Facing the Fear of Church Growth (Article from July 2012)

Facing the Fear of Church Growth

For a while now, SCFBC has been looking at how we can be a church that follows Jesus’ Great Commission in “making disciples”. Sounds great! No arguments, right? I mean, who wouldn’t want our church to grow as we reach people for Christ? Well, I have discovered something shocking in myself—I love this church just the way it is! I wouldn’t mind it growing as long as the character, or feel of the church doesn’t change.


Remember the TV show “Cheers”? There’s a lot of truth in the lyrics of that theme show that could apply to life in a church:

"Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows your name."

No doubt about it, we all want to feel like we’re surrounded by caring friends—accepted and loved. On Sunday mornings, it feels like a family gathering because we all know and care about each other, as evidenced by the hugs exchanged through the Lobby. So what’s wrong with that?


According to Bill Hoyt, author of Effectiveness by the Numbers, many churches that claim to want to grow hit a wall at around 200 people. So common is this phenomenon, that Hoyt refers to it as the “famous 200 barrier”. One main contributing factor to this is that congregations with fewer than 200 people can still feel like a small group, or family—a place “where everybody knows your name”. More than 200, and that starts to change.
“When fear is a factor in a plateaued or declining church, peel back the fear to its core, and you will discover it’s not really a fear of growth; it’s a fear of loss,” writes Hoyt. If we really want to be a church that reaches people and guides them into a saving relationship with Jesus, that means that we will be bringing in lots of people—and not all of them will be just like us! It might mean that we need to find the place “where everybody knows our name” in a Life Group, instead of knowing everyone in the sanctuary. We can still hug our friends on Sunday morning, but hopefully there will be so many unfamiliar faces around us that we will need to introduce ourselves first!


Finally, Hoyt identifies a major root of the problem in a plateaued church—“an absence of passion for lost people”. Go back and read that again, because that’s the sentence that God used to open my eyes. Do I long for lost people to find the Lord—of course! Do I feel “passion” for them? Ummm…I don’t think I have, and that’s painful to admit. I think that I’ve enjoyed my church family, been happy when visitors come, but beyond that, I’ve let myself become content.


Now, as I really think about what’s at stake for my good friends in my neighborhood, at work, and in my own family, how can I possibly feel content?!


I challenge each one of us to examine our hearts, and look for the passion for lost people. What are we willing to do to bring the good news of Jesus (with its eternal consequences), to them?

Today is Tomorrow’s Yesterday (Article from April 2012)

Today is Tomorrow’s Yesterday

“Everybody’s work’n for the weekend…”; “Someday my prince will come…”; “Yesterday…how I long for yesterdaaaay…”

These song lyrics reflect the prevailing thought patterns in our society.  Why is it that we spend our lives either worrying about the future or longing for the past?  Or, we may pin all our hopes on the future and wallow in regret for the the past.  In The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis, the demon Screwtape advises his nephew Wormwood on how to most effectively attend to a new Christian.   In other words, Screwtape teaches Wormwood to tempt his human away from “the Enemy” (God).  Lewis points out that we, as humans, live in time, but that God destines us for eternity.  So, Screwtape points out that God “wants them (humans) to attend chiefly to two things, to eternity itself, and the point of time (we) call the Present.  For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity.” 

Screwtape goes on to explain to Wormwood that the goal of a tempter is to keep humans from living in the present moment. “In a word, the Future is, of all things, the thing least like eternity.  It is the most completely temporal part of time—for the Past is frozen and no longer flows, and the Present is  all lit up with eternal rays.” For example, Satan would much rather have us be so busy pursuing “a better life” for our families that we neglect to spend time with those families right now. Preoccupation with the future keeps us from living in the moment. 

The Bible repeatedly reminds us that we are powerless to control the future.  For example, in Luke 12:6 Jesus tell the story of the Rich Fool—a man who had such a great crop, that he gleefully made plans to expand his buildings to store the crops and then live the good life after that.  But God told him, “You fool!  This very night your life will be demanded from you.” When the Israelites were in the desert, God provided manna every day for their survival, but he would not allow then to hoard it—he clearly wanted them to depend on him on a day-to-day basis.

But shouldn’t we plan for the future?

Of course we still need to do our duty in preparing for the future—but Lewis insists that the planning itself needs to be viewed as part of the Present.  In other words, my task right now may be to prepare an earthquake kit for my home.  Instead of dreading the looming menace of the “Big One”, I will focus right now on what I need to do today.

