October 5, 2009

"But to each of us grace has been given." Ephesians 4:7

Yesterday was a day of celebration! It was a big time brithday celebration for a beloved 15 year-old - Fredericksburg Wesleyan Church!

We praised God for His faithfulness to the church. We celebrated the numbers that reflected the work of the ministry - 188 salvations, $3 millions plus in income, $150,000+ in money given to missions. None of those would have happened apart from the grace of God!

God graciously gave us two talented pastors, our founding pastor Gerald Rodgers and his predecessor, Joe Horrell. We celebrated them and honored them and recognized the grace of God expressed through them. That was fun!

But to make this significant celebration happen it took a lot of energy, effort and planning. I want to talk about that because I believe that as the church was celebrating its history in a public service, the church was serving behind the scenes. As the congregation was celebrating God's grace, His grace was operating through the giftedness of a hard-working team led by Emily and Colin and a few committed children's workers.

While the crowd was singing and celebrating, the few were watching kids, changing diapers, warming up food, setting up tables, decorating tables, transporting food, getting ice, and missing the big event to make the event big for others.

The grace that was operating behind the scenes made it possible to celebrate the grace in the big event. That IS the church! That is the Ephesian 4 model in action! The very thing we were celebrating was happening as we celebrated.

How appropriate that as we celebrate fifteen years of God's grace to our church, the very grace that got us to this point was making the celebration happen! I believe that was the real story behind the story. It took a great team to pull of this signature day in the life of FredWes! The very thing that got us to that day also got us through that day and it is what will bring us to many more celebrations of grace!

While we appropriately honored our pastors, it reminded me that even great pastors like we have had can't get the job done without a team. It has been my observation over nearly 40 years of pastoral service in a variety of church cultures that gracious lay people do more to make a pastor great than a pastor does to make the church great. God's design is for His grace to flow through the pastors and leaders to the people and through the people to the world. That happened yesterday! That has happened to get us TO yesterday! As that continues to happen there will be many more celebrations!

October 4, 2009

"It was He who gave.......some to be pastors and teachers...." Ephesians 4:11

God used a pastor to changed my life. After God changed my life, He called me to be a pastor. He has used me to change some lives. A few of the lives that he has changed through me He has called to become pastors. I think pastors are important.

On this day we celebrate 15 years in the life of Fredericksburg Wesleyan Church. We will praise God for His goodness and faithfulness to the church. There is no question He is most worthy of the praise.

But we also want to thank and honor the pastors who God brought to lead this church, especially our Founding Pastor, Gerald Rodgers. Gerald and Brenda came to Fredericksburg with little more than a hope and a dream. They came in the power of Jesus to represent the love and power of Jesus to people who had not known Him. That sort of faith, vision and courage deserves to be celebrated. That's what we will do! God gets the glory, Pastor Gerald gets to bask in it!

And we honor Pastor Joe Horrell who was FWC's second pastor. He and his wife Shawn were hand-picked by Pastor Gerald to bring new energy and youthful enthusiasm to the community. God used them to transition the church to a slightly younger and more contemporary version of itself. But the passion for worship and the desire to see lives transformed was true to the founding vision of the church. God used this gifted couple to transform lives and train believers that strengthened the church. Today we will honor them for their commitment and faithfulness. God will get the glory and they will bask in it.

Pastors are important and FredWes has been blessed with good ones. God has been good to us! We honor Him as we honor them!

October 3, 2009

"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13

These few verses form the vision statement that the Apostle Paul had for the church in Ephesus. This church was to be God-powered, gift centered, and Gospel focused. That is a vision for a healthy church.

Vision is crucial for a local church. So, what is it

"Vision is the art of seeing the invisible." — Jonathan Swift

"Where there is no vision the people perish." — Proverbs 29:18

"Vision is a clear picture of a prefered future." - George Barna

Vision is the windshield of an organization. More than that it is the headlights that lead the way through the darkness ahead. Even more, it soon becomes the internal GPS that guides you through unfamiliar territory to get you where you want to go.

This week-end we are celebrating our 15th Anniversary at FredWes. It will be a grand occasion. We will honor our founding Pastor, Gerald Rodgers, who original vision launched the church and built it to a healthy functioning body. We will also honor our second pastor, Joe Horrell, who followed in the big footprints of Pastor Gerald and pumped some fresh energy and life into the body. Also, we will recognize key lay people who share the vision and carried the load.

We will look back and celebrate God's goodness and faithfulness. We will quantify the victories and praise God for transformed lives. We will share memories and celebrate relationships and friendships that have shaped us. All of these wonderul, blessed and healthy joys are the product of the original vision crafted by Pastor Gerald and implemented by those founding members of Fredericksburg Wesleyan Church.

Fifteen years ago there was little more than a leader and a vision. Today, there is a church with two congregations, FredWes and the Spanish congregation - The Family of God.

Vision is sweet and powerful, even when it is rearview vision! It is important to stop and reflect where a church and been and get a clear picture of where we are before we launch into a renewed vision.

So, this morning I pay tribute to my predecessors, Pastor Gerald and Pastor Joe, and to the courageous people who bought the vision and paid for with their finances, energy and prayers.

October 2, 2009

"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up." Ephesians 4:11-13

What would happen to a baseball team that was made up entirely of pitchers. How good would that team be? Unless those pitchers were so good that no one was able to hit their pitches or unless the pitchers were able to play other positions, that team would struggle. You need nine players playing to their strengths to have a winning team.

