What Shakespeare Knew

 

There is a tide in the affairs of men.

Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;

Omitted, all the voyage of their life

Is bound in shallows and in miseries.

On such a full sea are we now afloat,

And we must take the current when it serves,

Or lose our ventures.

Julius Caesar Act 4, scene 3, 218–224

The Awesome Responsibility: Thinking, Speaking, Acting in the Name of Jesus

 

Henri J.M. Nouwen (In the Name of Jesus, 1989 pp 65-68) says,

"…Most Christian leaders today raise psychological or sociological questions even though they frame them in scriptural terms. Real theological thinking, which is thinking with the mind of Christ, is hard to find in the practice of ministry. Without solid theological reflection, future leaders will be little more than pseudo-psychologists, pseudo-sociologists, pseudo-social workers. They will think of themselves as enablers, facilitators, role models, father or mother figures, big brothers or big sisters, and so on, and join the countless men and women who make a living by trying to help their fellow human beings to cope with the stresses and strains of everyday living.

"But that has little to do with Christian leadership because the Christian leader thinks, speaks, and acts in the name of Jesus, who came to free humanity from the power of death and open the way to eternal life. To be such a leader it is essential to be able to discern from moment to moment how God acts in human history. . .

". . . In short they have to say "no" to the secular world and proclaim in unambiguous terms that the incarnation of God's Word, through whom all things came into being, has made even the smallest even in human history into Kairos, that is an opportunity to be deeper led into the heart of Christ."

Learning about Church Planting Movements Part 7

How does this happen?

How do you get past 1st or 2nd generation??

The process of each week’s session – this is a TRAINING process

• First 1/3

  • pastoral care,

  • worship,

  • accountability (review and encourage),

  • Vision-casting

    • How did you obey the lesson last week?

    • Who are you sharing with? Who has believed?

    • When are you training them in the same process?

    • As trainers training trainers

• Second 1/3

  • New Lesson (enough biblical content to obey)

• Last 1/3

  • Practice & Prayer (Confidence to obey & train others and goal-setting with commissioning)

    • practice the lesson

      • it’s not what you know but what you actually do…

    • set goals and pray for them

 

Remember the Goal…

• Build a trainer, not just a listener…ask questions that get you the desired result: training trainers who train
• Don’t ask, just tell…

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The Four Calls:

There are 4 calls we should listen for daily…

• Up – from heaven

  • the call to go
  • Isaiah – who will go and whom shall I send?

• Down – from down below

  • Lazarus and the rich man
  • Relatives calling out from hell asking for a witness to give news…

• Outside

  • Paul’s Macedonian call
  • when I hear a spiritual call from an individual’s conversation

• Inside

  • listening to my own spirit that tells me where to go…

Learning about Church Planting Movements Part 6

Beginning the final day of drinking from the fire hose at the Globe (Missions) Network Summit in Germany… 

Whew! Just trying to listen, participate and type is pretty exhausting! So these notes are not comprehensive, but more what I can do in the midst of a lot of discussion, examples and introspection…

And – you know me – I’m reticent to make evangelism into a program that in any way dehumanizes or institutionalizes individuals.  Or that somehow makes them into objects or trophies.  Can’t stand that!  Just can’t stand that!  And I hope these notes don’t give the idea that that’s what we’re trying to do. No!  God forbid! Programs don’t impact people.  Love and concern impact people.  It’s about dying, lost people who have found life, reaching out to others to share that life!  This is about helping people experience the grace of God through Jesus Christ.  It’s not about cookie-cutter programs, but about principles and methods to disciple nations.  It’s about a biblical response to the world’s lostness.  And “lostness” is something we all know something about.  Losing our way.  Walking in a fog.  Living without purpose or direction – whether for a moment, a month or a lifetime.  Lostness.  And separated from the loving interaction of a Heavenly Father…

Anyway, here we go again….

We begin the day with worship and prayer.  Prayer and intercession especially for Libya and those who are caught/involved in the conflict in Benghazi.

We ask each other (in Chinese tradition), “Have you eaten? What has God fed you? How will you obey what God has told you?  Who will you tell?” And it’s interesting as we talk, how God continues to speak to each of us in quiet and intimate ways.  I’m reminded that Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me.”

