Tag Archives: Worship

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

A Three –Fold Attitude that Stimulates Discipleship and Forms a Genuine Community of Faith

thLast week I shared some thoughts on my immersion into a community of disciples and discipleship. But what happens when you have gone beyond “putting your feet in the water” and are fully enveloped by the waves of a genuine Jesus formed community?  I acknowledge by using the word “genuine” that must imply there also can be “less than genuine” communities of faith. And guess what? Sadly there are. This is not to say people set out to be purposely disingenuous, but it does mean people can believe they are living in the nature of Jesus when they are not; and so, by default, they become immersed into a community that looks, feels, sounds and may even act with some version of Jesus but entirely miss the opportunity to become a community that engages His true nature.

 

Simply stated to be a disciple of anyone, means you have learned directly, and accurately, from the disciple-maker. As a New England Patriots fan I have been spoiled by a high level of competition the Patriots provide every season. At the lead of the team’s success is their quarterback, Tom Brady. But before Brady became a Super Bowl MVP, and top quarterback in the NFL, he had to learn from someone. Beginning in high school, through college and even into his professional career Brady routinely sought advice, counsel and training from his long time mentor Tom Martinez. Perhaps few will ever know of the man who helped form Brady into the player millions watch on Sunday afternoons, but his legacy and counsel are witnessed every game Brady leads the New England Patriots out to play.  In like manner the greatest violinist the world has ever heard, Jascha Heifetz, learned from Leopold Auer. Tom Brady was developed by Tom Martinez and Plato was instructed by the words and methods of Socrates.  While subtle variations in one’s style, approach, look or feel may develop differently, from teacher to student, there will always be a common thread throughout the life of the mentor and mentee: Fundamentally they will be the same in their approach, application, intent and drive to succeed without compromising the richness of truth in their chosen field.

As Christians should we be any less careful to attention, detail, passion, perfection and desire to share Biblical truth with our world? When one becomes immersed in the life of discipleship, in Jesus, there can be no room to compromise His message, and divine nature, in favor of our personal “variations.” Jesus commanded His disciples to go and make disciples of all men commanding them (the Apostles) to instruct everyone in all He (Jesus) had shared.  Woven within the DNA of discipleship is a sanctified template of how one becomes His disciple without compromise and with the guarantee of blessing. Getting one’s feet wet, in the community of Christ, is where it all begins; but that has never been a substitute for continuing on the journey of discipleship. True Biblical discipleship begins when we live immersed in the community of faith while being mentored into developing unique techniques and strategies, not gimmicks, that help us draw people to encounter the nature of Jesus!

In my attempt to unpack the heart of discipleship, as well as understand the nature of Jesus, I have come to understand there are three necessary attitudes that invite people and engage them into immersion in the community of faith. The three attitudes are worship, preaching / teaching and mentoring.

ATTITUDE #1: WORSHIP. Try to define worship and the exercise quickly opens into a very large umbrella that the Bible stuffs a lot of action underneath. You can worship God through prayer, fasting, singing, reading and meditating on His Word, tithes and offerings, work, life, common grace acts and the list goes on and on. But to help me better understand worship, within the context of discipleship, I needed to have a simple working definition that could cover all the bases. So, here is a definition I part borrowed and retooled: Worship is not a program but an invitation for people to participate in the truth of Jesus; and we celebrate His story in a variety of forms and activities. There is so much opinion regarding the state of worship within the church today. But wherever you may come down on the issue, worship is always meant to form any community into authentic adoration of Jesus with integrity. What I personally find so inviting about worship is how it really is meant to be apart of everyday, as well as every portion of life, and not just Sunday morning.

While some choose to debate various styles and expressions, of Sunday worship, I feel there is a deeper concern if we allow our times of worship to fall into the traps of being another program or routine.  For some, if not most, it may be a little frightening to provide the breathing room necessary for the Holy Spirit to move through our times of worship. But when we give Him the room necessary to move He draws the community of worshippers into the rhythm of God’s nature. It is then our individual and communal moments of celebration merge into the signing of Jesus’ story and our songs become those of great thanksgiving.  Worship was at the heart of the early church’s liturgical calendar and the same reason why God gave Ancient Israel the Feasts of the Lord. Life, every day, was to be a celebration of God’s nature and it is meant to immerse His disciples entire lives into Him.

