death. Ask yourself: What will happen if I water this thought and what kind of fruit will it produce? Whatever results we are looking for, move in that direction with that thought.

How Do Your Thoughts Shape Your Dreams?

We have the power to accomplish and achieve whatever we believe. Our thought is the road which leads to our dreams.

Whatever we spend our time thinking about becomes the driving force for our actions. For example, when we are driving a vehicle and we focus our attention on a specific direction; whether it be to the left of us or the right of us, the car we are driving automatically goes in the direction of our focus. The same concept is true in the way we think lining up with our actions which directs the course of our lives. We are able to achieve every dream and ambition that we set our minds to—the only barrier that can hinder our progress is our thoughts.

God has already declared that he has good thoughts for us and our future. However, there are forces in this world that want to keep us back from seeing God’s perfect plan. We encounter things in life that are meant to discourage us and make us believe that we are not capable or that we are not meant for good.

The problem is not that life was destined to work against you, the enlightenment is that, because you’ve been shaped to think of yourself based on your experiences, your actions just fulfilled those very thought patterns—you’ve been shaped.

How do we change the course of these thoughtful patterns? We already identified the first stage of awareness. Now we are challenged to replace the negative thought with more positive thoughts and reprogram our thought process; but first we must firmly believe in the ability of our thoughts coming to pass and purpose must be found in our past disappointments. If you believe that God has a great plan and purpose for our lives, we start with that belief. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

This article is an excerpt from 31 Days of Mindful Proverbs: Healing Words for the Soul by Latoya A. Delmadge.

Hundreds of Christians Dead in Nigeria as Violence Continues

By

Jessica Lea

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March 25, 2019

Last Monday, terrorist group Boko Haram attacked the town of Michika in the Nigerian state of Adamawa. While the precise death toll of that incident is unknown, “scores” of casualties have been reported, according to the Washington Examiner. This attack is only one of many recent ones in Nigeria from either Boko Haram or militant Fulani herdsmen, and Christians are often the targets.

“Kaduna state, part of Nigeria’s Middle Belt, has experienced a significant increase in attacks since 2019, but unfortunately they are far from the only state suffering such events,” says International Christian Concern (ICC). “It has been reported that at least 70 Christians have been killed during a 10-week span at the beginning of 2019 across the other Middle Belt states.

What Happened

Monday’s attack started at 7:30 p.m. and continued for several hours. Witnesses say the terrorists stole seven vehicles and started shooting in the streets. Government troops did intervene and, according to a press statement, effectively routed the terrorists. Father Peter John Wumbadi, head of St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Michika, says that despite military intervention, the city was in chaos. Hearing bombs and gunfire, he took six teenage students and left the city, taking refuge 50 miles away in the parish at the city of Kalaa. On their way out, they saw burning buildings and people fleeing into the bush. Wumbadi said, “There was an onslaught today.”

Escalating Violence in Nigeria

This is only the latest in a string of reports of violence in Nigeria. ICC says that since February 10, a minimum of 270 people have been killed in Kaduna state alone. Nine Christians died in an attack on Saturday, March 16, in Nandu village in Kaduna. Providence reports that starting on Sunday, March 10, at least 120 Christians, including many women and children, were killed by hundreds of Fulani herdsmen. These killings were believed to have been a response to unfounded claims from Kaduna’s governor that on February 11, 66 Fulani herders were murdered by their enemies. Local Christian leaders believe the governor’s claim was a ploy to postpone the February 16 presidential election.

Baptist Press reports that Muhammadu Buhari was re-elected as president on February 26, and the report notes that Buhari did not do well in Christian communities, but was able to win because of his support among Muslim populations. Many believe that the government’s response to the violence has been biased and inadequate. According to Baptist Press the ICC says, “There have been no major attempts by the Nigerian government to hold the Fulani accountable or disarm them. The re-election of President Buhari ensures that the government will remain dormant as the perpetrators continue to inflict suffering in Nigeria.”

The conflict goes back much further than 2019, however. In June 2018, Fulani herdsmen killed 86 Christians. Christian leaders called on the government to intervene and stop the “pure genocide” and “senseless blood shedding.” Baptist Press says that a regional Nigerian court has determined that the government “failed to protect victims” in 2016 when 500 people (mostly Christians) were killed by Fulani militants in Benue State. According to Providence, “The most recent incidents, horrific as they are, must be seen in the context of the ongoing ethnic conflict between Nigeria’s chiefly Christian farmers and chiefly Muslim herders that has been ongoing for two decades.”

In its list of the most terrorized countries of 2018, the Global Terrorism Index ranked Nigeria third for the fourth year in a row, says Baptist Press. Also, “Open Doors ranked Nigeria 12th in its 2019 World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most dangerous to live as a Christian. Of the 4,136 Christians killed in 2018, Nigeria accounted for 3,731.”

One senior church leader told ICC, “These frequent attacks on churches and [their] members are really weighing us down. These attacks seem to be escalating soon after the elections.”

Study: Faith Practices Have Powerful Benefits for Teens

By

Stephanie Martin

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March 25, 2019

Church and youth group participation has a “protective” effect on adolescence, according to an extensive study. And one of its authors warns that any exodus caused by recent church sex-abuse scandals may have lasting public-health implications.

Based on an eight-year longitudinal study of 5,000 adolescents, Harvard epidemiology professors Ying Chen and Tyler VanderWeele conclude that “for adolescents who already hold religious beliefs, encouraging [worship] service attendance and private [religious] practices may be meaningful avenues of development and support, possibly leading to better health and well-being.”

Study Reveals Many Perks of Faith Practices

Analyzing data from the “Growing Up Today Study,” researchers found that teens who attend church at least weekly have “greater life satisfaction and positive affect” compared to non-attenders. Participating in faith communities also has “protective factors,” decreasing adolescents’ likelihood of depression by 12 percent and their use of illicit drugs by 33 percent. Religious upbringing also is associated with “higher levels of happiness, of a sense of purpose, of volunteering, and of forgiveness of others.”

Teens who regularly pray or meditate, the study shows, are 30 percent less likely to become sexually active at a young age and 40 percent less likely to get an STD. Frequent prayer is associated with more physical health problems, however, possibly because “individuals with chronic conditions are more likely to use private religious practices to cope with illness.”

Religion’s health benefits come from various sources, researchers say. For example, faith teachings help teenagers “maintain self-control and develop negative attitudes toward certain behaviors,” such as smoking. Practices such as forgiveness and meditation “help youth actively cope with stress.” Church youth groups offer “social support and adult role modeling,” as well as positive peer influences. And churches “connect adolescents to networks and resources in the broader community.”

“What occurs in church and religious environments,” writes VanderWeele, “shapes the important psychological and health benefits that children will carry with them well into adulthood. Having a shared set of beliefs, practices and values instilled at an early age arms young people with some of the tools to navigate the pressure chamber of adolescence.”

Don’t Abandon Religion, Researcher Warns

“Pulling children out of religious communities” in response to recent sexual abuse scandals, warns VanderWeele, “might be akin to throwing out the baby with the bathwater.” In a USA Today editorial, he says crimes against children aren’t excusable and justice should be served, but “completely abandoning religion because of the sins of man may not just be bad for the soul but also for the mind and the body.” Parents must “be fully informed” and “consider all the evidence,” VanderWeele writes, adding that his study “is not proselytizing; this is science.”

Abuse scandals in Catholic and Southern Baptist churches potentially affect one-quarter of Americans, notes VanderWeele, and those scandals could lead to “a rush to the exits for millions” of worshipers. But any exodus from churches, “no matter the reason,” he says, can negatively affect teenagers now and for years to come.

Although faith decisions usually aren’t based on physical or psychological health benefits, VanderWeele says, he advises parents to consider the impact of religious community on “this life” as well as “the next.”

How to Lead Well When Things Go Wrong

By

Dan Reiland

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March 24, 2019

We love to lead when the sun is shining and the wind is at our back, but life and leadership don’t always go that way.

In fact, most experienced leaders will say that’s never reality. Things may be going well, you may even have good momentum, but there will always be obstacles to face. That’s part of leadership.

However, there are times when what you’re facing is more than everyday obstacles to overcome and problems to solve. It seems more like a storm at high seas.

There are times when your difficult circumstances create personal doubt and discouragement, but there is a way to lead through the storm.

This may seem like an unusual thing to say, but you can find some solace in knowing you’re not alone. These conditions have been navigated by many before you.

Here are just a few things I’ve heard recently from different church leaders.

Our church just got sued.
Our board chairman just became seriously, possibly terminally, ill.
Our offerings have been under budget now for six months in a row.
Our student ministry just experienced a 13-year-old break his arm at the youth meeting.
Our worship pastor just announced his resignation without any warning.
Our new property planned for relocation has an easement that kills the deal.
Our young church plant just lost the school we were meeting in.
Our church has lost 20 percent of its attendance in one year.

Any one of these can drain you of enthusiasm and energy, but two or three at one time and it’s all you can do to hold on.

Leading in tough times when things are going wrong is difficult to say the least.

But it’s in the tough times that you grow more and see the hand of God at work.

7 proven basics to help you lead well when things go wrong:

1) Don’t panic.

Sometimes the situation is a surprise and you find yourself blindsided, and other times you could see it coming. But in either way, panic is not the solution. Granted, it is easy to panic.

Panic comes from being overwhelmed and not knowing the way out. Panic is a result of feeling trapped with no solutions, like being caught in a building that’s on fire. But if you panic, you perish. That’s true for you as a leader too.

Step back, get quiet, think and pray. Whether you have only a couple hours or a couple days, take some time. Insist on it no matter how big the pressure or how loud the demands.

Collect your thoughts, regain your peace, and write a few sentences that summarize the problem(s) clearly and succinctly. The outcome will be far better.

2) Own what’s yours to own.

The natural instinct is to source the problem, find blame or place the responsibility somewhere else. The reason that’s natural is because the human system seeks ways to lower pressure.

There are good ways to lower pressure, like in the previous point I mentioned think and pray. And there are poor ways, like try to pass the hot potato to someone else, make excuses or fix blame.

