5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Christmas Break

December 6, 2018

I love Christmas break, and I am looking forward to doing exactly that. Taking a break. Ministry is busy. Ministry is demanding. If we are not careful, our schedules fill up every single day, and we become burned out in ministry. Look, it is OK for you and I to take a break. So, here are a few ways to make the most of your Christmas break.

1) Sleep – I am stoked about sleeping! Now, in youth ministry, I am told by many: “You’re a youth pastor, you do not need sleep,” or “You’re young, you do not need sleep.” These are lies from the devil. OK, don’t call the person telling you these things the devil, but you get the point. We all need sleep regardless of the age or calling you are into. Take the time over Christmas to rest. Take a nap. Come back after the break RESTED.

2) Read – I am looking forward to reading. Recently, my book reading has been consumed with seminary reading, but I am looking forward to reading some books that I have wanted to read for some time. Also, spend some extra time in your personal quiet time with the Lord. I hope you regularly are doing this, but make some extra time with the person of Christmas as well.

3) Spend quality time with the family – I love family time. I am really close to my family as well as my in-laws. We play games together, shop together and try to see a movie over Christmas. Make time to see family over the holidays.

4) Volunteer with serving the needy in some way – Now, you may think, “Wait this is my BREAK or my VACATION.” I have volunteered in the past by serving and building relationships with some homeless people. First off, you will be immensely blessed personally. It will change your life. It will encourage you. It will inspire you, and it will motivate you for ministry after Christmas. It puts things into perspective, and gets our eyes off of ourselves. I am looking forward as my kids get older to taking them to serve with me each Christmas sometime. It is not considered work if you focus on the people you are ministering to rather than the work you are doing.

5) Don’t work – Try to focus on other things like your family, rest, laughing, etc. Don’t be on your phone the entire time. Do not be checking up on every one of your students’ social media pages. Do not be constantly texting and communicating with all of your students the entire break. Do not be checking your email every hour and responding. Side note for you bloggers—take some time off to break from this as well. Take some much-needed time off and don’t work. Sometimes we make work a full-time thing even on vacation. Take a break from work.

I hope that this helps you this Christmas break.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Pastor: What to Pray When Your Ministry Is on the Line

Joe McKeever

December 6, 2018

“Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word” (I Kings 18:36).

I was pastoring a church that had survived—just barely—a massive split a couple of years before I arrived. Many were still carrying guilt over how they had behaved or anger over the misbehavior of others. Or both.

And since these people had ousted the pastor who had provided the spark for all this turmoil, it soon occurred to a strong handful that they could do the same to me.

So, for the first years of my ministry in that church—which actually lasted nearly 14 years—I had to put up with the detractors, people who were determined to find fault with everything I did and turning it against me.

And then one day I noticed how Elijah had prayed on Mount Carmel.

“Lord,” he said, “today, let these people know there is a God in Israel. And while you’re at it, let them know that I am your servant.”

Both things are right, needful and righteous. So I began praying both.

And God came through. He did both things. My final seven years in that church were healthy and wonderful.

Before praying such a prayer, you have to settle a few things…

Before you can legitimately call on the Lord to “show these people that I’m your servant,” you might want to go back and ask yourself three questions.

(1) Did God actually call you into the ministry? Or did you become a pastor for all the wrong reasons? Personally, I was 21 years old, a college senior and singing in the choir during a church revival the night God interrupted the proceedings to say to me, “I want you in the ministry.” His exact words. I’ll never forget it.

Go back and reaffirm the call of God upon your life. Recommit yourself to His call.

(2) Did God send you to this church? Or, are you out of place?

God called me to that church in no uncertain terms. I knew it was His doing by a dozen ways. So, yes. I’m here because of Him.

Recall how the Lord led you here. And claim the promise of I Thessalonians 5:24, “Faithful is He who called you and He will bring it to pass.” Ask Him to do that.

(3) Is your heart right with Him? Are you staying close to Him through prayer and the word and daily obedience? If not, nothing is more important than a time of repentance and recommitment.

“I delight in doing thy will, O God,” is a constant prayer of mine.

Considerations for praying “…and Let them know that I’m your servant”

One. To pray such is not presumptuous or audacious.

In the parables our Lord told about servants going out to do the work of the king, those servants represent God’s ministers then and now. In those parables, the king saw upon the servants as extensions of Himself. They were obeying Him, doing this thing only because He sent them there.

How they were treated, the King took personally.

So, God’s servants are well within their rights to pray, “Father, let these people know You are God in this place—and that I’m Your servant!”

You may recall that when Jesus sent the disciples on a preaching mission, He told them, “Whoever receives you, receives Me.” “Whoever listens to you, listens to Me.” “Whoever rejects you, rejects Me.” (Matthew 10:40 and Luke 10:16)

Two. To pray this prayer is actually Christ-honoring.

The Lord who called you into this work and sent you to this church surely wants to bless your ministry and affirm you in the eyes of His people. As one said long ago, “God don’t sponsor no flops!”

So, you are asking Him to do something you know to be His will.

In one of my pastorates, there was a time when some self-appointed critics were expressing disappointment with my preaching. They were not bashful and let me have it on more than one occasion. Later I was to realize they were theological liberals who wanted a different kind of preaching than the biblical stuff I was serving. But in the depth of my pain, while walking my route through the neighborhood at night—for prayer as well as for exercise—I began praying, “Lord, make me a preacher! Make me a preacher.” Now, I’d been preaching a quarter of a century. I had the degrees from seminary. But there was this ache in my heart to do it more effectively.

One night the Lord interrupted that prayer to ask, “What exactly do you mean by that?” I almost laughed out loud in the darkness, the question was so on target. I wondered, “What exactly do I mean by that?” So, for the next hour, as I walked my route, I thought about that. And thereafter—continuing to this day—I began to pray four things about my preaching:

1. “Lord, give me a good grasp of the message I’m to preach.”

2. “And may it grasp my heart so I preach with power.”

3. “Give me a good rapport with the people. I’m tired of that glazed-over look in their eyes!”

4. “And Lord, bring people to Jesus. I want to see people come to Christ!”

All of those requests are Christ-honoring and none is selfish.

So, don’t be bashful, pastor. Pray it!

Recently, a pastor on the program in our Mississippi Baptist Convention’s annual meeting told of a time when Atlanta’s Charles Stanley was being pressured by a group of church leaders to resign. Eventually, according to the speaker, Dr. Stanley made an announcement to his detractors:

“I could resign. But if I did, I’d have to stand before the Lord and account for why I had deserted my post.”

“But if you fire me, you will have to stand before the Lord and give account for running off the man God sent. And I’d rather you do it than me!”

Did God send you, pastor? Then, it’s not selfish or unworthy to ask Him to reaffirm that call to the men and women of the congregation who belong to Him.

Do it.

Claim the words God spoke to Gideon. “Go in this thy strength, and you shall save Israel… Have I not sent you?” (Judges 6:14).

If He sent you, then stand up straight and speak out clearly. If He sent you, He clearly thought you could do it.

So, do it.

This article originally appeared here.

Sharing Church Photos Online – Do You Need Permission?

Bryan Haley

December 6, 2018

One of the best things a church can do to get people excited about what’s happening is to share stories. There are lots of ways a church can tell stories; doing so online often involves sharing images. After your big outreach event, you want to share pictures and video of what just happened. On your website, you want to give potential visitors an inside look into what happens in the life of your church and what your guests can expect when they’re part of a Sunday worship service. These are great things, and — if you’re not yet sharing stories through images and video online — I encourage you to consider implementing these ideas. But sharing church photos online also means we need to talk about privacy, expectations, and good practices.

