Tag: christianity

Men, Don’t Make Your Wife Lead Your Family!

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals, Family, Leadership, QuotesLeave a comment

Unfortunately, many women become the leaders of their families by default because their husbands have either deserted the home or abdicated their God-given responsibility to lead. This is another side of the impact of the fall.

C.S. Lewis observes that most women instinctively understand that there is something wrong when they must be in charge.

“There must be something unnatural about the rule of wives over husbands, because the wives themselves are half ashamed of it and despise the husbands whom they rule.”

When those who are called to be in leadership vacate the role, they leave a vacuum that must be filled by another. Why is this the case? Leadership is difficult. Leadership is a responsibility, and sinful selfishness resists responsibility or accountability. “Paradoxically,” says Ash,

“it may not be the challenges of secular feminisim that pose the greatest threat to God’s order of marriage, but the pathetic abdications of sinful males who will not take upon ourselves our God-given reponsbility to exercise headship in our marriages and in our home.”

The way to relieve our wives of the temptation to take over is to recognize that leadership is our responsibility and to step up in obedience to be the loving, sacrificial leaders he has called us to be.

Question for Reflection

  1. Men, are you leading your family to know God, accomplish His purposes, and glorify Him?

Resources

The Shepherd Leader at Home, Timothy Witmer, 85

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Discipleship Over Numbers

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals, QuotesLeave a comment

In the drive to build a large church, elders can lose sight of what is most important – congregational discipleship. A large congregation might be spiritually mature, but it could also be that the tares outnumber the wheat in a given locale. The same dynamics are true of smaller churches as well. Let us encourage our pastors and elders to do the work of discipleship, and may we seek to be involved as well, according to our circumstances and abilities.

Question for Reflection

  1. What is most important growth in numbers or growth in spiritual maturity?

Resources

Table Talk Magazine, Tares Among the Wheat, February 11, 2016

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Are You Connected to a Biblically Minded Church? – Part 4

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Church Life, Discipleship, Practical3 Comments

Evidence matters. It matters in research papers, in the courtroom, on the news, and in churches. Evidence matters because it reveals what we know, what we’ve done, or who we are. In this series, I am focusing in on that last one – who we are – in an effort to expound on the evidence of a biblically minded church (Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3).

What is a Biblically Minded Church?

By a biblically minded church, I mean a church that is centered on God’s Word, so much so that God’s Word influences the way it thinks and the things it does.

What is the Evidence of a Biblically Minded Church?

I believe there is, at least, four pieces evidence of a Biblically Minded church in Colossians 1:3-14. The third piece of evidence we come across tells us,

(4) A Biblically Minded Church Seeks to Please God

In verse 10, Paul’s prayer for the Colossians is that they would be

“fully pleasing to [God].” (Col. 1:10b)

Paul’s prayer should be our prayer as well. We should pray that we would live lives that are pleasing to God. But before we can pray that we would live lives pleasing to God, we need to know what a life that pleases God looks like.

What does it look like for us to live lives that are pleasing to God?

In verses 10-12, Paul tells us that we please God:

(1) When we live obedient lives

That is what Paul is getting at when he says that we are “to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.” Just like a parent is pleased when their children obey, God is pleased with us when we obey Him.

(2) When we make it a point to grow in our relationship with Him

Our relationship with God grows, in the same way, it does with a friend, by spending time with Him and learning more about Him. We spend time with and we learn more about God by reading His Word, praying, meeting with others for Bible study, reading books that help us understand His Word better, and coming to worship service. When we do those things, we are actively seeking to grow our relationship with God, and that pleases God.

(3) When we trust in Him

One of the ways you can know if you are trusting in God is by how you respond to trials and tribulations. When faced with a trial, if you find yourself constantly worrying, getting angry or anxious, you are most likely trusting in yourself. On the other hand, if you are able to endure trials with patience and joy, then most likely you are trusting in God. When we trust God, we please Him.

(4) When we give thanks to Him

When we acknowledge and thank God for all He has given us, we please God.

In all these ways we please God. A church that seeks to please God, then, is the fourth and final evidence of a biblically minded church.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Are you a part of a church that is focused on pleasing God?
  2. Are you a part of a biblically minded church?

Resources

Post adapted from my sermon Are We A Biblically Minded Church?

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[1] http://catalystconference.com/read/us-churches-no-longer-in-decline/

Are You Connected to a Biblically Minded Church? – Part 3

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Church Life, Discipleship, Practical1 Comment

Evidence matters. It matters in research papers, in the courtroom, on the news, and in churches. Evidence matters because it reveals what we know, what we’ve done, or who we are. In this series, I am focusing in on that last one – who we are – in an effort to expound on the evidence of a biblically minded church (Read Part 1, Part 2).

What is a Biblically Minded Church?

By a biblically minded church, I mean a church that is centered on God’s Word, so much so that God’s Word influences the way it thinks and the things it does.

What is the Evidence of a Biblically Minded Church?

I believe there is, at least, four pieces evidence of a Biblically Minded church in Colossians 1:3-14. The third piece of evidence we come across tells us,

(3) A Biblically Minded Church is a Reproducing Church  

Focusing in on verses 5 & 6, we see that the gospel is not only bearing fruit among the Colossians, but it is also increasing among them.

“Of this you have heard before in the word of truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing — as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.” (Col. 1:5b-6).

The Colossians are not only growing in Christ, but they are also doing the crucial work of reproducing themselves.

Churches must reproduce themselves or they will die.

