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One Must Do in 2019
New Year’s resolutions galore! Of course. We’re just a day away from the launch of 2019 and resolution ideas are spreading across social media.
But just a few days after New Year’s what will we all be asking?
“Are your resolutions still resolutions or are they no longer resolved to continue?
With all the self-help lists come charts of what every good person “must do” or “must read” in 2019. We must: eat healthier, exercise more regularly, pay down more debt, save more money, be more productive, and on the list goes…
Yet while all those “must do’s” may be all well and good, there is one action step I believe we all must do as Jesus-followers in 2019. What pray-tell is this extraordinary must do?
Drum-roll Please…
A: Consistently read through God’s Word, the Bible.
Yep, it’s that simple, yet also that difficult. Why? Because everything seems to distract us from this simple, yet life-changing, decision-forming, heart-healing practice.
_________________________
Here’s the video of my message “One Must Do in 2019,” from Mayfair Bible Church on December 30, 2018, in which I give 5 key reasons for consistently reading through the Bible:
______________________________
Really, That’s It?
Now most of you may be thinking you could have figured this one out on your own. So why keep reading or watching?
The hard part is not merely stating the need: If we want to grow in God-likeness (godliness) in 2019 we must read God’s Word (not hard), but rather practicing this “must do.” For many of us – if we’re honest – embarking on a journey to consistently read through the Bible sounds like swimming across the English Channel, running a marathon, or hiking the Appalachian trail. The statistics of how many evangelical Christians have never read through the Bible in its entirety is downright startling… but maybe it’s really not.
Read the Research: Americans are Fond of the Bible, but Don’t Actually Read It
We all seem to struggle with this vital spiritual discipline.
But just like preparing to run a marathon, learning a new skill, or hiking the Appalachian trail, we all want to really know why? When we answer the why, we are then motivated to stay the course… to perform the task, to read the book. So what are some essential reasons for consistently reading through God’s Word?
Consistently reading the Bible…
1. …Keeps us from giving into sin. (Psalm 119:9-11; cf. John 17:17)
“How shall a young man keep his way pure? By giving heed according to Your Word. . . . Your Word have I treasured in my heart that I might not sin against You.” (v. 9, 11)
“Sanctify them in the truth, Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)
KEY Q: What you treasure will demonstrate who is your master. So who or what do you treasure?
“This Book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.” – Howard Hendrick
2. …Guards us against Satan’s lies. (Eph. 6:17; Jude 1:3-4; cf. Luke 4:1-13; Matt. 4:6)
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Eph. 6:17)
KEY Q: Satan blurs the lies to appears as truth. To what lies are you more easily susceptible? Click here to access the my footnote: “Lies We Believe” [1]
In order to confront lies with truth, we have to know the truth. And this comes through saturating, internalizing, memorizing, and apply God’s truth to your life.
3. …Restores us when we are weary and worn. (Psa. 23:3; Matt. 11:28-30; 2 Cor. 1:3-5)
“The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.” (Psa. 23:1-3)Only the Shepherd can do restore our souls… and He does this through the Spirit and the Word.
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)
4. …Guides us in God’s design for life. (Psalm 119:105; 2 Tim. 3:15-17)
“Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.” (Psa. 119:105)KEY: In the Word of God we find the will of God and the way of God for life. (Cf. 2 Tim. 3:15-17)
KEY Q: God’s Word is our guide “for all life, faith, and practice…” This is not merely supposed to be a “pat” doctrinal statement answer. Do we believe this? Do we more quickly resort to Facebook, Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, or Youtube for answers?
“A genuinely well-worn Bible that is falling apart, generally belongs to someone who’s not.” Doug Hornok Sr. (and Charles Spurgeon)
5. …Inspires us to worship God. (Romans 11:33-12:1)
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Rom. 11:33-36)
KEY: Rehearsing all He has done, is doing, and will do leads us to worship….which happens through the Word!
“The reason I read the Bible is because I am stone-cold dead without Christ and His Word.” – John Piper
An Important Caveat: Don’t slip into legalism! Growth in the likeness of Christ is the working progress of God in our lives, only accomplished through “His power at work within us to will and to do according to His good pleasure…” (Phil. 2:13). Therefore, these reasons for reading the Bible, ultimately, should inspire us to worship God for His great, magnificent life-changing Word, not lean on our faulty human strength.
My friend, Dr. Richard Bargas, helpfully reminds us:
“…many Christians will begin their new Bible reading strong and with the best of intentions…but in the flesh and not in dependence upon God. This year, try something new—read your Bible in dependence upon the Spirit. Not just to begin reading it, but to continue reading through to the end. The goal is not finishing the Bible, nor is it reading it every day without fail. The goal is growing close to your Savior and God. From that relationship will flow rivers of living water.” – Bargas’ Article LINK
So lean into Jesus as you read the Word. Walk in the Spirit as you pour over each verse. Pray for illumination and wisdom as you internalize God’s Truth.
3 Great Resources for Picking a Bible Reading Plan… and Sticking to it:
- The Navigators offer 3 free downloadable Bible Reading plans here at various paces: https://www.navigators.org/resource/bible-reading-plans/
- LifeWay‘s Trevin Wax provides 6 great options to consider for Bible Reading here: https://lifewayvoices.com/discipleship-evangelism/find-a-bible-reading-plan-thats-right-for-you/
- Bible Study Tools outlines a whopping 17 Bible Reading Plans, including options for chronological reading, daily Gospel, daily Psalm, book order, and more: https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-reading-plan/
[1] Lies we sometimes believe…
“We’re not really in a spiritual war or facing assaults from Satan or demons.”
- TRUTH: We are in a real war. Our real, ultimate fight is not against persons, people groups, or political parties, but against Satan, sin, and his system.
- “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8; see also Eph. 6:11-13; 2 Cor. 10:3-6)
“My sense of worth and value is in what I do, what I have, and what I look like.”
- TRUTH: For those in Christ, our worth and value is in what God calls us: His children – adopted inheritors with all the saints in light.
- “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” (Eph. 1:5-6; see also Eph. 1:13-23; Col. 1:12)
“My past will always define me.”
- TRUTH: Your past may explain the way you are, but it need not define what you will become.
- “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17; see also Rom. 12:2)
“If I’m really honest and authentic with my friends, I will be rejected…alone.”