Of course, I’m not a lawyer, and Church Juice is not in a position to offer legal advice. For the most accurate local legal counsel, we encourage your church to seek out an attorney with expertise in media law. Some of the advice below is based on an article from Church Law & Tax.

IMAGES WITH CHILDREN

If you’re taking photos, whether at a special event or as part of your regular weekend services, children are probably participating. That means that often, especially if you’re trying to show the life of the church, children should be a part of your photography strategy. Guests love seeing that there are young families involved in your church. People want to see smiling faces of kids learning and having fun.

If you’re planning to take pictures of anyone under 18, you should include a consent form. That could be part of the registration form for [the] nursery or a special one-time agreement for special events. The idea here is to educate and inform the guardian that photos will be taken and that your church may use those photos for further publicity either online or offline.

Your church should also have a plan, especially on Sundays, to be able to quickly identify children who cannot be photographed. Of course, you don’t want to focus (pun intended) on kids who can’t have their picture taken, but your photographers need to be aware of exactly whose faces can and cannot appear in photos. This could be something as easy as a symbol on the child’s name badge.

3 Reasons You Should Preach Through Ezekiel

Michael Lawrence

December 6, 2018

Recently my wife overheard one of the older members of our church exclaim that before I arrived almost nine years ago, she’d never heard a single sermon on one of the Old Testament prophets. And she’d been a member of the church for over 40 years!

This didn’t surprise me. The prophets aren’t exactly feel good books, nor do they seem to contain the kind of practical “news-you-can-use” found in the epistles and wisdom literature. And if you’re just looking for a good story, they’re frankly confusing.

Nowhere is all that truer than Ezekiel. So, unless you’re one of those people that is into arcane prophecy and end-times speculation, then why should you preach the book of Ezekiel?

Here are three reasons.

1. It helps people see their sin more clearly.

The first reason to preach Ezekiel is that it will help your congregation see their sin more clearly. The prophet Ezekiel was commissioned to be a watchman sounding the warning for the early waves of exiles in Babylon (3:17). The problem was that the people didn’t want to hear his warning (2:4–7) in large part because they didn’t have an accurate understanding of themselves and their relationship with God.

Ezekiel repeatedly holds up a mirror to Israel so that they can see their idolatry (e.g., chs. 8, 14, 16), their pride (e.g., ch. 19), their misplaced hopes (e.g., ch. 17), their self-righteousness (e.g., ch. 18), and their unfaithfulness (e.g., ch. 23). He doesn’t let them look away, or minimize their sins, or take refuge in flimsy excuses. In graphic and sometimes shocking language, he helps Israel see the painful truth of their condition before the Lord. And because they don’t want to listen, because they refuse to look into the mirror of God’s Word, God has Ezekiel act out the message, in sometimes comical but often painful “street theater.”

None of us likes to look in the mirror and admit there’s something wrong with us. We’d rather preach (and listen to) messages of how much God loves us, and what great plans he has for us (which is true). We’d rather mine God’s Word for practical wisdom and solid help for navigating the challenges of life (which it has). But if we never see what’s wrong with us, we won’t take action to address it. And that’s one of Ezekiel’s goals—to help us see the true nature of our problem so that we will repent and turn to God for the forgiveness and mercy we need (18:30–32).

2. It helps people to gain perspective on God’s plan.

Ezekiel prophesied in the decades before and after the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. That cataclysmic event marks the center of his prophecy and the turning point of the book. With the city overrun and the Temple destroyed, God’s people wondered what God was doing, if his promises had failed, and if their future was gone.

So Ezekiel makes plain that God will judge the nations, just as he had judged Israel (chs 25–32). The justice of God shows no partiality. But having judged his son, Israel, God would also display his faithfulness by bringing his son back to life. In an act of powerful recreation, God’s Spirit would restore Israel (ch. 37). For the sake of his own glory, he would make a new covenant with his people that could not be broken, and he would put his own Spirit in them (ch. 36). They would live peacefully and safely under David their shepherd and God himself would be their shepherd (ch. 34). This restoration would culminate in an ideal Temple (chs 40–46) and a new creation promised land (chs. 47–48), from which God would never again depart (43:7).

People in your congregation wonder if God has a plan, and preaching Ezekiel’s visions should give them both hope and certainty. To be sure, some of these visions are obscure in their details, but their point is clear. Christians sometimes disagree on the time and the place of their fulfillment, but not the certainty of that fulfillment. The lack of details is frustrating, but that same lack makes clear that God isn’t giving us a blueprint that we must accomplish through our politics, diplomacy or human efforts. Rather, he’s assuring us that through the power of the Spirit and the establishment of the New Covenant, fulfilled in the finished work of Jesus Christ, God will certainly accomplish what we neither deserve nor can attain on our own.

It’s easy to lose perspective in the midst of life’s challenges and trials. It’s easy to be consumed and distracted by disputes over the details and timing of the last days. Ezekiel lifts our eyes and refocuses our vision on the centrality and certainty of God’s gratuitous, saving work in the gospel. Despite what we see in the world around us, or in our own lives, God’s plan was accomplished at the cross of Jesus Christ, is displayed now in the life of the church, and will be consummated in a New Jerusalem, in which there will be no temple “for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb” (Rev. 21:22).

When a Pastor Commits Suicide

Nathan Carter

December 6, 2018

Yet another pastor committed suicide. But this time, he was my close friend. And so I keep asking myself: How do I make sense of this?

After all, this seasoned pastor wasn’t a phony Saul (1 Sam. 31:4). He was a genuine believer whose life bore much fruit. He wasn’t a guilt-ridden Judas (Mt. 27:5). He loved Jesus and understood Christ’s atonement; he had sound theology. Neither does it seem like he was running away from scandal.

So how can I understand this shocking tragedy? Over the last month, I’ve reflected on my friend’s suicide by remembering the following realities—both good and bad. Perhaps they’ll be of help to you, should you ever find yourself in a similar situation.

SATAN

We cannot overlook the fact that our “adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). There’s such a thing as spiritual warfare. Scheming, unseen and evil beings attack us constantly, speaking lies and seeking any lapse in our armor to plant doubts and accusations that might tempt us away from our Lord.

Pastors are prime demonic targets. Was Satan involved in this destructive darkness? No doubt. But to stop here and say that the Devil and the Devil alone made my friend do this? That’s too simplistic.

CIRCUMSTANCES

As you can imagine, some hard circumstances played a role in my pastor-friend taking his own life.

In this case, he worked hard for years doing evangelism and discipling and preaching and administration and hospitality—and his small church shrunk. He took on other jobs to provide for his family. Relational conflict began to engulf his elder team. Eventually, the church dwindled to under 10 people and he left—beat down and discouraged, feeling like a mistreated and middle-aged failure.

Upon his departure, selling his house became an unusual hassle. His son broke his arm, and his new role in a new city—an associate pastor serving under someone younger—felt like salt in a wound.

In the words of David, the waters had come up to his neck (Ps. 69:1).

But many people have experienced worse hardships and haven’t succumbed to despair. So my friend’s death cannot be pinned entirely on his sad circumstances.

SICKNESS

As you might expect, my dear friend had a history of medical treatment for depression. We still know so little scientifically about the brain, but theologically, we’ve always known that we’re enfleshed souls (Gen. 2:7). God made us with bodies, he took on a body himself, and he has promised one day to raise and glorify our bodies. In other words, who we are is bound up with physical matter—proteins and protons.