Another way of counting on a future that may not happen is procrastination.  All too often we put things off until “a better time”.  Many believers earnestly intend to grow closer to God, and plan to mature in their faith when they are less busy. This is dangerous thinking—God wants us to seek him now.  Right now.

How does this affect the church?

Many of us have great expectations, or hopes, or great worries about the future for SCFBC.  We feel so concerned that we scurry around in an effort to affect the future.  While we should obviously keep the future in mind, the Present is where God wants to use us.  I challenge each us to ask God what he wants us to do today (right now).  Instead of being fixated with future (or on the past), let’s fix our eyes on Jesus, and leave the future to him.

Fan or Follower? (Article from March 2012)

Fan or Follower?

When I was younger, I admired Princess Diana.  Actually, I more than admired her—I read articles about her, followed news stories, and stayed up all night to watch the royal wedding.  I probably knew more about Princess Diana than many Brits.  I felt like I was her close friend.  But I’ve come to accept that she didn’t have any idea I existed.  The truth is, I didn’t really know Princess Diana—I knew about her.

Many people are fans—often big fans—of someone.  In his book Not a Fan, Kyle Idleman, explains that when fans learn everything they can about the person they admire.  Fans know all about the person’s professional life and even personal life.  Fans feel like they are intimately acquainted with that person.  But if they encountered their hero face-to-face, it would be obvious that fans don’t really know that celebrity—they only know about them.

Fans tend to confuse their knowledge with intimacy, says Idleman.  And many, many people in who call themselves Christians do this with Jesus.  They might huge admirers of Jesus.  They may have scripture memorized about him, and belt out hymns of worship every Sunday, but do they really know him?  One of the most troubling passages is in Matthew 7:21-23—

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers!’”

Ouch!  The implications of this verse are startling and demand serious soul searching.  Idleman goes on to outline the importance of moving beyond belief in Jesus, and becoming genuine followers.  He points out that almost everyone knows John 3:16, about believing in Jesus, but many Christians ignore Luke 9:23 (“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”).  There is no believing in Jesus without following him. 

Don’t assume that you’re a follower of Jesus

It is dangerous to assume that we are followers.  The people Jesus mentions in Luke 9:23 are shocked that Jesus doesn’t know them.  The time has come to move from being avid fans in the grand stands, to becoming committed followers out on the field with Jesus.  He really doesn’t want us to know more about him as much as he wants us to get to know him for real—personally, warmly, thoroughly.

Start today, right now by turning off the computer, the TV, the music, the phone.  Put down the book or newsletter, even put down the Bible, and present yourself to God in humble silence.  Tell him that you don’t want to be just a fan—you want to be close to him—as a real son or daughter, not just as an admirer.  Then sit quietly.  It may not feel comfortable because we are so used to being in control, but this is a first step in denying ourselves in order to follow him.  And he desperately and eagerly waits for you!

What Can the Church Learn from Facebook? (Article from February 2012)

What Can the Church Learn from Facebook?

In many ways, the church in the 21st century has more in common with the 1st-century church than at any time in history. We are a small minority, operating in society hostile to us. We are surrounded by violence, selfishness and hardship. And yet we know from scripture that the 1st century church was alive, vibrant, and effective to a degree that changed the world! So what have we lost? What can we recover from that example?
Believe it or not, I think we can learn a lot by looking at Facebook. What is it about that social networking site that attracts more than 700 million people to actively use it? Obviously, something resonates with people. Facebook’s stated purpose is to “help you connect and share with the people in your life”—and I suspect that that is the key! In my experience using Facebook, I see examples all the time of people sharing their lives with family and friends old and new. Here are a few typical scenarios:

• Parents and grandparents announcing babies on the way;
• Teens revealing painful breakups, and their friends rallying around them with words of comfort and encouragement;
• Deaths of loved ones, and outpouring of support and condolences;
• Silly things like the banter of friendly rivalries about football or hockey;
• Urgent calls for prayer for a variety of reasons;
• The fear and frustration of lost jobs & the joy and celebration of new jobs;
• Grandparents interacting with their grand kids’ daily lives;
• And sharing photos chronicling all kinds of events from vacations to graduations.