- TRUTH: All who are in Jesus Christ are part of God’s family. He’s holding us together and building us together into a holy temple, with Jesus Christ being the Cornerstone. No matter who rejects you, God accepts you in His Son.
- “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:19-22; see also Gal. 6:2)
“My education and intellect is the measure of my value to my society and family.”
- TRUTH: Your intrinsic value is in how God defines you, not in how others describe you.
- “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:7) “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” (1 Peter 2:9)
“What other people have but I lack would make me happier or more content in my soul.”
- TRUTH: God grants contentment to His people when their greatest treasure is in Him, not in what they possess on earth.
- “…I have learned to be content in whatsoever circumstances I am in…” (Philippians 4:11-12). “Do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; for your body, as to what you will put on. … Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” (Matt. 6:25-34; Luke 12:22)
“An occasional thought of lust for someone other than my spouse will do no harm to my marriage.”
- TRUTH: “…everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her as already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matt. 5:27-28)
“Spending multiple hours per day viewing social media, TV, or movies yet only 5 minutes per day reading the Bible won’t inhibit my spiritual growth.”
- TRUTH: We will harvest the crop we plant and nurture. What kind of harvest will you reap?
- “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lost heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” (Gal. 6:7-9; see also Gal. 5:19-24)
“Internalizing Bible verses is impossible for me and not really worth the effort.”
- TRUTH: God’s Word is our central weapon against Satan’s attacks. How did Jesus confront the lies of Satan? With the Truth of God’s Word (Luke 4:1-13; Matt. 4) Know the Word and be ready with the Word.
- “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet. 1:13; see also 1 Pet. 1:14; John 17:17)
“Small sin decisions won’t have serious consequences.”
- God’s TRUTH: Every decision we make is aligned with the way of sin or the will of the Spirit. Apart from the unmerited kindness of God, we will reap the consequences accordingly.
- “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.” (Gal. 5:16-17; cf. “Be sure your sin will find you out…” (Num. 32:23b)
What lies are you believing… today?
Are your actions or emotions built around a lie you sometimes believe? How would you complete this sentence?
“___________________________ will make me happy or at peace when I’m stressed, depressed, or angry.”
Stand strong in the strength that God provides. Guard against Satan’s lies with the weapons God provides.
Find hope again in the secure and timeless words of Jesus the Christ:
“If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31b-32)
In God’s Vineyard,
Michael
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Upside Down Christmas
Christmas is a time of laughter, decorations, family outings, shopping, cooking, reflecting on the birth of Jesus, and so much more! We are supposed to be spreading Christmas cheer and everyone is expected to be happy, right?!
Wrong.
I enjoy the trimmings of Christmastide as much as the happiest elf. Yet just as sure as the snow falls across the north country in January, it’s okay to struggle at Christmas. For example…
- When our child with high-functioning autism melts down over the tiniest thing
- When I change the Christmas menu at the last minute to *easy* because I’m just that overwhelmed
- When all I want is the baby I lost
- When Christmas Day plans don’t work out at the last minute because of a vomiting child
- When my heart aches from so much loss in my own life, and in the lives of others close to me
Now those are just a few of the hurdles we’ve had to jump over during the past week. But your challenges are probably vastly different than mine. Yet your situation is no less significant.
Wading through challenges over Christmas is okay. Sharing our struggles with others is healthy, too. We should never be made to feel “less than” because our reality is different than someone else.
It’s easy to brush past people with the attitude of New Year’s cheer, telling everyone to be positive. But as we all know, so many people are hurting today.
We are often far too quick to dump religious platitudes or clinical pat answers on people. Why? Perhaps so we can stay on our journey of never being transparent. Or maybe we’re nervous about hearing the deep details of their stories. Still further, perhaps we’re scared we won’t have all the right answers, so we hurriedly shovel out our best stuff and run for cover.
so many…
crushing losses.
absent people…from distance and death
so much…
cancer.
abuse.
fear.
hunger.
war.
So, let this be the season of not only giving, but reaching out of our own circles into real relationships with people we don’t yet know. . . . people who aren’t like us, comfortable, or familiar, yet who need real, open, raw love.
So where do we discover the right pattern for this kind of living?
Jesus.
Jesus counseled the mourning, hurting, and confused. He cried with those who were weeping and was fully present in every moment. (John 4:7-26; 9:1-12; 11:23-38)
Jesus weathered interpersonal family tension and outright rejection in his hometown. (Mark 6:1-6; Luke 4:16-30; John 7:5)
Jesus knew the deep hurt of betrayal. One of his closest friends turned him in for a mere thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:14-16; Luke 22:1-6)
Jesus suffered through deep emotional grief and agony when approaching the hour of His trial and crucifixion. (Matthew 26:37-41; Mark 14:34-39; Luke 22:41-45)
Jesus experienced intense pain through the horrendously tortuous death on a cross. (John 19:1-30; Luke 23:22-38)
Jesus knows. As my pastor-husband often says, “Jesus knows everything about you – every word, thought, and action – and He still loves you.”
I’m so grateful for a Savior who can handle my hurting heart, my grief, my loneliness, and so much more. Leaning into the challenges and blustery winter’s wind is a journey of sanctification, of growth in Christ-likeness. By all Holy Spirit-empowered means, be joyful! But don’t forget we can have joy in Jesus and still weep with those who weep. An upside-down Christmas is no less a holiday. In fact, it may be nearer to the heart of the very One we’re celebrating…
Blessings,
Stephanie Anna
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Why Christmas?
Something about the crisp, festive air of the Christmas season brings out the poetic side of me. Each year, if the Lord so guides, I write an Advent themed poem and often have the great delight of delivering it to my flock on Christmas Eve. I’m thankful that, yet again this year, God filled me with a fresh zest for the thoughts, words, and message of Christ’s miraculous Incarnation. I present to you…
WHY CHRISTMAS? | Christmas Eve 2018
“Why Christmas?!” we shout amid the din of sleigh bells ringing and cheery carols playing
Horns honking, traffic stopping, debt rising… through all the shopping, shopping, shopping!
Across the seas, children are starving, soldiers are fighting, innocent dying
Throughout our land, the cruel are abusing, the evil are enslaving, politicians arguing
Where’s the peace on earth and goodwill to men?
Somehow the theme drifts into a blaring tune of red and green
Maybe it’s time to change the scene
To relearn everything?