The most recent statistic I read on churches closing said, “3,500 US churches close their doors every year.” They also said,“Growing churches make up only about 20 percent of all U.S. churches today. The rest have reached a plateau or are declining.”[1] One reason churches are closing at this rate is their failure to reproduce themselves.

How does a church reproduce itself?

Reproduction occurs when a church is focused on making disciples. When a church is making disciples, they are both focused on winning people to Christ by spreading the gospel, and growing their people in Christ by teaching them the Word. I believe both are necessary in order for a church to make disciples and be considered a reproducing church. The reason both are necessary is that people aren’t going to come to Christ if they don’t hear the gospel, and people aren’t going to grow in their faith, nor will they be equipped or motivated to spread the gospel, if they aren’t taught God’s Word. Making disciples, then, includes both a focus on evangelism and spiritual growth.

So the third evidence of a biblically minded church is that they are reproducing themselves.

Question for Reflection

  1. Are you a part of a church that is focused both on winning the lost and building up its members spiritually?

Resources

Post adapted from my sermon Are We A Biblically Minded Church?

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[1] http://catalystconference.com/read/us-churches-no-longer-in-decline/

What Does Biblical Faith Involve?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals, QuotesLeave a comment

Christian faith is more than just belief that God exists. It does not take any special gift of faith to believe in the existence of the Creator, for many people have lived and died believing that God exists even though they never became Christians.

Biblical faith involves believing also the specific promises of God. We must believe God, not simply believe in God.

As the Lord this day to strengthen your faith in His promises so that you will continue to trust in Him alone.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Do you believe in a God, or do you believe God?
  2. Are you ready and willing to depend on God alone for salvation?

Resources

TableTalk Magazine  January 25, 2016

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Are You Connected to a Biblically Minded Church? – Part 2

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Church Life, Discipleship, Practical2 Comments

Evidence matters. It matters in research papers, in the courtroom, on the news, and in churches. Evidence matters because it reveals what we know, what we’ve done, or who we are. In this series, I am focusing in on that last one – who we are – in an effort to expound on the evidence of a biblically minded church (Read Part 1).

What is a Biblically Minded Church?

By a biblically minded church, I mean a church that is centered on God’s Word, so much so that God’s Word influences the way it thinks and the things it does.

What is the Evidence of a Biblically Minded Church?

I believe there is, at least, four pieces evidence of a Biblically Minded church in Colossians 1:3-14. The second piece of evidence we come across tells us,

(2) A Biblically Minded Church is Focused on Spiritual Growth

Usually, when a church talks about growth, it is referring to its numerical growth. It’s not necessarily wrong to talk about numerical growth. We all want to be a part of a church that is growing numerically. There is something exciting about new visitors coming through the door and new members joining. If you think about it, a church has to grow numerically in order for it to survive and do the work of ministry.

Numerical Growth Can’t Be Our Primary Focus

Here is the thing, however, we can’t just focus on numerical growth. We also, and more importantly, have to focus on spiritual growth. In fact, I believe spiritual growth has to be our primary focus because I believe focusing on spiritual growth is the biblical approach. I mean, think about it: Jesus, the disciples, and the apostles weren’t primarily focused on growing a big church, rather they were focused on growing people spiritually.

Jesus

Reading through the gospels, it is clear Jesus’ primary focus was spiritual growth. He wasn’t there to make people feel comfortable or to entertain them. Instead, He confronted them with their sin. He demanded His disciples deny themselves and follow Him. He demanded folks be willing to die for the spread of the gospel. With that in mind, I believe it is safe to say Jesus wasn’t necessarily focused on physical growth, but rather spiritual growth.

Paul

In our focus text, it is evident Paul wasn’t focused so much on the Colossians physical growth, as he was their spiritual growth. In verse 9, his desire is that they  be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, that they would have spiritual wisdom and understanding. In verse 10, he continues by telling them that he desires that they walk in a manner worthy of God, that they would bear fruit in every good work, and that they would increase in their knowledge of God. Then in verse 11, his desire is that they would have endurance, patience, and joy. So Paul’s focus is the spiritual growth of the Colossians.

Us

Spiritual growth must be our focus as well. We must have a strong desire to see our fellow church members grow spiritually.

Spiritual Growth Will Produce Physical Growth

Focusing on spiritual growth doesn’t necessarily mean your church won’t grow physically. Rather I believe as we focus on growing spiritually, the church will inevitably grow physically. A community of believers who are growing in their love for God, one another, and their neighbors are attractive. As a result, it will win people to Christ and to its fellowship.

I believe, then, the key to growing a church is not to focus on its numerical growth, but rather its spiritual growth.

The Benefits of Focusing on Spiritual Growth

When we focus on growing spiritually, instead of physically, we are freed up to take a stand on our beliefs, to confront others about their sin, and to preach the true gospel. We are free to do those things because our primary concern is not entertaining, it’s not making people feel comfortable, or even keeping people happy so they will stay at our church. Instead, our primary concern is their spiritual growth. Sometimes, for people to grow spiritually, they have to be confronted, which means they will probably feel a little uncomfortable. We have to be ok with them being uncomfortable for a time because we know helping them grow spiritually is what’s best for them.

Honestly, if someone is a true believer, even though it may hurt at times, they will accept correction because they know that is what’s best for them, and that you love them because you are concerned with their growth in Christ.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Are you a part of a church that seeks its people’s spiritual growth over their comfort?
  2. Have you witnessed physical growth as your church has sought spiritual growth?

Resources

Post adapted from my sermon Are We A Biblically Minded Church?

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