It’s not about the technology—it’s about relationships
The technology isn’t the point here (although it certainly makes connecting convenient). The popularity of Facebook gives us a clue to what people are hungry for—the chance to belong, connect and interact with others. It’s reaching out to people, and having them reach out to you. It’s the sharing of our lives. This is what people desperately crave, and what the church—the body of Christ—should be like.
The Bible has over fifty “one another” statements that describe how the church body—all of us—should act. Here are just a few:

“Love one another” (John 13:34)
“Be at peace with one another” (Mark 9:50)
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love” (Romans 12:10)
“Stop passing judgment on one another” (Romans 15:7)
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:19)
“Pray for each other” (James 5:16)
“Accept one another just as Christ accepted you” (Romans 15:7)
“Encourage one another” (1 Thess. 3:12)
“Don’t grumble against each other” (James 5:9)
“Build each other up” (1 Thess. 5:11)
“Carry each other’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2)
“Forgiving each other” (Ephesians 4:32)
“Instruct one another” (Romans 15:14)
“Be kind and compassionate to one another” (Ephesians 4:32)
“Love each other deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22)

When we wonder what God wants for SCBC—what kind of church we want to be known as—these verses (and all the other “one another” verses) might be the best place to start!

Links in a Strong Chain (Article from January 2012)

Links in a Strong Chain

There’s an old saying that just being in a garage doesn’t make you are a car. I’ve heard that related to exercise—just because you step into a gym doesn’t mean that you are physically fit. And of course, this could also apply to Christians—just because you go to church, doesn’t mean that you are a disciple of Jesus.

We’ve been talking about restoring this church—getting back to basics, repentance, and the gospel. But many of us don’t make the connection between “the church” (or “SCFBC”) and “me”. Amos prophesied against the people of Judah in the Old Testament. They thought that they were secure and safe because they enjoyed the status of being God’s people—even though they as individuals worshipped idols, oppressed the poor, and turned a blind eye to the social injustices around them. They smugly believed that because they enjoyed peace and prosperity as a nation, they had Yahweh’s blessing and seal of approval.


It is so easy for us to slip into that mentality ourselves. We may agree that the focus of our church needs to be renewed, but unless individuals change in conjunction with a restoration at SCFBC, then restoring the church is a waste of time.


What kind of link are you?
My choir teacher used to nag us to learn our parts, to practice, and to come to rehearsal ready to sing. He would say, “A chain is only as strong as the weakest link”—meaning that we would never be an excellent choir unless every individual carried their weight. Who cares that everyone else sounded fabulous, if Jenny was in the alto section hitting clinkers?


God said to those comfortable, complacent residents of Judah:

6 With what shall I come to the LORD and bow myself before the God on high?
Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves?
7 Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:6-8 (NASB)

A member of SCFBC might try reading it this way:

6 With what shall I come to the LORD and bow myself before the God on high?
Shall I come to Him with great worship services and other programs, with our Bethlehem Experience?
7 Does the LORD take delight in sending mission teams to Mexico?
Shall I tithe more of my hard-earned money for the sin of my soul?
8 He has told you, (insert your name here), what is good;
"See that justice is done,
let mercy (compassion and love expressed in tangible ways) be your first concern,
and humbly obey your God."

As we start off a new year, let’s each, individually, resolve to become the followers God calls us to be. Only then can our church be the church God want it to be.

Forgiveness: The Gift that Keeps on Giving (Article from December 2011)

Forgiveness: The Gift that Keeps on Giving

We’ve probably all heard about people who take in a wild animal as a pet. A chimpanzee, or a snake or a tiger—they can look cute and harmless when they are small. However, the pet grows up, and then the person makes the 6 o’clock news when that pet turns on them and attacks. We shake our heads in disbelief and think, “Well of course you got hurt—you can’t keep a wild animal as a pet!”


But most of us are harboring pets every bit as dangerous. They may have started out tiny, but these pets are quietly thriving inside us. These pets are called “Grievances”, and they range in breeds. Yours may come from a time when someone hurt your feelings or cheated you, or it could be that you suffered when something horrible or cruel was done to you or your loved one. Our grievances can range from major crimes to minor insults.


We know as Christians that we are supposed to forgive, and maybe we’ve even told the offender, “I forgive you”—but we secretly hang onto our pet Grievance, feeding it, stroking it, and nurturing it.