In the process of finding a new doctor, my friend began a different dosage of medication. But instead of helping, this messed with his head. He couldn’t think straight. Something simply wasn’t right in his brain chemistry. Have you ever been sleep deprived or heavily drugged or seriously unhealthy or hormonal and not felt in your right mind? That was happening to my friend.

Pastor’s Election Win in Question Over Fraud Allegations

Stephanie Martin

December 6, 2018

One month after the midterm elections, a U.S. House race involving a Southern Baptist pastor is still in dispute.

The Rev. Mark Harris stepped down as pastor of First Baptist Church in Charlotte 18 months ago to run for Congress as a Republican in North Carolina’s 9^th District. After the November 6 election, several news organizations named Harris the winner, and his opponent, Democrat Dan McCready, conceded. But last week the state election board refused to certify the results, citing “claims of numerous irregularities and concerted fraudulent activities related to absentee mail ballots.”

Unofficial results have Harris leading by 905 votes out of almost 283,000 votes cast. Later this month, the board will meet to review evidence and consider whether to call for a new election.

Mark Harris’ Campaign at the Center of the Controversy

Leslie McCrae Dowless, a political operative who worked for the Harris campaign, faces suspicions of ballot harvesting and possible ballot tampering. In Bladen County, Dowless submitted almost half the requests for absentee ballots, records show. But only about half of the absentee ballots in that country were returned, which is low compared to other areas of the state. Many of the unreturned absentee ballots belonged to African-American and Native American voters.

The bipartisan elections board received six sworn statements from voters who say people came to their homes, asking for their absentee ballots. In some cases, the ballots weren’t complete. It’s illegal for a third party to submit absentee ballots.

On November 30, Harris tweeted, “I support any efforts to investigate allegations of irregularities and/or voter fraud, as long as it is fair and focuses on all political parties. There is absolutely no public evidence that there are enough ballots in question to affect the outcome of this race.” He added that the board should immediately certify the race while continuing its investigation.

Fraud allegations also occurred in 2016, when Dowless protested a race in which he was a candidate. When his own actions were questioned, Dowless acknowledged hiring people to encourage voters to submit absentee ballot requests, but he denied handling the ballots.

In 1992, Dowless was convicted of felony perjury, and three years later he served prison time for felony fraud. He has denied any wrongdoing in the 2018 election.

Mark Harris Is a Conservative Political Voice

Harris, a past president of the North Carolina Baptist State Convention, supported the state’s Amendment 1 in 2012, banning same-sex marriage. He also supported a controversial “bathroom bill” requiring people to use facilities based on the gender listed on their birth certificates.

Harris, 52, has encouraged pastors to get involved with politics, saying there’s “a tremendous need for voices that are going to stand on righteousness, that recognize where we are moving as a nation.”

During his congressional campaign, Harris faced scrutiny for controversial ideas. In a 2013 sermon, he questioned if women should pursue careers, advocating for a return to “biblical womanhood.” Harris also has called Islam “dangerous.”

On December 4, his campaign said Harris has never been aware of wrongdoing among his staff and volunteers, of whom he expects above-board behavior. The campaign also said Harris trusts the election process and God’s role in it.

Church Is Heartbroken Yet Hopeful About Pastor’s Failure

Jessica Lea

December 6, 2018

vineyard church Kansas City — Screengrab Facebook @Vineyard Church

Fred Herron, senior pastor of Vineyard Church in Kansas City, Missouri, has stepped down from his position of leadership. On Nov. 18th, church leaders announced that Herron was “suffering from various health issues, including addiction and dependence issues,” and that he had also admitted “moral failure” to his wife.

Executive pastor Tony Wilks described the week following the news about Herron as the “worst week” of 22 years of leading in ministry. He said, “There’s stuff I found out that I had no idea. This has wrecked my world.”

The Pastors Read a Statement

Herron is now at a treatment facility outside of Kansas City and is on an indefinite leave of absence. Several of the church’s pastors spent 40 minutes reading a prepared statement to the congregation, sharing how the news personally affected them, and offering words of encouragement.

Acting president of the board Norm Rasmussen said they’d been watching and praying for Herron for the past few months, realizing something was wrong. Nevertheless, leaders, and even Herron’s wife, only recently became aware of the depth of Herron’s struggles. The pastors did not specify what those were.

Before reading the statement, Rasmussen told anyone visiting the church for the first time that their presence there that morning was not an accident. He wanted visitors to see that “we are a church that is learning to love one another, and you’re here today because we want to love you.”

Pastor of adult ministries Roger Sodsod emphasized that all people make mistakes and that he loves Herron. Still, he said he was heartbroken by the news and feels “hurt and betrayed.” Sodsod said he was praying for restoration and healing for Herron’s relationships.

The pastors’ statement stressed that Herron’s failings did nothing to discount his years of ministry, the fact that he had led many to Christ, or the love they had for him. They urged the church body to turn to Jesus for hope and healing, pray for the Herrons, and support each other. What happened, they said, is an opportunity for their church to grow.

Pastor Wilks said, “What I love about Vineyard Church is we’re not a perfect church. But we are a perfect church for imperfect people.”

The church’s response indicates exactly that, with many people expressing their compassion and support on Facebook.

One woman commented, “Fred I love you and will support you through your healing however long it takes. And we want you back when your [sic] ready. Janet you are in my heart. I’m holding you and Fred up in prayer daily along with the rest of Fred’s family. The church and staff will also be in my prayers. I believe we are under attack because we are doing so much of God’s work.”

Another offered prayers, saying, “This church was instrumental in guiding my path back towards Jesus.”

Yet another user commented, “My heart is so sad… I’ve noticed a difference in Fred through the videos over the past few months and wondered why he has looked so tired and drained. I’m glad he is seeking treatment and I’ll be praying for full restoration with his relationships and praying for Janet. Vineyard is and always will be our church home.”

In an interview, Rasmussen stressed that the church must be a place where broken people can receive grace and move toward redemption and freedom. He said Vineyard is committed to do that for every believer, Herron no less than anyone else.

“This is not a story about a failure,” he said. “This is a story of hope.”

Chip Ingram Stepping Down From Venture Church to Fulfill a Promise

Megan Briggs

December 6, 2018

Chip Ingram, senior pastor of Venture Christian Church in Los Gatos, California, announced some “news that’s taken 40 years to come to fruition” to his congregation recently. Ingram, who has pastored the church for nine years now, is stepping down from his position to fulfill a purpose he believes God is calling him to.

“Thank you for your love and support,” Ingram said from the pulpit with his eyes down. He explained he didn’t want to make eye contact and subsequently tear up as he read a pre-written letter expressing his gratitude for the church and the people in it.

For the next 10 years, Ingram is going to shift his focus to a national and international reach. He plans to travel overseas more often, particularly to China and the Middle East. While he plans to keep Venture as his home church, he explained his role at the church is going to change.

Chip Ingram Believes This Transition Is the Fulfillment of God’s Promises to Him

Speaking to the congregation on December 2, 2018, Ingram shared about a couple of key times when he heard God talking to him and how those experiences have shaped his decisions over the years. The first occurred six months before Ingram married his wife, Theresa.

Pulling out notecards he used 40 years ago to write down what he believed God was speaking to him, Ingram said God directed him to Isaiah 42:6, which says “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles.” At the time, Ingram took this to mean that God would sustain the couple through rough times, which would inevitably come, and that he would lead them even when they didn’t know what they were doing.

Another 20 years passed when Ingram experienced the “most mystical experience I’ve had with the Lord.” While he was walking in a field, Ingram believes God told him, “Chip, I want you to be a catalyst to transform how America thinks about God, how pastors think about preaching, how churches think about their community, and how everyday believers live out their faith at home and at work. Write that down.” Ingram says he pulled out a notebook and God repeated the words so he could write them down.