The added by-product of worship is the development of disciple and disciples. Worship has the unique ability to draw everyone into one community that lives, talks, hears and shares the rich celebration of Jesus’ life. Here again this is why disciples should find opportunities to raise our hands, clap and even shout; because a corporate action of thanksgiving, love, relief and even celebration become the moments where the Holy Spirit’s presence can be truly experienced through the cycles of life. Rudolph Otto said,  “Good worship will use language of mystery.” And I honestly believe the mystery of worship should be one we all long to uncover. When people, in the Body of Christ, genuinely live lives of worship not only will we experience Him but we will know Him and desire to learn more of Him as our lives behave more like His. All who are in Him are gladly invited to be worshipers; and worship has the basic power to shape the disciple!

ATTITUDE #2: PREACHING / TEACHING: A recent survey, by Thom Rainer, concluded the most decisive factor for visitors, in choosing a fellowship, is the preaching/ teaching.  One need only thumb through the pages of the Gospels and book of Acts to discover Jesus routinely taught His disciples wherever they traveled. The development of lay ministry underscores the necessity for trained and qualified men and women who are in a position to teach and disciple within the local church.

The aforementioned natural therapies are helpful in improving your erectile ability, making prescription levitra you incompetent in the bedroom. It is an astringent and boosts seminal cialis levitra generika devensec.com fluid. Finally, http://www.devensec.com/images/bose-slides/bose-8.html cipla tadalafil price Theodore Creighton and Gary Jones (2001) point out that few programs currently look beyond grade-point average when recruiting employees into programs. Excessive use of alcohol and drugs also affects viagra france the capability to maintain erection. Most churches will have a variety of mature disciples, new converts and seekers. With such spiritual diversity also comes the welcomed opportunity to present the Word of God in a fresh, relevant and exciting way.  However, before we get bogged down in “good preaching versus bad teaching” we need to first answer what is the purpose of a teaching and preaching? Again, I prefer workable and simple definitions that can be applied in the ordinary of life; and so I have come to the conclusion the best way to answer this question is as follows:  The purpose of teaching / preaching is to change minds, hearts and lives.  

Certainly the Holy Spirit is the one who illuminates the need for change in any one’s heart but the inspiration of Spirit-birthed teaching / preaching always encourages faith in the pattern of Jesus.  It is well documented Augustine, for example, always used his teachings as an opportunity to weave doctrine with moral living. So what kind of preaching / teaching should we accept as those pursuing a journey of discipleship? Biblically speaking (and this is always the safest way to judge anything) only teachings that are based on Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone)! Of course there is always a place for sharing how to raise your kids, manage money, discover purpose, etc… but if such themes are not based in Scripture, as the primary source, they will eventually draw people away from the pattern of Jesus and point others toward worldly solutions. Simply put, teaching rooted in anything other than Scripture will make you a disciple of that teacher, or cause, but such an approach will not draw you any closer to the nature of the Father or a disciple of Jesus.  Again, teaching and preaching, within the context of discipleship, must always focus on what the Bible says, no more and no less.

Genuine disciples are always called to live submitted not to ones favorite minister, or ministry, but to God’s Word. Let me be so bold as to say, Scripture from Genesis to Revelation is true…..all of it! And so, as disciples of Jesus, we are put ourselves under it and live in obedience to it!

 A final thought on preaching / teaching: Tell the Whole Story.  I am guilty of watching ESPN for the purposes of viewing the highlight real in order to follow my favorite sporting events. But just watching the highlights will never tell the entire tale of the tape. Highlights are exciting because by their very definition they are “HIGH –LIGHTS!” But three-second clips are incapable of really helping one understand the “why” of the game. To appreciate the highlight you need to know the details of the game. Likewise, discipleship is not meant to be lived, or seen. in highlights. Rather discipleship should always be a public witness and full portrayal of God’s grand design for all creation. Biblical preaching that is coupled with proactive discipleship always keeps Jesus at the center of life’s story, and there He is meant to always remain.

ATTITUDE #3: MENTORING. One of my favorite Seinfeld episodes is, “The Mentor.” In this particular episode Jerry was dating a girl that relied so heavily on her mentor she was incapable of making a move without her advice. Too often we have adopted a “top-down” approach to mentorship and as a result our bonds of mentorship become more like chains of control. Could it be we have somehow misapplied Biblical mentorship? Robert Clinton defines mentorship as, “one person helping another person grow.” Henry Simon explained mentorship as, “having something to share with another who needs it to help him grow.” Today the best form of mentorship remains as it was in the days of the early church and John Wesley, discipleship through class meetings and peer to peer cooperation.  While there is a definite need for a one on one relationships it has been my experience an attitude of community mentorship is best suited to knit people together in relatable and personal ways. Within the small group, or home koinonia, a fellowship can discuss a teaching, pray and even provide mutual support and accountability. A single mentor doesn’t, and can’t, have all the answers. But mentors, within the community of Christ, can help others grow and share in Christ. Combined with genuine care, support and prayer the disciple quickly matures; and when this change occurs the entire community becomes immersed in the Jesus cycle of life.