Own what is yours personally to own and take responsibility for the whole situation. This will not only help you grow as a leader but will increase the people’s trust in you and respect for you.

3) Get in front of it.

In many cases you may already feel behind the curve. I understand that. But whatever your circumstance, now is the best time to get out in font and lead.

It starts with what I talked about in the previous point. Own it. Take responsibility. And you need to go public. (Important note: Not necessarily to the whole congregation, but to the appropriate group, and that may be the whole congregation.)

The only thing worse than a leader facing serious troubles is if it seems like either the leader doesn’t know they’re facing big problems or if they are sticking their head in the sand and doing nothing about it.

People are resilient, they can handle more than you think. Don’t keep them in the dark. When trust is established, your people can be surprisingly supportive. Not everyone will be, obviously, but enough. That leads to the next point.

4) Establish who’s with you.

Establishing who’s with you when things aren’t going well is not about allies, politics or forming a coalition. It’s not about finding the people who are on your side. That never solves anything, well, not in the long run. There are no sides, it’s one church. (Or you may lead one campus or one department within your church.)

I’m referring to your inner support team of trusted advisors and your key leadership base.

Let’s be candid, among your key leaders there may be some who think you made a mistake. Or, you didn’t handle it right. But they love and support you and the church. These leaders are invaluable because they tell you the truth and stick with you.

Talk with them, receive their counsel, pray together and make a plan. That’s the next step.

5) Stick to a simple plan.

The kind of plan you need when things aren’t going well is simple, concise and action-oriented.

Deep thinking is necessary, but don’t over-think. Deep thinking involves deeper layers of new solutions, over-thinking is circling the same thoughts over and over again with no new results.

There is no perfect solution. Land one that is sound and the team can agree on. Then stick to it.

At risk of seeming contradiction, you must remain adaptable. The title of this point is “stick to a simple plan,” and that remains true, but some steps in your plan may need to be adapted to meet new turns in your circumstance.

6) Focus on doing the right things not on being successful.

A successful outcome is the obvious desire, but if you make that the focus of your process you make be tempted to take short-cuts in order to get an early success.

You can’t cut corners and get the result you really want.

It’s like a church that does things to draw a crowd on Sunday morning rather than the things that will build disciples of Jesus. (Please forgive the over-generalization, but I’m confident you know what I mean.) Both ways can fill the room, but one can do it in seven days and the other takes a long time.

There simply is no instant success, especially when things aren’t going well. Focus on the right things and don’t give up. That takes us to the last point.

7) Face reality, but don’t quit.

Remember, leaders face problems and solve them. That’s what we do. That’s reality. Your situation may be more difficult than what “normal” problems present, but this truth still applies.

When John Maxwell and I were at Skyline Church in San Diego we faced open opposition to relocation for 10 years. Yes, a full decade! That was the reality, but we (the whole staff and congregation) didn’t quit.

It turned out that our job was to find the land, pay for the land and get it re-zoned. Then Dr. Jim Garlow was the leader to build the building and relocate. That process was also filled with great opposition, but they did it! The Skyline congregation is truly amazing!

That wouldn’t have happened if the leaders or congregation quit.

Keep going, it’s worth it!

This article originally appeared here.

The Worst Sort of Pride for a Christian

By

Nicholas Batzig

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March 24, 2019

Pride is one of the greatest snares to the souls of men and is the snare of measuring ourselves by ourselves and comparing ourselves among ourselves (2 Cor. 10:12). When we allow pride to fester and take root in our hearts, we begin to think, act and speak as if we are more holy than others. When we do so, we make that at which we think we excel our standard of holiness, rather than God’s Law with all of its unattainable depths and requirements. Once we begin to do this with regard to spiritual disciplines or biblical principles, we have succumbed to spiritual pride. John Owen once wrote, “Spiritual pride is the worst sort of pride.” He went on to explain,

“Pride, or carnal confidence in our own wisdom and ability of mind for all the ends of our duty towards God, either keeps the souls of men under the bondage of darkness and ignorance, or precipitates them into foolish apprehensions or pernicious errors…”

The more religious a man or woman may be, the more in danger he or she is to succumbing to the temptation to spiritual pride. This was the error of Pharisaism. Pharisaism was a biblical holiness movement. Pharisaism was fueled by a legal zeal for holiness and biblical justice. Owen, quite intuitively, noted that men and women who profess the grace of God in Christ can equally fall into the snare of spiritual pride and begin to measure their holiness or sanctification against that of others. He wrote,

“Known holiness is apt to degenerate into self-righteousness. What God gives us on the account of sanctification we are ready enough to reckon on the score of justification… We have so much of the Pharisee in us by nature, that it is sometimes well that our good is hid from us. We are ready to take our corn and wine and bestow them on other lovers. Were there not in our hearts a spiritually sensible principle of corruption, and in our duties a discernible mixture of self, it would be impossible we should walk so humbly as is required of them who hold communion with God in a covenant of grace and pardoning mercy. It is a good life which is attended with a faith of righteousness and a sense of corruption. While I know Christ’s righteousness, I shall the less care to know my own holiness. To be holy is necessary; to know it, sometimes a temptation.”

We can begin to identify spiritual pride in our lives by considering what sorts of things we talk about respecting spiritual disciplines. As Jesus explained, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” A couple believes that they have excelled at parenting and so they speak often about the failure of parenting and education in the Christian church. One tithes faithfully, so he frequently speaks about the widespread lack of giving in the church at large. One serves in various capacities in a local congregation and so he begins to complain about how others are not serving to the same degree. When we speak in these ways, we can be sure that we have taken our eyes off of Christ—and our need for His blood and perfect righteousness—and have placed them on our performance, our knowledge or our achievements.

It is hard for our souls to come off of spiritual pride. Sometimes, God allows a believer to fall into some particular sin for a time in order to humble him and to bring him back to a place of humility and dependence. As the Westminster Confession of Faith states,

“The most wise, righteous and gracious God doth oftentimes leave, for a season, his own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and, to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy ends” (WCF 5.5).

At other times, God allows us to fixate on our failures, our natural depravity and our uncleanness, so that any of the goodness He is working in us is hidden from us. As Owen explained, “We have so much of the Pharisee in us by nature, that it is sometimes well that our good is hid from us.”

However we come to terms with the spiritual pride that ever seeks to gain control of our hearts and minds, we must turn to the crucified Savior in brokenness and humility, crying out for him to cleanse us from this evil. There is no room for pride at the foot of the cross. When we see that Christ was crucified for my spiritual pride, no less than for our lusts, we will want to mortify it as quickly as possible. And, we can be sure that until we are in glory, spiritual pride will most rear its ugly head again and again the moment we allow ourselves to think that we are excelling in holiness. Don’t be deceived, “spiritual pride is the worst sort of pride.”

1. John Owen, The Works of John Owen, ed. William H. Goold, vol. 4 (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, n.d.), p. 179.

2. Ibid., p. 179.

3.Ibid.

4. The Works of John Owen, vol. 6, pp. 600–601.

This article originally appeared here.

The Church at Walmart

By

Rusty George

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March 24, 2019

I’m not ashamed to say that I spend many hours at Walmart in a given year—sometimes in just a month. Though it is not my favorite trip of the day, it is certainly one of the most convenient. Where else can I buy milk, t-shirts and motor oil?

And in some ways, Walmart can feel like a church; here’s what I mean.

There are greeters: they welcome you and they thank you for coming. There are goods and services: from nail salons to fast food joints to bank branches. And there are multiple messages: signage tells me what is on sale, what season we are in and how to be prepared for the flu.

Unfortunately, most of us view our local church through the same lens that we view Walmart. Does this one have the goods and services I’m looking for? Does this church have the type of messages I’d like to hear? Does this one serve me and meet my needs? And does it do so with minimal amounts of time, effort and money required of me? If not, then we move on to Target.

And while the idea of consumer-driven ministry is slowly stealing the soul of the church, what I’m more interested in is instead of us viewing the church as a trip to Walmart, what if we viewed Walmart as a trip to church?

Going to church is supposed to be a place to bring friends, greet others, share our faith, use our gifts, be generous, thank God and learn how to live like Jesus. Then we go to Walmart and we ignore others, are rude to cashiers, fight for a parking place and assume everyone else’s day is less important than ours.

Most of us sequester our church behaviors to a building, but what if we took the church to Walmart? Micah 6:8 tells us that what God requires of us is to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with Him. How would Micah 6:8 look in Walmart?

Act Justly.

When you head to Walmart, there are always people outside in need. Whether it is the person on the corner with the cardboard sign or the person in the parking lot with four kids, a carload of groceries and no one to return her cart. What if we stopped and asked the person on the corner, “What can I get you while I’m inside?” What if we helped the struggling mom by offering to take her cart in for her and what if every time we went inside we pushed a few stray carts in with us?

Love Mercy.

I’ll admit, I can become very impatient at Walmart. My father-in-law always says, “When you go to Walmart, if you expect to be in there a long time, you’ll always be relaxed.” So, instead of fighting for our desire to break the record of the quickest trip of being in and out, what if we let others cut in front of us? What if we said, “No, you first,” what if we parked far away rather than fighting the elderly for a front-row spot and what if when our cashier made a mistake or had to turn her light to flashing, we said, “That’s OK, no problem.”?

Walk humbly.

Remember the sage advice, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” Well guess what, they are. You don’t know who in that store just got a cancer diagnosis or just found out they are headed to divorce court or perhaps just lost their job. Take time as you walk down the aisles to quietly pray for those around you, offer to help those who can’t reach something or encourage someone who seems discouraged. Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less often. So, take time in Walmart to see others, to recognize that the world doesn’t revolve around you and to be Jesus in the frozen foods.

Think what would happen if everyone who just came from church brought church with them to Walmart?!?! it just might change the world—one Walmart at a time.

This article originally appeared here.

