Extreme Christianity
Ministry Outreach - Evangelism
Written by Matthew Green
Don't settle for communicating a domesticated version of the gospel.
Although perhaps beautiful to look at, there are fewer sights more pitiful than a caged tiger or an eagle with its wings clipped.
Likewise, a domesticated gospel serves little more purpose than a relic to be observed. How is the gospel being domesticated? you ask. Consider these factors:
a growing familiarity with the evangelical subculture as defined through television, music and movies
a pluralistic climate that blurs the lines of distinction between Christianity and its false counterparts in Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism
an increasing resistance toward any expression of faith that would be perceived as offensive or intolerant of other beliefs.
These emerging trends threaten to rub the rough edges off the divisive (but life-giving) message that should be the core of our ministries.
In an effort to make the gospel more palatable, some of us have avoided topics such as sin, hell and the second coming, downplaying the controversial and mysterious nature of the God we serve.
In this issue of Ministries Today, we address several of these difficult topics in hopes that you will be challenged to persevere in presenting an authentic--and relevant--gospel in an increasingly hostile environment:
Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron ("Afflicting the Comfortable," p. 18) are two examples of people who are doing just that. When they hit the streets with a handful of tracts and a pocketful of chutzpa, neither fit the mold of a stereotypical evangelist. In fact, their day-to-day contact with unbelievers has given them an easy familiarity that makes witnessing seem natural--whether in Times Square or at a rock-'n'-roll festival.
Ken Walker's exploration of "What America Believes About Hell" (p. 28) indicates a confusion in convictions about eternal punishment: Many (non-Christians included) believe in a literal hell, but most are convinced that it is not their final destination.
In his "Conversation" (p. 44) with R.T. Kendall, Oral Roberts contends that the second coming of Christ is more imminent than ever and that teaching on this topic must return as the centerpiece of the pulpit. For Roberts, it is the amazing love of God demonstrated on the cross that should motivate this revived emphasis.
You on the frontlines of ministry are in our prayers--that God will strengthen and empower you for another year of Spirit-led service in His kingdom.
When you're tempted to adopt a safer, domesticated Christianity, may you choose a more extreme--and biblical--version of the gospel. And may you always experience a little healthy discomfort as you keep sight of a fiery hell, a bloody cross and the One "who was, and is and is coming" (Rev. 4:8, CEV).
Matthew Green is managing editor of Ministries Today. He invites your comments and questions at matt.green@strang.com.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Sustaining Prayer THIS POWER SO READ IT!!!
Sustaining Prayer
Ministry Life - Youth
Written by David Perkins
Eight principles to leading students in prayer
I love the student prayer movement taking place in America. Over the last decade, thousands of students have participated in sacred assemblies, days of prayer, 24/7 prayer and fasting events. But as monumental as these moments have been, the prayer emphasis must advance past the big prayer event to the local church. Prayer momentum often dissipates unless the youth leader creates an environment for students to diligently pray.
I’ve seen many youth ministries sustain spiritual fervor by injecting a weekly prayer meeting for students in their local church. This meeting becomes a seedbed for emerging leaders and a force of spiritual vitality. Here are a few helpful principles that I’ve discovered for sustaining prayer among students:
1. Declare the kindness of God like a broken record. Often, students will approach the throne of grace in prayer only when they possess confidence that they will find mercy there. Many refrain from prayer because they’re certain God is angry with them. Students are often stricken with condemnation and need to be reminded of God’s love over and over again.
2. Be authentically privileged to be at the prayer meeting. I’ve led students in a Friday night prayer meeting for years and I don’t ever thank them for “giving up” their Friday night to pray. Instead, I affirm that they have chosen the best place to be as we pray for God’s will to be done in our church, city and generation. The prayer meeting may not be the location with the most glitz on a Friday night, but it will bear fruit forever.
3. Get the best worship band that you can. Start with what you have. An iPod is cool, but live worship unites the intercessors better. Even if you just start with a single person strumming the guitar and singing, it creates the opportunity to be more spontaneous.
4. Focus on Scripture. We can be confident our prayers align with God’s will when we pray the Scriptures. The Bible will slowly creep into students’ hearts and minds as they pray it. Additionally, it gives them language to pray. The Bible creates the content and substance of our prayers. Praying the Scriptures keeps the meeting on track. If you don’t pray the Word, it’s easy for the most talkative kid to hijack the prayer meeting with his latest prayer request.