People are searching for genuine Christ-centered communities of faith that expand beyond the church walls and touch real need and real lives. When genuine disciples, in Jesus, invigorate the church then we become an antibiotic to the illness (sin) and perhaps then the world will no longer perceive the church as the illness but an aide for healing and restoration?

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

 

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

SHALLOW, DEEP & PROFOUND

ShallowhalmovieposterHere is a list of “shallow” but profound statements:

  1. “Only the shallow know themselves.” – Oscar Wilde
  2. “Silence is as deep as eternity, speech as shallow as time.” – Thomas Carlyle
  3. “Either you decide to stay in the shallow end of the pool or you go out in the ocean.” – Christopher Reeve
  4. “Deep breaths are very helpful at shallow parties.” – Barbara Walters
  5. “Our culture is all about shallow relationships. But that doesn’t mean we should stop looking each other in the eye having deep conversations.” – Francis Chan

We live in a cosmetic world. Fast cards, fast people, quick glory, instant wealth and whatever you view through your social media begs to glorify the cosmetic exterior, of anything, without giving much thought to what is inside. Every morning I have the habit of scanning the overnight news and try to catch up on local and world events. Perhaps, not surprisingly, no matter where I go there will always be a variety of articles trying to draw my attention to an A-list movie star, new car, socialites divorce or cosmetic surgery just right for me. Truthfully we live and are surrounded by a shallow world. But, not everything that is of a shallow concern, in life, is unbeneficial; in fact I might even argue God uses the shallow just as much as He uses the profound.

In a teaching I shared with our community I addressed how we all live in a secular / spiritual paradox. On the one hand we are people who desire to express great devotion to God, through common grace works, sacrificial living and spiritual disciplines (like prayer, fasting and meditating on God’s Word). While on the other hand that very same person can be consumed wishing to impress other people with their “blessings” and the fact they are not shallow. As Shakespeare wrote, “The lady doth protest too much, me thinks.” (HAMLET) This is the paradox we all struggle with and I would suggest if we approached life with a Hebraic / Biblical holism we may find ourselves less tempted by the secular or spiritual trap.
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To be shallow is not a sign of being bad, evil or deceitful; nor is shallowness a sign that there are no depths within the person…after all even the ocean has a shore. Consider this…there are many shallow amenities of life, that are not terribly deep, such as eating, drinking, walking and talking (they are all ordained by God). But when we are not living in alignment, with Jesus, then the paradox kicks in and our eating becomes gluttonous and our drinking slides towards drunkenness. Even something as simple as walking, without Jesus, can lead down paths sown with the seeds of destruction and our beautiful language can be turned profane if we do not let Him mature us. However when we are living fully alive, in Him, the Holy Spirit safeguards our shallowness from being trapped by the paradox; and the secular / spiritual is replaced by a new creed: “To live is to worship and to worship is to live.”

I once picked up a good bit of advice I would like to pass along. In the shallow matters of life use your God-given commonsense in commonsense ways. There will be plenty of days ahead when deeper things will come; and I have learned God is the one who draws you deeper by opening the unseen and unknown. So, while you mature “in the shallow end of the pool” keep your entire life closely aligned with the Father (God), live in the Son (Jesus) and be led by the Spirit (the Holy Spirit). The time will come, for those who patiently wait on the Lord, and seek Him above all, when He will bring us deep diving. Until then determine to resist the secular / spiritual paradox, live and experience life in a true, open and trusting Biblical community and most of all be willing to have the deep the conversations that press us toward maturity in Jesus!

“Determinedly take no one seriously but God, and the first person you find you have to leave severely alone as being the greatest fraud you have ever known, is yourself.” (Chambers)

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

PRAYER: AN UNRIVALED GAME-CHANGER

game-changerIf you have ever followed a sporting competition then chances are you have heard the expression “a game-changing moment.” Maybe it’s a player or a particular play but when the moment happens we call it a game-changer because that is exactly what occurs: The circumstances change dramatically. This past week I had a “game-changing” moment and it came attached to prayer, faith and in the most unusual of circumstances.