U.K. Officials Cite Scripture to Deny Iranian Man Asylum

By

Jessica Lea

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March 22, 2019

Earlier this week, British officials refused to grant asylum to an Iranian man who had converted from from Islam to Christianity. The New York Times reports that the Home Office cited verses from the books of Exodus, Leviticus and Revelation in response to the man’s statement that he had converted to Christianity after learning it was a peaceful religion.

“I have seen quite a lot of cases where the Home Office does not believe that the person has not [sic] converted from Islam to Christianity, but I have never seen anything quite like this one,” said Colin Yeo, a lawyer who specializes in immigration.

The Iranian man filed his claim in 2016, and the government rejected it last Tuesday, according to the man’s caseworker, Nathan Stevens, who posted excerpts from the Home Office’s refusal letter on Twitter.

The Home Office cited various verses demonstrating violence, such as one from Leviticus that says, “You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you.” The refusal stated, “These examples are inconsistent with your claim that you converted to Christianity after discovering it is a ‘peaceful’ religion, as opposed to Islam which contains violence, rage and revenge.”

Stevens described himself as “genuinely shocked” at the Hope Office’s response. In another tweet he asked, “Whatever your views on faith, how can a government official arbitrarily pick bits out of a holy book and then use them to trash someone’s heartfelt reason for coming to a personal decision to follow another faith?” The Church of England and immigration advocates have condemned the decision.

Whatever your views on faith, how can a government official arbitrarily pick bits out of a holy book and then use them to trash someone’s heartfelt reason for coming to a personal decision to follow another faith?

— Nathan Stevens (@nathestevens) March 19, 2019

The British Home Office is “the lead government department for immigration and passports, drugs policy, crime, fire, counter-terrorism and police.” It did verify that the letter was authentic. The New York Times reports that a spokesperson has responded to the incident, saying, “This letter is not in accordance with our policy approach to claims based on religious persecution, including conversions to a particular faith.”

One of Many Blunders

The Independent reports that the British Home Office has come under criticism multiple times in the past year over how it has treated immigrants. In one instance, the Home Office stopped a U.S. citizen from visiting her daughter, who had a serious illness, and changed its verdict only 12 hours after the Independent reported on it. Another time, the government stopped an Amsterdam student from attending an academic conference. As before, the decision was changed after the incident got media attention. The Home Office threatened an Afghan man who had served in the British army, and officials also prevented a 6-year-old boy born in the U.K. from returning after he took a vacation in Brussels. In April 2018, in what was known as the Windrush scandal, the government wrongly revoked the rights of hundreds of its commonwealth citizens, deporting some of them.

Regarding the government’s recent asylum refusal, legal expert Conor James McKinney says that “The Home Office is notorious for coming up with any reason they can to refuse asylum and this looks like a particularly creative example, but not necessarily a systemic outbreak of anti-Christian sentiment in the department.”

Even Steven Evans, the CEO of the National Secular Society, thought the government’s denial of the man’s claim was “totally inappropriate.” In a tweet, Evans said, “Decisions on the merits of an asylum appeal should be based on an assessment of the facts at hand–and not on the state’s interpretation of any given religion.”

Totally inappropriate for @ukhomeoffice to play theologian. Decisions on the merits of an asylum appeal should be based on an assessment of the facts at hand – and not on the state’s interpretation of any given religion. https://t.co/jiuRcpqkag

— Stephen Evans (@Stephenmevans1) March 20, 2019

There’s Still Hope

There does seem to be hope for the Iranian asylum seeker. On March 22, Stevens tweeted that the Home Office withdrew its refusal and will reconsider the man’s application. Stevens called this “a good start” but says “more change is needed.”

How a Long-Term Partnership in Mexico Strengthened My Church in Virginia

By

Hopson Boutot

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March 22, 2019

Just a few weeks ago during the main worship service of Poquoson Baptist Church in Poquoson, Virginia, about 125 people sang in Spanish. I understand this may seem woefully insignificant. After all, who’s ever heard of Poquoson, Virginia? And why in the world would anyone care about the worship practices of a small Baptist church in a small backwater town?

God often does amazing things through underwhelming means. What happened that Sunday morning was significant because our church is nestled in an isolated fishing community that, according to the United States Census Bureau, is less than 3 percent Hispanic and Latino. But beyond the oddity of a group of small-town Christians singing in broken Spanish, what happened that Sunday morning was significant because it was evidence of how God is turning the hearts of his people to the nations.

Short-Term Mission Trip to Long-Term Partnership

In the summer of 2018, the people of PBC sent 13 members on a mission trip to Mexico City to work alongside our friends, IMB Missionaries Carlos and Lily Llambes. At the time, our goals were modest. We wanted to inject a love for the nations in the hearts of PBC members by actually experiencing evangelism and discipleship in another culture. We had no idea God would turn that simple mission trip into a partnership.

“Our partnership in Mexico City isn’t an isolated interest of the members who went on the trip; the entire congregation is invested.”

With God’s help, our church has committed to work alongside his people in Mexico City to help strengthen local churches in the city and help plant a gospel-preaching local church in a town north of Mexico City that has little gospel presence. What began as a leap of faith for 13 church members in 2018 has turned into two scheduled trips in 2019, an upcoming visit from our missionaries this spring, and several tangible expressions of love and support from our church to theirs. Not to mention an audible symbol of solidarity and unity with our brothers and sisters in Mexico City by singing to God in their language.

Benefits of Missionary Partnerships

We are a small church cultivating a missionary partnership. And if you’re reading this, chances are you desire the same thing. If God can do things like these in our church, he can do similar things in yours. So, let me give you four benefits of establishing a long-term missionary partnership in your local church.

“Building long-term relationships can be fuel for the joy of God’s people as we rejoice together in the ways God works to call to himself people from every tribe, nation, and tongue.”

1. Focus

Cultivating a long-term relationship with missionaries and local churches in Mexico has strengthened our focus as a church. Many churches adopt a shotgun approach to missions engagement, scattering prayer, resources and involvement all over the place. One year a church sends teams to Jamaica, the next year to Kenya, and the year after that to Navajo reservations in Arizona. While we applaud the broad efforts of churches seeking to reach the lost wherever they’re found, we have found we’re able to have an exponentially greater impact by focusing more resources on fewer areas.

2. Unity

Cultivating a long-term relationship has strengthened our unity as a church. Our partnership in Mexico City isn’t an isolated interest of the members who went on the trip; the entire congregation is invested. Church members helped support our team members financially. Many came to hear the reports of what God did during our trip. The entire church sang along with us as we recorded a video to send to our sister church in Mexico City. If our involvement with Mexico City ended after one trip, we would never see the way God has strengthened our unity.

3. Giving

I believe establishing a long-term partnership has strengthened our giving as a church, particularly to international missions. Two years ago we set an ambitious goal for our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering giving, and even though we came close we didn’t reach it. This past year we set an even more ambitious goal and exceeded it. I believe the difference was due to the love for the nations in Mexico City that has gripped the hearts of our people. The call to give to international missions is no longer abstract. We can mentally visualize specific missionaries and real local churches ministering to real people who need Jesus.

4. Joy

Cultivating a long-term missionary relationship has increased our joy as a church. This really shouldn’t surprise us because Paul’s letters are overflowing with joy for the people and churches in which he invested. Getting involved and building long-term relationships with missionaries, peoples and towns with little gospel presence can be fuel for the joy of God’s people as we rejoice together in the ways God works to call to himself people from every tribe, nation and tongue.

So don’t lose heart. And don’t miss out on the tiny, seemingly insignificant things God may be doing in your neck of the woods to turn the hearts of his people to the nations. Who knows? Maybe before we know it we’ll be hearing about some small church in small town USA singing in Mandarin or Arabic.

This article originally appeared here.

Why Charismatics and Non-Charismatics Can Get Along

By

Thomas R. Schreiner

-

March 22, 2019

We live in a world where we like to talk about our disagreements. Debates are exciting, and some say that if we agreed on everything life would be boring. But if we think about the new creation that’s coming, we see that such a perspective is mistaken. When this life is over and we live in the new world that is coming, there won’t be any theological disagreements. We’ll agree on everything, and the debates of this present age will be over forever. Even though our disputes will end, life in the new creation will not be tiresome and monotonous; it will pulsate with excitement as we are continually astonished by our God.

In this article, I have in mind charismatics and non-charismatics who agree on the authority of the Scriptures and the central doctrines of the Christian faith. Given human nature, we are prone to focus on where we disagree (spiritual gifts) instead of where we agree. But we need to stop for a moment and reflect on the fact that our agreement is massive, and we agree on the most important truths in the universe. Let me put it another way: We’re brothers and sisters in the same family. We’re saved by grace through faith; we belong to one another. We confess the same Father, the same Lord, and the same Spirit. We don’t trust in our goodness to save us but we put all our trust in Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified and has risen for our sake.

Paul reminds us in the middle of his discussion on spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12–14) that there’s something more important than spiritual gifts, and he tells us what that something is in chapter 13: love! As charismatics and non-charismatics, we not only can get along, we must get along! We’re commanded by God himself to love one another. To paraphrase Paul, if I have the right view of spiritual gifts but I don’t have love, then I am nothing.

Sometimes, Christians make the mistake of thinking that every doctrine of Scripture is equally important, but that’s clearly not true. For instance, even husbands and wives might disagree on the meaning of a particular verse of scripture. My wife has disagreed with me quite a few times over the years about the meaning of a particular verse, and yet we have complete agreement on all the major doctrines in the Bible. Often sincere believers have disagreements on eschatology, such as the timing of the rapture, or whether premillennialism, postmillennialism or amillennialism is correct. Almost all believers recognize that such eschatological disagreements shouldn’t divide us from one another. We acknowledge that wonderful and sincere Christians disagree on these matters.

Some believers, however, are dogmatic about everything; they speak about every debate and discussion with equal certainty. Such a stance is a bit scary and can easily become cultic; it may reflect spiritual arrogance and pride. We need a bit of proportion by recognizing that not everything in Scripture is equally clear. We need spiritual maturity to distinguish between what is central to the faith and matters over which believers may disagree.

