What is Progress of Redemption?

You can read the Bible for years without getting a handle on what it's really about.

We're sure it's about Jesus, Paul spreading the Gospel, Moses and the Ten Commandments, King David and Saul... but how does it all fit together? What does it all mean? Why does it happen this way?

Progress of Redemption - the gradual unfolding of God's salvation plan for humanity is a plan for studying the Bible that will help you integrate and understand why God does what He does in scripture (at least, in the areas that He chooses to tell us...) and what He is accomplishing.

What is God doing? Why is He doing it? Does the Bible really fit together? Does it make sense? Can it make sense to me?

These are questions you may have asked yourself. You can know the answers.

Plan to be there on Wednesday nights as we move... (quickly!!!) studying the whole Bible.
(BTW - we'll cover Genesis 1-11)

What a bunch of "Welcoming Folks."

What a blessing it is to be a pastor. People are wonderful and friendly, they cook you dinner, they make jokes about your sermons, and invite you into their deepest joys and pains. I love being a pastor and being welcomed into the lives of others.

The people of Harvest Baptist Church are a friendly bunch, no doubt. Matter of fact... of the four or five churches I've attended (and the two I've pastored)... all of the churches I've spent any significant time at were filled with friendly people.

I've heard a common complaint wherever I go (and complained about it myself) that visitors get overlooked. "They are friendly, but they're all being friendly with one another... and ignoring me."

Should we feel guilty about our love for one another? No. But we shouldn't neglect our guests and visitors either.

I was searching for something called the "rule of three" this morning and turned up this article on a website. (I'll post it here in the article for your convenience, link here.)

I'm hoping you'll read this thoughtfully and make this part of your regular practice on Sunday Mornings. I love you folks... go show those visitors and guests why they are going to love you too.

First impressions are lasting ones. People make up their minds about your church within the first 10 minutes of contact. Long before the preacher preaches, people most often will have decided if they plan to return. These ideas and definitions may help your church make a life-changing impression on those who are new to your congregation.

TWO TIPS FOR THE WHOLE CONGREGATION TO DO EACH SUNDAY:

• CIRCLE OF 10: Greet anyone, member or guest, who comes within 10 feet of you. Make a special effort to greet the people you don’t already know within your Circle of 10.

• RULE OF THREE: Try not to talk to other members for the first three minutes after the service. Talk only to those you don’t know and to people that you know are guests. It takes guests about three minutes to exit the church after worship so it’s important to make sure someone has made contact with them before they leave.
  

SOME EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE YOU WILL ESPECIALLY WANT TO WELCOME:

Remember that welcoming is a lifestyle that extends well beyond shaking hands at the door of the sanctuary. As your church grows a more welcoming lifestyle, you will probably want to design different ministries and follow-up activities for these and other groups of people.

VISITORS
Igniting Ministry defines visitors as people who attend a worship service or event at a church but are not likely to be regularly connected to the congregation (they live out of town, have another church home, etc.). Remember, welcoming is not about growing your church; visitors deserve special attention even if you never
see them again.

GUESTS
Igniting Ministry defines guests as people who attend worship or another event, perhaps at the personal invitation of someone from the church, who may reasonably be expected to return and get involved in the congregation. Those treated as “honored guests” are likely to return.

NEWCOMERS
Igniting Ministry defines newcomers as people who are relatively new to a congregation—not yet members; no longer first-time guests; interested in connecting with the church and its members. Newcomers are trying to find a way into the life and ministries of your church, so it’s important to remove barriers and serve their needs.

Radical Biblicism

Few things really bother me.

I confess... I get annoyed by certain things. Red lights, lots of unnecessary noise... election cycle phone calls. Theologically, there is a lot to be troubled about... but one thing gets me more than any other within the church: Many believers refuse to embrace a true, radical Biblicism.

What is the right structure for a church government? For what purpose did Jesus come preachign and teaching? Why should we pray? Why do bad things happen? Should women be pastoring churches? Why do churches exist? Does God think divorce is okay, in some situations? What is God's desire for each and every Christian? Is abortion immoral? Does the Holy Spirit speak God's will to us? Does God really send people to Hell?

Important questions? Sure they are. Simple answers? Sometimes, but often Christians disagree.

What is important is not what we think, but what the Bible "thinks." There is a system of thought revealed in the Scriptures, and our thinking needs to be informed by the Scriptures, not our feelings. We are called to think intelligently, but our thinking needs to be informed by the scriptures, not vice versa. So often we allow our theology to dictate what the text of scripture means, rather than allowing the scripture to inform our theology. So often what I think and feel becomes the standard by which I judge the Word, rather than allowing the Word to judge my thoughts and feelings.

To be a Christian who is following God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength means to fully submit every thought and intention of the heart to the Word of God. If we're not convinced, from Scripture, from the whole of Scripture, then we can't say we are acting in good faith... at least not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jack Crabtree writes a compelling article I think every Christian needs to grapple with. Look at this quote:

I have followed with interest the latest battle for the Bible. The committee of scholars that determines the text of the New International Version of the Bible has apparently been working on a revision. In this revision they intended to bring their translation into the 1990s by purging it of language that might denote one gender to the exclusion of the other. World magazine, getting wind of the proposed revision, created quite a stir by publicly criticizing it.