Earlier this year I shared with you how I was on a new journey of faith where I was going to bring my “head faith” down to the ordinary and practical of life. Of course this journey hasn’t been easy especially when the circumstances, I am bel ieving for, are not noticeably changing. Nevertheless I remained determined to continue this journey not as an experiment but as a way of living where to live is to worship and to worship is to live. As 2014 started I felt anxious to see how quickly my circumstances would change but in reality little seemed to be moving until…

It was the Friday after the new year and I had received a call that a fellow Christian, that I knew but have a limited relationship with, was facing a serious health issue in his family. My first reaction was one of concern that then turned to the thought of praying for his family. But just as I was about to dismiss any further action I felt, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, to call this man and actually bring my faith into the ordinary and practical of life. Our conversation was brief, no more than ten minutes, which concluded with my praying for his family and that was it. Later the next week I went to my mailbox and saw a letter from an individual addressed to our faith community. As I opened the letter there were just a few short words, a request and an extremely generous financial gift to Maranatha Koinonia. I sat stunned! I couldn’t find the words to express how I felt nor could I conceive of any scenario in which this blessing found its way to our faith community…but it did!

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED? In a circumstance of someone’s crisis I was energized, by the Holy Spirit, to prayer! The Lord knew I haven’t been praying for money and truthfully I didn’t even know where to begin my prayers because there were, and remain, so many needs. Yet, as I practiced to live is to worship and to worship is to live I experienced the Holy Spirit Himself praying, in me, prayers which I couldn’t utter. Prayer and answered prayer are the game changing moments (testimonies) of the dynamic and Spirit-filled life, of the Christian, when we are those who are “born again” of God and indwelt by the Spirit of God. It is when we are firing on all Spirit-birthed cylinders, in the ordinary of life, the supernatural happens.

“Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” (Romans 8:26)

WHAT NEEDS TO OCCUR IN US ALL: St. Paul addresses the dynamic life of the Christian when He (the Holy Spirit) drives and motivates our prayer.  In speaking to the church in Rome he writes, “He,” the Spirit in you, makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” When this happens God is searching our hearts not to know what our conscious prayers are, but to help us discover what the prayer of the Holy Spirit, deep within us, is. What I experienced, this past week, was a Spirit-birthed and Spirit-prompted moment of prayer which exceeded what I was prepared to do naturally. But when the supernatural broke into the natural circumstances prayer went from words into action and action into healing which was followed by Spirit-birthed love, appreciation and blessing!

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WHAT I LEARNED and HOPE TO PASS ALONG TO YOU: The Spirit of God will not dwell in a body where we want to live life based on our convenience. Though it may have been natural, for some, it was inconvenient to stop my life to pray for another. But when the Holy Spirit burst into my ordinary I had no other choice but to respond to His prompting and presence. I experienced a game-changing moment that led to many game changing opportunities.

Have you recognized that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? If so, then lovingly I want to encourage you to remain careful to keep it undefiled for Him (Jesus). “We have to remember that our conscious life, though it is only a tiny bit of our personality, is to be regarded by us as a shrine of the Holy Ghost. He will look after the unconscious part that we know nothing of; but we must see that we guard the conscious part for which we are responsible.” (Chambers)

In a few weeks there will be a Super Bowl and both teams will be hoping for a game-changing moment. What about you? Are you facing circumstances where you know you need the supernatural to burst into your ordinary? If so,  then take some time to re-read this post, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help re-energize your prayer life and make room for His supernatural presence to not just fill you but use you for the service of the Gospel message and Kingdom hope.

Grace and Peace

JOSHUA

Christian Apologetics, Christian Living, Inspirational, Motivational

WHEN WEEKLONG PRACTICE LEADS TO BIG GAME PERFORMANCE

1381710836000-USATSI-7492279WHEN WEEKLONG PRACTICE LEADS TO BIG GAME PERFORMANCE

Whether you are a causal fan or dedicated enthusiast the fall season, for sports, is an exciting time of the year. Professional and college football is in full swing, NHL hockey has just starting and Major League Baseball is entering into the playoffs. While sports can be an exciting source of entertainment for anybody, and anywhere, there are few cities that possess a sports culture where fans and teams live in a symbiotic relationship of love, frustration, dismay and euphoria all at the same time. As I write today’s post I am very aware there will be faithful fans, from other cities, that will argue their city is best sports town in the nation. But Sunday, October 13th, the city of Boston reminded the country as to why is must be considered the best sports city without equal.