How far have we traveled from the Baby born in Bethlehem?
In the dust and dirt and hay
The air cold; the night gray
The pungent odor of dung fills the lungs
Blood and sweat and tears ring out a song
The Baby born in Bethlehem…
To a quiet, work-worn carpenter
and a young, wide-eyed virgin named Miriam
How would they explain the shepherds’ joyful, heavenly delirium?
The Magi’s mysterium?
The Child’s star hung in the sky like a well-crafted planetarium?
In the dark, the Baby born in Bethlehem…
Arrived with the Light of the glory of God
Not seen across the land since Ezekiel made it known: “Ichabod!”
Years upon years of silence coupled with darkness
Like a damp winter’s chill
Hovering over the ground so quiet and still
Then Light from above broke open beyond a lonely hill
Not silence, but pronouncement!
God’s messengers declared with great thrill:
“He’s here! Doxology be to the One from on high!
Peace to all people for God’s grace has come nigh!”
“The peace of Rome” – Pax Romana was perpetually betrayed
Caesar’s coins tell the story: slavery was their true game
Dividing and conquering their mantra always the same: “Caesar is Lord!”
They commanded every citizen named
But to the lowest, the poorest, the oppressed, and unseen…
God’s love shined brightest when hope appeared so lean
In contradistinction to the call of the Romans, “Christ is Lord!” was the angel’s cry
To Herod’s consternation, we’d all soon learn Jesus indeed is King
Even before he did in the manger lie
For one day, on a different lonely hill, He would be nailed to a cross…
With a banner over His brow, “Here hangs the king of the Jews.”
The One most Pharisees vehemently eschewed
Darkness would again cover the earth
Broken, the world, torn in two…
Those who long ruled would smirk and jeer
Surmising they had won their battle shortly after twelve’ noon
And silence and darkness pervaded the room
The disciples hid in a closet of gloom…
But then just as He promised, God’s glory again appeared:
“He is risen! He’s not here!”
Twas’ the angel’s announcement at the empty tomb to those crippled by fear
So now we see, the Baby born in Bethlehem is forever…
Reversing the darkness
Bringing hope to the hopeless
Going to the lowest
No one is beyond God’s reach
No one is beyond God’s love
No one is beyond God’s Son
And just as He promised: one day, our King will come.
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“The oppressor will come to an end, and destruction will cease; the aggressor will vanish from the land. In loving-kindness a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it – one from the house of David; Moreover, He will seek justice and be prompt in righteousness.” Isaiah 16:4a-5
“The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” (Luke 1:30-33)
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Michael J. Breznau
Christmas Eve 2018 | www.MayfairBible.org
Here’s the live-stream video of my message at our Christmas Eve service, during which the poem above was presented:
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End Your Search.
Yesterday, I had the immense joy of communicating God’s Word through dramatic monologue as one of the ancient Magi, written about in the Gospel of Matthew 2:1-12. You may watch the video below, which was filmed at Mayfair Bible Church, where I serve as Lead Pastor:
End Your Search | Full Manuscript
Unforgettable! Amazing! Like nothing I’ve ever seen or heard of since! …I’ll never forget that journey of journeys until the day I die.
Long had we searched – all our lives! And finally all our seeking, searching, and longing ended.
More than 4 months we did travel to follow the signal light of the most magnificent, unusual Star. Ahh… seeing the Star is when it all began.
Who were the Magi?
You see, we Magi – wise men, we are not magicians as you might say, but scholars, interpreters, astrologers, astronomers, political leaders with great power… some of us Magi have in the past been placed to rule over the provinces of Babylon and Egypt. We study science, diplomacy, and religion to try “to understand present and future life.”[1]
Our HISTORY: We were always SEARCHING for the Truth, for the Way to Life, Life Beyond this Life… Searching the scrolls… Searching the stars…Searching our hearts.
Folk Religion: We searched in the ancient superstitions and religions of our forefathers but it led us nowhere, only to more searching and never finding the answers we were looking for!
Judaism: BUT THEN into our midst came Daniel, an orphaned Jew. He interpreted great dreams for King Nebuchadnezzar and saved the lives of our ancestors by doing so! (Daniel 2). He was placed over all the entire province of Babylon AND as leader over all the other wise man – the Magi! He worshiped Adonai, or in the Hebrew language, YHWH, the God of the Hebrews, the God not made or carved or crafted by the hand of any human being – a God not seen, but a God whose handiwork is seen everywhere.
YHWH gave Daniel more wisdom than anyone in our realm had ever seen. The Magi of that time were drawn to learn of this God who rescued Daniel from a prison cave filled with hungry lions, the God who appeared in the burning hot human incinerator and rescued Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, who we called Shadrach, Mischach, and Abednego – they should’ve been instantly burned to death yet they were alive!
The God who was with Daniel entered our story, the story of the Magi. The Magi of old marveled at the prophecies of Daniel concerning the future and of what he instructed from the Hebrews scrolls. He even told them of an ancient wise man, named Joseph, an orphaned Jew, who interpreted a dream for the great Pharaoh of Egypt… and ruled over all the provinces of the land
Zoroastrianism: But later, upon the command of King Darius I, our forebears adapted to Zoroastrianism and sought to follow the god, Ahura Mazda.[2] But for all our dutiful religious adherence, we still found no lasting peace, guidance for our existence, or answers for the order of the earth. The truth learned during Daniel’s time became mixed, twisted, and ignored. The search of the Magi continued…
Your Search?
Many of you are seeking, searching, and longing for answers, truth, knowledge, and understanding, yes? I hear many in your time are yet again following the ways of Zoroastrianism and other man-devised ways of seeking for answers. We are told we can find the answers within ourselves, are we not? We are told to follow our hearts. But the great prophet of old, Jeremiah wrote, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick, who can know it?”
As the chief most scholars, scientists, priests, and intellectuals we were constantly looking for order and disorder, patterns, and problems. But with all our astrology, books, scrolls, and religious endeavors of cultic worship and Zoroastrianism, OUR SEARCH NEVER seemed complete. Peace – inner and outer peace – never remained in our grasp.
You, too? Ahh… but the searching, doubting soul is not the one without faith, but is the evidence of a faith worth fighting for.
