Category: Pastoral

How to Get Our People and Ourself on Mission

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Discipleship, Evangelism, Leadership, Pastoral, Practical5 Comments

Have you ever wondered why it is so hard to get on mission for Jesus and stay on mission? For most of us, we are excited to say we are living missionally, we throw the vocabulary around because it sounds cool, but the actual practice of living missionally is difficult. Why is it hard to live missionally? How we can actually get started and sustain our mission?

How Can we GET on Mission and STAY on Mission?

If we want ourselves and our people to be on mission for Christ, our affection for Christ must be the dominating affection of our hearts. If something else is the dominating affection, such as acceptance, status, or materialism, then mission will not be fully realized, and it is probably not going to start. Living on mission and staying on mission is a heart issue. It is not a program or strategy issue, which means we must attack a lack of mission at the heart level.

How can we increase Our affections for Jesus?

(1) We must have an unwavering commitment to understanding the Gospel in a greater way.

We have to be willing to make a commitment to understanding how every aspect of our life is affected by the gospel, and how every aspect of our life can be a gospel moment. Here is what I mean. Our life is a gospel moment when others witness the radical change Christ has performed in our lives. For instance, when a Christian’s view of sex, money, and power is radically different than our cultures, the gospel’s power to transform our life is demonstrated, not only to the world, but to ourselves. But that gospel change won’t result unless we commit to understanding the gospel in a greater way. An understanding that should result in our affections for Jesus changing as we recognize how wicked and depraved we really are and how great Jesus’ salvation really is.

(2) We must be willing to fail.

In our willingness to fail, we show we realize we are not the ones who expand the kingdom; rather, it is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who expand the kingdom. As we depend on God, see Him sustain us, and even use us to expand His kingdom, our affection for Him should increase and stimulate us to further mission.

(3) The travailing of our souls should cause us to pray.

As we face the laborious task of mission, our soul will inevitably groan with pain, because, let’s be honest, being on mission is hard, much harder than we might have first thought. The difficulties of mission should drive us to pray more often and more fervently. Prayer creates intimacy with Jesus and that intimacy should increase our affections for Jesus.

(4) Become an expert in proclaiming Jesus.

We become an expert on proclaiming Jesus by studying Scripture. As we study Scripture, we should gain a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and that should increase our affections for Him.

Conclusion

Changing the affections of our heart is key to getting on and staying on mission, which we are able to influence by committing to understand the gospel more deeply, be willing to fail, praying, and becoming an expert in proclaiming Jesus’ message through the study of Jesus’ Word. Doing these things should change our heart’s affections and drive us to mission, one that is more joyful and sustainable.

Resources

This post was developed from Tyler Jones’ sermon “The Church Planters Mission,” which you can find on iTunes under the Acts29 Network Podcast, or by clicking here (Note: it will be the one initially highlighted in light grey).

A great article on the subject of evangelism is Brent Nelson’s article Woe to Me if I don’t Evangelize

Are You Asking the Right Questions?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Discipleship, Evangelism, Pastoral, Practical1 Comment

Are you asking the right questions when you are talking with others about Christ? If you are wondering, you may want to read on.

I have been reading Randy Newman’s book Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People’s Hearts the Way Jesus Did. In his book, Newman provides five principles and questions that serve to help build plausibility structures. Plausibility structures are arguments, facts, or ideas that make a belief seem more probable or reasonable.

By keeping the following principles in mind and asking the questions associated with them, we can help people to see belief in Christianity is reasonable, while at the same time showing them that their belief is the one that is not plausible.

Newman’s Five Principles and Questions

(1) We must awaken people to see the fallacy of their argument

ASK: Really? Do you really think [all religions are the same]? Do you really think [your religion is the same as those who thought they would catch a ride on a comet]?

This question serves to wake people up so they will begin to think about their beliefs.

(2) Some things can’t be true – To say all religions are true is self-refuting because all religions cannot be true.

ASK: Can you explain that to me?

This question serves to soften hearts and demonstrates an unwillingness to be put on the defensive. It helps build the plausibility structure that some things can’t be true.

(3) Some things can be partially true – There is nothing wrong with admitting other religions get some things right.

ASK: So? [X Religion] is right about [X Topic] but what about [Mention a major tenet of their faith]? Have you studied [X Religion] much? What else do you know?

This question helps to build the plausibility structure that some things can be partially true without being fully true.

(4) Somethings might be true – You want them to admit that it is probable something might be true with hopes they will accept your probable statement as truth one day.

ASK: Isn’t it possible that [Jesus is Lord/Died on the Cross/God is real/God is a personal God]?

ASK: Would you like it if Jesus were Lord/There was a God?

These questions help to expose a flawed plausibility structure – one that says, we sometimes believe things because we want to, not because they’re true.

(5) Somebody sees the whole elephant – Someone who claims to see the truth when others are not is taking an arrogant position. The only way someone can claim that others get it wrong and they get it right is if they know the truth themselves.

ASK: How do you know that? What makes you believe that?

This question exposes the underlying issue of how we know what we know. In addition, the plausibility structure erected by these questions makes a more solid foundation for people’s beliefs than just a hackneyed illustration or story.

Conclusion

By employing these principles and questions we are able to support facts and ideas about Christianity, which serves to build plausibility structures and make belief in Christianity more probable. These questions also serve to challenge people’s ideas and beliefs so they will begin to think about their religious system on a deeper level. Something all to often people do not do.

Resource

These Principles and Questions are taken out of Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People’s Hearts the Way Jesus Did, 54-71. You can check Newman’s book out by clicking here.