Ingram believes the fulfillment of these promises from God will come to fruition as he steps down from senior leadership at Venture and focuses more exclusively on the work he’s already been engaged in on a national and international level.

“The church is the only hope for what’s happening in America, and the key to churches is pastors, and the key to pastors is a high view of God,” Ingram explained.

Venture Christian Church Is in a Very Healthy Spot

During his message, Ingram shared how proud he was of the church and how well it is doing. When he came from Atlanta to the Bay Area to fill the senior pastor position in 2009, Ingram said he believed the church would become a voice in the Bay Area and the country. “It’s humbling and amazing,” Ingram said, to lead such an influential church. Ingram also shared that the congregation has given $2.8 million to missions this year alone.

Dean Senner, chairman of Venture’s elder board, echoed Ingram’s view. Senner said the church has prospered over the last nine years under Ingram’s leadership and that it is the “healthiest it’s ever been.”

Senner called Ingram a “terrific friend” and then prayed for him.

Ingram will remain senior pastor until June 2019 or until the next senior pastor is found, whichever comes first. The elder board has formed a transition team which has already begun the search for a replacement for Ingram.

Do You Need to Forgive the Season?

Krish Dhanam

December 6, 2018

Christmas is the season for togetherness and the time for forgiveness. It is a time when we all want to love, laugh and forgive and forget, and are looking for the easiest way to do so.

The one whose birth we celebrate as the finale of the season ended His earthly quest with a proclamation – “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

The goal of forgiveness is not to restore tradition or replace old traditions with new ones. The goal of forgiveness is to move beyond the ability to remember why you were angry in the first place. If you truly want to forgive, make sure it’s not because of the season or the event.

By the same token, there cannot and should not be stipulations on forgiveness that are either chronological or genealogical. The attribute of forgiveness cannot be based on age, gender, geography or problem. It has to stem from the heart, because in offering the olive branch, you are clearing the air for new feelings.

Early in our marriage, an older couple gave my wife and me the greatest method of forgiveness. A rose was placed in an empty vase on the mantle by one of the two parties in a disagreement. When the other saw the rose they knew that it was an apology and a sign for truce. The goal of the endeavor was harmony and not to count whether one individual had indeed placed more roses in the vase during the previous calendar year.

Forgiveness has no count as we are mandated to forgive 70 times seven. I don’t want to mathematically engage in the quantitative, but with simple arithmetic we know that means we are to forgive more than we are forgiven.

Psychologists tell us that there is more depression experienced during the holidays as people who have loved and lost grieve that absence. Therapists tell us that there are more incidences of spousal battery and abuse during the season of Thanksgiving and Christmas. The reasons range from inebriation at parties to anger because of lost wagers stemming from addictions. In a majority of the cases, the despondence seems to arise from the inability to forgive yourself.

Henry David Thoreau said everyone wants to build a castle in the air but most don’t take the time to build a foundation on the ground. A foundation of ingratitude will lead to a life that is unable to forgive. My late mentor, Zig Ziglar, always said that if you are grateful for the things you have, someday you will have more things to be grateful for. If you combine those two statements you will have a game plan this season. Build your hope on a foundation of forgiveness by making friends with your past.

Don’t seek seasonal forgiveness because you got the best gift and gave the best party. Forgive because it is freedom from tradition, escape from ritual and liberation from custom. Next year when you hear the carols, you will remind yourself that the holiday comes every year and the season is marketed as an annual event but your forgiveness is forever. Then we can look at the one who came to forgive and say, “Thank you for the gift of forgiveness this season.”

Church Revitalization: Keep the Doors of Your Church Open

CJ Rhodes

December 5, 2018

“The doors of the church are open.”

On any given Sunday, this is how myriad pastors in traditional African American Baptist congregations invite the unconverted to Christian discipleship and the unchurched to membership. Tragically, tens of thousands of churches across denominational and racial lines are closing their doors, never to open them again.

Church Revitalization: Keep the Doors of Your Church Open

According to some estimates, anywhere from 4,000 to 7,000 local congregations die each year. Leadership Journal maintains that 340,000 churches in America have plateaued, are declining or are on the verge of death. When Jesus said that the gates of hell won’t prevail against the church, he was not talking about local congregations, per se. Since New Testament times, churches have been plagued with serious existential threats, and many have come and gone. Great cathedrals in Europe are now museums, and even grand church buildings in America have been converted into clubs. It may seem improbable that such is the case in Mississippi; if the South is the Bible Belt, then surely our state is the belt buckle. But even in church-saturated Mississippi, the writing is on the wall.

Churches don’t just die. They get sick and remain so for a considerable length of time. In “Autopsy of a Deceased Church,” Thom Rainer identifies 10 contributing symptoms. These include rapid pastoral turnover, the lack of evangelistic enthusiasm, nostalgia for a bygone era and a refusal to be community-minded. Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson point out even more reasons for church decline in their book Comeback Churches. What all of these churches have in common is that at some point they ceased to be missionary, Christ-centered and biblically relevant to their ministry context. In such churches, pastors are becoming pallbearers, and the members are becoming mourners. This should not be.

But changing such places of worship is difficult.

If it wasn’t, so many of them wouldn’t be dying. But there is hope. With God, revitalization is possible. Harry Reeder, author of From Embers to a Flame: How God Can Revitalize Your Church, succinctly defines church revitalization as “a commitment by the church leadership to biblically lead the church back to spiritual health and vitality.” This differs from revival, which alone is the Lord’s work. We can pray for and preach about revival, but God alone sends it according to God’s sovereign timing. But revitalization is the intentional stewardship and responsibility of Spirit-filled leaders in dying churches who take the risks to please and glorify God anew. There must be positive change and the acceptance of God’s preferred future. Denial or resistance will only lead to certain demise. But pastoral and lay leaders can bring about transformation in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Reeder is again helpful in showing us a biblical model for this work. Using the church at Ephesus (Revelation 2:5) as a model, he points out that any church today wanting to come alive again must remember, repent and recover the things you did at first. Remembering our past trains us to glorify God for the great things he once did through a dying church; this inspires leaders and members to trust God to do such wonderful things again. This is especially vital for established churches with older members. It reminds them of better days and hopefully encourages them to imagine how they may do similar good works now.

Though there is much in your church’s past worth celebrating, there are yet many things to lament about.

A church wouldn’t be dying if everything in the past was glorious. Repentance acknowledges that the primary reason most churches are declining is because of institutionalized sin. Too many leaders want to create more programs or add a new service to avoid dealing with the serpent in the sanctuary. But this will only lead to more stagnation or unhealthy numerical growth. The intention of revitalization is to get better, not just bigger. Thus Reeder says churches must move from covered-up sin to confessed sin. I believe this is the hardest but greatest element in making dying churches healthy again. At some point God’s people must resolve to fix what’s broken by telling the truth and making things right. I read about one church who addressed its horrible reputation by committing to holiness. A tangible example of this was their publishing a letter of apology in the local paper that detailed their faults and invited the community to forgive them for not being a loving, welcoming faith community. Something like this is painful but can stimulate a renewed sense of God’s grace and reconciliation. Jesus Christ—who is full of grace and truth—honors our humility. God’s grace is sufficient for our weaknesses.

Lastly, the church that remembers and repents is ready to recover the things that matter most about being the church. Recovering first things means again to make Christ preeminent in our worship and ministry, pray fervently, live out the Gospel before each other and in the community, and so on. Said differently, it means that we move from being a social club to being a church. When we remember that we exist for the glory of God alone, we can submit our wills to the lordship of Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church, his body. The church is healthier when it seeks God’s best and not our preferences.