Are you feeling road rage?
Did you know that “road rage” is always a reaction or response that a driver has to what someone else has done to them? Think about that—someone may have done something wrong or even illegal to you, but it’s your response to them that can become a crime.


“I know that maybe I should forgive,” you may say, “but this person hurt me so badly that I can’t forgive them (and I’m not ready to let them off the hook for what they’ve done).”


Who are you really hurting?
In Matthew, Jesus explains that “if you forgive others when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (6:14-15).
I always read this as a veiled threat—“If you don’t forgive that person, then as punishment, you won’t be forgiven!” But I’ve come to see this verse in a new light. God wants the very best for me—he cares about me and hates whatever harms me. I believe that in these two verses, Jesus is giving us an urgent warning. He cannot forgive us if we are harboring a pet grievance—it stands in the way between us and God.


Do you feel like God’s not listening to you, or that he’s not even there?
When we have unconfessed sin (like a pet grievance), our prayers are ineffective. God wants nothing short of total repentance before he can lavish us with all the love and grace he has planned for us. So, holding on to a wrong done to me means that my prayers are blocked (1Peter 3:12).


How do I forgive when I’m still so hurt and angry?
Forgiving others is probably the toughest thing God requires of us, but fortunately he does not expect us to forgive others on our own strength. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we truly release our pet grievances and be free of them. There are wonderful books and resources on the process of forgiving others, but the first step is choosing to forgive. Remember, choosing to forgive someone does not make what they did okay—that is between God and that person. But choosing to forgive someone is definitely the first and hardest step for us.


There’s an old saying that Christmas is the time (for)giving. Don’t let another day go by without confessing your reluctance to forgive. In the words of David, “Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” (Psalm 32:5)

Stand Out from other Christians (Article from September 2011)

How to Stand Out From Other Christians

Most of us agree that Christians should be different than the general population.  We hope that people can see something in us that intrigues them.  But maybe the real question should be, when compared to typical, self-described Christians in America, do we stand out in the crowd, or are we one of the pack?  Many Christians take great pride in being patriotic Americans, and after the anniversary of 9/11 the media focused on what it means to be an American.  But studies suggest that few Christians put that same passion and self-identification into being a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

In a recent article published by Barna Group, studies reveal four obstacles that hinder people from growing from a nominal, shallow relationship, to a mature, deep relationship with God.

Obstacles to Spiritual Growth

Commitment

While 4 out of 5 self-identified Christians point to a meaningful commitment that they made about their faith, only 18-22% claim to be “totally committed to their own spiritual development” and are “totally dependent on God”.

Repentance

The majority of self-described Christians acknowledge the importance of confessing their sins to God and receiving his forgiveness.  But few (12%) admit that they have truly pondered the significance of their sin, and have been devastated by it.  Only about 3% have come to “the places where they have surrendered control of their life to God, submitted to His will for their life, and devoted themselves to loving and serving God and other people.”

Activity

Pastor Rich has talked about the epidemic of busyness in the American culture.  In fact, these studies confirm that most Christians confuse religious activity with spiritual growth and depth.  While many Christians say that they have participated in “normal” religious activities in the past week such as praying, going to church, reading their Bible), few have engaged in deeper faith expressions: less than 1 out of 10 have talked about their faith with a non-Christian, fasted, and had an extended time of spiritual reflection.  Nor have they practiced spiritual disciplines such as solitude, sacrifice, acts of service, silence, and scriptural meditation.

Spiritual Community

Most self-described Christians in the studies say that they are comfortable being around other Christians at church, but measures used in the studies show that the majority of these relationships do not have the depth and quality described in scripture.  Only 1 out of every 5 believes that “spiritual maturity requires a vital connection to a community of faith.”

So What?

The implications of these studies are startling.  The sad fact is that most of us do not live what we believe.  We try to fit God into our lives in a convenient and socially acceptable way, and the church is apparently failing in its responsibility to teach, encourage and lead people into the deep, vital relationship that God craves for us.  But don’t blame the church—no one can do our part in our spiritual growth.  We have to own up and take responsibility (with the Holy Spirit) for the quality and depth of our relationship with God. I challenge every person at SCFBC to read and reflect on Colossians 3:1-17.  Let’s not be content with where we are, but pursue the Lord with patriotic zeal!

