Risky Business

Christians have a reputation for being conservative. Whether that reputation is deserved or correct is debatable. Nevertheless, in the minds of many, to be Christian equals low risk and moderation. Today, when a Christian or Church or denomination exhibits extravagance they are considered uniquely innovative and revolutionary. Some may argue, that being careful and conservative is more in line with how the Bible describes followers of Jesus. Really? Really!

When Peter wrote his second letter it was time in history when merely being a Christian was enough to have you arrested and thrown into the nearest amphitheater to be mauled by wild animals or tortured and slaughtered by gladiators. Yet he wants to stir them up to grow in grace and live fruitful Christian lives. The confidence to do that comes, Peter tells us in v19, not from our experience, understanding, skills, emotions or intensity, but from the declarative propositional truth of God’s Word given to us by the Holy Spirit.

Consider how grounding your certainty upon Jesus and his Word could affect your:

• Faith: You can boldly witness for Jesus knowing that you don’t need to be a world-famous evangelist in order for God to use you.
• Family: You can courageously lead your wife and children to serve the Lord. If you make a mistake, that’s not the end because your certainty isn’t based on whether you have a wonderful marriage and family, it’s based on Jesus death, burial and resurrection.
• Fellowship: You can give and take part in the life of the Church and be free to use your gifts for the furtherance of the kingdom of God on Earth.
• Finances: You can generously and sacrificially support the growth of the Church without being risk averse because your certainty isn’t based on successful ministry but on the success of Jesus payment for your sin on the cross.

Peter says, if you genuinely know Jesus, have experienced his power and are resting in his promises, you have been given everything you need for life and godliness, so appropriate it! Build, Grow, Develop, Mature and Lead – the way for the Christian is forward. Don’t maintain a low profile! He says that Christians, who are confident (sure and certain) of their calling by God, will be active, effective and fruitful in living for Christ. The way for the Church is forward. We need not be risk averse – we can be certain that God is at work through the gospel & will continue calling people by his own glory & goodness. How are you ready to risk being extravagant for Christ this week/month/year?

 

A fool in the pulpit

Mark Dever answers a question about Church growth and explains how to tell, if you, as a pastor and preacher, are a fool.

 

 

Where good apologetics comes from

 

Thick as a brick

Peter says we are: “like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” – 1 Peter 2:5

“Living stones” are like modern day bricks used for building construction. Consider this, a brick never:

• challenges or disobeys the builder;
• rejects the builder;
• complains about other bricks;
• resents other bricks for being more prominent;
• feels sorry about having to be broken to meet the builder’s purpose.

A brick, once used in a construction, stands, together with the other bricks and building materials, as a testament to the craft and design of the builder! When looking at the bricks, it is the designer and builder that gets the praise for the finished product not the individual bricks.

“we are … God’s building” – 1 Corinthians 3:9 – we could learn much from bricks!

 

Help Wanted

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” ~ Matthew 9:35-38

I have noted before that the ratio of pastors/elders to people in a Church congregation in Australia will best serve growth when it sits around the 1:40 mark. This is both a strategic and preventative target. Strategic in that the senior/lead/teaching pastor can focus on leadership development and preventative in that the church is caring for their pastor(s) by mitigating against burn out.

When the ratio goes beyond that there will be a loss in the effectiveness of the pastor to build close personal relationships. There is reduced flexibility with how the pastor can use his time and there will be a loss in the quality of his ministry in other areas: sermons, administration, training, counselling.

I think 1:40 is an ideal to strive towards, not a hard and fast rule. Every man has a different capacity and the maturity of your congregation in caring for each other will also be a factor. The general idea though is that once you are consistently running 45-50 you appoint the 2nd staff leader. At 85-90 you are appointing the 3rd and so on. After that, depending on your polity and available meeting space you could be looking at multiple congregations and multiplying the staff to serve and support each congregation.

One of the biggest areas of resistance to multiplication of leaders is financial affordability. You could argue that for every 10 adults, you could support 1 full time pastor. However there are other ministry costs to consider as well so that brings me back to the 1:40 ratio.

That’s the reality. How we implement it is another question. How does your Church prepare for and raise up new leaders?

 

One is NOT the loneliest number

Solidarity occurs when we act as one. As Freddy sang;

One man one goal one mission,
One heart one soul just one solution,
One flash of light yeah one god one vision

Now, I’m pretty sure that Freddy Mercury didn’t have in mind exactly what I am referring to. But his words sum up the essence of the power of unity and solidarity. To share a common goal and pursue that together creates powerful momentum for any cause. In the case of the Church that unity is based in and upon Jesus Christ not our own efforts to create or keep it.

In Philippians 2:1-2 Paul summarises Christian unity with 4 expressions:

“Be like minded“; “Have the same love“; “Be one in the spirit“; “Be one in purpose“

As he says these things he is cautious to make sure they understand the difference between unity and uniformity. Uniformity is where we seem to be all the same on the outside and for the sake of appearance we choose to keep up that façade. Our unity as Christians is not because of our language, culture, nationality, education or occupation. Our unity is because we are joined, partnered together, with Jesus Christ. What Paul says here is that our thinking, actions and purpose can be united, not when we all look same, but when we are all shaped by the gospel and our lives are centered upon Jesus.

When we believingly trust in Jesus there are consequences in your life – changes in attitude and priority that will affect your sense of relationship and experience of unity with other Christians.