When it comes to the matter of spiritual gifts, of course, the matter is a little more complicated. Churches have to decide whether their church will be a place where all the gifts are exercised. In other words, churches either live out their life as charismatics or non-charismatics. We need to honestly tell people who visit our churches where we stand. Still, we can acknowledge and should acknowledge that churches that differ from us but subscribe to the central doctrines of the Christian faith and faithfully proclaim the gospel are good churches. In some cases, churches that differ from us may, in terms of overall health, be better than the church we are in.

Personally, I’m what I call a nuanced cessationist, but some of the pastors and theologians I admire most are non-cessationist. I think of John Piper, Wayne Grudem and others. All of these men have written about spiritual gifts and disagree with my perspective. I think they are wrong, but it is possible that they are right and I am wrong. In any case, they confess and preach all the vital doctrines of the Christian faith. I love these brothers and they love me because we agree on the main things and the plain things.

I’m fairly certain, by the way, that I am right on spiritual gifts and that my charismatic brothers and sisters are mistaken. I also think there are some important consequences which flow from holding a charismatic position, and I worry that the view of prophecy many charismatics hold can and sometimes does lead to inadequate views on the sufficiency of biblical revelation. But charismatics like Piper and Grudem argue strongly for the inerrancy of Scripture. In fact, Grudem is one of the strongest proponents of the doctrine in our generation.

We don’t have to deny that our view on spiritual gifts or on whether or not infants should be baptized are important. These issues do matter, but they’re not first-order issues. They’re matters on which faithful believers disagree. And we celebrate the good work that the Lord is doing in those who differ from us, and we acknowledge that we don’t see everything clearly now (1 Cor. 13:12). We know that spiritual gifts will pass away, but “faith, hope and love” remain, and “the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13 CSB).

This article originally appeared here.

What to Look for in a Good Friend

By

Charles Stone

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March 22, 2019

God made us to be in relationship with each other. We were made for community and we all want a good friend. But what does a good friend look like? What do they do or not do? In the most intimate of the 13 letters the Apostle Paul wrote that help form the New Testament, Philippians, we see a portrait of what to look for in a friend. Consider these five behaviors that a good friend will consistently live out and ask yourself if you model them as a friend yourself.

In Philippians 1.3-11, Paul gives us this template for what good friends do. A good friend will…

A good friend will remember the best in you (v. 3).
- When Paul prayed for his friends in the church in the city of Philippi, his thoughts of them brought him great joy. He chose to focus on their good qualities, rather than upon their limitations and weaknesses. He remembered their best.
- What emotions and thoughts rise up in the minds of others when they think of you…joy, happiness and peace, or fear, worry and anxiety?
A good friend will give their best to you (v. 5, 7).
- He said that he had them in his heart. He fully gave himself to them by giving them the deepest thing about himself, his heart. He used the word koinonia, which means deep partnership, as he described their strong, intimate relationship. Paul was not a relationship skimmer. Rather he gave himself fully to these special friends.
- How would others describe you? A relationship skimmer or one who is willing to risk and go deep in friendships?
A good friend will encourage the best in you (v. 6).
- He was confident that God would finish the work that He had begun in them. He emphasized that truth and sought to bring out their best. Good friends will bring out your best. Liz Wizeman who studied 150 leaders and wrote Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter discovered that there are two kinds of leaders: multipliers and diminishers. Multipliers bring out the best in others by amplifying their strengths, encouraging them and empowering them. Diminishers do the opposite. They drain you by having all the answers, micro-managing and being self focused. Good friends will always seek to be a multiplier in your life.
- How would others describe you: as a multiplier or a diminisher?
A good friend will pray the best for you (v. 9).
- Paul fervently prayed for his friends. He prayed that they would love Jesus and others more, would learn more about God, and would live out the truths of God’s Word in their conduct and character. Good friends will pray that those three things will become reality in their friends.
- When you last prayed for your friends, what did you pray for them about?
A good friend will expect the best from you (v. 10-11).
- Good friends will hold you accountable. They will tell you what you may not want to hear because they will expect the best from you. They won’t let you settle for what is just ‘good.’ They will challenge you to do and be your best.
- What friend in your life holds you accountable? Do you have a friend that knows you will expect the best from him or her?

Good friends are rare. But when God gives them to us, they are worth their weight in gold.

What question above most resonated with you? Is the Holy Spirit prompting you to become a better friend?

This article originally appeared here.

Young Leaders, Deepfakes and 7 Things I Learned at Sxsw About How the World Is Changing (Again…)

By

Carey Nieuwhof

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March 22, 2019

The world is changing so fast it often feels impossible to keep up.

Technology is one thing.

But so many other things are changing too. Take cultural assumptions for example. What was true a few years ago—or more dangerously, what we tell ourselves is true—isn’t necessarily true anymore.

Few events in the world do a better job of letting people think about and experience the future than SXSW (pronounced South By Southwest) in Austin, Texas.

Young Leaders, Deepfakes and 7 Things I Learned at Sxsw About How the World Is Changing (Again…)

Personally, going to SXSW was a bucket list thing for me. But to go there for the first time as a speaker was completely over the top (I spoke to tech and start-up leaders about seven success killers even top leaders miss, based on the insights in my book, Didn’t See It Coming: Overcoming the 7 Greatest Challenges No One Expects and Everyone Experiences.)

There are so many applications I took away from my four days at SXSW that apply to leaders in every field.

Here are seven things I saw at SXSW about how the world’s changing.

1. YOUNG ADULTS WILL FIND THE CASH AND TIME IF THE VALUE’S HIGH ENOUGH

One of the first things I noticed at SXSW was how young the crowd was. The average age may have been below 30.

Which is interesting, because SXSW is not an inexpensive event. At all.

Registration starts in the low hundreds and rises quickly to well over $1,000. And that’s just for admission. Add flights, hotels and meals to the bill, and you can drop three grand on attending before you know it. (Trust me, there are no bargain airfares, hotels or Airbnbs during SXSW).

It’s also not a small event. 75,000 people will attend this year’s SXSW, so it’s not like someone managed to get 150 27-year-olds in the room. No, this attracted tens of thousands of young leaders from around the world.

Yet when I talk to a lot of leaders, and they complain that Millennials and Gen Z don’t give, don’t attend live events and don’t have any money for whatever they happen to be offering.

Apparently not.

Sure, companies ponied up for some attendees, but if that’s the only explanation, I would have expected a lot more 45- to 60-year-old executives.

If you’re having trouble attracting the next generation, it’s likely because they don’t see value in what you’re offering.

Rather than blaming people for not embracing what you’re offering, offer something worth embracing.

If you’re a church leader like I am, the problem, of course, isn’t Jesus or the Gospel. But it may well be your approach to Jesus and the Gospel.

2. MOST ORGANIZATIONS UNDERESTIMATE AND UNDERUTILIZE YOUNG LEADERS

I spent most of my one-on-one time at SXSW talking to leaders age 30 and under.

Guess what they had in common? All of them were founders of new companies. One had bootstrapped his firm to 75 global employees. Two others were seeking another co-founder for their startup.

Another leader I spent an evening with is Brett Hagler, CEO and Co-founder of New Story who has raised millions of dollars to design the technology to 3-D print houses.

This summer, they’re going to Latin America to 3-D print entire communities. You read that right. They’re 3-D printing villages. (Check out Fast Company’s piece on this latest phase). Brett is 29.

If your organization keeps 20-something leaders on the bench to learn, or only places them in junior roles, enjoy watching the future pass you by.

3. PHILOSOPHERS AND THEOLOGIANS NEED TO CATCH UP TO ENGINEERS

Amy Webb gave a brilliant session on future tech trends. She highlighted just a few of the 300+ trends she notes in her 2019 report.

One thing that was clear from her report and others is that technology is advancing faster than our ability to know what to do with it.

Philosophers and theologians, to be sure, have some catching up to do.

On everything from DeepFakes, to autonomous cars (do you program a car to choose to hit a pedestrian or alternatively crash into a cement wall, which may kill the driver?) to genetic engineering, we don’t really know what we’re doing to ourselves.

On DeepFaking, for example, consider this from Amy’s report (p.210…you can download it for free here):

Pair VR with the concept of DeepFake technology and you’ve got a frightening prospect: anyone could virtually take on an identity not their own, complete with a digitally projected physical appearance, voice and movements indistinguishable from those of the individual they are impersonating.

In a distant-future era, with VR constituting a majority of human experiences, and with such shapeshifting abilities at everyone’s fingertips, it will become increasingly less possible to verify the identities of those around us.

Distrust will infect all social interaction, along with the intense mental strain of living under constant threat of identity theft, if not loss of identity entirely. New authentication techniques will be imperative if we are to maintain sanity and order in society, and we will need to be constantly vigilant in verifying the identity of those we interact with.

The post-truth culture we live in just got more complicated. Technology is outstripping ethics, and in an era where consensus around ethics and morality is splintering, the field is ripe for theologians and philosophers to speak meaning into our present and future.

One more question before we leave this point: Who exactly owns your DNA? If you think the answer is clear, think again, particularly if you used a DNA service to learn more about your health or ancestry.

The crisis we’re facing today isn’t a crisis of information or technology, it’s a crisis of meaning and ethics.

4. PEOPLE STILL HAVE LONG ATTENTION SPANS AND DEEP CURIOSITY

So much for the idea that people have short attention spans.

Surprisingly, people still have long attention spans and deep curiosity.

As we’ve seen with the surge in long-form podcasting, something I value as a podcaster myself, humans don’t have the attention span of a goldfish after all. There’s a huge market for long-form, in-depth, nuanced, complex and honest dialogue.

And people’s curiosity runs deep. Deeper than you think. One of the features of SXSW is that people line up for talks…sometimes for hours.

So forget the idea that people have zero patience for great ideas and points of views.

Application? The problem with your message may not be that you’re shooting too high, it might be that you’re shooting too low.

And what about length?

Well sure, not everyone stays for all 11 days of the event. I was there for four but easily could have stayed longer (and plan to next time).