Barna Group. (2011). Self-Described Christians Dominate America but Wrestle with Four Aspects of Spiritual Depth. Retrieved from http://www.barna.org/faith-spirituality/524-self-described-christians-dominate-america-but-wrestle-with-four-aspects-of-spiritual-depth

Lectio Divina (Article from July 2011)

Learn to read all over again!

When you read the Bible, do you ever feel like the words “go in one ear and out the other”?  Through the Apprentice Study this year I learned a skill that has been practiced by believers for centuries.  Lectio divina, (pronounced "Lec-tsee-oh Di-vee-nah"), literally means “divine reading” or perhaps “divine listening” would be more accurate.  This spiritual practice gives God the opportunity to communicate with us and to show us his will.  The following exercise is based on The Good and Beautiful God, by James Bryan Smith.

Steps of Lectio Divina

1.   Select a passage from the Bible.  To begin with, try Psalm 23 or 1 Cor. 13.  Spend a few minutes relaxing and breathing deeply in order to quiet your thoughts before God.

2.   First Reading—Read through the passage slowly, pausing between each phrase or clause.  (i. e., “The Lord is my shepherd,” [pause] “I shall not be in want,” [pause]…).  After you finish the passage, sit silently and to let the words soak in.

3.   Second Reading—Read through the passage again, pausing between phrases for a little longer this time.  Pay close attention to words or phrases that seem to stand out to you.  Make a mental note of those words and phrases, and after this second reading, write them down.

4.   Third Reading—Reread the passage up to the word or phrase that impacted you before.  When you reach that word or phrase, stop and repeat it several times.

5.   Pondering—Sit quietly and reflect on the phrase that touched you.  Just let the word and your thoughts interact as you mull it over.  Allow personal memories or other verse to come to mind.  Ask yourself, “What might God be trying to say to me?”

6.   Prayer—Make that question a prayer, and take time to listen.  Write down anything that your sense God might be trying to tell you.

7.   Rest— Don’t rush off.  Enjoy this time with God by being still and basking in his company.

8.   Response—Ask yourself what you think you might be called to do as a result of your time with God.  

Think about specific steps you can take to apply what you have experience.

Finally, don’t go into this expecting to have a dramatic spiritual experience (although that often happens).  The purpose of lectio divina is to listen to God—giving him the space to work in us.  As with any new skill, it may feel awkward at first—that’s normal.  Keep practicing lectio divina and you will find that it becomes increasingly natural and rewarding.

Real Faith is not for Wimps! (Article from June 2011)

Real Faith is not for Wimps

Imagine hanging from the edge of a jagged cliff.  Your fingers are numb as you cling for dear life, and you don’t think you can hang on much longer.  Just then, you hear the thump-thump-thump of a helicopter over head, and looking up, you see a man zipping down on a cable.  As the rescuer, Jesus, arrives, relief overwhelms you—“I’m saved!”  Jesus extends his arms and shouts instructions for you to let go of the cliff.  Now here’s the tricky part—you know in your mind that you must let go in order to be saved, but actually letting go is the hard part.  Compromising, you hang on with one hand, and reach for Jesus with the other.  Jesus locks hands with you, but shakes his head and calmly instructs that unless you let go, he cannot not take you anywhere.  In those agonizing seconds, you weigh your options—“I either hang on to this cliff for as long as I can, or I let go and let Jesus carry me.”  Though the right choice seems obvious from a distance, it’s not easy when we’re the one clinging to the cliff.

In (insert word here) we trust…

As Pastor Rich takes us through the book of James, we are reminded that God can’t stand divided loyalty (James 1:22-25).  If we say we trust Jesus, and but still trust in other things, we’re only fooling ourselves.  And what do we cling to?  For some, it may be their money and belongings.  Some trust in conventional wisdom and education of the world.  Some trust in their own gifts and skills.  Some rely on family and friends.  And the list goes on and on.

James pulls no punches.  The faith that God requires is not a comfortable, “warm-fuzzy” belief in God.  It is complete and all-consuming and is evidenced by our actions.  I used to think that expressing my faith meant performing a certain number of “good deeds”—help a little old lady carry her groceries, let a car merge in front of me on the freeway, or return someone’s lost wallet, etc.  What if the action that God requires of me is complete and total surrender?

If we are serious about growing spiritually, we have to let go of everything but God.  As Jonathan Fung put it, “You have to let go, in order to grow!”  So let’s stop kidding ourselves at SCFBC—either we back up what we say we believe with action, or we admit that our faith is dead.