If you know that your church is dying, I invite you to do something about it. Pray for direction. Tell the truth. Seek God’s wisdom. Assemble a revitalization team. And then get to work, knowing that the journey to wholeness is long but rewarding. Our communities need vibrant, healthy churches. May your doors remain opened to the surprising work of the Holy Spirit as you determine to live out the Gospel.

This article originally appeared here.

Loving Kids in a Pumpkin Pie Culture

Melissa J. MacDonald

December 5, 2018

“Mel, we don’t want to become like pumpkin pie to you.”

“What?”

A few months ago one of my sweet little 10-year-old twin girl neighbors looked up at me with concern in her eyes. “You know how pumpkin pie is SO good so you eat a lot of it and then you’re sick of it for a really long time?”

“Okayyyy”

The other twin chimed in, “Yeah we don’t want you to get sick of us. We’re over here all the time and we don’t want you to get sick of seeing us.”

The other twin chimed in again, “Yeah, like pumpkin pie.”

I laughed and quickly assured them, “You guys are #theneighbs, I couldn’t possibly get sick of you. Really, I love having you over. Pumpkin pie? Where did you come up with that?”

“It just came to me!”

The three of us dissolved into giggles.

Long after they walked the 20 steps back to their house the conversation was still running through my head. We had laughed long and hard about the pumpkin pie analogy but I was bothered by the message behind it. I hate that my little neighbors would think I could get sick of them.

If you follow me at all on twitter or Instagram you’ll often see #theneighbs. I’m their bestie, and to be honest, they’re my besties too. I moved in next door to them about 15 months ago and what a joy it has been to get to know and love them and their family. I love that God planted me near them. I’m on the road a lot, but when I’m home you can bet the neighbs will be over. Yes, they are over a lot but no, I don’t get sick of them.

In this throw away culture that we live in I wonder if we ever stop to think how that translates to kids. Your cell phone is “the best” until the next one comes out. Friends are traded and discarded like paper plates. Marriages are few and far between and also disposable. We’re never satisfied and always looking for something more. And in the midst of it are kids. Kids are the stripped down version of who we were all created to be. They’re born without any emotional baggage, walls or need for therapy. They are who they are. They love without limits and those they love they hold tightly to. Kids also take their cues from the adults in their lives. They soak in everything and begin to develop and figure out who they are and what they believe. Whether we want to or not, we help shape who they are and who they become.

When I think of the neighbs and I think of kids in general it breaks my heart that they live with concern over being discarded. I could tell my neighbors had done a lot of thinking about this and were very worried I was going to get sick of them. I don’t know their whole story, but regardless it saddens me that they think they could be disposable.

Let’s face it my friends, this world we live in is challenging. It’s constantly changing. It’s the reality. With that in mind I wonder what kind of message we are sending to kids and what kind of message we could be sending to kids. As I love on kids I know what I’m aiming for. I want them to know they’re worth the time and effort. I want them to know they are loved for who they are. I want them to know that they matter. And bottom line, I want the love I show them to point them right to Jesus. Here are some things I intentionally do.

Be consistent. Consistently show love and self-worth to the kids you’re around. My neighbs and I have a routine we do every single time they leave my house. We kiss each other on each cheek with a loud “mwah! mwah!” and then we yell “goodbye, miss you already, love you.” Every single time. Sometimes just when they’re running home for a minute. They know no matter what kind of day I’m having that we’re going to yell loudly, “LOVE YOU!” Whether I’m cranky, busy or crazy we’re consistent.

Be honest. Kids love honesty. I don’t have to put a fake smile on every time they walk in the door. They actually do so much better when I’m honest. Honesty speaks love to them. With my neighbors there are times they come over and it’s not convenient. A simple, “I love you but I have to work this afternoon,” goes a long way. They understand work. They also understand when I say I’m sick, tired or just need a break. I always reaffirm my love for them but also my need for space every now and then.

Be generous. Giving affirmation and hugs are free. They cost us nothing but mean the world to the person we’re giving them to. I’ve learned throughout the years to be generous with my love. I freely give hugs, back pats and high fives. I freely speak words of encouragement and worth into kids. With kids I find they can never have enough love.

Do life together. There is absolutely nothing glamorous about my everyday life and yet kids love watching and participating. At camp kids watch me do my hair. We eat meals together. The neighbs water my garden with me, they paint dressers with me, they help me do my makeup when I’m going out for a fancy night. Being a part of the ins and outs of a very ordinary life speak love to them.

I don’t know what this might look like for you, but let’s all do our best to speak worth into our kids, who are living in a pumpkin pie (disposable) culture. Let’s love them like Jesus loves them.

Ephesians 3:17-19 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

This article originally appeared here.

10 Christmas Story Truths Students Should Know

Andy Blanks

December 5, 2018

10 Christmas Story Truths Students Should Know

The Christmas story is literally crammed full of powerful teachings. Here are 10 takeaways that speak directly to students:

1. The Incarnation Is Awesome.

Luke 2:6-7 says, “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” It seems this generation of teenagers places a high value on authenticity. There is nothing more authentic than the God of the Universe taking on human form in order to perfectly save His creation from themselves. Students can know and worship and relate to God because He became one of us.

2. You Are Never Too Young or Too Inexperienced to Be Used by God.

Luke 1:26-27 says, “In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.” Mary was pretty young. Scholars’ opinions range anywhere from 13 or 14 years old to 18 or 19. The point is this: God used Mary in a miraculous way. That’s God’s M.O. He used Mary when she was a teenager. He can and will (and does) use young people today as vital parts of His plan to redeem humankind.

3. The Harder the Situation, the Greater the Faith.

Matthew 1:24-25 (ESV) says, “When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: He took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” Joseph may be my favorite (human) character of the Christmas Narrative. What incredible faith! Everything in him said to divorce Mary (and do it quietly to protect her life…what love!). But Joseph showed immense faith in the Lord’s plan. Your students can benefit immensely from Joseph’s example here.

4. The Bible Is an Amazing Testimony to God’s Hand Working Through Time and Circumstances to Achieve His Purposes.

Luke 2:4-5 says, “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.” God promised David that someone from his lineage would always be on the throne. This happened, oh, roughly half a millennia before Christ was born! Fulfilled prophecy is an incredible teaching tool to help give your students confidence in God’s powerful providence. God is at work, in history and in the lives of your students. And that is really cool.

5. When We Respond to God’s Leading in Obedience, We Allow God to Use Us to Our Fullest Intended Purpose.

Luke 1:38 says, “And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.” When students feel God leading them to do something or to take some sort of action, the right response is obedience. When they obey God, He can actually use them. If students will not obey God’s leading, they deprive themselves of being vital tools in His hands. God is on mission…whether or not we choose to join Him is on us.

6. We Should Approach Jesus With Reverence and Honor.

Luke 1:31-33 says, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Many Christ-followers are guilty of downplaying Jesus’ majesty. This is especially true of teenagers (in many cases, this is our fault, not theirs). While Jesus is a personal Savior, He is also King of Kings, the Son of the Most High, the Holy Ruler who sits enthroned as Lord over all nations. As we pray, as we sing, as we teach, let’s help students remember Who it is they are serving. Jesus does not exist to answer to us. It’s, in fact, quite the opposite.