How about a football team with eleven linebackers? Linebackers are an important part of the team, but without a quarterback, or a running back, or wide receivers, or linemen or a tight end, you will not have an effective team.

A basketball team with five point guards would struggle to rebound and in some other aspects of the game. To compete a basketball team needs players skilled at all five positions.

Winning teams have players with different skill sets manning different positions for one common goal - to win. You might say they play together separately for a common purpose.

Paul writes to the Ephesians to remind them that God's plan for their church is to minister together differently, with each playing to their strengths. Those strengths are God-given abilities activated by the Holy Spirit. They are referred to as "spiritual gifts".

Scripture teaches that every believer has at least one spiritual gift. Most have several. It is those gifts that lead some "to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers".

That diversity of gifts functioning in unity under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is a big factor in developing an effective and healthy church.

Gifted living if God's gift to the church. Have you unwrapped your gifts?

October 1, 2009

"....so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:12b-13

I have a passionate love for healthy local churches because I believe they are the hope of the world. God's plan to evangelize the world and make disciples is impossible apart from healthy local churches.

I am the product of such a church. I have been privileged to serve in several healthy churches and witnessed the transforming power that resides there.

When I think about local churches I think of the tale about the little girl who had the curl in the middle of her forehead who, when she was good was very very good, but when she was bad she was horrid.

That has been my experience with local churches. When they are healthy and well led they can be very very good, but when they are unhealthy they can be horrid.

So, what does a healthy local church look like?

"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:11-16

For the next few posts I want to talk about the dynamics of a healthy church and cast a vision for such a church. These thoughts are taken from one who also had a consuming passion for the Church. He gave his life to the Church and for it. It was his ministry and vision that brought the church to the European Continent. This passionate apostle was the founder of this very church at Ephesus to which he writes this letter.

A healthy church has to be surrendered to Jesus and committed to serving Him because the Church is all about Him. He is the Lord of the Church.

You would think that goes without saying. The New Testament is crystal clear about who is the Lord, the life and the love of the Church. An yet, so many local churches end up lifeless and loveless. How can that be?

Take a few minutes to read and meditate on Ephesians 4:11-16. Think about how your church stacks up against Paul's description of a healthy church. One of the ways you try to protect your health is by having regular check ups. When was the last time your church had a check up?

September 30, 2009

"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate." Luke 15:22-24

I have enjoyed camping out in Luke 15 for this entire month. Thanks for joining me in this journey. Hopefully God has touched your heart a time or two.

At a men's retreat where I spoke last week-end I summarized Luke 15 this way: The Lost, The Lord, and Lavish Love. It seems like that says it pretty well. Those three themes are definitely illustrated through the parables.

Over the past few days I have been focusing on the lavish love of the father that was showered on the wayward son.

Lavish love was expressed through the robe of righteousness and the ring of authority.

Thirdly, lavish love was expressed through a pair of sandals. Sandals are the symbol of sonship, acceptance and freedom. Slaves and servants didn't wear sandals, sons did. Coming back with hopes of being hired as a servant, his sonship was restored. Hoping not to be censored he was instead, celebrated!

Lavish love extravagantly given! That is the snapshot of our Father that Jesus showed to the religious leaders who challenged Him.

It sure has helped me to stare at that snapshot and meditate on it! I hope it has encouraged you as well.

As much of a blessing that is, I want to focus on one more aspect of lavish love - the feast!

The ultimate purpose of the robe, the ring and the sandals was to allow the son to attend the feast in his honor!

When you receive the lavish love of the Father, there is a party held in your honor! And some day, there will be a great feast in the honor of the Father's Son, and those with the robe, the ring and the sandals get to attend!

Are you ready for the feast?

September 29, 2009

"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate." Luke 15:22-24

Receiving the lavish love of the Father is an amazing thing!

The wayward son had abused the love of his father before when he took the money and ran. Then he misused the money by wasting it on selfish pleasures. Now he was broke and broken. He was hoping that out of the lavish love there might be a little leftover love.

Shuffling wearily up the dusty road just before dusk, he heard a sound. Could that be footsteps? Looking up he saw someone coming at him in a full sprint. He wasn't sure if he should run away from this fast approaching stranger or run toward him. The confusion was short-lived as he soon realized it was his father! His father was running to him! And the next thing he knew he was firmly locked in the embrace of his father!

"Bring the robe!" the father shouted. The servant obeyed and it was draped around his shoulders covering his filthy stained clothes.

"The ring!" demanded the father. "I need the ring! Where is that ring?!"

A servant arrived carrying a silk bag. "The ring, my master!"

Grabbing the ring and pulling it from the bag, the father reached with his other hand to clutch the hand of his son. "Here! Take the ring! I place the ring on your finger and give you authority to transact business in my name!"

You heard that right! The father in his lavish love restored to the son the very same authority he had just misused. Rather than put him on probation or take him as a hired hand, the father restored his full standing as a son! How extravagant! What lavish love!

The ring contained the family seal. When a deal was struck in the interest of the family business, a contract was drawn up, folded and then sealed with wax. Then the family crest was pressed into the wax via the ring and the "deal was sealed".

Have you ever known love like that? Have you been blessed by lavish love? Have you ever completely blown it and felt so ashamed - and then been COMPLETELY restored no questions asked? Me neither.

Our Father has lavish love like that. He is extravagant! His love is unconditional and He longs to bestow it on you! When you take a few weary repentant steps toward Him He runs to you! And he comes carrying a robe and a ring!