This week, please pray and ask God to show you anything that you cling to that keeps you from clinging to him.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Ps. 139:23-24

Are You Crazy?! (Article from April 2011)

Are You Crazy?!

For our Lenten series, we followed the book Crazy Love, in which Francis Chan encourages readers to grasp who God really is, how he loves us (with a “crazy love”), and how we should respond to God.  So what did you think of the book?  Did it challenge you?  Inspire you?  Did it make you feel guilty?  Did it make you angry?

I’ve heard all those reactions from brothers and sisters here at SCFBC, which tells me that we have a great discussion going!  One thing must be clear—books by Christian authors can be excellent teaching tools, and God can speak through these authors in amazing ways.  But the books themselves are not scripture, and what we take away from them must be weighed in light of God’s word.

Is Chan being unrealistic?

Controversy seems to arise from Chan’s final part of the book, where he recounts people who have responded to God’s call in dramatic ways.  They have sold their houses, gone on foreign missions, or quit their jobs to start new ministries. 

I don’t know about you, but when I read those kinds of stories, I want to run and hide!  “I could never do that!” I tell myself.  Some people might even dismiss Chan as ridiculous, and resent the implication that we should respond that manner.

Pastor Rich made an important comment about this to the Apprentice Study:  “Chan spends much of book challenging us to break free of legalism and love God with abandon.  But he comes a bit close to slipping into legalism himself by implying that nothing short of a dramatic, life-altering response is acceptable to God.”

So what should we take away?

Chan’s challenge to love and respond to God with utter abandon is one that each one of us to needs to ponder carefully.  Perhaps God does want you to make a radical life change—that will be one of the biggest blessings of your life, and our church family should celebrate that kind of obedience!

To me, the only wrong response is to not respond at all.  If you are worried or annoyed with what you perceive as unrealistic expectations, then try setting your feelings aside for now and ask God what he wants from you today.  Maybe he simply wants you to hold your possessions loosely with an open hand, instead of a tight fist. 

Rather than saying, “Nope, I’m not selling my house and moving to Africa!” try saying this: “What is in front of me today—right now—that I can do for you Lord, because I really do love you like crazy!”

The Sound of Silence (Article from March 2011)

The Sound of Silence

So how did you do with the 5-Minute Challenge to read scripture each day?  That was just one spiritual discipline (or soul training exercise).  These practices train us to become like Christ.  Pastor Rich recently showed a commercial for the U.S. Marine Corps as a more realistic depiction of true discipleship than life on a cruise ship.  And for any and every follower of Christ, discipleship is not optional!  Just to be clear, we are absolutely saved by grace alone, but training in righteousness requires two participants—us and the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 9:25; Gal. 5:16-26).

All spiritual disciplines have one thing in common—our actions provide God with space to work in our lives.  When we open our Bibles faithfully each day, we provide God with the opportunity to speak to us through his Word.

The Sound of Silence

NoiSe bombards us all day long, every day.  Whether you have a house full of kids, or live alone, we still live with noise.  When the prophet Elijah was exhausted and discouraged, God told him to go up the mountain, God would meet him there.  There was thunderous wind, but God was not in the wind; there was a powerful earthquake, but God was not in the earthquake; there was fire, but God was not in the fire; then there was a gentle whisper—the still, small voice of God.

How often have you wished that you could hear God speak to you?  Have you longed to clearly feel his guidance in your life?  Perhaps the noise surrounding us drowns him out, and yet he is there, in the silence, waiting to speak to you in his gentle whisper.

This Month’s Challenge:   Do Nothing!

This month’s soul training exercise may be the toughest one you could face.  We all know how crazy busy we are.  Our days are overstuffed with activities.  I urge you to spend 30 minutes this week doing nothing—Not reading (even the Bible), not praying, not writing or listening to Christian music—nothing.  Why?  To give God enough space in our lives to be heard.  You may not hear God audibly (or even inaudibly).  The experience of doing nothing is so foreign to most of us that the first time, you will probably feel extremely uncomfortable.  But one thing’s for sure—God will smile broadly that you love him enough to carve out 30 minutes just listening for his gentle whisper.

Do you really want to grow (Article from February 2011)

Do you really want to grow?