One Dark Night
Hundreds of years rolled on by, but our tribe, the Great Magi of the East continued searching and seeking the scrolls and the stars for answers…
…until one dark, dark night a star appeared that pierced through the sky. We saw the most unusual, magnificent star across the distant horizon. No star like it! An angelic, heavenly light.
Then suddenly I remembered there was something written in the ancient Hebrew scrolls about a great star which would be for the Messiah, a Savior, a Rescuer, the One who would set everything right on the earth! My friends and I rushed back to our library of scrolls and finally found it… I knew it was there, just as Daniel had taught our ancestors long ago! [Rush back to Fireside and Scrolls]
Another man, considered to be a member of the Magi of the past, wrote these words in what you call Numbers (14:15a-17a):
“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, and the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered. I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel…”
This one would bring justice to the oppressed and rule with righteousness upon the throne of His father King David! A newborn King! Many people across the entire known world talked about this Promised One. There was anticipation but also trepidation. What would His coming mean for us all?
We had to find out! From the dark, dusty halls of our library we ran outside again and look up into the night sky: there it was the brightest, most magnificent and unique star – a star never before seen. And according to our best astronomy calculations it was shining directly down over David’s Town, Bethlehem. Could it be?!
Yes, yes it was! We could sense it in our hearts through the Spirit of God the Most High.
The JOURNEY
So we embarked on the Journey that I will never forget until the day I die (which may not be too long now). We gathered a regal group, an embassy, for the long journey… for months and months we traveled up the Fertile Crescent along the Great Euphrates River and then down through the mountains and hill country, eventually through Galilee and then into Jerusalem, near the place where the star guided us. This God, YHWH, set us on a search, the Journey of all journeys, a pilgrimage of over 900 miles!
As we journeyed, the star did not remain in the sky. But still we kept believing. We knew what we had seen in the night.
No Light in Your Night?
For some of you, the star – the light of God – seems like it is gone from your sky. Darkness and doubt are creeping in. But you need to still keep believing. “Don’t doubt in the dark, what God has shown you in the light.” (Corrie ten Boom)
JERUSALEM
So on we journeyed until we finally arrived at the great yet tumultuous city of Jerusalem, run by a vassal-lord who called himself, King Herod… a treacherous fool, indeed. They say, if you were a pig you would be safer in Herod’s court than one of his own sons, since he killed his three sons and did not eat pork because of wanting to patronize the Jewish leaders.[3]
As soon as we arrived we began asking everyone across the city:
“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” (Matt. 1:2)
Surely, everyone must have seen the star and heard of the newborn King!? But no, some seemed to hear of it, but the entire place got stirred into an uproar by our questioning. Fear spread throughout the city that Herod may go again into a murderous tyrannical spree to eliminate any threat to his throne.
The fearful fool, Herod, gathered all their chief priests and scribes together and asked them where the Messiah – the Anointed One – was to be born. And just as we had found, the ancient prophecies were clear. They answered, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
“And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.” (Micah 5:2 and 2 Sam. 5:2)
The prophecy was being fulfilled! But then Herod called us in for a secret meeting. He pelted us with probing questions: “What did you see? When did you see it? How do you know it points toward the Messiah?”
He then sent us on our way to search for the Child, but with a caveat,
“…when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” (Matt. 2:8b)
SEARCH’S END:
Then an amazing thing happened as soon as we returned to our search for the Child! The star we’d seen in the East reappeared! We could hardly believe our eyes. This time it was CLOSE, so Very CLOSE. We rejoiced and shouted and danced! For so long we had searched, sought, and longed…
Then in the little town of Bethlehem, in a humble home…we saw the Child. We SAW Him with Mary His Mother. The presence of YHWH – the one true and living God – invaded our weary hearts. Tears of joy filled our eyes. Then we fell to the ground, for our search for Truth and Life had come to an end and we worshiped Him. We gave him our very best earthly treasures because in Him we had finally found the heavenly treasure. (Lay down Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh). We had finally discovered, believed, and received the Christ!
What about You?
Lay down the gifts, head-dress, scepter, everything at the feet of Jesus… “Because that is how we worship… we lay our lives down in submission to Him and His will; for He is worthy.”
“We worship You, we worship You, we worship You, Christ the Lord”…. “Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices…”
The fool seeks to thwart or ignore God’s plan, but the wise bow in worshipful submission to God. The evil fool Herod sought to stamp us out and kill the Messiah. But One cannot thwart the eternal purpose of God. No one can stop His Son.
Have you been saying you’re following Him, but in reality you’re mostly ignoring Him? Will you lay down everything you have at the feet of the Holy Child and say, “It is all from you and to you and for your glory will I now live… so I lay my life down at your feet.”?
And for many of you, today is the day you End your Search.
Come to Jesus today. Put your belief, your trust into Him. Receive Life. God created you. God loves you.
No one is beyond God’s reach. No one is beyond God’s love. No one is beyond God’s Son.
FOOTNOTES
[1] Clint Arnold, Matthew, Mark, and Luke in the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, pg. 14. Cf. Chad Ashby’s helpful article: https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/2016/december/magi-wise-men-or-kings-its-complicated.html
[2] Many of the Magi caste were followers of Zoroaster, the religion of Zoroastrianism, which was forced upon them by Darius I. They did not want to lost their political power, so many adapted to this cultic religious path. Group writers comment, “While there is no absolute consensus about the adherence of the kings before Darius, such as Cyrus and Cambyses, it is well established that Darius was an adherent of Zoroastrianism or at least a firm believer in Ahura Mazda. As can be seen at the Behistun Inscription, Darius believed that Ahura Mazda had appointed him to rule the Achaemenid Empire. Darius had dualistic philosophical convictions and believed that each rebellion in his kingdom was the work of druj, the enemy of Asha. Darius believed that because he lived righteously by Asha, Ahura Mazda supported him. In many cuneiform inscriptions denoting his achievements, he presents himself as a devout believer, perhaps even convinced that he had a divine right to rule over the world.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darius_I
[3] “Caesar Augustus supposedly made the famous pun that he would rather be Herod’s pig (hus) than his son (huios).” – Arnold, Zondervan Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), pg. 18. See also David Turner’s excellent work in the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Gospel of Matthew, Tyndale: 2005.
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So I Weep.
I recently was able to go to a respite weekend for moms of special needs children at a lovely B&B in West Michigan. While I was there, I had a lot of time to rest and write and think. After having my sixth miscarriage in September, I wondered again why I had to say goodbye to yet another precious baby.
