Building Relationships

Church planting involves building lots of relationships: some with people who believe like I do, others with people who believe differently, and some still with those who don't believe at all.

Why is this important? From my point of view, it relates to having faith in God's power and in His plan. He is at work in the world building His church and...this may shock some of my friends: he hasn't told me all the details yet.

As a result, I believe that every person I meet has some role to play (even if its small) in the work of the Gospel ministry God has called me to do.

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Stories & the Gospel

Its becoming more clear to me that salvation involves the idea of story, the principle of "story."

First of all, the Bible is a story of redemption--it is more than this, but it is not less.

Second, my life is a story written by the "author and perfector of my salvation," Jesus Christ, who is Himself, the Word Made Flesh (John 1:1, 14).

Third, because of Jesus' perfect life, death, and resurrection, my story has miraculously changed from one with a tragic ending (for me) to one that ends with rejoicing: he took my place as condemned on the cross that I might have eternal life.

All these elements combine to show the importance--and danger of neglecting, I think--the form of "story" in thinking about theology.

This is an extension of what I've come to appreciate from a pastor in grad school, and seminary professor, John Frame, taught about triperspectivalism.

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Eternity in Their Hearts

There is a famous text in the book of Ecclesiastes that captures an important thought about worship. It reads, in part, "He has set eternity in their hearts."

This teaches some basic truths. First, that people are made for worship like they are made for breathing or seeing. It is part of our created reality TO WORSHIP.

Second, since "eternity" as a concept, desire, or longing is imbedded in the minds and souls of people, it doesn't matter if a person admits or confesses a faith in Eternal Life, and "life after death," and the significance of worshipping the God of Eternity. Their subjective belief in this principle doesn't change its reality.

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Generosity and Our Financial Times

I've noticed that financial seminars, debt counselors, and money planning services are very popular today. Have you?

I think its a sign of "our financial times"--that money issues, and debt, and struggles in our current economy, have exposed many of our poor spending and saving habits. (Yes I did say "our".)

In this article by David Brooks, he talks about how a needed financial/fiscal revival cuts across all political lines. I agree.

Reading Brooks' piece, I reflected how my financial values were acquired. 

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Mistakes in Church Planting

Steve Childers posts an excellent article on mistakes in church planting. Here are two great quotes:

Oswald Chamber wrote, “God can achieve his purpose either through the absence of human power and resources, or the abandonment of reliance on them. All through history God has chosen and used nobodies, because their unusual dependence on him made possible the unique display of his power and grace. He chose and used somebodies only when they renounced dependence on their natural abilities and resources.”

[L]earn to find your true sense of personal worth and joy in the Good News of God’s radical love for you in Christ. Define your success in ministry as “faithfully pleasing God with the resources and responsibilities that He has given you”. Make the primary focus of your ministry things like faithfulness, humility, love and relationships. Then leave the results of your ministry to God.

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