Because our culture is so geared to choice and autonomy, what most of us who create content of any kind are learning is that five minutes of boring is five minutes too long. Sixty minutes of fascinating isn’t nearly enough.

5. THE COMPANIES WHO ACT LIKE HUMAN BEINGS ARE THE COMPANIES THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE IT IN THE FUTURE

One of the drop-the-mic moments that happened for me was in a session led by Minjae Ormes.

In it, one of the presenters shared this quote (source unknown): The companies who act like human beings are the companies that are going to make it in the future.

100 percent.

As life becomes more digitized, randomized and anonymous, people crave personal and real.

So when you think about your public interface, the more human you become, the more real you are, the more connection you’ll build.

You absolutely need the latest and best technology. But the more human you become, the better your chance for impact is.

6. SOMETIMES AUTHENTICITY GIVES YOU AUTHORITY. SOMETIMES IT DOESN’T.

This one’s for communicators who, like me, spend a lot of time speaking in front of Christians.

I speak at a church that specializes in reaching unchurched people, but it’s still church. Similarly, in the conferences and events I speak at, whether that’s in the church conference world or business world, the audience often has a lot of Christians in it.

I just loved that this wasn’t the case at SXSW.

I do believe that authenticity is the key to preaching in a way that reaches our culture today.

Sure, people admire your strengths, but they resonate with your weaknesses, but I noticed something at SXSW that will make me change my approach the next time I’m in front of a group where almost no one shares my faith.

I usually lead with my vulnerabilities when I speak. I’ll talk about my weaknesses, a struggle I had or a mistake I made, and it builds instant rapport….in the church world.

I spend a lot of time reading my audience when I speak, and what I sensed is that the vulnerability made some people uncomfortable. In the end, the authenticity resonated (I had a number of people from major corporations ask me if I did consulting because they don’t spend nearly enough time talking about it), but it took a while to get there. It wasn’t instant, like is most of the time I speak.

So it got me wondering.

So here’s the pivot I’m doing next time.

I sensed what the corporate audience was looking for was authority…what right do I have to speak into this space and what right do I have to speak to them?

Those are great questions. After all, Christians (and pastors especially) don’t have a lot of credibility in the culture anymore.

Even though I didn’t lead by announcing I was a pastor (I shared that later in the talk), I realized I needed to establish authority earlier in the talk.

You can do that in a variety of ways:

Describing the problem you’ll address in a way that’s hyper-relevant to your audience.
Telling a story that’s directly related to the subject your addressing.
Sharing data on why what you’re talking about matters.
Sharing your credentials on why you have expertise on a given topic.

The day after I spoke, I rewrote my talk, opening it (for the next time) with data outlining why the subject is so important, sharing what’s at stake for the audience and leading with the most pressing problem I sense the audience will be leaning into. I moved the more personal, vulnerable things toward the end of the talk.

My big takeaway? In most Christian circles, authenticity gives you authority. When dealing with a non-Christian audience, authority gives you permission to be authentic.

The really sad part? Many Christians never get in front of truly unchurched audiences or people to even test that out.

7. PRODUCTION AND BRANDING ARE VERY MUCH ALIVE

There’s a debate about the peak of attractional churches, and I do think we’re moving into an era where real is the real deal.

But don’t let that convince you that branding, production, AVL and cool is dead.

There was an interesting paradox at SXSW. The branding for the event was everywhere. You couldn’t look left or right without seeing a banner, graphics or a step-and-repeat set up for selfies and photo-ops. Not to mention a decent merch counter.

So branding isn’t dead.

But it wasn’t drawing attention to itself. It wasn’t saying look at how cool I am. It was just, cool. (Side note: In my view, people at SXSW tried way less hard to be cool than I’ve seen in many church circles.)

It’s almost as though branding is just something you do…it was baked-in, omnipresent and almost like wallpaper.

That’s just where our culture is at right now.

There are two branding mistakes church leaders make.

First, is to put too much stock in it, as though better branding will be your salvation. Of course, it won’t be. As ad legend David Ogilvie said, “Good marketing makes a bad product fail faster.” No, branding is just a part of life in 2019.

Which brings us to the second mistake: the tribe of church leaders who don’t brand who criticize churches that do. That’s also an error. Branding, good production and AVL can help you share your message in a relevant way.

The reason relevance still matters is simple: The culture doesn’t listen to people it deems irrelevant. Neither do you.

This article originally appeared here.

The 3 Most Important Ways Your Church Can Disciple Children

By

Church Fuel

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March 22, 2019

As a church leader, the path to disciple children is challenging.

You have one significant roadblock you have to overcome: time.

Think about it.

How much time does your church spend discipling children?

Do you provide programs or Bible studies?

Does your staff or volunteers spend one-on-one time discipling students?

Make an honest evaluation of the amount of time your church directly influences children.

Is it one hour per week?

Do you offer two to three hours of training?

The 3 Most Important Ways Your Church Can Disciple Children

Regardless of how much time you spend, it fails in comparison to the amount of time children spend with their family’s during the week.

My intention in telling you this isn’t to smash your hopes against the rocks. Think of what I’m saying more like waving smelling salts under your nose to wake you up to the reality your church faces when it comes passing the torch of faith to the next generation.

Does this mean you shouldn’t provide programs or Bible studies for children?

Nope. That’s not the case at all.

The point I want to stress is that you should view the programs you offer as support to parents—not a replacement.

Here’s the good news:

There’s no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

You won’t need to make significant changes in your church to empower parents and guardians to disciple children in their home.

In this post, I’m going to share with you three overlooked ways you can lead parents to disciple children. What I’m going to share isn’t necessarily revolutionary. But it will help you to connect the dots.

Here we go!

#1. Lead parents and guardians to live for Jesus

Discipling children doesn’t begin with children.

Discipling children begins with their parents and guardians.

Can you influence a child for Christ?

Absolutely.

But as a church leader, it’s difficult to disciple children if their parents or guardians are not committed to Jesus.

Here’s the deal:

As you lead parents to live for Jesus, then they’ll be able to guide their children to live for him.

Parents have everything they need to disciple children.

God gives them the grace and power they need to fulfill their calling as a parent.

In writing to the church at Corinth, Paul had these encouraging words to share:

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Cor. 12:9).

In Christ, parents receive the power they need to lead their family to live and love like Jesus.

Do they need specialized training?

No. But it’s helpful for parents to read books, attend parenting conferences or seminars, and seek help.

Are there certain “things” parents should do?

Sure. But it’s not as tricky as you probably think it is.

What’s the bottom line?

The most significant influence in the life of a child is their parents and who they are as a Christian.

Before parents can lead their children to follow Jesus, you must lead parents to drink from the wells of God’s grace first.

#2. Help parents to talk about their faith

Life as a Christian isn’t a to-do list—it’s a lifestyle.

It’s who we are and what we do.

In time, our faith in Christ will lead us to live like Christ.

The holds true for discipling children.

What does this mean for church leaders?

It means you need to help parents see that faith is more than participating in a worship service. From the time we wake up in the morning to the moment we go to bed at night, our devotion to Jesus influences what we believe, how we live and how we parent.

Practically speaking, for parents, here’s what I’m talking about:

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deut 6:6–9).

From this one passage, you can see that discipling children is more than what your church can offer during a weekday or weekend worship service. Discipleship mostly takes place in the home.

As a church leader, encourage parents and guardians to make the most of their everyday life.

During the day, families have several natural times they can talk about their faith, including:

During dinner
Before bedtime
On the road
One-on-one time

Let’s take a look at these in detail.

During dinner, encourage families to give thanks to God for their food (1 Tim. 4:5). After a prayer of thanksgiving, challenge parents to make it a priority to talk about their kids’ days and find ways they can connect conversations back to Christ.

Before bedtime is a natural time parents can share their faith and encourage their children. If you missed a dinnertime opportunity to talk and pray, encourage parents to pray for their children and ask them specifically what they can pray for.

Do parents drive their kids to school? They can redeem a portion of this time by talking with their kiddos in the car.

Another helpful way parents can engage their children is by planning one-on-one time with their kids. By taking their children out for a treat, lunch or whatever, parents will have plenty of time to ask questions and listen to what they have to say.

There are plenty of opportunities for parents and guardians during the day. But these few suggestions will help you to lead parents to engage their children at key moments.

#3. Equip parents to read the Bible

Over the years, there are several common ways churches have reached out to children:

Sunday school
Vacation Bible study
Youth groups

As I mentioned above, these programs—and others—are helpful, and they are a tremendous support for parents. However, to disciple children, you have to equip parents and guardians to become disciple-makers in their home.

There are several resources available to help you do this. But there’s a straightforward discipleship hack any parent can use regardless of how long he or she has been following Jesus.

This tip doesn’t require building an extensive library, obtaining a seminary degree or attending a conference.

The only thing parents will need is a Bible, time and staying one step ahead.

Here’s the big idea:

Encourage parents to read the Bible with their family, and ask three simple questions.

What did the Bible say?
What does it mean?
How does this change me?

Let me break this down.

With the first question, the goal is to lead children to think about what they just read. Think “reading comprehension.” At this point, encourage parents not to worry about talking about the meaning of the text. The only thing they need to focus on is helping their children understand what was written.

Pro tip: Parents can crank this up a notch by helping their children make relevant cross-references in the Bible. Doing this will help children to see that every individual book of the Bible ties into one big story of redemption.

After kids know what the Bible says, ask the second question to help them understand what it means. For some portions of the Bible, such as the Historical Books like Joshua and Ruth, you may not be able to pull out a meaning per se. But for other books of the Bible, such as the Prophetic Books (Isaiah) and the Epistles (1 Corinthians), you’ll be able to pull out a ton of meaning.

Take your time. Don’t feel a need to rush this question.

Pro tip: Parents can read ahead to identify key themes in the passage, and potential questions children may ask. Staying one step ahead is the name of the game.

Finally, with the last question, the big idea is to help children apply what was read and discussed. Again, there will be times when you won’t have anything earth-shattering to share, and that’s OK.

Pro tip: Encourage parents to identify one idea their family can focus on during the day or throughout the week. They’ll be surprised by how often this will come up during that time.