I talked out loud to Jesus:
“Why do other people get to keep THEIR babies, Lord? Some of those people don’t even WANT to be pregnant. Why have I had to give not just one, but six back to you? I pray to be like Hannah, willing to do anything for a baby, even giving hers back to the temple as he grew older, yet again and again those dreams disappear? Why me Lord? Why my babies? It’s just not fair.”
Now, I know the age old saying, “life isn’t fair,” and agree for the most part. But in all honesty, sometimes the level of unfairness really does stink and there isn’t any argument there.
It’s a hard place to be in when I already have three precious children who are amazing gifts, but it doesn’t replace the ones I lost. Nothing can take their place. I don’t want to ever come across as ungrateful for their lives or equate my struggles with those dealing with infertility and empty arms. Yet, secondary infertility is a thing and loss is loss.
I am so grateful that my Jesus can handle my questions, my ramblings in the dark, and at times, even my anger.
One thing I’ve come to see is that no matter who you are – your economic background, ethnicity, gender, religious affiliation, or upbringing – we all have loss and we all grieve. Grieving takes many forms, but we still grieve.
I pray that in all my own personal grieving, I come to a place where I can show compassion and minister to those who are hurting for a myriad of reasons. I daily pray for clarity into situations where I don’t know what to do or how to reach out. He has all the answers and I want to be His arms and feet.
So I weep.
I weep for my babies. I weep for the many times I look around my table with missing chairs. I weep for the missing stockings on our fireplace at Christmas. I weep for the hurt my husband and children are experiencing. I weep for my friends.
It’s okay to cry. Tears are healing, washing my heart like a fresh rain on a warm day.
So be there.
Listen.
Let the silence do the talking when words don’t need to be spoken.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ~ Revelation 21:4-5
Blessings,
Stephanie
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Advent: Transforming Hope
“Busy, busy, busy.” This is the phrase I’m hearing from most everyone these days. Folks are busy with holiday parties at their workplace and with extended family. Christmas concerts at local schools and professional venues fill up the evenings.
And don’t forget all the shopping that “must get done!” Small gifts, large gifts, medium-sized gifts, and stocking stuffers pile over the top of our carts as we rush to and fro from store to store in an effort to find the best deal. UPS and US Postal employees are squeezed to pump out more overtime hours to meet the demands of online shoppers.
We’re all so busy, focused, and invested in preparing for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations…and there’s nothing necessarily wrong with that, I suppose. But how are we preparing and living for the hope of Christ’s return and His coming kingdom? Herein lies the heart of Advent. Christmastide is more than just remembering Christ’s birth but also a season of worship focused on Christ’s return.
Reflecting on the first Advent prepares us for the second Advent. In our Christmas-season worship – full of anticipation, waiting, and longing – we find hope that lasts beyond the leftovers. How we view the end changes how we live in and understand the present.
Like so many of the Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, Isaiah 9:1-7 gives us a glimpse of what has already occured in the first coming of Christ, but also a picture of what is to come at His glorious second coming:
“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them. . . . For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. there will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:2, 6-7)
The Holy Child arrived (Luke 1:35, 2:1-11). Yet He is not yet seated on the throne of David ruling over the earth with justice and righteousness. One day our King will come again. In Him we find hope because He Himself is our hope. Our hope is not found in a government program or a financial projection but in a Person: Jesus Christ.
The enduring hope in Jesus is not static or stagnant but transformative. Hope does something within us and through us. Hope produces joy in the midst of suffering (1 Peter 1:3-7; Rev. 21:1-5). Hope produces comfort in the midst of grief (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Hope produces peace in the midst of chaos (John 14:1-6; 26-27). Hope produces holiness in the midst of brokenness (1 Peter 1:13-21).
So let us walk in hope, brothers and sisters. Walk in hope.
To find out more about Transformative Hope, click on the image below to watch a brief Advent season video-devotional I produced with my kiddos:
Week InREVIEW
- Just in Case you Missed It: Last week, I took a moment to reminisce and reflect on the goodness of God in leading us to Mayfair Bible Church last year. Click HERE to read my brief note of thanks to God and the Mayfair family: One Year Ago
- Daily Advent Devotionals from DTS: I highly recommend Dallas Theological Seminary‘s daily Advent devotionals. Each year the faculty of DTS write a fresh set of superb Christmas season readings. Click HERE to access this year’s book (it’s free!): Psalms for the Season
Advent Series: Why Christmas?
Why bother with Christmas? Is the tinsel-laden holiday worth all the stress, busyness, credit card debt, heavy traffic, and high expectations?
Where’s the peace on earth and good will to men?
Somehow the theme drifts into a blaring tune of red and green.
Maybe it’s time to change the scene…to relearn everything.Join us each Sunday of Advent to rediscover Christmas by returning to the original people of the story… the true narrative that brings the news of peace, hope, joy, and love to everyone.
I’ll continue the new series here at Mayfair Bible Church this Sunday with Part Two: “Why Mary?” (Luke 1:26-56) | 10:45 AM | Come join us!
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One Year Ago…
On this day, one year ago, my family and I had just returned home from a wonderful two-Sunday visit with Mayfair Bible Church. From our little homestead in North Carolina, we prayerfully and excitedly awaited the news of the coming Sunday’s congregational vote.
“Would I be called to serve as their Lead Pastor? What would the vote from the flock indicate?” we wondered.
So we waited, prayed, and tried our best not to be anxious.
For Stephanie and I, God confirmed through much prayer, evaluation, and counsel that He was directing our family back to Michigan, and specifically to the Mayfair family. God emboldened our faith with such abiding peace that we even moved ahead with placing an offer on a home in the area. We began packing up boxes, planning out our move, and notifying friends to pray about the impending transition. By God’s shocking kindness, our offer on the home was accepted.
Yet two questions still remained: “Will the vote provide a clear call?” and if so, “Will the homeowner allow us to move in prior to closing!?”
We sat on pins and needles as we prayed throughout Sunday morning and early afternoon. Then the long-anticipated phone call arrived from the search team…. by God’s guidance, the members of Mayfair voted 99.5% toward calling me to serve as their Lead Pastor. We burst open with joy. Even quiet little Carson squealed with delight. Moments later, we filmed this short video to let Mayfair know of my acceptance of the call:
God, again, demonstrated His faithfulness and direction two days later, when the seller granted us permission to immediately move into the home before the closing! From the time our offer was accepted until closing was a mere 23 days. Simply amazing.
