Several years ago I was asked to speak at a small Bible college in southern Minnesota. The professor, a friend of mine, wanted me to talk about being a pastor in a small town. He sent along a list of questions from the class to help in the preparation of my lecture. I used one of the questions to open my talk. The student had asked, "How do you view the potential of your church in a small and perhaps declining community?" I could almost picture the student...a young, upper middle class suburban kid who dreaded the thought of being "banished" to a small town.
I remember saying to the class, "Someone wanted to know how I view the potential of my church. I suppose the person wonders what kind of impact a church could have in a town so small it doesn't have a stoplight. Let me tell you the potential of my church: Every people...every nation. That's the potential of my church. And I mean that. I believe that God has called us to reach the nations. The promise of Acts 1:8 wasn't just for the first century. I believe that it is for today and applies to the church I pastor. Don't tell me there is no potential in a small and perhaps declining community...God has said otherwise."
I really believe that.
In fact, during the missions conference this year God really reaffirmed that truth in my life. I believe that God has called us to reach our friends and family members. But if that's all that happens, I think we will have missed the majority of what God wants to do through us. I long to see a time when our missions conference(s) will feature speakers from our own church each waiting to report what God is doing in the far corners of the world.
I came to realize the potential of our church colors my thinking about church life. The kids that are coming to our programs are potential missionaries. The teachers are learning skills that they could use on the mission field. The Bible studies we attend teach us the the truths we need to apply to be in the middle of God's will...and they are truths that we can pass on to believers. As we struggle to discern creative ways to reach out to the people around us we are doing "missions thinking" that will serve us well in other places. As we stretch our collective faith in our building project, we are exercising "faith muscles" that will be in demand if we are to reach the nations.
Do I know exactly how God wants to do this through us? No. I just know that he wants us to walk closely with him and he will use us. I suspect that the hows and the whens will take care of themselves as we follow him. I do know that the ride he wants to take us on is beyond our imaginations. He wants to reach the world.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Against All Odds...the Iron Range for Christ
As we are about to start the missions conference, I've been challenged about the risks we take in our own church life. What are we involved with that is "Against All Odds"?
I know, we are in the process of putting up a building. That involves risk. But beyond that, what is God calling us to do as a church? I believe that our calling is going to involve obedience to Christ in a tremendously radical way. There just isn't a way to complete the Great Commission or even reach our own community without obedience. And sometimes Jesus calls us to take uncomfortable risks.
Recently I was talking to a pastor of an established church about the need to occassionally rethink everything we routinely do as a ministry. We cannot assume that because God called us to do something years ago it is what he wants us doing today. Many times we become established in the way we do things and continue to do them because it is easiser and more comfortable than changing things. In fact, one of the problems is that the people who currently attend the church do so because thye like it that way! As a result, we do the same things over and over even after they have served their purpose or lost their effectiveness.
It's healthy to hold things up and ask "Why are we doing this?" Are we doing it because "we've always done it that way?" Is it because if we don't someone might be mad? Is it because we know for sure that God has called us to do it? Is it because it is the most effective way for us to reach and disciple the world around us?
It has been said that church plants are the most effective means of evangelism. I think that's because church plants are face to face with the reality that they must reach out...or die. Actually, that's true of any church, it's just that an established church can continue operating long after it has "died". I know that you'll agree we don't want that to happen to us.
I recently came across a blog post by Drew Goodmanson that is worthwhile reading. Take some time to read it and tell me what you think. How do you think it applies around Nashwauk Alliance? How can we become more effective in reaching people for Christ?
I know, we are in the process of putting up a building. That involves risk. But beyond that, what is God calling us to do as a church? I believe that our calling is going to involve obedience to Christ in a tremendously radical way. There just isn't a way to complete the Great Commission or even reach our own community without obedience. And sometimes Jesus calls us to take uncomfortable risks.
Recently I was talking to a pastor of an established church about the need to occassionally rethink everything we routinely do as a ministry. We cannot assume that because God called us to do something years ago it is what he wants us doing today. Many times we become established in the way we do things and continue to do them because it is easiser and more comfortable than changing things. In fact, one of the problems is that the people who currently attend the church do so because thye like it that way! As a result, we do the same things over and over even after they have served their purpose or lost their effectiveness.
It's healthy to hold things up and ask "Why are we doing this?" Are we doing it because "we've always done it that way?" Is it because if we don't someone might be mad? Is it because we know for sure that God has called us to do it? Is it because it is the most effective way for us to reach and disciple the world around us?
It has been said that church plants are the most effective means of evangelism. I think that's because church plants are face to face with the reality that they must reach out...or die. Actually, that's true of any church, it's just that an established church can continue operating long after it has "died". I know that you'll agree we don't want that to happen to us.