5. Have a plan. Somehow, the prayer meeting is often the one church gathering that leaders enter without much preparation. A plan significantly helps the flow of the night. Of course, you can always detour from the plan if desired. Without a plan, you’ll often find yourself trying to spontaneously think of what to do next. It’s better to prepare ahead of time.
6. Be prepared for unexciting prayer meetings. Many leaders give up on prayer meetings because enthusiasm drops and attendance wanes. Dry, barren prayer meetings matter to God. Jesus told us to persevere in prayer (see Matt 7:7, Luke 18:1). Prayer is laboring in the spiritual realm. It’s not always exciting.
7. Create an occasional adventure. We’ve met at other local churches in town (with permission) and prayed for God to move in their church. We’ve prepared maps ahead of time and walked the neighborhoods praying for each house. When students arrive, they don’t always know exactly what’s going to happen. That keeps it interesting.
8. Throw victory parties. Nothing fuels the prayer meeting like answered prayer. When God intervenes in a supernatural way, celebrate. Some prayer meetings should feel like a big party just thanking God.
David Perkins is the pastor of prayer at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., and spearheads Desperation, a nationwide youth movement for local churches.
Ministry Life - Youth
Written by David Perkins
Eight principles to leading students in prayer
I love the student prayer movement taking place in America. Over the last decade, thousands of students have participated in sacred assemblies, days of prayer, 24/7 prayer and fasting events. But as monumental as these moments have been, the prayer emphasis must advance past the big prayer event to the local church. Prayer momentum often dissipates unless the youth leader creates an environment for students to diligently pray.
I’ve seen many youth ministries sustain spiritual fervor by injecting a weekly prayer meeting for students in their local church. This meeting becomes a seedbed for emerging leaders and a force of spiritual vitality. Here are a few helpful principles that I’ve discovered for sustaining prayer among students:
1. Declare the kindness of God like a broken record. Often, students will approach the throne of grace in prayer only when they possess confidence that they will find mercy there. Many refrain from prayer because they’re certain God is angry with them. Students are often stricken with condemnation and need to be reminded of God’s love over and over again.
2. Be authentically privileged to be at the prayer meeting. I’ve led students in a Friday night prayer meeting for years and I don’t ever thank them for “giving up” their Friday night to pray. Instead, I affirm that they have chosen the best place to be as we pray for God’s will to be done in our church, city and generation. The prayer meeting may not be the location with the most glitz on a Friday night, but it will bear fruit forever.
3. Get the best worship band that you can. Start with what you have. An iPod is cool, but live worship unites the intercessors better. Even if you just start with a single person strumming the guitar and singing, it creates the opportunity to be more spontaneous.
4. Focus on Scripture. We can be confident our prayers align with God’s will when we pray the Scriptures. The Bible will slowly creep into students’ hearts and minds as they pray it. Additionally, it gives them language to pray. The Bible creates the content and substance of our prayers. Praying the Scriptures keeps the meeting on track. If you don’t pray the Word, it’s easy for the most talkative kid to hijack the prayer meeting with his latest prayer request.
5. Have a plan. Somehow, the prayer meeting is often the one church gathering that leaders enter without much preparation. A plan significantly helps the flow of the night. Of course, you can always detour from the plan if desired. Without a plan, you’ll often find yourself trying to spontaneously think of what to do next. It’s better to prepare ahead of time.
6. Be prepared for unexciting prayer meetings. Many leaders give up on prayer meetings because enthusiasm drops and attendance wanes. Dry, barren prayer meetings matter to God. Jesus told us to persevere in prayer (see Matt 7:7, Luke 18:1). Prayer is laboring in the spiritual realm. It’s not always exciting.
7. Create an occasional adventure. We’ve met at other local churches in town (with permission) and prayed for God to move in their church. We’ve prepared maps ahead of time and walked the neighborhoods praying for each house. When students arrive, they don’t always know exactly what’s going to happen. That keeps it interesting.
8. Throw victory parties. Nothing fuels the prayer meeting like answered prayer. When God intervenes in a supernatural way, celebrate. Some prayer meetings should feel like a big party just thanking God.