Champion parents and the church

Parents and guardians are the best people for the job of discipling their children.

As you challenge parents to fulfill their call to disciple children, don’t forget to let them know that your church is there to support and equip them to lead their family well. Let parents know they can reach out to a pastor, elder or deacon, or someone in your church they can learn from.

8 Often Overlooked Signs of Depression

By

John Opalewski

-

March 21, 2019

There are 8 often overlooked signs of depression that every person needs to know.

“John, I’m feeling depressed.”

In my line of work, I often hear those words. Having experienced major depression two decades ago, when someone tells me they’re feeling depressed, I wonder: Are they having a couple of bad days in a row—or are they dealing with depression for real?

According to the World Health Organization, and the National Institute of Mental Health, here are some of the most common forms of depression:

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Major depression is characterized by an overwhelming feeling of sadness or a loss of interest and pleasure in most usual activities. Other associated symptoms include decrease or increase in appetite, insomnia or hypersomnia, constant fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or excessive and inappropriate guilt, recurrent thoughts of death and/or suicide, and cognitive difficulties, such as diminished ability to think, concentrate and make decisions. Any combination of at least five of these symptoms persisting for two weeks or longer may indicate major depression.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)

The essential feature of PDD is a low, dark or sad mood that is persistently present for at least two years. For the individual to receive the diagnosis of persistent depressive disorder they also have to be experiencing two of the following symptoms: poor appetite or overeating, insomnia or hypersomnia, low energy or fatigue, low self-esteem, poor concentration, difficulty making decisions, or feelings of hopelessness. The symptoms of PDD are not as severe as with major depression.

Depressive disorder related to a medical condition

Endocrine and reproductive system disorders are commonly associated with depressive symptoms. For example, people with low levels of the thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) often experience fatigue, weight gain, irritability, memory loss and low mood. When the hypothyroidism is treated it usually reduces the depression. Cushing’s syndrome is another hormonal disorder caused by high levels of the hormone cortisol which can also cause depressive symptoms.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

People with SAD suffer the symptoms of a Major Depressive Disorder only during a specific time of year, usually winter. Every February here in Michigan, I wonder if I should move to a warmer, sunnier climate. SAD appears to be related to the shorter daylight of winter, and the lack of sunlight in many parts of the country.

So: How do you know if you’re just having a few bad days in a row—or struggling with one or more forms of depression? (NOTE: If you’re dealing with suicidal thoughts, stop reading and go get help right now! See your doctor, get to a counselor, reach out for help without delay).

Here are eight easily-overlooked signs of depression that can help you determine if you’re heading toward a depressive episode or in the middle of one:

Fatigue – Not just garden-variety fatigue. Rather, chronic fatigue—physical, mental and emotional tiredness. If you always feel tired, even though you are sleeping well at night (most adults need seven to nine hours per night), it’s possible you’re suffering from depression.
Rapid weight changes – When I was suffering with major depression, I lost my appetite—and 30 pounds within three months. Other depression-sufferers respond by overeating in an attempt to find some sort of pleasure in life.
Insomnia or hypersomnia – In other words, difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much.
Difficulty concentrating – Dr. Norman Sussman describes it this way: “Depression is like a form of reversible brain failure. It’s like your CPU isn’t working properly.”
Phantom physical symptoms – In my struggle with major depression, I experienced numbness in my arms and legs. Neurological tests ruled out any physical explanation for those sensations. I also suffered with a persistent feeling of choking coupled with difficulty breathing. An ear, nose and throat specialist confirmed there was nothing physically wrong, even though the choking sensation felt real.
Increased irritability – Irritability is often mistaken as a character flaw. While it may be that—oftentimes it’s an indicator of looming depression.
Anxiety – I experienced the twin challenges of major depression and crippling anxiety at the same time. Nasty combo.
Indecisiveness – Depression may can cause you to have difficulty making decisions that you used to make easily.

So what can you do if you suspect you’re suffering with one or more forms of depression? I want to encourage you to apply a full-court press strategy:

Get to your doctor immediately

It’s possible that other medical conditions are contributing to your depression. Your doctor may prescribe antidepressant medication for a while. This type of medicine helps stabilize you so you can work on those things fueling your depression.

Schedule an appointment with a qualified therapist

Therapists know how to scrub out emotional wounds. Talk therapy can be extremely helpful in correcting thought processes and interpreting feelings, as well as setting strategies for healthier emotional hygiene.

Get your body moving

Regular exercise does emotional wonders for most people. Research suggests exercise releases feel-good chemicals in your brain that lift your mood. Check with your doctor before you start.

Reintroduce laughter

King Solomon wrote: “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” Regular doses of laughter are a strategic part of the full-court press.

Find a supportive community

The last thing you need if you’re depressed is to be alone in your depression. The second-to-last thing you need is to be around the wrong kind of people. You need to be around friends who love you, are committed to you, who replenish you, and like to laugh. Schedule healthy community into your weekly rhythm.

Revisit/reset your workload

If you’re working 55-60 hours every week, blowing by Sabbath rest on a regular basis, and can’t remember the last time you took a vacation—no wonder you’re struggling with depression! Take charge of your calendar or it will take charge of you.

Work toward seven to nine hours of sleep each evening

Your brain repairs itself when you sleep. It flushes toxins when you sleep. Cutting corners on sleep over the long haul usually intensifies depression. Sleep is an important part of the full-court press.

Listen: If you’re having a couple bad days in a row, welcome to the human race. It happens to all of us periodically. But if you’re legitimately suffering with depression, take it seriously and apply the full-court press. Depression is not a life sentence. It doesn’t have to be the final chapter in your story. But it won’t magically disappear on its own. Hopefully the outline I’ve sketched out above will get you started in the right direction.

I’m rooting and praying for you!

P.S. A full discussion of depression and how to deal with it is outside the scope of this post. I highly encourage you to check out my book Unshakable You: 5 Choices of Emotionally Healthy People. It will provide more detailed strategies for building an approach to life that will help you get and stay healthy emotionally.

This article originally appeared here.

24 Volunteer Rejects for Children’s Ministry… And 1 We Might Keep

By

Greg Baird

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March 21, 2019

Looking for volunteers for your Children’s Ministry? Checking them out is important. However, it’s also important that we keep God’s perspective in mind as we evaluate volunteers (or staff!) so we don’t cast away volunteer rejects. Here’s a little fun to help us keep perspective:

Adam: Good man but problems with his wife. Also one reference told of how his wife and he enjoyed walking in the woods wearing nothing but fig leaves.

Noah: Former pastorate of 120 years with not even one convert. Prone to unrealistic building projects.

Abraham: Though the references reported wife-swapping, the facts seem to show he never slept with another man’s wife, but did offer to share his own wife with another man.

Joseph: A big thinker, but a braggart, believes in dream-interpreting, and has a prison record.

Moses: A modest and meek man, but poor communicator, even stuttering at times. Sometimes blows his stack and acts rashly. Some say he left an earlier church over a murder charge.

David: The most promising leader of all until we discovered the affair he had with his neighbor’s wife.

Solomon: Great preacher but our relocation costs for all his wives are out of our budget.

Elijah: Prone to depression. Collapses under pressure.

Elisha: Reported to have lived with a single widow while at his former church.

Hosea: A tender and loving pastor, but our people could never handle his wife’s occupation.

Deborah: Strong leader and seems to be anointed, but she is female.

Jeremiah: Emotionally unstable, alarmist, negative, always lamenting things, reported to have taken a long trip to bury his underwear on the bank of a foreign river.

Isaiah: On the fringe? Claims to have seen angels in church. Has trouble with his language.

Jonah: Refused God’s call into ministry until he was forced to obey by getting swallowed up by a great fish. He told us the fish later spit him out on the shore near here. We hung up.

Amos: Too backward and unpolished. With some seminary training he might have promise, but has a hang-up against wealthy people—might fit in better in a poor congregation.

Melchizedek: Great credentials at current work place, but where does this guy come from? No information on his resume about former work records. Every line about parents was left blank and he refused to supply a birth date.

John: Says he is a Baptist, but definitely doesn’t dress like one. Has slept in the outdoors for months on end, has a weird diet and provokes denominational leaders.

Peter: Too blue-collar. Has a bad temper—even has been known to curse. Had a big run-in with Paul in Antioch. Aggressive, but a loose cannon.

Paul: Powerful CEO type leader and fascinating preacher. However, short on tact, unforgiving with younger ministers, harsh and has been known to preach all night.

James & John: Package deal preacher & associate seemed good at first, but found out they have an ego problem regarding other fellow workers and seating positions. Threatened an entire town after an insult. Also known to try to discourage workers who didn’t follow along with them.

Timothy: Too young!

Methuselah: Too old…WAY too old!

Jesus: Has had popular times, but once his church grew to 5,000 he managed to offend them all, and then this church dwindled down to 12 people. Seldom stays in one place very long. And, of course, he’s single.

Judas: His references are solid. A steady plodder. Conservative. Good connections. Knows how to handle money. We’re inviting him to preach this Sunday. Possibilities here.

What do you think?

God’s Glory May Be in the Scars

By

Melissa Edgington

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March 21, 2019

God’s glory shows up in places we don’t always expect.

She’s a petite woman with a penchant for wearing sparkles. Chad and I first met her out in East Texas when she would arrive with gusto at different community events, her husband and daughter smiling behind her while she invariably grinned in her honest way and “told a funny.” They’re a singing trio, all extremely talented, but she is the talker of the family, and she weaves stories about God’s goodness throughout their concerts. I was reminded of this when she and her family stood before our little church on Sunday. It’s been years since we laid eyes on the three of them, but they drove out west and delivered the same heartfelt singing and story-telling that I remembered from days past.

Something was different, though. This little sparkly, joyful woman has been struggling through an autoimmune disorder, and when she walked into our church on Sunday, she did so with apologies. Her always-smiling face bears the marks of the disease that she has been battling. She placed her hands gingerly on her pink cheeks, wanting in some way to hide the signs of illness that she felt had to be explained. She was self-conscious and embarrassed by her appearance. Yet, she smiled as usual. And she thanked God. And she got up on a platform in front of hundreds of people and worshiped Him.