7. The Gospel Is Not a Secret.

Luke 2:17-18 says, “And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.” The shepherds saw the Baby and took to shoutin’ in the streets! (Maybe not literally, but you know…) The Gospel is, by nature, contagious. Your students are called to be people who openly speak of the saving grace of Christ in an individual’s life. You should be equipping them to do this.

8. When God Does Awesome Stuff for Us, the Proper Response Is Praise.

Luke 1:46-48 says, “And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.’” Mary knew God had touched her life. Her response? Unabashed, heartfelt praise. Plain and simple, when God does good for us, the most perfect response is pure, honest thankfulness and praise, acknowledging His favor over us.

9. God’s Kingdom Has Always and Will Always Place Tremendous Value on the Lowly and the Lost.

Luke 2:8-9, “And in the same region, there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.” Who were the first to hear publicly about the Christ child’s birth? The Roman ruler? The religious establishment? Nope. Dudes keeping sheep. God loves the outcasts and the low. (Want another? Who were privy to Jesus’ first miracle? The servants at the wedding feast.) Students who may struggle with feelings of low self-worth, who look at the world around them and find themselves at the bottom of the pile, need not despair…they are in the right place to have God reach down and use them for powerful purposes. That’s His way.

10. Jesus Is Radically Divisive.

Matthew 2:3 says, “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” Herod heard the news of the birth of a “king” and shook in his boots. So did the religious establishment. We tend to want to put Jesus in a box, to control Him, to make Him nice, and safe, and passive. This is the guy who dumped tables over in the Temple, who said in Matthew 10:34, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Jesus knew the Gospel would divide this world. It is as true today as it has always been. If your students know a Christ that is passive and safe, and that exists primarily to meet their needs and make them comfortable, you need to help reintroduce them to the real Jesus.

I hope these help you bring the Christmas narrative to life for your students. Merry Christmas to each of you!

Can You See the Advent From God’s Perspective?

Deanna Young

December 5, 2018

As the season of Advent continues, I wanted to “rethink Christmas,” looking at the story of God’s salvation plan—the story of Jesus from creation to His birth, from Genesis to the Gospels—from different perspectives and ask ourselves some poignant questions. To start, have you ever considered the holiday as our opportunity to testify to our faith?

The other day in my Bible study class, we discussed Christmas decorations and how so many have Santa and reindeer on their lawn instead of a Nativity, star or angel—something that truly represents our celebration. It’s time we put our faith out there—yes even on the lawn! I actually have a cross on my front lawn. When you drive up to my garage you can’t miss it. It’s there year round. It’s one of my ways to make a statement about who and whose I am. Now I’m not saying that having a Santa on your lawn is bad—I like Santa as much as the next “good little girl or boy”! What message do we want to send to a world that is in desperate need of the hope, joy, love and peace that is born on Christmas Day? What do we want to teach our children? Jesus is the greatest gift of all!

Now, have you ever really thought what it must have been like for Mary (read Luke 1:26-38)? She’s going about her young life, betrothed to a man named Joseph, and things are going along just fine. Then in an instant, God took whatever plans Mary had for her life and turned them upside down and inside out. Through the angel Gabriel God told her that she was going to have a baby; it didn’t matter that she was a virgin—yep, gonna have a baby. This had to be hard to hear on so many different levels, but nonetheless, Mary essentially said, “Sure, whatever you want God.” Good thing, Mary, because God wasn’t asking. This is another case of God knowing her heart. He knew she was faithful, obedient and that she loved Him. He knew that she would trust Him even in this. Mary was favored by God and God gave her one of the hardest jobs in the world—being pregnant before marriage, becoming the mother of God, and ultimately watching Him die on the cross. There is something about Mary that enables her to do this—it’s her deep, abiding love and trust for God. Do you love and trust God that much?

When we hear about the Christmas story, we extol the selfless virtues of Mary, the mother of God, but Joseph seems to be left in the shadows (read Matthew 1:18-25). I have to wonder if, in some ways, this whole idea of a virgin birth was more difficult for him to embrace than for Mary. I have to wonder if he ever had any thoughts about Mary that were less than kind. I wonder, as her belly swelled with child, if he ever resented the situation. He obviously was a kind man because he had made the decision not to make a big deal out of her pregnancy so she wouldn’t get into trouble. He would just quietly leave her. However, once the angel of the Lord came to him in a dream, called him by name, and told him what to do, he did it. There seems to be no doubt that it was the Lord who gave him this commandment. Joseph obviously was a faithful man and God knew his obedient heart. Even though he was called by God, the situation was a difficult one, but Joseph trusted God. We don’t read about any questioning or doubting thoughts from Joseph, but being human, I’d venture to guess that they were there. Even so, Joseph was faithful and willing to sacrifice his life to the will of God. Christmas is a reminder that as we receive from God the greatest gift of all—Jesus—we are to offer Him the gift of ourselves. What would that would mean in your life, to offer yourself fully?

Finally, when we read Luke 2:8-16, the Christ child’s birth has been celebrated and the event that changed the world has been glorified once again. The question for us is this: “Has Christmas changed us?” As we read about the shepherds who were caring for their flocks being visited by the angels telling of great news, we hear the Gospel proclaimed once again. The shepherds immediately responded to the Gospel by going to see this thing that had happened. They left the comfort of their normalcy in response to the call by the angels.

How will you respond to this good news of great joy that is for all people—that is, for you?

This article is an excerpt taken from Connecting the Dots by Rev. Deanna Young.

3 Takeaways for Preaching in a Celebrity Preacher Culture

Michael Voll

December 5, 2018

I was a new youth pastor and had just preached my guts out at our Friday night service. I thought I’d done a good job.

My wife was not impressed.

Imitation

“You just preached that sermon like ___________________ (a popular prof at the Bible college I’d just graduated from). You even sounded like him and paused like he does. Don’t ever do that again. Be yourself.”

The rebuke stung, but instantly I knew that she was right. Thankfully she had the guts to call me out on it.

Several months before I heard this same professor preach about Peter stepping out of the boat (Matthew 14:22-33). He opened my eyes to the fact that Peter actually got out of the boat while the other disciples stayed in their own comfort zone. It was a revelation for me and I couldn’t wait to share this message with others.

But when I finally preached that text I neglected to make it my own. If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then I was tripping all over my prof.

Measuring Up

Unfortunately, I see this far too often now. Unlike when I was new to preaching, today rookie preachers have access at their fingertips to sermons from celebrity preachers from all over the world. Many up and coming preachers have heard literally hundreds of sermons from the likes of Judah Smith, Carl Lentz, Steven Furtick or Levi Lusko. And it shows.

But not in a good way.

Now I see more imitation, and I see more fear. Many rookie preachers wonder if they can measure up to their YouTube mentors rather than wondering if their message and delivery glorify God.

What gives these ‘celebrity preachers’ a platform is the power of the Holy Spirit coupled with their unique personality.

A Better Way—Three Takeaways for Preaching in a Celebrity Preacher Culture

If you want to be the best preacher you can be (by God’s grace) PLEASE…

Be You

Your stories are powerful and your background is unique. Your strengths, experiences, abilities, spiritual gifts and your weaknesses give you something worth sharing. No matter where you come from Christ’s divine power has given you everything you need for life, godliness…and dare I say preaching? (2 Peter 1:3)

Jesus Loves “Mediocre” Churches (and So Do I)

Stephen Altrogge

December 5, 2018

I recently read an article that, for lack of a better phrase, really cheesed me off (I think that’s what the kids are saying these days).