David Perkins is the pastor of prayer at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., and spearheads Desperation, a nationwide youth movement for local churches.
FAITH RUBS OFF
When Our Faith Rubs Off
Ministry Outreach - Communication
Written by Jim Graff
In a skeptical world, authentic worship matters more than you may think
As a young pastor in training, I heard my father-in-law, the late John Osteen, tell an interesting story about a businessman who brought one of his attorney friends to church. The businessman was concerned the worship might be too exuberant for this dignified attorney. Sure enough, the person who worshiped beside them was very expressive. The businessman was certain his friend would be turned off by this.
Yet his friend’s comment after the service took him by surprise: “Please tell me what motivated that man to offer God such passionate praise. If I thought a relationship with God would bring me a reason to praise God like that, then I’d be interested in becoming a Christian.”
My father-in-law’s story both intrigued and inspired me. I knew I wanted to build an authentic church someday that could effectively reach mainstream America. I wanted the church I led to convince everyday people to open their hearts to God’s presence and power.
Yet I knew how skeptical they were. I also knew the answer to their skepticism needed to be more than theological; it had to be experiential too. And I knew that God wanted to do immeasurably more than all I asked or imagined according to His power that was at work in me (see Eph. 3:20).
Even today, I have not lost sight of this two-sided coin. How do we bring everyday people into an authentic relationship with God that inspires passionate praise? In our smaller city, we have found success with two simple concepts: relationship and relevance.
We like to say at Faith Family that “we hope to be the perfect church for people who aren’t.” We want to make it clear to people that God really doesn’t demand righteousness of us; rather, He develops it within us for our own good.
Jesus described God as a wise and merciful Father with arms open wide. But so many in our society don’t see Him that way. Instead, they see Him as the God who points an accusing finger at their weakness.
Fifteen years ago Sylvia came to our church. All we could tell about her initially was she was an attractive, single woman in her late 20s. But behind closed doors, she lived with a broken heart. Later she told me the only reason she stayed in our church the first year was because she loved learning the life-enhancing truths. She never planned on living fully devoted to God as those she saw around her were. After all, she was a lesbian and figured God was upset with her, not in love with her.
As she sat in church that year, something changed in her heart. She began to understand that God is a loving Father. I wept as she explained to me how in her prayer closet one day, she asked God to help her come out of the closet and into His arms. She asked Him to help her become a happy wife and mother. And that’s exactly what she is today: a happy wife and mother of three passionately praising God among us.
She’s also a leader in our church who has helped many people receive healing from a troubled past. She is known for her ability to repair and rebuild people who are seeking God.
As I watch her worshiping in our congregation, I rejoice in the heart of Father God who didn’t say to Adam after his sin, “What have you done?” but rather, “Where are you?” God knew glorious, redemptive blessings follow the understanding that He wants to construct people, not condemn them. Let’s help our world know it!
Ministry Outreach - Communication
Written by Jim Graff
In a skeptical world, authentic worship matters more than you may think
As a young pastor in training, I heard my father-in-law, the late John Osteen, tell an interesting story about a businessman who brought one of his attorney friends to church. The businessman was concerned the worship might be too exuberant for this dignified attorney. Sure enough, the person who worshiped beside them was very expressive. The businessman was certain his friend would be turned off by this.
Yet his friend’s comment after the service took him by surprise: “Please tell me what motivated that man to offer God such passionate praise. If I thought a relationship with God would bring me a reason to praise God like that, then I’d be interested in becoming a Christian.”
My father-in-law’s story both intrigued and inspired me. I knew I wanted to build an authentic church someday that could effectively reach mainstream America. I wanted the church I led to convince everyday people to open their hearts to God’s presence and power.
Yet I knew how skeptical they were. I also knew the answer to their skepticism needed to be more than theological; it had to be experiential too. And I knew that God wanted to do immeasurably more than all I asked or imagined according to His power that was at work in me (see Eph. 3:20).
Even today, I have not lost sight of this two-sided coin. How do we bring everyday people into an authentic relationship with God that inspires passionate praise? In our smaller city, we have found success with two simple concepts: relationship and relevance.