I sat on the front row and felt blessed to be a witness to this moment. I have no doubt that she would have been perfectly content to hide in her room while this disease alters her face. She could have easily justified her choice to stop singing, to stop traveling, to stop having this experience of explaining over and over again to a brand new group of people why her face is so changed. Yet, here she was, glorifying God all the more as she stood to honor Him even now and especially now, singing and speaking of His goodness and His faithfulness and of her desire to bring Him glory. In essence she reminded us that it’s not about her face. It’s about Jesus.

I felt sharp pangs of conviction there at the foot of the platform. I had beautiful skin as a teenager, but for unknown reasons when I turned 20 my skin turned on me. I have struggled with acne for all of my adult life and my face bears the scars. At times I become virtually obsessed with my imperfect skin, wishing for something better and different, wondering how I could hide it, bury it, disguise it. Many a day I have wished that I could stay in my house, stay home from church, stay away from my friends and family, sit at home and wallow in misery over the face that I don’t have. Chances are we all have some insecurity that could easily hold us back from doing the work God has for us. We all could find reasons to stay at home and wallow in our obsessions over things that aren’t that important.

On Sunday I sat on the front row, my teen-aged daughter at my elbow. I wondered if she and I would take this moment to heart, if we would remember how one little East Texas woman stood before us with her pink, swollen cheeks, with her insecurities displayed for everyone to freely observe. I wondered if we would remember the lesson that the Holy Spirit gently taught that day, that God’s glory is sometimes more clearly displayed when we are at our most vulnerable. That our struggles and our sufferings are never wasted in the hands of a good God. That even when healing hasn’t arrived, when things are just as bad today as they were yesterday, He can still receive glory and honor through His children.

Chances are that my daughter will remember this lesson more clearly if she sees it in me. So, I’m thankful for the picture that is burned in my mind, a sequin-clad singer with a face that told a tale of God’s glory. May I remember it forever.

This article originally appeared here.

Are Committed Christian Guys an Endangered Species?

By

Jonathan McKee

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March 21, 2019

Where are all the committed Christian guys?

That’s what the girls at Grand Canyon University are asking, because only 24.59 percent of the school’s students are guys. That’s three girls to every one guy (I don’t think the guys mind one bit). That’s a lot of girls with their act together…and a few guys.

Is this abnormal? Or is it possible that the number of committed Christian guys are simply “distracted” from focusing on what matters?

Short answer: yes.

But there is something we can do about it…

Two Girls for Every Guy
Are other Christian schools noticing this “failure to launch”? I called a friend who works in admissions at a large Christian university and asked about this disproportionate ratio of girls to guys.

“It’s typical for Christian schools,” she told me without missing a beat. “More so than secular campuses.”

“What’s your ratio of girls to guys?” I asked.

“65 percent girls.”

The Christian college my girls attended had a 2 to 1 ratio. The guys there would jokingly sing the Beach Boys lyrics, “Two girls for every guy…”

Secular university ratios aren’t quite as asymmetrical, but they still are weighted on the female side. In fact, 2.2 million fewer men than women will be enrolled in college this year. Overall, women will account for more than 56 percent of students on campuses across the U.S. In the ’70s those numbers were almost exactly the opposite, 58 percent men to 42 percent women.

Other countries are seeing even greater inequalities. In Malaysia, more than 64 percent of university enrollments are female. A recent UK study revealed young women are 36 percent more likely to apply to university than their male peers—a record high number.

And the college dropout rate is higher for males. “Over the past decade 30 percent of male college students have dropped out during their freshman year,” education expert Dan Riseman discloses.

Why is this?

Whenever I ask an educator that question they will always mention at least two factors: video games and weed.

But these distractions are affecting more than just education…

Unmotivated, Undisciplined…Unemployed
“Where do you see yourself after high school?” I asked my small group of 8^thgraders. The responses weren’t very noteworthy…until you compared girls to boys.

Girls:
“College. Not sure which one, but for sure college.”
“College.”
“Community College.”
“College. I’m going to get a nursing degree.”
“College.”

Guy’s:
“The military.”
“No idea.”
“Maybe college.”
“I don’t know. Somewhere where I can play video games.”
“I’m going to become an electrician.”

Maybe this is just because the female brain develops quicker and sooner than the male brain, right? Or is it something more?

Why is it that every time I teach at a student leadership convention, the room is typically filled with about 75 percent females? Not every Christian camp, not our dodgeball tournaments, but whenever we gather young people who are serious about their faith girls are always the overwhelming majority.

I’m not saying males in Gen Z are all “going to Hell in a handbasket” (I’m not even sure what a handbasket is). I’ve met some great teenagers with bright futures. I’m just asking…why the surplus of females? Where are all the committed Christian males?

As a dad with two daughters, I’m thrilled for females, but definitely worried about young men.

We’re seeing the same disproportion in the job market. Millennial guys are dragging behind the rest. In fact, Bloomburg reveals, “10 years after the Great Recession, 25- to 34-year-old men are lagging in the workforce more than any other age and gender demographic.” Why? We can’t blame this on guys developing later, after all, the male brain is done developing in the mid-20s.

Economists cite two concerns: video games and drugs.

Stand next to me at the back of one of my parent workshops and watch me field questions from today’s moms and dads. If they begin their sentence with, “I have a question about my son…” then I know exactly where the conversation is going, one of four directions: screens, sexual temptation, substances or struggles with self-esteem.

When my publisher approached me about writing another book to young guys they asked me, “What are the battles today’s guys are facing?” I didn’t miss a beat.

“Fortnite, weed, porn and self-esteem.”

I hear it every weekend from parents.

“If I don’t monitor my son’s screen time, he’ll play Fortnite for 12 hours straight!”

“I caught my son looking at inappropriate images on his phone.”

“My son thinks weed is ‘no big deal,’ and I have no idea what to tell him; after all, it’s legal.”

“My son has no idea what a man is supposed to look like today.”

So how can we help young men battle these distractions?

Finding Focus
How do we actually help young men find focus in a world inundated with distractions?

One world: discipleship.

Don’t underestimate the power of a positive mentor walking through life with a young guy. Behind every successful person, there’s a mentor who helped them along the journey.

A few years ago, one of NBA’s greatest players, Allen Iverson, was inducted into the Hall of Fame. In his emotional and humorous speech, he thanked God for loving him and blessing him; he thanked Tupac and Michael Jackson for being his theme music throughout his career; and in one of the most tender moments of his speech he thanked Philadelphia 76ers coach Larry Brown.

“I was an all right basketball player; I had talent. But once I started to listen to Larry Brown and take constructive criticism, I learned how much of a great, great, great coach that he is. Once I started to listen to him and was coached by him, that’s when I became an MVP, I became an All-Star…and I followed his lead all the way.”

Think of that young man in your life who has so much potential. Who is his mentor? Does he have someone in his life he can glean wisdom from besides Post Malone’s Insta story?

In a world full of so many distractions we need to become proactive about walking with young men as they fight these battles. Grab a discipleship resource that speaks about these issues and meet with a guy over McDonald’s fries once a week. Don’t assume that one school assembly about sex or drug use counters over four hours a day of what they’re hearing daily from music alone.

If you’re a parent, ask yourself, “Am I being proactive about engaging our kids in conversations about truth in our home?”

If you’re a youth worker, ask, “Am I recruiting mentors to hang out with kids one-on-one?” (especially when ministry effectiveness is intrinsically tied to our adult to kid ratio).

If we are not proactive about building into today’s guys, they’ll default to what they’re gleaning from that screen they carry around in their pocket. What are they learning from that?

The answer to the question, “Where are all the committed Christian guys?” will be decided in the next decade simply by how much time we’re willing to invest mentoring them, helping them prepare for these battles and navigate these distractions.

Who are you discipling?

Jonathan McKee is the author of over 20 books including the brand new book for young men, The Guy’s Guide to Four Battles Every Young Man Must Face.

“Young men, please consider reading this book. If you take the advice to heart, it could be a game-changer for your life now and in the future. Jonathan tackles four of the biggest battles you face daily, and yet he does it with humor, stories and biblical insight. As a father and teacher, I wish every young Christian man would read this book.”
–Sean McDowell, PhD, Biola University Professor, speaker, and author of over 15 books including So the Next Generation Will Know

Jonathan McKee is the author of over 20 books including the brand new The Bullying Breakthrough; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller – The Guy’s Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife, Lori, and their three kids live in California.

This article originally appeared here.

Court Victory: Pastors Can Keep Housing Allowance

By

Stephanie Martin

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March 21, 2019

The housing allowance for church ministers, which represents an estimated tax savings of $700 million yearly, is safe—for now. Last Friday, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the allowance doesn’t violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. The unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel in Chicago overturned a district court ruling in Wisconsin.

The clergy allowance, in place since 1954, is for leaders of all religious faiths, according to Internal Revenue Service interpretation. Clergy are exempt from paying taxes on congregation-supplied housing or on the part of their salary designated for housing costs. Federal law also permits a housing allowance for employees such as military members and overseas workers.

In Friday’s ruling, Judge Michael Brennan wrote that the so-called parsonage allowance doesn’t “advance religion on behalf of the government” but allows “churches to advance religion, which is their very purpose.” He added that the tax exemption doesn’t “connote sponsorship, financial support and active involvement of the [government] in religious activity.”

Housing Allowance Ruling Lauded as Victory for Religious Freedom

Groups that champion religious liberty praised Friday’s ruling. “The power to tax is the power to destroy, and so refusing to tax a minister’s housing expenses is simply the best way to ensure the free exercise of religion and prevent the excessive entanglement of government with religion,” said Erik Stanley with Alliance Defending Freedom.

Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, said, “I’m thankful to see sanity prevail in this ruling.” Calling it a victory, he said, “It’s in no one’s interest for the government to penalize clergy in small congregations faithfully serving their communities.”