To the Mayfair Family:
We are so thankful to God for you. Your love, hospitality, and generosity are extraordinary virtues…certainly cultivated by God’s grace. The past twelve months of pastoral ministry have been deeply rewarding. You have a patience and hunger for the Bible. What a thrill it is to preach God’s truth to such a receptive group of Jesus-followers! You have an enthusiasm and passion to reach the lost in our community and around the world. What a joy it is to lead such a willing, prayerful team on the mission of Jesus! You have an openness to respond to faithful counsel. What a blessing it is to love such humble, transparent flock-members toward Christ-likeness!
Just as I mentioned in the video above, so this passage remains my prayer for you today:
“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” (Colossians 2:6-7)
We look forward to all God will do in this coming Advent season and the year ahead as we aim to thrive as obedient, grace-giving followers of Jesus Christ!
New Series Launch: Why Christmas?
Why bother with Christmas? Is the tinsel-laden holiday worth all the stress, busyness, credit card debt, heavy traffic, and high expectations?
Where’s the peace on earth and good will to men?
Somehow the theme drifts into a blaring tune of red and green.
Maybe it’s time to change the scene…to relearn everything.Join us each Sunday of Advent to rediscover Christmas by returning to the original people of the story… the true narrative that brings the news of peace, hope, joy, and love to everyone.
The Series Begins THIS Sunday, December 2nd | 10:45 AM | We’ll also be celebrating Communion @ Mayfair Bible Church. Invite a friend!
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Discarding Fake Joy
When was about 7 years old, I remember sitting on a little wooden seat in Sunday School as we prepared to hear what the week’s Bible memory verse would be.
“Okay children! Here is today’s passage,” announced the vivacious teacher.
“Philippians 4:4 says, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!'”
Immediately, I was thankful for the many, many hours of Wee Kids Bible Songs in my parent’s old blue panel van. As the familiar tune for this verse rattled around in my head, I spouted off the exclamatory sentence lickety-split. The teacher happily gave me a golden star for my memory chart and this little line has been forever sealed in my mind. But therein lies the danger. I can recite this verse in the blink of an eye (and most of you can, too), but has it actually been pressed deeply into my heart? This past Tuesday, I came across an old, truth-saturated prayer that reminded me of that verse I had memorized nearly three decades earlier:
“Rejoice then in the Giver and His goodness,
Be happy in Him, O my heart, and in nothing but God,
for whatever a man trusts in, from that he expects happiness,
He who is the ground of thy faith
should be the substance of thy joy.”
(from “A Colloquy on Rejoicing” in The Valley of Vision)
Somehow in all my familiarity of Philippians 4:4 I had mentally skipped over the phrase, “in the Lord.” I wondered with fresh eyes, “What does it mean to rejoice in the Lord?”
To sing a note of thanks or say words of praise for what God provides?
To be happy because of what He has given me?
To be “more joyful” about being at church than I may be at a Red Wings hockey game?
To be grateful to God when circumstances arrange comfortably in my life?
But the words of the brief prayer above arrested my attention: “..whatever a man trusts in, from that he expects happiness.” In this truth is the foundation of true and lasting Christian joy. Herein is the full weight of what it means to rejoice in the Lord. We can rejoice fully in God when He is the focus of our faith. When God Himself is the epicenter of our trust, we experience a heart-level happiness that surpasses momentary pleasures. To rejoice in God is to be completely and solely satisfied in God. The joy found in God alone is not shaken when we lack material goods. Gladness in Christ doesn’t disappear after a sporting event, the rush of the holidays, or an end-of-year raise. Why? Because it is entirely grounded in God.
Let us search our souls…
In what or in whom have you been seeking happiness? Are you frustrated when your expectations of a vacation, job, or relationship are not met? Do you find Christian service projects or church attendance end in an emotional let-down?
Perhaps we’re looking to programs, people, projects, or material progress as the substance of our joy. Yes, all-too-often we find our fingers attempting to scrape happiness out of everything but God Himself. Let’s say today individually, and collectively this Sunday, “Remember, oh my soul, your abiding joy is in nothing but God. I am found in Him. I have meaning and fulfillment in Him. He is the fountain that will never run dry. Therefore, I will rejoice in Him.”
P.S.
If you’re looking for a church to call home and live in the greater Flint/Flushing/Grand Blanc/Swartz Creek area (or thereabouts), consider yourself warmly invited to be our guest at Mayfair Bible Church. We’re just a mile west of I-75 on Pierson Rd. directly across from Home Depot and Aldi.
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5-Way Change
Change.
It’s a word many people equate on the level with a root canal. However, I love and embrace change. I always have. With my personality, I get restless after a while lest anything grow stagnant and listless. As a native Floridian, I’ve fallen in love with the Great Lakes State of Michigan. How so? I’m captivated by the poetic shifting of each season. Now don’t get me wrong, there are many constants for which I’m thankful: Jesus Christ, the guidance of God’s Word, and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. Yet God also calls us to change – to be progressively transformed into the likeness of Jesus:
“This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13 – NLT; see also Rom. 8:29)
On this journey, my husband grows and changes alongside me. My children also repeatedly amaze me by their resilience and willingness to adapt. Our personal understanding of God’s purpose for His Church has also gone through a paradigmatic shift over the years.
As I was thinking through the changes we’ve gone through, particularly over the last 2-3 years, I’m amazed not only by how our faith has grown and strengthened, but also by the sheer number of changes we’ve weathered together.
Whirlwind of Change and Growth
In February of 2016, we found out we were finally going to be able to have another baby (we’d suffered through five miscarriages at that point). At the same time we were also working and praying through a significant ministry transition, dealing with many things related to our son Hudson’s autism diagnosis, and financial stress. Carson’s birth in October was accompanied by a big move three weeks later (don’t ever move at three weeks postpartum. Just don’t). Since that season, we raced through a serious whirlwind of change and growth.
From where we rest now, here’s how it adds up:
3 long-distance moves
3 new elementary schools
3 different ministries
1 new baby boy
Another baby in heaven
The road hasn’t been easy.