Titled “7 Signs Your Church Is Honestly Mediocre,” it highlighted the following seven things that characterize “mediocre” (in the author’s opinion) churches:

Non-singers and players on the worship team
Bad production (sound, lighting, etc.)
Poor quality live streams
A lame website
Out of date information (church sign, uploaded sermons, etc.)
A resignation to mediocrity
Fear of change

The heart of the article can be summarized in this quote:

When your church is mediocre, it should be no surprise unchurched people aren’t lining up to join you and that you’re not attracting and keeping the amazing leaders who might attend your church but don’t want to get involved because things are so sub-par.

Two things in particular really bothered me about this article.

The Early Church Was Seriously Mediocre

First, none of the marks of mediocrity have anything to do with the things that matter most. When I look at scripture and at what caused the early church to thrive, it wasn’t the quality of the “service” (not that they would have ever called it that).

They met in homes and in the temple. There was nothing flashy about the gatherings, no pageantry or glitz or hoopla (a word that needs to be used more often).

Rather, the meat and bones of the early church were preaching, prayer and biblical fellowship, all fueled by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The church exploded because they preached the revolutionary message of a crucified and risen savior. They resolved to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. Contrast this with the “Super Apostles” in 2 Corinthians who relied heavily on their oratory skills, credentials and overall flashiness. Paul flat-out condemned their approach to ministry.

The church was sustained and even grew in the midst of persecution because they were dedicated to prayer. They knew that they couldn’t survive apart from the supernatural power of God, and so they pleaded with him for intervention.

E.M. Bounds puts it this way:

What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use—men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men—men of prayer.

A Look at the Faith of President George H.W. Bush

Jessica Lea

December 5, 2018

President George Herbert Walker Bush died on Friday, Nov. 30, at the age of 94. In his eulogy for his father at the state funeral in Washington D.C., President George W. Bush described him as “a man of quiet faith” and “the brightest of a thousand points of light.”

Many qualities distinguished the 41st president, who was known for his service to his country in World War II, his 73-year marriage to First Lady Barbara Bush, and his extensive political career that emphasized bipartisanship.

The President’s Religious Background

Bush was an Episcopalian whose faith was both steady and understated. He grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, and attended an Episcopal church in that community. His mother used to read to him from a Book of Common Prayer. The Economist notes that, while the family’s faith was consistent, it was also private. It was “not the kind of religion that prompts people to preach in the street or warn strangers that they are doomed.”

Controversy surrounded the Episcopal church in the president’s adult years, such as when the church ordained a lesbian bishop in 1991. Even though leadership had ordained homosexual bishops in the past, the New York Times reported that “her ordination was noteworthy for the candor of both the candidate and church officials about her sexual relationship.”

The president expressed disapproval about the ordination but did not leave the church over the issue. The Reverend Dr. Russell Levenson, Jr., Rector, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Houston, said these words about the late president at his state funeral: “The president so loved the church.” Reverend Levenson described the president as “a good man, full of love and equality…grounded in a desire to serve God and all God sent his way.”

Even though George H.W. Bush largely stayed away from religious and cultural controversies, faith was one of the qualities he cherished most. There were two times in particular when faith was very much in the foreground of his life.

One was in 1944 when, as a naval airman, he fell into the Pacific Ocean after his aircraft was damaged. The AP reports, “Eight others who were shot down in that mission were captured and executed, and several were eaten by their captors.”

This event led Bush to do some soul-searching and question why he had survived when others had not.

Another milestone in the former president’s life was the death of his daughter, Robin, who passed away from leukemia at age three. In his eulogy, President George W. Bush said that his father was “sustained by the love of the Almighty and the real and enduring love of our mom” and that he “always believed that one day he would hug his precious Robin again.”

Yet even in the midst of tragedy, George H.W. Bush demonstrated reserve when it came to his faith. Said his son, it was only later that he learned that his father prayed daily for Robin in the days leading up to her death.

President Bush will be buried at his presidential library at Texas A&M University on Thu., Dec. 6, next to his daughter, Robin, and his wife, Barbara, who passed away in April.

Jonathan Pokluda: Millennials, “Adulting”, and the Church

Jason Daye

December 5, 2018

Jonathan “JP” Pokluda is the Dallas Campus Pastor of Watermark Community Church and leader of The Porch, an influential young adult gathering of more than 3,500 in Dallas, Texas. At The Porch, thousands of young adults come hear the gospel, get equipped and are unleashed for kingdom purposes. JP’s passion is to share the gospel with anyone who will listen and equip others to do the same. He also feels called to challenge Christians to multiply their faith by discipling others. He and his wife, Monica, have three children.

Key Questions for Jonathan Pokluda:

– Tell us about your ministry to millennials.

– What do young people need to know about authority and the church?

– What do you think churches get wrong when they’re trying to reach younger generations?

[SUBSCRIBE] For more ChurchLeaders podcasts click here!

Key Quotes from Jonathan Pokluda:

“If you’re not reaching the future of your church, your church has no future.”

“Growth happens when we’re uncomfortable. When we sit under an authority, knowing that all authority is in some way corrupt; all authority is imperfect. But when we learn to coexist with that authority, serve under the authority, we really grow like Christ.”

“Where I think pastors miss it with millennials is they lower the bar…and they try to keep them under their control. I think what [millennials] want is they want to respond to a big ask…and then they want you to deploy them.”

“[Millennials] don’t want to follow a replica of their favorite celebrity pastor. They don’t want to hear how righteous and perfect you are. They want to know that you have struggled just like they do and they want to know that you’re not pretending.”

“[Millennials] are people that corporate America is exploiting their gifts for profitability.”

“The bigger we get, the smaller we must become.”

“The church will change tremendously over the next two decades, but there will be no supplement; there will be no replacement for the depth of relationships that God calls us to in Christ.”

“We’re not going to be able to replace [true fellowship]. I think as we do try to replace that, we’re going to experience death, the highest levels of depression that we’ve ever seen, deep, deep despair in a culture.”

“I think one mistake the church makes is over-promises and under-delivers. We do everything we can to get people there, and then once they’re there they’re like ‘that was kind of lame.’”

“What you see in the news today are young people who have been created in the image of God; he knitted them together in their mother’s womb, he knows how many hairs are on their head. And they’re just missing out on their purpose because they’re living for themselves. And they just need some help.”

“I think we all go from being the younger brother to the older brother in the prodigal son story.”

“Every generation thinks that every generation behind them is the most narcissistic, entitled, laziest generation.”

Links Mentioned in the Show:

Welcome to Adulting: Navigating Faith, Friendship, Finances, and the Future
Awaken Conference
theporch@watermark.org

Why I Don’t Like Church Christmas Programs

Christina Embree

December 4, 2018

Is there anything cuter than kids in a Christmas play? I mean seriously, don’t we just love seeing the kids sharing their songs, saying their lines, quoting their Bible verses and wearing all the Christmassy things? And, of course, there’s always that “one” kid who unwittingly steals the show with their over-enthusiastic lines or their under-enthusiastic singing. Or the one who is just a little bit off on the motions or the one who is pretending to conduct in the back row. I mean, who doesn’t like seeing kids perform in church?

Me.

What?!? I’m a children’s pastor. Isn’t that against the rules?

You guys, bear with me but, yeah, I usually don’t like them very much at all. I love that the kids talk about Jesus. I do think that they are beyond adorable and I want to hug every single one. But what I don’t like are the many implications that often come with it; things that go unsaid, but speak volumes to children and adults about the place of children in “big church.”