Striking down the allowance, said attorney Luke Goodrich, “would devastate small, low-income houses of worship in our neediest neighborhoods and would cause needless conflict between church and state.” This ruling represents “not special treatment” but “equal treatment,” he added.

Atheist Groups May Continue the Fight

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, which had won its challenge at the district level, was unhappy with the Circuit Court ruling—and is deciding whether to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The parsonage allowance is “an injustice not just to us, but to taxpayers who have to pay more than their share, because clergy pay less,” says Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president. She adds that it’s “so clearly a handout to churches and clergy, and it so clearly shows preferential treatment and discriminating in favor of ministers.”

Although the latest ruling is a relief to churches and clergy, CPA Michael Batts says the possibility of future action means “we’re not quite to the point in the story where we can say ‘and they all lived happily ever after.’” Despite the possibility of an appeal, for now “the pressure is off of church budgets,” says CPA and attorney Frank Sommerville.

About 81 percent of full-time senior pastors in the United States receive a housing allowance, and the typical church spends about 9 percent of its total budget on housing compensation.

20 Important Questions to Ask Your Children’s Ministry Volunteers

By

Dale Hudson

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March 20, 2019

Children’s ministry is not just about the kids. It’s also about the children’s ministry volunteers who minister to the kids.

One of your top priorities should be developing your volunteers and helping them grow in their faith and service for Jesus.

One of the best ways to help your volunteers grow is by asking them questions. Open-ended questions that will give them the opportunity to share about what God is doing in their life and ministry as they serve.

Here are 20 important questions you can ask your children’s ministry volunteers.

Most of these are designed to be asked in a personal meeting. You can use the questions when you meet with your team members individually…both new volunteers and veteran volunteers. They are in no particular order.

1. Tell me about the last time you saw God at work in your life?

2. Are you serving in your sweet spot? Is it the right fit for you?

3. What do you enjoy the most about serving?

4. When was the last time you were out of your comfort zone?

5. Can you tell me what you do to grow spiritually during the week?

6. What do you want your legacy to be?

7. Do you feel equipped for your current role? If not, what is missing?

8. What are you seeing happen spiritually in the lives of the kids you serve?

9. How can I help you get to the next level in your role?

10. What’s one thing we can do to make the ministry more effective?

11. What inspires you?

12. What’s holding you back from loving Jesus more than you do now?

13. If you could go back in time and be at one of the big events in the Bible, which one would it be and why?

14. Do you feel you currently have opportunities to use your spiritual gifts? Why or why not?

15. What is a new ministry skill you would like to learn?

16. How can I serve you better?

17. Are you establishing any relationships with the people you are serving with? Why or why not?

18. What do you want to see God do in the lives of the kids in your class/group?

19. What books have you read lately? (Give them some suggestions, or better yet, have a copy of the book and give it to them.)

20. How can I pray for you?

Your turn. What are some other questions you ask volunteers? Share with us in the comment section.

This article about children’s ministry volunteers originally appeared here.

Deep Community: Don’t Get Too Close to Group Members?

By

Joel Comiskey

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March 20, 2019

Deep Community: Don’t Get Too Close to Group Members?

“Don’t get too close to other members in the group because if you do, stagnation will happen, and the group will eventually die.” This is what I believed and taught for years. But I was wrong! In the past, when I heard people talking about deep community in the group, I figured their groups were not evangelizing and probably going to stagnate.

The surprising discovery in our book Groups That Thrive is that community stimulates growth and new groups. It naturally leads to outreach, new leaders and more groups. True community and fervent outreach should not be mutually exclusive. As a group grows in love and unity, there’s also the desire to reach out. Community fosters health, vibrancy and outreach.

The research shows that newcomers not only come to the group where community is strong but also want to stay. When care and love are abundant in groups, newcomers want to stick around. They feel like they’ve found a family, a home away from home.

Those who attend caring groups invite their friends. They sense there’s something different about the group and about the church. They feel special and wanted. They want to join.

We also noticed a correlation between caring relationships and developing new leaders. Where caring for people was strongest, groups were able to multiply more frequently.

Community strengthens the sending out of new leaders because new, potential leaders need a caring atmosphere in which to try, fail and try again.

Mistakes are encouraged and love reigns. Each person feels that their contribution is valued and important. Gift use is high in this environment and members are free to experiment with multiple gifts. Leaders are also developed.

Groups should have a chance to develop community and this takes time. I have to admit that I’ve forced groups to multiply too quickly in the past. I remember one small group, in which we enjoyed sweet fellowship and community. The main couple who attended the group had a lot of non-Christian friends, booming secular business in the city, and loved the group.

Yet, after a certain amount of time, I felt we needed to multiply because that’s what small groups were supposed to do. The problem was that it wasn’t natural. The community was not deep enough, and no one was ready to facilitate the new group. This couple correctly realized that I was forcing the group to multiply before it was ready—something that I only later realized. They eventually left the group and the church.

Yes, new births will be painful, and discomfort is part of the growing experience. But I also think we need to make sure that the pain isn’t self-inflicted through misdirected motivation and forced outcomes. The emphasis should always be on lovingly making disciples who make disciples and never forget that it’s a process that takes time.

I now rejoice in those who are constantly promoting community because I’m one of them! And how exciting to know that community (practicing the one-anothers) is not only biblical but it also produces more growth and multiplication.

This article originally appeared here.

Prayer for Anxiety: When You’re Overwhelmed

By

Stephen Altrogge

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March 20, 2019

As one who has struggled with an anxiety disorder for most of my adult life, I know just how important prayer for anxiety is.

And in addition to struggling with an anxiety disorder, I also regularly find myself in the midst of circumstances that tempt me to feel anxious. Whether it’s the stress of upcoming bills or the health of my children or the pressure of being self-employed, I find myself constantly tempted to be anxious.

I need prayer for anxiety.

But here’s the thing…

When I’m being squeezed by the vice grip of anxiety, it’s really hard for me to pray. My brain is going in 10,000 different directions and I often don’t even know what to pray.

Can you relate?

Here’s the good news though. God always hears our prayers for anxiety. He longs to help us when we’re anxious. He wants to meet us right where we are and give us the peace that passes understanding.

As Paul said in Philippians 4:6, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

So what sorts of prayers for anxiety should we pray? Here are five.

Prayer for Anxiety #1: Trusting God’s Good Character

Father, I don’t understand why you’re allowing me to go through these challenging circumstances. I don’t know why you’ve allowed me to be pressed on every side and overwhelmed by the waves of life.

But what I do know is that you are good and loving and faithful. I know that nothing can get to me without first going through you. And I know that you are working all things together for my good and your glory.

As it says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

So even though I may not understand why I’m experiencing these difficult trials, I know that you are walking with me every step of the way. So I lift this prayer for anxiety to you. I trust in you to sustain me even when I can’t sustain myself. You are faithful even when I am faithless.

Prayer for Anxiety #2: Trusting God’s Good Promises

Father, even though I may not be able to see how any good can come out of these circumstances, you have promised to never stop doing good to me.

As you say in Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

In Psalm 84:11 you say, “No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

As I lift this prayer for anxiety, I believe this promise. I believe that you will not withhold a single good thing from me. If something is good for me, you’ll give it to me. If it’s not, you’ll withhold it.

I believe that right now your goodness and mercy are pursuing me. Even though I may feel anxious, I can’t escape your goodness and mercy. You are pouring out blessings on me right now, and nothing can stop your good promises from being fulfilled.

Even though I’m currently feeling anxious, I’m choosing to put my trust in your word over my feelings. I’m choosing to believe your promises rather than what my eyes can see.

Prayer for Anxiety #3: Trusting God’s Good Provision

Lord, in Philippians 4:19 you say, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

I thank you that you are going to meet my every need. I may not be able to see how you’re going to meet my every need, but I’m choosing to believe your promise.

I thank you that you are going to supply my needs out of your bounteous riches in Christ. I don’t have to twist your arm in order to get you to meet my needs. Just as I love to provide for my children, you absolutely love to provide abundantly for your children.

So I’m asking you to provide for me, confident that you will. Confident that you will do great things in response to my prayers.

As I lift this prayer for anxiety, I remember the words of Charles Spurgeon, who said:

It does not matter how heavy troubles are if you can cast them on the Lord. The heavier they are, so much the better, for the more you have gotten rid of, and the more there is laid on the rock.

Father, I’m casting all my cares on you because I know you care for me.

Prayer for Anxiety #4: Trusting God’s Fatherly Care

Lord, your word tells me that you care for me as a Father cares for his children. I am your child and I thank you that you love me with a deep, overwhelming, never ceasing, overpowering love.

As you say in Matthew 7:11, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

Father, even I know how to give good gifts to children, and I’m a sinful human. You are perfectly good and loving, and I thank you that you will give me good, sweet gifts. I thank you that your heart beats with Fatherly affection for me. I thank you that nothing can separate me from your intense, Fatherly love.

As it says in Romans 8:35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”

Because nothing can separate me from your love, I can trust you completely. I can throw all my weight on you. I can hope in you fully. I offer this prayer for anxiety, knowing that you are my good, gracious, heavenly Father.

Prayer for Anxiety #5: Trusting God to Carry Every Burden

Lord, in 1 Peter 5:6-7 you say, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

Father, I humbly offer this prayer for anxiety up to you, casting all my anxieties upon you. The simple truth is that I am not able to carry all these burdens on my own. I don’t have the strength or the wisdom to successfully navigate these challenging circumstances.

And so I am casting every burden, big and small upon you. I am clinging to you in the midst of the storm, holding fast to you. Though I may not be able to carry all my burdens, you absolutely can.

Oh What Needless Pain We Bear

If you’re struggling with anxiety, run to God constantly in prayer. Don’t let anxiety dominate your life. Don’t let worry rule you. Take all your worries and fears and struggles to God and lay them at his feet.

I can’t help but be reminded of the hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus“:

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

Don’t forfeit your peace or bear needless pain. Lift up your prayer for anxiety to God and let him bear your burdens.

This article originally appeared here.

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