Both sides frame the controversy as a debate over what constitutes an accurate translation. But in truth, neither side's preferred translation is more accurate than the other. The NIV's original translation of Genesis 1:26-27 ("Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image....' So God created man in his own image...male and female he created them") is no more nor less accurate than the gender-neutralized translation ("Then God said, 'Let us make human beings in our image....' So God created human beings in his own image...male and female he created them"). If one translation is preferred over the other, it is on grounds other than accuracy.

Crabtree goes on to articulate that difference between being Radically Biblical and just finding an idea you like in the text and calling it "what the Bible teaches" and therefore Biblical.

I read this article about five years ago, and it challenged me. Let me challenge you: Print it out. Pore over it. Give it some time, and let it inform your thinking. You won't regret it.

Note: The article contains what some might consider "Adult Themes." If you're an adult, they shouldn't offend you. There's no simple way of talking about certain subjects, but Crabtree does it with class. His argumentation is powerful, biblical, and convicting.

Do You Understand What You Are Reading?

"Do you understand what you are reading?"

An important question, asked by Philip in his conversation with the Ethiopian Eunuch.

"How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" was the response.

I often find myself falling into browsing mode when reading the Bible. I try to get through it each year, but often I find I'm not thorough, or I'm not connecting to what I'm reading.

Here are two resources I find helpful:

1. A reading plan (for being thorough). I like the discipleship journal reading plan, but I also like the daily reading plan found here, and this is also a good site for reading plans. This year i've tried to solve the problem of losing my reading plan sheet by reducing it in size so it tucks in my Bible, and securing it with a rubber band. How can I keep track of what I read if I keep losing my reading record? I've thought about making a log for Google Docs, but I don't want to need to connect to the Internet to know what I am supposed to be reading, and keeping it updated will be simpler this way.

2. A good outline (for staying connected). Having a good bible commentary helps, but a simple outline of what is going on can also help. The first chapters of Jeremiah are downright confusing without a guide. A simple map can make all the difference. I appreciate these resources from Bethel prof Dr. Paul Ferris to make reading the prophets a little simpler. I'm looking for more... and I'll post some if I find them.

Audio: Lead Meeting 01-15-08

Here's the audio from our meeting.
Feel free to pass it on to other Lead folks, church folks, or odd folks who know nothing about Harvest who might find this interesting.

Also - feel free to comment in the comments section below.

LEAD_011507.mp3

Notes From Lead 01-15-07: Why Leaders?

Here are the notes from tonight's Lead Meeting:
(Audio to follow soon.)
Thanks for all the input and participation.

Here's credit to the originators of the material. All errors and limitations are probably from me.

Why do Churches Need Leaders?

What makes a ministry successful?
- Key to success in ministry getting in line with what God wants to do, or is doing.
- Biblical concept of ministry is "serving God or other people in a way that furthers God’s will or purpose."
- True ministry must be empowered and directed by God.
- "It is the Spirit that quickens, the flesh profits nothing." (John 6:63)
- "Unless the Lord builds the house, they do labor in vain that build it." (Psalms 127:1)
- Paul "glor[ied] in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh." (Phil. 3:3)

Contrast - Human Agency is important:
Acts - People planted the church in each city.
Why does God give gifts? - 1 Cor. 12:4-7
How does God build faith? - Rom. 10:14
How much human involvement is needed to succeed? 2 Cor. 5:19

The task of Leadership:
God has delegated the task of reaching the world to Christians.
God expects Christians to Lead in getting that work done.
"Fellow workers with God." (1 Cor. 3:7)
Where did OT leaders come from? Where do NT leaders come from?

Matt 9:37,38 The Harvest is plentiful... but...
Leaders must be prayerfully raised up. Prayer and Training are critical.
The Divine Bottleneck. The human bottleneck. Which can we fix?

If all ministry were God's activity, all groups would be equally effective.
Groups with poor leadership suffer.
Encourage, Train, Excite, Imagine.


Ministry Implications:
1. Ministry plans that don't conform with what the scripture says about How God works are doomed to failure and not worth pursuing. What should be central in our ministry activities?

2. We can be "successful" without Divine empowerment. We want God's level of success, not our culture's vision. If God isn't in it, no matter how flashy or big, we don't want it. How do we discern between biblical success and cultural success? Where do we find the answers?

3. Leadership is more Watchful than Forceful. Where is God moving? What is God doing? Force - PRessuring, Dragging Along, Manipulating. Watchful - careful scriptural observation. Leading by example and influence.

4. Leaders who view ministry through God's eyes are less prone to imbalance. Failure is less depressing and Success is less inflating. Ultimate responsibility for the kingdom lies with the king.

5. A huge people driven ministry should be less desired than a small faithful God driven congregation. Size matters not... commitment to truth and grace does.

6. "Learning" and "Trends" are not the same as the Hand of God. Prayerful discernment is difficult business, and prayer is required from all of God's people.

7. We should be continually scanning our area of influence for potential leaders.
What are the qualifications for leadership in the Church?
Faith. Baptism. Obedience = Fruit. Standards.
- Discipleship and Mentoring often bring out potential ministry problems. This is an opportunity for growth and ministry.
- All believers have gifts to be used in Ministry. 1 Cor 12.
- Key to Leadership Replication = Faithful Feeding, Discernment, Mentoring.
- Discipleship is intensive, inefficient work. Frustrating, Don't Become Frustrated.

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