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!

September 28, 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

What do we get when we receive the lavish love of the Father? That is, in addition to the lavish love!

The first thing is the robe!

When the wayward son returned, the father called for the robe.

This son had been feeding pigs. In fact, more recently, he had been wrestling the pigs for food. I don't know if you have ever been near a pig pen, but it is not a place where you want to hang out. Growing up in hog country, I am very familiar with the smell of a hog farm. It is a very distinctive smell - or should I say diSTINK-TIVE? I would wonder if the father may have smelled the son coming before he saw him coming!

Needless to say, the son was ready for a change of clothes!

In addition to that, let's look at the significance of the robe.

Throughout Scripture, the robe is a symbol of righteousness. Righteousness means that we are made right with God. Being made right with God means that we are restored to right standing before God. It denotes a transformation in our moral nature. It shows that the guilt from our sins has been removed and the penalty of our sins have been satisfied.

For the son, this meant that he was better after he returned than he was before he ran away! Because of the lavish love of the father his post-pig days were going to be better than his pre-pig days!

Even better, the robe meant that the son would be admitted to the party. Trust me, you don't want to party with a person who comes straight from a pig pen. Talk about a party pooper, well........

Since the party was in his honor, it is good that he got to go in!

When you and I were connected to the lavish love of the Father, we got a robe! We were given the righteousness of Christ that cleansed us from the filth and stench of our sins and prepared us for the party! The robe enabled us to be in a right relationship with the Father and enjoy more of His lavish love! And as long as we have the robe, we have the connectionn with the Father and there will be plenty of parties to follow!

Have you put on the robe of righteousness? Are you rightly connected with the lavish love? Will you be prepared for the party?

September 27, 2009

"Now the tax collectors and 'sinners' were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Luke 15:1-2

So, do you?

Will you?

Do you have a plan?

Every believer should! So should every church!

What am I talking about?

I am talking about having a strategy and a plan for "welcoming sinners and eating with them"?

What are you doing to connect with lost people?

What is your church doing to make connect lost people with your church?

Are you building bridges to connect lost people to the lavish love of God or are you erecting barriers?

Two of the guys who have done it the best, like Jesus, have been subjected to severe criticism. Bill Hybels and Rick Warren have built churches with a ministry strategy to welcome sinners and connect them with the lavish love of God.

Over the past quarter of a century Willow Creek and Saddleback Churches have reached tens of thousands converts, developed tens of thousands of disciples, seen thousands called into ministry, sent millions of dollars to foreign missions and planted hundreds of healthy, growing local churches around the world.

Despite those massive footprints in Christian history, they have been accused of compromising and being shallow and selling out in order to get numbers. Most of the criticism comes from people who resemble the Pharisees and religious leaders, small minded people leading small ministries. They have managed to make "seeker sensitive" into a negative concept and built fellowships that are "seeker resistant".

As I have been camping out in Luke 15 this month, I have been reminded of how passionate Jesus is for reaching lost people. He came to show us how to connect lost people with the lavish love of the Father. That sounds a little "seeker sensitive" to me.

Given the choice of building a "holy huddle" populated by the saved, sancitified and satisfied, I'll take the criticism for daring to "welcome sinners". I'll take the heat from narrow-minded traditionalists who can't seperate the methods from the message.

I like the attitude of a young pastor friend of mine who once declared, "I'll do anything short of sin to reach lost people."

If the mindset of the Pharisees and religious leaders had prevailed and if Jesus had bowed to their criticism, I would still be "eating with sinners" - as a sinner.

What are you doing to "welcome sinners"? How sensitive are you to the lostness of people who haven't been connected with the lavish love of the Father? Are you building bridges or barriers?

As for me, at the Judgment I'll hope to stand in the line somewhere behind Bill and Rick - hopefully surrounded by a bunch of former sinners who were reached through my "seeker sensitivity".