Image: vegadsl / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Thinking Out Loud: How do we encourage inquirers?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Leadership, PastoralLeave a comment

This week I came across a post by Thabiti Anyabwile entitled, “What About Altar Calls?“, which I also highlighted in this weeks Interestingness. His article has caused me to think about altars calls this week, and to ask a question of my own, which I am hoping you can help me with.

Background Information

First, let me give you some background information. In his article, Thabiti answers the question: “Why he does not do altar calls?”

In order to answer that question, he provides a list from Pastor Ryan Kelly of Desert Springs Church. The list is as follows:

1. The altar call is simply and completely absent from the pages of the N.T.

2. The altar call is historically absent until the 19th century, and its use at that time (via Charles Finney) was directly based upon bad theology and a man-centered, manipulative methodology.

3. The altar call very easily confuses the physical act of “coming forward” with the spiritual act of “coming to Christ.” These two can happen simultaneously, but too often people believe that coming to Christ is going forward (and vice-versa).

4. The altar call can easily deceive people about the reality of their spiritual state and the biblical basis for assurance. The Bible never offers us assurance on the ground that we “went forward.”

5. The altar call partially replaces baptism as the means of public profession of faith.

6. The altar call can mislead us to think that salvation (or any official response to God’s Word) happens primarily on Sundays, only at the end of the service, and only “up front.”

7. The altar call can confuse people regarding “sacred” things and “sacred” places, as the name “altar call” suggests.

8. The altar call is not sensitive to our cautious and relational age where most people come to faith over a period of time and often with the interaction of a good friend.

9. The altar call is often seen as “the most important part of the service”, and this de-emphasizes the truly more important parts of corporate worship which God has prescribed (preaching, prayer, fellowship, singing).

10. God is glorified to powerfully bless the things He has prescribed (preaching, prayer, fellowship, singing), not the things we have invented. We should always be leery of adding to God’s prescriptions for His corporate worship.

After giving his reasoning, Thabiti explains that their church does give people an opportunity to respond to their services, they just do it differently. Thabiti says,

“We give them a number of ways they may follow up on what they’ve heard, from talking to an elder or Christian friend after the service, to scheduling an appointment during the week, to letting us know they would like us to visit with them, and so on.”

My Question

My question is not regarding Thabiti’s practices, which I am in agreement with. My question is about how to facilitate a way by which someone can talk with an elder, schedule an appointment, or let you know they want to visit.

Here are my questions:
  1. How do the elders effectively communicate their desire to talk further with someone who has questions?
  2. How do you go about encouraging others to take the elders up on their offer?
  3. What systems can we put in place to make it easier for people to contact and schedule an appointment with the elders to talk further?
  4. Or do we even put a system in place at all? Do we just let the Holy Spirit work in people’s lives?
  5. Or should we still do altar calls, just do them differently? That raises another questions: Is there a better way to do altar calls? In other words, are there better ways to allow people to respond at the end of the message than we are currently practicing?

I would love to hear your thoughts. Please post them in the comments below.

Image: Idea go / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Shouldn’t we be training leaders?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Leadership, PastoralLeave a comment

Friday night I had the opportunity to help out at Southwestern Seminaries annual Youth Ministry Lab (YML 2011). I was highly encouraged by the turn out of youth who have answered God’s call of leadership on their lives. Over 400 youth showed up on Friday night to kick the weekend off. They started with a time of praise and worship with the Ross King Band, and preaching from Tony Merida. They then participated in a lion’s den session, where they could ask Southwestern Faculty any question they wanted, followed up by leadership training. Watching these students desire to learn and serve Christ was encouraging. Not only was it encouraging to see these youth’s love for the Lord, but it further cemented for me the importance of training the next generation of leaders.

Leaders must be training leaders. We should be discipling others who are answering God’s call on their life for ministry. However, all to often churches fail in this area. They do not spend the time equipping men for leadership.

“The result is devastating to both our personal ministry and the future of the church.”

Personal Ministry

It is devastating to our personal ministry because we are not enlisting other leaders to help us in the task of shepherding the flock. Not having enough leaders to spread ministry responsibilities results in burn out. One man cannot be expected to shepherd a large group of people over a prolonged period of time without help.

The Example of Moses

Moses is a prime example. His father-in-law, Jethro, realized that Moses was going to kill himself if he tried to shepherd all of Israel without any help, which is the reason he counseled Moses to appoint capable men over smaller groups of Israelites (Exod. 18).

Likewise, our ministries will not flourish, and we will not survive, if we are not equipping others to minister alongside us.

The Future of the Church

Not only did Moses appoint other elders to look after Israel, but he also trained Joshua to take his place upon his death (Joshua 1:7). Pastors today need to follow Moses’ example by training others to take their place when their time of ministry ends. If they do not, then the result will be devastating for the future of the church.

The Example of Joshua

Take for instance, the story of Joshua. He was trained throughout Moses’ ministry and was prepared to take over when Moses died. However, Joshua failed to follow Moses’ example and teach the people the necessity of training their youth. After his death and the death of the elders, a generation arose that did not know the Lord, nor the work the Lord had done in Israel (Joshua 2:10). The result was devastating for the nation of Israel. They fell into idolatry, and everyone did what was right in their own eyes (Joshua 2:11-15).

Likewise, the result will be devastating for the future of our church if we are not preparing leaders to take our place when our ministry comes to an end. Without capable leadership to take over, disunity and power struggles will ensue.

The Solution

The solution is simple. We must be committed to training our future leaders. It was obvious tonight that the youth pastor’s who took the time and money to bring their youth to YML are committed to training future leaders. Their dedication to this task was highly encouraging to me, and it should be encouraging to you.

The Charge

My charge to you is to invest in your people. Find a future leader in your church, spend time with them, teach them Scripture, and train them to lead the people. Both your personal ministry and the future of your church will be all the better for it.