I recently came across a blog post by Drew Goodmanson that is worthwhile reading. Take some time to read it and tell me what you think. How do you think it applies around Nashwauk Alliance? How can we become more effective in reaching people for Christ?
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Against All Odds...Missions Conference
The missions conference is around the corner. I am always excited about the missions conference because I think that it helps people connect with the purpose of God for their life. Simply put, as Christians we are called to make disciples of all nations. That means that we are called to reach out to others with the love of Christ. Sure, that begins by reaching out to our neighors, but it goes beyond that to reaching out to those who have no opportunity to hear about the love of Christ.
I think that one of the reasons that I think that the missions conference is particularly healthy for us in our little corner of the world is that we don't have a lot of opportunity to rub sholders with people from other cultures. Nashwauk is monocultural to the max! Don't think that's true? I know of one neighborhood in Chicago that covers the same area as Nashwauk where over 50 different languages are spoken at home!
It's good for us to be reminded that there is a whole world out there that needs to hear the gospel message. I'm looking forward to seeing what God is going to do in us over the next few days. It is my prayer that over the coming years we will see people sent out from out little church to the far corners of the world. Wouldn't that be cool?!
I'm wondering how God might be challenging you this conference? Is it to go on a short term trip? To prepare to serve long term somewhere? To dedicate yourself to prayer in a particular area? To give more radically? What is he doing in your life to reach the nations?
Let me know!
I think that one of the reasons that I think that the missions conference is particularly healthy for us in our little corner of the world is that we don't have a lot of opportunity to rub sholders with people from other cultures. Nashwauk is monocultural to the max! Don't think that's true? I know of one neighborhood in Chicago that covers the same area as Nashwauk where over 50 different languages are spoken at home!
It's good for us to be reminded that there is a whole world out there that needs to hear the gospel message. I'm looking forward to seeing what God is going to do in us over the next few days. It is my prayer that over the coming years we will see people sent out from out little church to the far corners of the world. Wouldn't that be cool?!
I'm wondering how God might be challenging you this conference? Is it to go on a short term trip? To prepare to serve long term somewhere? To dedicate yourself to prayer in a particular area? To give more radically? What is he doing in your life to reach the nations?
Let me know!
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Introduction to Thoughts on Revival
There is something powerful about the writings of those that have experienced revival. I've decided that as part of my spiritual disciplines this fall I am going to do some reading on revival and then post some thoughts about what I am reading for others to read and perhaps interact with.
Arthur Wallis, in his book In the Day of Thy Power, describes revival as being "Divine intervention in the normal course of spiritual things. It is God revealing Himself to man in awesome holiness and irresistible power." Examples of revival in American history include the Great Awakening in the 1700s under the preaching of Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley and George Whitefield. The Second Great Awakening in the mid 1800s under the preaching of Charles Finney led the way to the abolition of slavery in this country.
On a large scale, revival can change the moral fiber of a community or a nation. On a smaller scale, revival can be personal, resulting in renewed passion for Christ and the lost.
As I reflect on the reading I've done and the people I've talked to about revival it seems that they fall into two categories. The first are people who have witnessed or experienced true revival. They have sat in the presence of a holy God and their lives have been forever changed by an encounter with the Almighty God. There is profound humility and deep faith.
The second category of people I've met bother me deeply. They talk about "revival" almost as if it were some spiritual thrill...like a cool ride at Valley Fair. They brag about strange manifestations that appear to indicate the presence of God. They go running to places that have reported that "revival is happening" hoping to get in on the action or a stamp on their "spiritual adventurer passport" so they can say that they have been there. I could be wrong, but it seems to me like this group of people are chase revival reports like a drug addict looking for a fix. I don't want to be judgmental, but sometimes I feel like people in this category have only experienced revival like I experience an NFL game...from the stands or in my living room, but never on the field. In fact, I don't ever really want to experience an NFL game on the field...the personal consequences are too high.
Ah, but maybe that's the point. True revival carries a price. It's not a simply a spiritual high. It is in part a manifestation of the awesome holiness of the All-Powerful God. When we see him for who he is we either run in terror or fall to our knees in repentance. Revival cleanses from sin. Revival breaks the self-life in all of its forms. Revival is costly.
Sammy Tippit, in Fire in Your Heart describes ministering behind the Iron Curtain in East Germany during a period of revival. A young new believer came forward and told him that there were some things in her life that were not right and as a result that she had no joy. He asked her if she was willing to repent and forsake her sins. She said she was, knelt and prayed. She concluded her prayer with, "Lord, please take control of my life egal was es Kostet." In English, "no matter what the cost." She was embracing the cross.
He asked another young believer how she was doing now that she had become a follower of Christ. A tear formed in her eye as she told him that she had been the top student in her class but her profession of Christ meant that she could no longer go to school. She looked at him, smiled and said, "But it's worth it!" She had embraced the cross and discovered the power of the resurrection.