Do you want to grow spiritually?  Stupid question, right?  No—it is a serious question that desperately needs a thoughtful answer from each of us.  Time and time again, Jesus asked those who came to him, “What do you want from me?”  Jesus wanted people to put into words what they wanted from him.  He wants us to do the same.  Once you have spent some time thinking and praying about what you want your life to look like, tell God!  Try writing it down as a letter to God—he’s been hoping to hear from you.

So what is spiritual growth?

We use this phrase all the time without thinking about what spiritual growth actually looks like.  But consider the tree illustration Pastor Rich used a few weeks ago—you cannot bear fruit without first growing deep roots.  We grow our roots by working with the Holy Spirit to draw closer to God—the number best way do this by getting to know him through his word.  There really is no “Plan B”! 

Are you ready to grow?

If you want to run a marathon, you can’t just show up and run.  You have to train (1 Cor. 9:25).  For followers of Jesus, training comes in the form of something called spiritual disciplines (or “spiritual practices” or “soul training exercises”).  There isn’t a single complete list of disciplines, but we are specifically commanded to practice some.  One of these is reading scripture regularly.  Jesus taught that in order to grow close to God, we must learn his commands and obey them (John 14:21).  And the best way to learn them, is to read them with intention.

Are you ready to take the 5-Minute Challenge?

This month, I challenge each of you to give God five minutes of your time—just five minutes.  Come on, can anyone think of a good excuse for not giving God five minutes out of their busy schedule?  So I challenge you to spend just five minutes a day reading the Bible.  Sounds easy enough, but here’s the catch—you must schedule that five minutes into your day, and stick to it.  The purpose is to get into a habit of intentionally cracking open God’s word every day at a regular time of your choosing.  You can do this!  You brush your teeth every day, don’t you?  If you already are in the habit of reading scripture every day, then I encourage you to set your own small goal.  Perhaps spend five additional minutes at a different time in your day, or practice memorizing scripture for five minutes.

Why just 5 minutes?

If you are serious about wanting to grow in your faith, this is a vital step.  Unfortunately, when we make a resolution or set a goal for ourselves, we often set ourselves up for failure.  When you start training, you have to able to run around the block before you try 12 miles!  If you’re not sure where to begin, I suggest the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) which tell about the life and teachings of Jesus.  They can (and should) be read again and again. 

Your church can’t do it for you!

It’s easy to blame the church or the pastors when we feel stalled in our spiritual journeys.  But the truth is that your spiritual growth depends on the Holy Spirit and you!  SCBFC is here to encourage you, support you, and cheer you on, but the race is yours to run (Heb.12:1-3).

Parable of the Cruise Ship (Article from January 2011)

The Parable of the Cruise Ship

The kingdom of God is like a wonderful cruise ship, with God as its captain.  The cruise ship is a place to be with God—spending time with him, relaxing, being active or being quiet—endless varieties of ways to enjoy God.

A certain woman stands on the ship.  All around her stretches a vast ocean.  From the deck of the ship, it looks beautiful.  The sea beckons her with its deep blue and cool wetness.  She even glimpses hints of the wonders below the surface like dolphins frolicking and majestic whales breaching.  So, instead of sticking with the one who created her, she climbs the rail and leaps off the ship. 

Now God created the ocean too, with all of its marvels and mysteries.  To a person alone in the water however, the view changes drastically—she is now at risk of becoming shark bait, or being stung by jelly fish or of drowning.  The appealing parts of the ocean are still present, but the woman is too busy just trying to keep her head above the water.

“How can the captain allow me to suffer like this?” she thinks angrily.  “If he’s such a loving captain, I wouldn’t be drowning, and the sharks would not be circling around me!”

Meanwhile, back on the ship, what is the captain doing? 

Is he oblivious to her suffering? 

Is he playing shuffleboard?

Is he sternly watching her, while shaking his head and muttering, “What an idiot!”?

Is he proclaiming piously, “She got what she deserved!  If you jump off a ship into the ocean, you’re going to drown!”?

No, the captain frantically sounds the alarm—“Man overboard!”

The woman, busy shaking her fist at the ship and blaming the captain for her plight, doesn’t notice at first that the captain has thrown her a rope.  Then she splashes and flails, trying to reach the rope, but she is too weak to hold on.  Even when she thinks she has it in her grasp, it slips from her fingers.

The captain knows that the woman is not likely to be saved by the rope, but he knows she needs to try.  He loves her, and he will not give up!