We like to say at Faith Family that “we hope to be the perfect church for people who aren’t.” We want to make it clear to people that God really doesn’t demand righteousness of us; rather, He develops it within us for our own good.
Jesus described God as a wise and merciful Father with arms open wide. But so many in our society don’t see Him that way. Instead, they see Him as the God who points an accusing finger at their weakness.
Fifteen years ago Sylvia came to our church. All we could tell about her initially was she was an attractive, single woman in her late 20s. But behind closed doors, she lived with a broken heart. Later she told me the only reason she stayed in our church the first year was because she loved learning the life-enhancing truths. She never planned on living fully devoted to God as those she saw around her were. After all, she was a lesbian and figured God was upset with her, not in love with her.
As she sat in church that year, something changed in her heart. She began to understand that God is a loving Father. I wept as she explained to me how in her prayer closet one day, she asked God to help her come out of the closet and into His arms. She asked Him to help her become a happy wife and mother. And that’s exactly what she is today: a happy wife and mother of three passionately praising God among us.
She’s also a leader in our church who has helped many people receive healing from a troubled past. She is known for her ability to repair and rebuild people who are seeking God.
As I watch her worshiping in our congregation, I rejoice in the heart of Father God who didn’t say to Adam after his sin, “What have you done?” but rather, “Where are you?” God knew glorious, redemptive blessings follow the understanding that He wants to construct people, not condemn them. Let’s help our world know it!
CHANGES AT HILLSONG
Darlene Zschech Leaving Hillsong to Co-Pastor Church
Well-known worship leader Darlene Zschech will soon be leaving the Australian megachurch where she has served for 25 years to become senior pastor of a nearby Pentecostal church.
Zschech, whose songs "Shout to the Lord," "The Potter's Hand" and numerous others over the last decade made the name of Hillsong Church in Sydney synonymous with modern worship music worldwide, will lead Church Unlimited on Australia's Central Coast with her husband, Mark (pictured with her, left), starting late January.
"We are entering into what we believe will be a wonderful and fruitful season ahead,” Mark Zschech said in a statement last week. “The two words that are on our hearts are to 'lead' and to 'build.' We're going to build a church for everybody.”
Longtime Hillsong pastor Brian Houston expressed good wishes for the Zschechs.
"Mark and Darlene have really sown into our church for a long, long time,” Houston said in a message to his congregation, which is part of the Australian Christian Churches denomination, formerly Assemblies of God. “Whilst they will be greatly missed, we feel as though this is a good and a timely step for them.
Zschech was the worship pastor of Hillsong Church for 11 years, stepping down in 2007. She continued to lead worship regularly at Hillsong and was a prominent figure with the Hillsong worship team on its international ministry tours.
Houston said in a note posted on the Hillsong website that Darlene has been welcomed "to continue to be part of the team in key Hillsong praise and worship projects and, with Mark, in Hillsong Conferences, and we pray great things for their future.”
Well-known worship leader Darlene Zschech will soon be leaving the Australian megachurch where she has served for 25 years to become senior pastor of a nearby Pentecostal church.
Zschech, whose songs "Shout to the Lord," "The Potter's Hand" and numerous others over the last decade made the name of Hillsong Church in Sydney synonymous with modern worship music worldwide, will lead Church Unlimited on Australia's Central Coast with her husband, Mark (pictured with her, left), starting late January.
"We are entering into what we believe will be a wonderful and fruitful season ahead,” Mark Zschech said in a statement last week. “The two words that are on our hearts are to 'lead' and to 'build.' We're going to build a church for everybody.”
Longtime Hillsong pastor Brian Houston expressed good wishes for the Zschechs.
"Mark and Darlene have really sown into our church for a long, long time,” Houston said in a message to his congregation, which is part of the Australian Christian Churches denomination, formerly Assemblies of God. “Whilst they will be greatly missed, we feel as though this is a good and a timely step for them.
Zschech was the worship pastor of Hillsong Church for 11 years, stepping down in 2007. She continued to lead worship regularly at Hillsong and was a prominent figure with the Hillsong worship team on its international ministry tours.
Houston said in a note posted on the Hillsong website that Darlene has been welcomed "to continue to be part of the team in key Hillsong praise and worship projects and, with Mark, in Hillsong Conferences, and we pray great things for their future.”