That's the type of heart that has been forged in the fires of revival. It burns with a passion for Christ that cannot be put out. It has counted the cost and said, "Jesus is worth it."
How about you? Have you experienced revival? Have you decided that Jesus is worth it? That's where it all begins.
Arthur Wallis, in his book In the Day of Thy Power, describes revival as being "Divine intervention in the normal course of spiritual things. It is God revealing Himself to man in awesome holiness and irresistible power." Examples of revival in American history include the Great Awakening in the 1700s under the preaching of Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley and George Whitefield. The Second Great Awakening in the mid 1800s under the preaching of Charles Finney led the way to the abolition of slavery in this country.
On a large scale, revival can change the moral fiber of a community or a nation. On a smaller scale, revival can be personal, resulting in renewed passion for Christ and the lost.
As I reflect on the reading I've done and the people I've talked to about revival it seems that they fall into two categories. The first are people who have witnessed or experienced true revival. They have sat in the presence of a holy God and their lives have been forever changed by an encounter with the Almighty God. There is profound humility and deep faith.
The second category of people I've met bother me deeply. They talk about "revival" almost as if it were some spiritual thrill...like a cool ride at Valley Fair. They brag about strange manifestations that appear to indicate the presence of God. They go running to places that have reported that "revival is happening" hoping to get in on the action or a stamp on their "spiritual adventurer passport" so they can say that they have been there. I could be wrong, but it seems to me like this group of people are chase revival reports like a drug addict looking for a fix. I don't want to be judgmental, but sometimes I feel like people in this category have only experienced revival like I experience an NFL game...from the stands or in my living room, but never on the field. In fact, I don't ever really want to experience an NFL game on the field...the personal consequences are too high.
Ah, but maybe that's the point. True revival carries a price. It's not a simply a spiritual high. It is in part a manifestation of the awesome holiness of the All-Powerful God. When we see him for who he is we either run in terror or fall to our knees in repentance. Revival cleanses from sin. Revival breaks the self-life in all of its forms. Revival is costly.
Sammy Tippit, in Fire in Your Heart describes ministering behind the Iron Curtain in East Germany during a period of revival. A young new believer came forward and told him that there were some things in her life that were not right and as a result that she had no joy. He asked her if she was willing to repent and forsake her sins. She said she was, knelt and prayed. She concluded her prayer with, "Lord, please take control of my life egal was es Kostet." In English, "no matter what the cost." She was embracing the cross.
He asked another young believer how she was doing now that she had become a follower of Christ. A tear formed in her eye as she told him that she had been the top student in her class but her profession of Christ meant that she could no longer go to school. She looked at him, smiled and said, "But it's worth it!" She had embraced the cross and discovered the power of the resurrection.
That's the type of heart that has been forged in the fires of revival. It burns with a passion for Christ that cannot be put out. It has counted the cost and said, "Jesus is worth it."
How about you? Have you experienced revival? Have you decided that Jesus is worth it? That's where it all begins.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Sunday's Service
It's strange, but some of the things I like the most about Sunday mornings are the things that I have no control over. As a pastor, I spend a lot of time thinking about our time together on Sundays. There isn't alot of "suspense" when you've been heavily involved with the planning of things.
I guess that's why I enjoy the spontaneous things more. Like this last Sunday when we one person shared some pretty intense struggles concerning their wife's cancer. We dropped everything and the whole church gathered around him to pray. I had tears in my eyes as I considered how much this church cares about each other. What an awesome place.
Or like when we had the children pray for the teachers. I had no idea how that would go...but it was great to see the teachers kneeling and hearing their students pray for them. Kids can teach us tons about prayer.
Or like when we have a chance to hear about how God orchestrating the details in someone's life in answer to prayer. It reminds me that when the world around me doesn't quite make sense that God is control. He is weaving the tapestry together.
As we grow as a church, that's something that I hope we never lose. We are a family doing this "following Christ thing" together. May our family grow and grow...but may it always be a great spontaneous family!
I guess that's why I enjoy the spontaneous things more. Like this last Sunday when we one person shared some pretty intense struggles concerning their wife's cancer. We dropped everything and the whole church gathered around him to pray. I had tears in my eyes as I considered how much this church cares about each other. What an awesome place.
Or like when we had the children pray for the teachers. I had no idea how that would go...but it was great to see the teachers kneeling and hearing their students pray for them. Kids can teach us tons about prayer.
Or like when we have a chance to hear about how God orchestrating the details in someone's life in answer to prayer. It reminds me that when the world around me doesn't quite make sense that God is control. He is weaving the tapestry together.
As we grow as a church, that's something that I hope we never lose. We are a family doing this "following Christ thing" together. May our family grow and grow...but may it always be a great spontaneous family!
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