So he risks everything to save her—he strips off his uniform jacket and hat, and dives into the waves.  He, too, now deals with sharks and other dangers, but he purposefully and fearlessly swims to the woman.  Just as she’s going down for the third time, the captain comes to her side to save her.

The woman’s first reaction is to push the captain away.  She’s still angry and resentful of the captain for her miserable situation.  Then she feels so stupid and ashamed for jumping off the ship.  She resolves to rescue herself, return to the ship on her own, and then be with the captain—ignoring the fact that he’s treading water beside her.

The captain, however, does not give up easily.  He shouts at her to take his hand and even slaps her face to try to get her attention.  Ultimately however, the captain cannot save someone who chooses not to be rescued.  And some point, the captain will have to get back on the ship with or without the woman.

Finally, the woman realizes what the captain wants from her.  Gasping to him that she is sorry for being a fool, she stops struggling.  Immediately the captain pulls her into his arms and swims back to the ship.

Back aboard the ship, the woman worries how to face the captain now that he has saved her from certain death.  She soon understands however, that the kind of captain willing to personally dive into the sea in order to save her is unlikely to hold a grudge.  In fact, to her utter amazement, he and all those around them cheer and celebrate.  The captain throws his arms around her in the biggest bear hug ever! 

As the woman sits there, covered in stings and wounds, the captain gets right to work administering first aid, and staunching the flow of blood.  As she limps around the deck, she still hurts, but she’s so happy to be alive, she can bear it.  She still can’t get over the lengths the captain went to in order to rescue her.  She has never felt so utterly and completely loved.

As the woman rests on the deck, safe and secure, she wishes she could repay the captain to whom she owes everything.  She studies other survivors around her on the ship.  Some are gathered in tight groups, laughing and enjoying each other’s company.  Some are blithely playing shuffleboard.  Still others are stretched out on chaise lounge chairs, blissfully snoozing in the sunshine. 

As the woman stands there, she hears a faint cry.  She glances around, uncertain where it came from.  Moving toward the rail, the cries get louder and are joined by other cries.  When she reaches the rail, she gapes in horror at the surface of the ocean around her.  All around the ship, struggling people bob in the waves.  A few fellow passengers also stand at the rail.  A woman next to her shakes her head sadly and with a deep, regretful sigh, walks away to visit the buffet.  A man on her other side yawns and glances longingly at the lounge chairs.

“There’s really nothing we can do,” he says, patting the woman’s shoulder before he quickly slinks away.

Standing there, the woman’s own experience comes flooding back.  She shudders as she recalls the feeling of being in that water—the stings, the anger, the struggle and fear, and the hopelessness.  When she thinks of all the captain did, her shoulders straighten, and her hands tighten on the rail.

“Man overboard!” the woman shouts.  Leaning as far over the edge as she can, she desperately tries to get through to any people she can.

“Please!  Just stop struggling and let the captain save you!” she yells.  She becomes hoarse with her efforts, and tries to get other survivors on deck to come and help.  They ignore her, so she turns back to the ocean, and keeps trying.  How could she possibly turn away and take a nap when the captain who saved her is out there now trying to save others?

The woman watches in despair as some people never stop fighting the captain.  She sees others do hear her, but they just shake their fists at her in response.  She weeps as she watches men and women slip silently beneath the waves.

But the woman also notices that some listen desperately to her instructions.  They turn to the captain who’s there trying to help them.  When she sees one struggle end, and the captain’s powerful strokes back to the ship, she’s overwhelmed with joy!  She jumps and cheers in elation.  But not for long—she knows that many, many others are still out there drowning.  The captain needs her help to rescue them, and he counts on her.

When God created us he could have made us like Stepford wives—seemingly “perfect” in every way, but unable to think for ourselves and to make choices.  We would never reject God, because we wouldn’t be able to.

Instead, God designed us with minds of our own, giving us the chance to know him intimately of our own free will.  The risk for God is that we may reject him.  God cannot have it both ways:  he can’t give us free choice, and then give us only one option to choose.

But making choices does not end once we are saved.  What does God, the captain who risked everything in order to rescue us from certain death, want from us?  Will we huddle together with other passengers gossiping and complaining about the service on the ship?  Or nap in the sun?  Or will we do everything we possibly can to help the captain rescue as many people as possible?

The choice is ours.