Coca-Cola and Fireproof...
Coca-Cola Donates Building to 'Fireproof' Church
The Coca-Cola Co. has donated its 60,000-square-foot former bottling plant in Albany, Ga., to Sherwood Baptist Church, owner of Sherwood Pictures, the film-production company that produced the successful movies Fireproof and Facing the Giants.
According to the Sherwood Baptist Church Facebook page, the church plans to use the facility as a community outreach center.
A post on Sherwood’s Facebook wall reads:
“What an appropriate time to celebrate and give thanks! The Lord has provided us with this wonderful facility and we are so grateful! We will now be more equipped to go into the inner city and share His light and provide for their needs, thanks to the Coca-Cola corporation’s generosity!”
The building was for sale, and the company’s decision surprised real estate agent Woody Watson, who was handling the listing of the property.
“Yes, I’m surprised at Coca-Cola’s decision,” Watson said. “They had several offers on the property and we actually had an acceptance. I thought the deal was done.”
The building, valued at $590,000, had been on the market for the last two years.
Jim McBride, an associate pastor at the church and former plant general manager for Coca-Cola, said the building basically “fell into our laps.”
“The church was not pursuing this donation, this all happened in the last 10 days,” McBride said last week. “Some people from Coca-Cola Consolidated came through town recently and we stopped by the building. They had a couple of offers on the building but asked me if I had any suggestions.
“A few days later they called and said that the building had served the community since 1940 and they wanted to continue that service by donating the building to the church.”
The church says the building will enable them "to go into the inner city and give back to the community," local FOX affiliate WFXL-TV reported. –source: Albany (Ga.) Herald
The Coca-Cola Co. has donated its 60,000-square-foot former bottling plant in Albany, Ga., to Sherwood Baptist Church, owner of Sherwood Pictures, the film-production company that produced the successful movies Fireproof and Facing the Giants.
According to the Sherwood Baptist Church Facebook page, the church plans to use the facility as a community outreach center.
A post on Sherwood’s Facebook wall reads:
“What an appropriate time to celebrate and give thanks! The Lord has provided us with this wonderful facility and we are so grateful! We will now be more equipped to go into the inner city and share His light and provide for their needs, thanks to the Coca-Cola corporation’s generosity!”
The building was for sale, and the company’s decision surprised real estate agent Woody Watson, who was handling the listing of the property.
“Yes, I’m surprised at Coca-Cola’s decision,” Watson said. “They had several offers on the property and we actually had an acceptance. I thought the deal was done.”
The building, valued at $590,000, had been on the market for the last two years.
Jim McBride, an associate pastor at the church and former plant general manager for Coca-Cola, said the building basically “fell into our laps.”
“The church was not pursuing this donation, this all happened in the last 10 days,” McBride said last week. “Some people from Coca-Cola Consolidated came through town recently and we stopped by the building. They had a couple of offers on the building but asked me if I had any suggestions.
“A few days later they called and said that the building had served the community since 1940 and they wanted to continue that service by donating the building to the church.”
The church says the building will enable them "to go into the inner city and give back to the community," local FOX affiliate WFXL-TV reported. –source: Albany (Ga.) Herald
Accountability' Not So Hot With Churches is this YOUR CHURCH???
Ok So the Following information I would like you to THINK about this and see if it's YOUR CHURCH??? I would love to hear from Pastors on this issue... .
Blessings,
Rev. David Betts
Eyes On Him..
Accountability' Not So Hot With Churches
Many of the Bible's exhortations aren't very popular in today's world. But a new study by the Barna Group indicates that one of the least favorite biblical principles among Christians might be: "Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. " (Heb. 13:17).
There is very little accountability among Christians in the U.S., a new survey found.
Only 5 percent of Christian adults indicated that their church does anything to hold them accountable for integrating biblical beliefs and principles into their life, according to the Barna Group.
Evangelicals were most likely to have some form of church-centered accountability.
George Barna, director of the survey, stressed that mutual accountability is one of the cornerstones of the biblical concept of community.
"But Americans these days cherish privacy and freedom to the extent that the very idea of being held accountable by others—even those with their best interests in mind, or who have a legal or spiritual authority to do so—is considered inappropriate, antiquated and rigid," he said.
