Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

6 Things Jesus Does With Sin – Jared Wilson
This is how Jesus forgives sin: He condemns it, carries it, cancels it, kills it, casts it, and clean forgets it.

This. Is. The. Day. – Michael Kelley
It will do me no good to wish for another day. A different day. The day that someone else is having. This is the day that I’ve been given. This day, full of the mundane and the ordinary, full of the opportunity unexpected. This one, the one that’s beginning right now, is the day.

Faithfully Delivering the Gospel – Erik Raymond
So what are you, the evangelist, the Christian, to do? Talk to people about Jesus. The power is neither in you nor the sinner, but in the gospel!

Keller’s 5 Ways the Gospel Transforms Your Work – Nicholas McDonald
The way a Christian works is radically different from those around him or her. The gospel ought to transform the way a Christian works from the inside out.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day!

Missions Focused Small Church: Choose Missionaries

On By BrianIn Ministry Ideas

In past two posts we looked at the need to get focused and be strategic. Today we want to consider choosing missionaries. Of course your church probably already has missionaries, but as opportunities arise to choose new missionaries, here are some considerations.

First, research the missionary and missions group carefully before you invite them. If they aren’t a missionary your church should support or a missions group you can work with, don’t invite them. Consider doctrinal compatibility – do they agree with your statement of faith, and can you agree with theirs. Consider your ability to work together. We once had a missionary who wanted some of our young people to do a short term missions trip with them, but when we called the missions group they essentially wrote us off because we were an independent Bible church. So be sure to do your research before you invite a missionary to visit, and even more before you take on a missionary.

Second, consider supporting a national missionary in countries where there already is a growing church. They already know the language and culture. Plus their support is often considerably less. Whereas $100/month support is often only around 1% of the traditional missionary’s need, it is often around 25% of a national missionary’s need. One word of caution though – look for national missionaries that are accountable to some church or missions group. There are some phonies out there. A couple of good options I’d highly recommend include:

Finally, don’t forget traditional missionaries – especially those going to unreached people groups. The mission field is still vast, and we still need traditional missionaries. And of course one benefit for the church of having a traditional missionary over national missionaries is seeing them on furlough. And you can write to them without translation issues. But be sure to set a minimum monthly amount that makes it worthwhile for the missionary, maybe $50-100.

In the last post, I suggested the power of one or two, that is, focus on one or two missionaries. So perhaps your church might support one national missionary and one traditional missionary, and enjoy the best from both options. As before, I’d love your thoughts and suggestions – just leave a comment.

Part of Discipleship

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

WDBRT-HomosexualityResisting sexual desire is a part of discipleship for every Christian, no matter our marital status and no matter the kinds of attractions we experience. Desire must never be given the priority over obedience. Intense longing does not turn sinful wrongs into civil rights.

– Kevin DeYoung in What Does The Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality

Current

On By BrianIn Current Collection

Here are some interesting posts to help us think through the continued sexual revolution – especially as it played out in Indiana a few weeks ago.

The New Intolerance – Mary Eberstadt (First Things)

The End of Tolerance and Enforced Morality – Ben Domenech (The Federalist)

Indiana Shows the Left Has No Concept of Freedom – Robert Tracinski (The Federalist)

Love and Hate in a Foreign Country – Carl Trueman (First Things)

Must Christianity Change Its Sexual Ethics? History May Hold The Key – Trevin Wax (Religion News Service)

Sermon Songs: Isaiah 54

On By BrianIn Isaiah Hymns

MusicNotes

We are now children of joy
Every Christian girl and boy
God our Father to enjoy
Hallelujah what a Savior

His redeeming work is done
Freedom from our shame is won
Resting in His compassion
Hallelujah what a Savior

We are clothed in his beauty
Ever righteous we will be
In Him our security
Hallelujah what a Savior

– From a sermon on Isaiah 54
(To the tune of the “Hallelujah What A Savior”)

Break the Trend

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

BecomingWorldlySaintsHave you noticed a trend? The thing we hope is going to make us happy always lies just beyond our grasp. We are temporarily thrilled when we finally get it, but soon we realize that wasn’t it, and we’re off in pursuit of the next big thing. When will we learn? If everything until now hasn’t delivered the satisfaction it promised, why would we think the next thing will? …The only thing that was ever meant to satisfy you is God.