Sunday afternoon began with the opening kick-off between the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints, in what some billed, as the big national afternoon “Game of the Week.” In a game that featured excellent quarterbacks, and teams trying to prove their winning records against a serious challenger, this game managed to live up to the hype everyone anticipated. Quarter after quarter the game ebbed and flowed with momentum swaying in just a matter of minutes, if not seconds. Finally, with time running out, New England managed a game-winning touchdown, with 5 seconds remaining, to secure the win. Meanwhile, as the Patriots were celebrating their victory, just up the highway the Boston Red Sox found themselves struggling against the Detroit Tigers in a game that seemed to be playing into Detroit’s hands. In much the same way, as the Patriot’s game, the Red Sox found themselves left to a handful of plays remaining. Losing by a score of 5 -1, a win seemed improbable, that was until a grand slam and, an inning later, infield hit managed to secure a victory for the Red Sox. For the city it was a magical sports night that placed Boston, on top, as the greatest sports city for that weekend.

By now you may be asking how two games, from an obvious Boston sports fan, can possibly relate to your faith? It’s a fair question to ask; and if you stick with me a few more moments I will show you how it all comes together.

Yesterday I decided to take some time to listen to a few of the post-game interviews, from the winning teams, and repeatedly heard a theme that struck right to the heart of everyday life, faith and a key to victory throughout the struggle. As I listened to coaches, players and “hero’s” I heard them all repeat the same chorus: Their weeklong practice, and attention to detail, prepared them for the situations they found themselves in. In the final moments they all knew what they needed to do…it was just a matter of execution. Likewise, in our walk of faith, life and struggle we often imagine we will do the “right thing”, or win the big game, when crisis or challenges arise. But, the reality is, the crisis will only reveal the stuff you have developed during the days and weeks of preparation.

There are many people who sincerely believe if God gives me the call, of course they will rise to the occasion. But the truthful answer is we will not be able to answer any call unless we have risen to the occasion through daily and dedicated practice. The person who lives in the pursuit of Christlikness must live practiced in the daily routine, challenge the ordinary and prepare for the “big game” ahead. Here I want to add another crucial step every Christian ought to take: Execute of ones faith and practice into action! If the follower of Jesus has not been practicing the disciplined work that is closest, because God (as a coach) has engineered it, when the crisis (big game moment) comes instead of being revealed as ready and prepared, we will be shown as unfit and defeated. CRISIS ALWAYS REVEALS CHARACTER!

So how does the Christian practice knowing the “big game” is coming? One key routine we must daily exercise is our worshipping the Father. Worship God in your home, work and with your family; worship Him in your private relationships as well as in your public friendships. Oswald Chambers challenges all of us not to be idle when it comes to living prepared by saying, “I can’t be expected to live the sanctified life in the circumstances I am in; I have no time for praying just now, no time for Bible reading, my opportunity hasn’t come yet; when it does, of course I shall be all right.’ No, you will not. If you have not been worshipping as occasion serves, when you get into work you will not only be useless yourself, but a tremendous hindrance to those who are associated with you.”

The medical power resource is also available in a online viagra mastercard female the Sildenafil is formulated to treat the problem. Therefore, when you buy viagra discount , you are better off, and much safer, to go to a site that will give you what you need. Oysters And Whichever Fatty Fish Oysters are famous for treating this issue in males ad they are reliable as well. viagra samples from doctor is the main thing because when the pill is taken by the patient in order to achieve with appropriate results of recovery. The age does generic cialis no prescription increase the risk of ED, but just ten percent of men may really look for help or guidance or get treatment. Chamber’s words are hard to hear because they hit all of our comfort zones. Practice and discipline does not come easy for many. Even the most disciplined individuals can live so robotic they risk loosing the love, or passion, for the very thing they desire to accomplish. This is why we all need balance and there is no greater teacher than the influence, and guidance, of the Holy Spirit. Like the Patriots or Red Sox players, of this past weekend, they could not have stood tall, on the big stage, if they hadn’t done the hard work of preparation for that moment. Likewise, for the Christian, let us embrace the daily life that worships the Father (God), serves the Son (Jesus) and is led by the Spirit (The Holy Spirit). He is faithful and trust His Word, when it teaches you to believe in the weeklong preparation that is setting you up for a game winning victory in the challenges ahead!

Grace and Peace

Joshua

BTW…for the sports fan that wanted to hear the final radio calls for the Patriots and Red Sox game I thought you might enjoy them.

Patriots Final Call

Patriots Final Call Video

Red Sox Final Call