"With a large majority of Christian churches proclaiming that people should know, trust and obey all of the behavioral principles taught in the Bible, overlooking a principle as foundational as accountability breeds even more public confusion about scriptural authority and faith-based community, as well as personal behavioral responsibility."
The Barna Group, a research firm based in Ventura, Calif., surveyed 1,000 adults from across the country in August. The latest report is based on data from the 889 adults who identified as Christians and who reported attending a Christian church.
The most common form of accountability cited by the 5 percent who said their church holds them accountable was small groups. Around one-third said they are kept accountable through small groups.
Twenty-one percent said their churches limit or revoke membership for those who do not meet specific standards. Nineteen percent said they are being held accountable to individuals they're acquainted with in their congregation, and 16 percent said leaders follow up with them on activities assigned to them.
Additionally, 10 percent said they have personal accountability to the pastor or someone else on the pastoral staff; 8 percent said they answer directly to the congregation for questionable activities that are identified; and 6 percent said they have regularly scheduled reviews with church leaders. –source: The Christian Post
Blessings,
Rev. David Betts
Eyes On Him..
Accountability' Not So Hot With Churches
Many of the Bible's exhortations aren't very popular in today's world. But a new study by the Barna Group indicates that one of the least favorite biblical principles among Christians might be: "Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. " (Heb. 13:17).
There is very little accountability among Christians in the U.S., a new survey found.
Only 5 percent of Christian adults indicated that their church does anything to hold them accountable for integrating biblical beliefs and principles into their life, according to the Barna Group.
Evangelicals were most likely to have some form of church-centered accountability.
George Barna, director of the survey, stressed that mutual accountability is one of the cornerstones of the biblical concept of community.
"But Americans these days cherish privacy and freedom to the extent that the very idea of being held accountable by others—even those with their best interests in mind, or who have a legal or spiritual authority to do so—is considered inappropriate, antiquated and rigid," he said.
"With a large majority of Christian churches proclaiming that people should know, trust and obey all of the behavioral principles taught in the Bible, overlooking a principle as foundational as accountability breeds even more public confusion about scriptural authority and faith-based community, as well as personal behavioral responsibility."
The Barna Group, a research firm based in Ventura, Calif., surveyed 1,000 adults from across the country in August. The latest report is based on data from the 889 adults who identified as Christians and who reported attending a Christian church.
The most common form of accountability cited by the 5 percent who said their church holds them accountable was small groups. Around one-third said they are kept accountable through small groups.
Twenty-one percent said their churches limit or revoke membership for those who do not meet specific standards. Nineteen percent said they are being held accountable to individuals they're acquainted with in their congregation, and 16 percent said leaders follow up with them on activities assigned to them.
Additionally, 10 percent said they have personal accountability to the pastor or someone else on the pastoral staff; 8 percent said they answer directly to the congregation for questionable activities that are identified; and 6 percent said they have regularly scheduled reviews with church leaders. –source: The Christian Post
The Cost... are to willing to PAY IT???
To Be A True Christian Will Cost You
It costs something to be a true Christian. Let that never be forgotten. To be a mere nominal Christian, and go to church, is cheap and easy work. But to hear Christ's voice, and follow Christ, and believe in Christ, and confess Christ with your mouth and by how you live your life and WHAT you approve of and devote yourself to, requires much self-denial. It will cost us our sins, and our self-righteousness, and our ease, and our worldliness. All- all must be given up. We must fight an enemy who comes against us with twenty thousand followers. We must build a tower in troubled times. Our Lord Jesus Christ would have us thoroughly understand this. He bids us "count the cost."
--J.C. Ryle
It costs something to be a true Christian. Let that never be forgotten. To be a mere nominal Christian, and go to church, is cheap and easy work. But to hear Christ's voice, and follow Christ, and believe in Christ, and confess Christ with your mouth and by how you live your life and WHAT you approve of and devote yourself to, requires much self-denial. It will cost us our sins, and our self-righteousness, and our ease, and our worldliness. All- all must be given up. We must fight an enemy who comes against us with twenty thousand followers. We must build a tower in troubled times. Our Lord Jesus Christ would have us thoroughly understand this. He bids us "count the cost."
--J.C. Ryle
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