Four Reasons I Don’t Like Christmas Programs

They define the role of Children in Worship – They are performers. They are cute. Everyone likes to “see” them. Everyone wants them on stage. But children are much more than that. They are active, vital, necessary members of the body of Christ. If they are only invited into worship to “perform,” guess what worship/church becomes for them? A performance. And when they get tired of performing or they aren’t cute anymore, they move on to bigger and better things.
They define the role of the Children’s Pastor – Many or most who work in children’s ministry, rarely spend much time in “big church.” The role is unseen; serving downstairs or upstairs making sure children are loved, rooms are covered, volunteers are appreciated, parents are affirmed, janitors are appeased, visitors are welcomed and families are encouraged. But the only time a children’s minister is seen in church is when he/she bring the children up to put on a show. It creates a very limited view of who children’s ministers are.
They define the role of the Congregation – When the children perform, all the feelings are there! The kids are sweet and cute and the church loves to see them in church. But it is a passive reception; the kids give, the church receives. There are no active, ongoing relationships. Many don’t even know the children’s names. They are the “girl in the red dress that sang so loud” and the “boy in the tie who sat on the steps.” It creates an environment of “us” and “them,” and when the performance is over everyone returns to their posts.
They define who is and who is not “the Church” – This is the same reason I despise the term “big church.” There isn’t a big church and little church in God’s kingdom. There’s just church. We, all of us, old, young and in-between, are all members of God’s body, part of the Church, His Bride. We affirm this at baptism or dedication. The whole congregation commits to being one body. And then, we go our separate ways, big and little, for the year, until it’s time to perform again.

I know that not every church is like this.

Please know that I realize that for some churches the program is more than a performance. For those churches, the children are involved in church all year long as participants and not just performers and the Christmas program is an extension of a greater story. I am beyond blessed to serve in a church like this.

But many of the reports I hear from Christmas programs across the board can be summed up like this, “All year we are invisible, but today…today we shine.” And that makes me sad.

What can be done?

Well, for one, we can start making the children part of the larger corporate worship more frequently, giving them a name and voice and relationships rather than just being cute and adorable.

Create space for adults to interact with children on level ground rather than as active performer and passive recipient.

Define roles differently – children as saints of God and adults as children of God; the children’s director as pastor and shepherd of God’s flock not keeper of kids; the congregation as a family of all generations not a division of age groups and ministries.

Christmas programs are in and of themselves not the issue.

I mean, let’s face it, they are part of the regular church experience and, come on, the kids are really cute!

But if that’s all they are, if that is the only time they are seen and the only role they fill, then Christmas programs are the issue. If that’s the only time the children’s minister is a part of corporate worship, it’s an issue. If a culture of “us” and “them” is perpetuated or if children are guests in the service rather than family at the table, then it’s an issue.

Christmas is a time we celebrate Love coming to earth…as a child. Our programming, no matter how cute or adorable it is, should be a continuation of that story through the community and family that is the church.

This article originally appeared here.

Francis Chan: Stop Idolizing Your Family

Megan Briggs

December 4, 2018

According to Francis Chan family is good, but we need to be careful not to make it an idol. Chan has a challenge for the church that is guaranteed to hit close to home. In the video below, Chan explains a phenomenon he sees in the American church where married couples and parents choose to protect and focus on their own families and forsake the mission of God.

Francis Chan on the Idol of the Family

Chan recalls a particular problem he saw with the believers of his generation: When they were single they were on fire and willing to be radical for the mission of God. However, when they married they became more interested in building up their own family than they were with the taking risks necessary to fulfill the mission of God. Chan refers to 1 Corinthians 7, where Paul is making the case for singleness as being more advantageous to a believer who is determined to answer his or her calling.

The temptation we face when we marry and have children is to be so inwardly focused that our families become like idols to us. The mentality usually goes: Focus on your children when they are young, and then when they’re old enough, you can go back to ministry. But the example parents give when they do that is “let’s protect our family now. Now let’s keep us safe. Let’s find some gated community and keep them all in our house, away from all the bad people.” This is in contrast to what Scripture tells us to do: “going out in the harvest and being a worker.”

This non-Scriptural mindset parents adopt is why a lot of kids ditch God when they are adults, Chan claims. As they grow, they don’t see anything real in the life of faith of their parents.

“Not only are you missing out on life, but we are turning away our children by the droves because our lives are not the adventure they see in Scripture and they are not experiencing the Holy Spirit.” What they are experiencing instead is what Chan calls “a Christian version of the American dream.” This is why, says Francis Chan family, while good, must not take God’s place.

Why Youth Pastors Need Honesty

Zac Workun

December 4, 2018

Q: How are you? A: I’m doing okay.

If you are in youth ministry you know that okay is the cover against weakness. It’s the veil against a longer discussion or feigns against the more exhausting truthful version of whatever is really happening to you.

“I once had a Christian leader warn me against sharing my weaknesses. He told me it would be used against me.

He was right.

But I’d rather have some people reject an honest version of me than applaud a fable that I cannot sustain and helps no one.” – Redeemed Youth Minister Blaine Bartel

Honesty’s Got Baggage

So Can We Talk? Honestly?

If we are, then I need to tell you that talking honestly comes with baggage. It means that in our truth-telling there is some stuff that I won’t be able to carry anymore.

TELLING THE PERSONAL TRUTH IS DIFFICULT…

This must be named. It is not our normal stance in a position of influence to share the heartfelt from our own heart. For sure, you will share what is on your heart about those in front of you, but rarely do we share our own suffering, weakness or failure.

DON’T WAIT FOR PERMISSION…

Not enough people are going to ask you how you are doing. As a person in a pastoral position, we cannot expect the questions to always first come to us. You need to have a plan, a person, maybe even a professional in your life.

SHARE BEFORE THE CARE RUNS OUT…

Too many pastoral people wind up burned out and it is because everything came heaping down and they had no way out until it was just too much. As true and as often as you would want a student in your ministry to share with their leader, you too need to be sharing with someone in your life.

This article originally appeared here.

IMAGES WITH CHILDREN

Here are three reasons.

1. It helps people see their sin more clearly.

2. It helps people to gain perspective on God’s plan.

SATAN

CIRCUMSTANCES

SICKNESS

Mark Harris’ Campaign at the Center of the Controversy

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Venture Christian Church Is in a Very Healthy Spot

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But changing such places of worship is difficult.

Though there is much in your church’s past worth celebrating, there are yet many things to lament about.

10 Christmas Story Truths Students Should Know

1. The Incarnation Is Awesome.

2. You Are Never Too Young or Too Inexperienced to Be Used by God.

3. The Harder the Situation, the Greater the Faith.

4. The Bible Is an Amazing Testimony to God’s Hand Working Through Time and Circumstances to Achieve His Purposes.

5. When We Respond to God’s Leading in Obedience, We Allow God to Use Us to Our Fullest Intended Purpose.

6. We Should Approach Jesus With Reverence and Honor.

7. The Gospel Is Not a Secret.

8. When God Does Awesome Stuff for Us, the Proper Response Is Praise.

9. God’s Kingdom Has Always and Will Always Place Tremendous Value on the Lowly and the Lost.

10. Jesus Is Radically Divisive.

Imitation

Measuring Up

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Be You

The Early Church Was Seriously Mediocre

The President’s Religious Background

Key Quotes from Jonathan Pokluda:

Links Mentioned in the Show:

Me.

Four Reasons I Don’t Like Christmas Programs

What can be done?

Christmas programs are in and of themselves not the issue.

Francis Chan on the Idol of the Family

Q: How are you? A: I’m doing okay.

Honesty’s Got Baggage

So Can We Talk? Honestly?

TELLING THE PERSONAL TRUTH IS DIFFICULT…

DON’T WAIT FOR PERMISSION…

SHARE BEFORE THE CARE RUNS OUT…

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