Candid Conversations
As we were sitting around our kitchen table last night, we asked our children about change in their lives and how it made them feel. The following is a dialogue with them:
—
Hudson: “I don’t like change too much. It’s too hard. I think the hardest for me was the baby going to heaven. I’m glad we have Carson though. He helps me feel better.”
Everlynn: “I love Easter eggs and hunting for them with family, and picking apples with them too, oh and when I lived in NC a friendly dog licked me.”
Carson: “Cookie, Papa? Uh oh!”
Michael: “I find change both exciting and stressful. I’m excited by change because my mind is filled with all the possibilities available in God. I know He can do the seemingly impossible. I anticipate how we’ll grow in Him and how we’ll see Him demonstrate His power in our lives. But on the flip side, I can become stressed as change looms on the horizon. I find myself trying to sort, plan, and organize to the last degree.
My inability to see eight moves down the chessboard causes me to grasp for control, which of course only leads to more stress. Yet again God has taught us that He offers rest in the midst of our stress when we fully trust in Him. He knows every chess move. Sheesh, He made the chessboard! So if He knows how it will turn out and if I’m in union with Him through Christ, then I can loosen my grip and bow my heart…and find rest for my soul.”
Stephanie: “Even though I like change, I would also say that it can be a bit overwhelming when they all come at once. Job changes, a new baby, new schools, diagnosis, and so many other things were and still are a lot to process. Having moved 10 times in 10 years, I’m okay with never moving again until the day I die. It’s not for the faint of heart!
However, I’ve found that relying on myself to get it all done and get through it only turns me into a wreck-of-a-mom and a wife who can’t function. I can’t handle it all myself, which is why I’m so grateful for Jesus, a church family who reaches out and loves on us, and a husband who does life alongside me. I can’t imagine going through all that we’ve gone through without an unsupportive partner! One big lesson I’ve learned is Jesus is always there for me, through the good and the bad.”
—
God’s Goodness, Mercy and Grace
Through this brief conversation, we realized that we all process change in very different ways… Change hit Hudson hard. He felt the thorns of loss, but looked through that pain to the bright side – a new baby brother. Everlynn processed the multivalent transitions by holding onto narratives. She happily retold random but sweet memories, one from each major juncture. Michael attempts to order, organize, and arrange the future but resolves to learn God is still sovereign, good, and trustworthy for the future, as He was in the past. And for me, I process change by being overly positive, and at times not always realistic enough. 😉
One way we reflect on the last three years is to constantly remind ourselves of Christ’s goodness, mercy, and grace. There are many directions we could have taken, but we never imagined we would end up back in Michigan near precious family, an amazing school for our children, wonderful neighbors, a beautiful house, and serving in a incredible church.
So in conclusion, change is hard and so is being in the ministry. It’s how we respond that makes all the difference in the world. When you are in full-time ministry, life is always changing. People come and go through death, moving away, ministries shifts, different seasons in life, relational difficulties, and many other reasons.
But when change comes, embrace the process as God’s good plan. When life is hard in the dark valley, lean into Jesus. When life’s peaceful by a quiet stream, lean into Him even more. You may be planted anywhere, but it is up to YOU to bloom in Jesus Christ.
_____________________
:: I was commissioned to write this piece on how a family in full-time ministry deals with change by my friends at Breathe Ministry, which originally published this article on their site. ::
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Sears’ Bankruptcy: an Analogy of Church Stagnancy
Early this morning, Sears, that age-old department store of yesteryear, declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, hammering several “16-penny” nails into their quickly closing coffin.[1]
100 years ago, Sears-Roebuck and Co. was second to none. They defined the term cutting edge by placing their colorful mail-order catalogs in nearly every home across America. Little children giggled over the huge toy section. Moms coveted the latest Kenmore kitchen appliances. Dads stashed away their pennies to buy lifetime-guaranteed Craftsman tools. But now the former industry leader, once perched on the lofty heights of Chicago’s Sears Tower, is seeing all those warm, fuzzy feelings vanish like a bullfrog atop quicksand.
Change is essential to survival.
Making wrong, maladaptive changes = death.
Making right, adaptive changes = health.
Sears didn’t need to change their product line. Craftsman, Kenmore, Lands End, et al., were rock solid brands. But failure to courageously and creatively present their products to a rapidly changing culture led to total collapse.
Now the privilege of presenting a product has been slowly scraped from their hands.
They battened down the hatches, squeezed employees, chopped marketing, and ignored the opportunity of the Internet (they could have been Amazon on their own, as Elizabeth Olson of Fortune magazine wisely opined six years ago). Sears let their buildings grow both dated and dilapidated. Two months ago, my wife and I wandered through the Sears store in a nearby mall. We were greeted by vacant shelves, dirty floors, and disinterested employees, who had been hired only to shutter the location. A slow, painful demise rolled out in front of our eyes.
CNN’s Chris Isidore reports:
“…many of Sears’ problems were self-inflicted. Its management tried to compete by closing stores and cutting costs. It slashed spending on advertising and it failed to invest in the upkeep and modernization of its outlets. Sears and Kmart stores grew barren and rundown. . . Sears was once the nation’s largest retailer and its largest employer. In its heyday, it was both the Walmart and Amazon of its time.” [2]
So today, Sears, “the store that changed America,” declares bankruptcy. Into the dusty archives she goes, along with former giants like Toys R’ Us, Kodak, and KMart.
A Tale of Church Stagnancy
Understand this: the global Church of the living God will continue marching forward by the power of the Spirit through the faithful witness of the Gospel. We, as the people of God, are on the offensive. We do not doubt the words of Jesus, who said, “…I will build My church; and the gates of hell will not overpower it.” (Matthew 16:19b)
However, at a local level, thousands of once thriving churches stand in real danger of losing the opportunity to present the gospel of Christ in their communities.
I recently read detailed reports of a Bible-believing church in the Chicago area that used to be over 1,100 worshipers strong. Over the course of 35 years, their Saturday morning evangelism team passed out 17 million gospel tracts, engaged 540,000 people in gospel conversation, led 140,000 people to faith in Christ, sent out 250 men and women into full-time Christian service, and planted 18 churches.