– Michael Wittmer in Becoming Worldly Saints

Stand Firm In His Love

On By BrianIn Book of Isaiah

“…but with great compassion I will gather you….
…with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”
says the LORD, your Redeemer.
“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
– Isaiah 54:7-8, 10

God offers us great compassion. Not just a little. Not just some. Not just the leftovers. God offers us great compassion.

God shows us everlasting love. Not just occasional love. Not just temporary love. Not just conditional love. God shows us everlasting love.

On the cross he showed that love. And on the cross he paid the price to bring us peace with God (53:5). And this covenant of peace cannot be removed, it cannot be cancelled, it cannot be annulled.

And so, even if the mountains and hills in all their stability were to disappear, he will not remove his love from us. He will yet have compassion upon us. Because of Jesus, nothing can separate us from his great compassion and everlasting love.  So stand firm in his love.

Stop fretting that you will somehow lose his love – it cannot be removed.

Stop working, trying desperately to earn his love – he already loves you.

Stop grumbling about your life as though he doesn’t love you.

Stop sinning against this God who loves you so much.

Stop caring what world thinks of you – what does it matter if God himself loves you.

Stop looking for love in all the other places our world looks for love – you have already found the fountain of all love.

So stand firm in God’s love.  Rest in his everlasting love & his great compassion.

The God of universe loves you.

So stand firm in his love.

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points1 Comment

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

“May I Go In There?” – Jared Wilson

5 Resurrection Realities That Reorient Our Evangelism – Steven Lee (TGC)

5 Reasons to Rejoice in Persecution – Tim Challies

Don’t Follow Your Heart – Jon Bloom (DG)

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day following your Lord who died and rose again so you might draw near to Him!

Missions Focused Small Church: Be Strategic

On By BrianIn Ministry Ideas

Two weeks ago, we began by considering the need to get focused – and to create a missions team to do just that. Today, we want to consider the need to be strategic. Three thoughts to consider:

  • Power of One (or Two) – A small church has limited finances and people, and people have limited time. Life is busy, and the more missionaries you have, the harder it will be for the people in your church to become familiar with any of the missionaries. So consider the power of one or two. Instead of trying to support lots of missionaries, choose only one or two missionaries. Maybe focus on one area of the world. Then keep those few missionaries in front of the people all of the time. Read their reports and pray for them each week in the worship service. Do special projects for them (more on that in a few weeks). Consider a missions trip. In other words, develop the relationship. You can’t develop close bonds with lots of missionaries, but you can with just a few. So consider the power of one or two.
  • Purpose – Consider your purpose. What is your purpose in missions? For our church the purpose is evangelism, church planting, discipleship, and leadership training. All of our missionaries are involved in many or all of these purposes. There are a lot of people going on the field as support staff – accountants, etc. That might be great for a larger church that has the funds for a broader missionary focus. Or maybe support is the heartbeat of your small church. If so, that’s great. Just stay focused on your purpose.
  • Prioritize Gospel Need – Ask the question: where is the gospel absent? Many countries now have numerous churches that can continue to reach their own country for Christ. Not that continued missionary assistance might not be beneficial, but what about countries with no gospel presence? That might include unreached tribes, distant villages, or countries that are not favorable to the gospel. One of the missionaries we support is in an area with little gospel presence, and that was by design. So consider where the gospel is absent, and prioritize gospel need.

I’d love to get your thoughts and ideas – just leave a comment.

Next week, we will consider suggestions on choosing missionaries.