Yet today, their regal building appears cavernous on Sunday mornings with just a handful of parishioners scattered across the hundreds of empty chairs. One look inside the sanctuary shows not much has changed in over 50 years. Their community dramatically shifted over the past several decades and somewhere along the way their evangelistic fervor and creativity disappeared. I’m praying God grants this struggling congregation the courage and faith to reach their community in a fresh way. But their story is repeated from coast-to-coast across North America. 100-200 churches are closing their doors every single week in the USA. Yes, you got that right: Every. Single. Week. [3]
We don’t need to change our product. The saving message of Jesus Christ is timeless, unchanging, and rock solid. The Word of God is an unshakeable guide in an era of uncertainty, fear, and doubt. We have tasted and seen the truth that the Gospel brings radical life-transformation.
But we, as individual believers and local churches, must make the right, adaptive changes to effectively present God’s good news in a rapidly changing culture.
Change is essential to survival.
A few generations ago, mainline-liberal churches chose to make a devastatingly maladaptive change: remove or ignore essential teachings of Christian faith and practice. The result? A slow, painful death. Today, many evangelical churches are shifting their sails and listing sideways toward this same hollow theological-liberalism, desperately hoping they don’t lose the opportunity to offer something to their communities. Sidenote: I wrote my master’s thesis on this subject. Click HERE to access the PDF.
Making wrong, maladaptive changes = death.
Yet for tens-of-thousands of gospel-preaching, Jesus-loving churches, the struggle to change methodology, communication, and aesthetics is slow and often rife with infighting. Even as men, women, and children veer away from our parking lots in search of authentic hope and love, many congregations embroil themselves in debates over interior decor, declining budgets, and pet-programs. While many churches have moved beyond the “worship wars” of the 1990s, still thousands of others remain in the fight, unaware that the very scent of it repels young adults faster than Deet on Michigan mosquitoes.
Making right, adaptive changes = health.
So what kind changes lead toward health? As was the case for the various corporations mentioned above, the answer to this question is different for every local context. Each church must ask: “What would a missionary do because, in fact, we all are missionaries in _____________?” How your church answers this question will probably look significantly different than how we answer it here at Mayfair Bible Church. But here are four simple points to consider with your team:
Flexible.
Take risks. Act on your faith by trying new approaches to reach your mission field (see 1 Cor. 9:19-23; Acts 17:16-34). Some ideas will sound great but fail miserably. That’s okay. In fact, the process of ideation, implementation, and execution will result in healthy evaluation and long-term ministry effectiveness. Own up to your mistakes and be ready to give grace to others. Free people to use their various God-given gifts and skills in different ways. Don’t force artists to paint with only your ideas on your preferred canvas. Allow missional thinkers to contextualize and form initiatives to reach their spheres of influence. Let go of the top-down approach to leadership that causes organizations to squash and splat like an over-filled ketchup bottle. Don’t take rejection or ambivalence from others personally. Realize you won’t reach everyone. Your church won’t be the perfect place for every family. Get ready for hate-mail (Jesus received lots of it; cf. Jn. 15:18-21; 2 Tim. 3:12). Roll with it and prayer through it (Phil. 4:4-7). Be one in mind and heart as a church (Phil. 1:27), because as Chuck Swindoll often reminded us in chapel at Dallas Seminary, “The things that unite us are far more important than the things that divide us.”
Fun.
Jesus laughed and sang. He told stories and enjoyed weddings, which most certainly including happy-hearted dancing (cf. Jn. 2:1-11; Lk. 15). Jesus had fun. I’m convinced of it! We should be having fun if we’re loving each other and our community in the same way Jesus loves us. Being the church gathered should cause all of us – the young and old alike – to genuinely smile. We’ll laugh out loud when we remember the goofy idiosyncrasies of our younger years and respond with fun-loving patience toward each other – especially the littlest ones in the church (Matt. 18:2-6; 19:13-15). We won’t make a fuss over things of small consequence, knowing life is too short to not have fun working together for the cause of greatest consequence: the Gospel. (see Phil. 4:2-2; 2 Tim. 2:14)
Fast-Paced.
Hold on for the ride of your life. Based on my ministry experience in Texas, Montana, India, Mexico, North Carolina, and various Michigan locations, along with current research data, I believe we must recognize how rapidly our mission fields are changing. The breakneck speed of technological advancement, the popularity of neo-Atheism, along with burgeoning movements such as #MeToo, #BlackLivesMatter, #BlueLivesMatter, #AntiFa, #WhiteSupremacy, and heightened political tensions are forming how people respond to church institutions, preaching, and simple neighborly interaction. Many urban and suburban settings in North America are quickly becoming holistically multi-ethnic. God is bringing the nations to cities all around us. Don’t look at this change as an obstacle but as an opportunity. Are you effectively reaching across ethnic and economic divides? The first-century church did (cf. Eph. 2:11-22; Philemon 1:10-16)! Does your programming and interior design look like something left over from the 1960s… how about the 1990s? I’ll go out on a limb and state that none of us would frequent a dentist that hadn’t updated the office decor in 20 years and used methods based on research just as old. Yes, he or she is accomplishing the same task: cleaning your teeth and filling cavities. But using current aesthetics and techniques to accomplish those tasks matters to everyone. Are you living in the past – even idolizing the past – at the expense of effective gospel mission? The late Lesslie Newbigin, a renowned missiologist reminded us:
“Nostalgia for the past and fear for the future are equally out of place for the Christian.”
Are you seeking to communicate the timeless and powerful Gospel of Christ in a way your neighbors will comprehend? Do you know what they value most? Could you articulate their worldview? As I heard a teacher from New Tribes Mission (now Ethnos 360) put it simply, “We must first to understand them before we can reach them.”
Focused.
Hone everything around the mission. Jesus gave a simple, clear mission to His first-followers and His instructions carry across time to all of us today:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20)
Take the ruthlessly bold action of gearing your programs and ministries – what you do and how you allocate your resources – around making disciples who make disciples. Suspend what is extraneous or ineffective. Pray deeply for God to send laborers into His harvest (Matt. 9:38; Lk. 10:2). Be prepared to serve as His answer to your prayers. Lean into change for the gospel’s sake. Lose your life for Christ…and in losing your life, find life as it was meant to be lived (Mark 8:34-38). As my teacher, Howard Hendricks, proclaimed, “Change is the call of every Christ-follower.” So may we, by the grace of God, not lose the opportunity to present the timeless, saving message of our Savior in a rapidly changing world.