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Practical Steps in CPM

CPM Best Practice – Training for Trainers (T4T)

Emphasis on training others so they will train others… 2TI 2:2

There are 4 questions that Prevent Christians

1. What do I say?

   • personal testimony – what God has done for you

2. Who do I say it to?

   • It’s God’s will for you to win your family
     • make a list of 5 people with whom you are to share
   • Biblical illustrations:
     • Noah,
     • Cornelius,
     • Rahab (offered salvation to her, but she insisted on having it for her family),
     • Lot (maybe if he’d have been a better witness he might not have lost his wife),
     • Philippian jailer,
     • Gaderine demoniac (sent home by Jesus to tell his family)

3. What makes you think I’ll do this?

   • Peer accountability – giving reports of what has been done
   • People do not meet expectations, they meet inspections.
   • Accountability is holding people accountable for what they said they would do in the way they said they would do it. Two kinds of airlines: those who crash and those who do not. The difference is inspections. Those who have inspections of the work done, don’t crash. Those airlines that rely only on the mechanics looking over their own work, crash. People don’t meet expectations, they only meet inspections.

4. What do I do if the say yes to Jesus?

1. teaching others how to hear, obey and follow

Presuppositions

1. There is a kind of person Jesus uses

   1. person of prayer
   2. person who hears the 4 calls
      1. up
      2. down
      3. outward
      4. inward
   3. who thanks God in all that comes
   4. person who see only 2 kinds of people –
      1. those who need evangelizing,
      2. those who need evangelism training

2. There are persons of peace scattered throughout society

   1. the only way to find them is to evangelize them

3. Everyone can participate in evangelism and CP but not everyone will do it…

   1. so train every Christian but continue with do-ers of the Word,not just hearers only

4. The most effective evangelism comes from someone who knows you and loves you

   1. it is God's plan for the good news to flow through families

5. Though everyone can participate in evangelism & church planting, some are uniquely gifted.

   1. these are called "Super-Spreaders"

Creating a CPM Ethos 

1. Just Do It!!
2. Church planting is not rocket science or brain surgery! (or even rocket surgery or brain science)
3. It is a great joy to win someone to Christ…
4. It is a greater joy to plant a church…
5. It is the greatest joy to train someone else to plant a church!

Learning about Church Planting Movements Part 5

In Most Church Planting Movements (where there is rapid multiplication of believers)

1. Insulation from traditional believers – to prevent meltdown…

   • traditional believers have traditions that might hinder growth
   • traditional believers have extra-biblical requirements
   • traditional believers have different values
     • often concerned for heresy… but heresy usually comes from those who are not involved in evangelism
   • What will you do to protect the new believers from the old believers??
     • limit foreign teams… who need translation
     • meet in different places…
     • confront those who would cause dissention or confusion
   • (often beginning something new is easier than attempting to bring renewal)

2. Persons of Peace

   • People, prepared by God, who are open to hearing the Gospel and who will take the Gospel to others in their Oikos or community (LUK 10:1-12).
   • Persons who function as bridges in the CP processes
   • Used to reach their own “oikos”
   • “They came; they brought their whole family.  We did not empower them.  They left.”
   • Can they be a Cyrus? And still be a Person of Peace?

3. High Cost for following Christ

   • we value that which is costly…
   • there is a high cost for fully following Jesus
   • we are commanded to pray for those who are persecuted

4. Bold fearless faith

   • Act 4:29-31 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

5. Family-based Conversion Patterns

   • “group them, then win them”
   • groups of people come to faith
   • patterns of group dynamics

6. Rapid training of new believers

   • “Before you put your head on the pillow, tell your closest people what has happen to you…”
   • How would you rapidly train new believers?
     • meet as often as possible… “When do we meet next?”
     • to keep accountable in basic – SOT
     • always meet in a group
     • pray together
     • who God is… what He’s done for them… what was attractive for you to come to Christ
     • time – not done rapidly – quells the fire
     • equip to tell their story and empowered to tell

7. worship in the heart language

   • believers desire to worship in the language of their heart

8. divine signs and wonders

   • When God shows up…

9. On-the-job Leadership Training

   • learn a little… do a little… learn a little… do a little…learn a little… do a little…

10. Missionaries suffered

    • Satan attacks “lostness” at a personal level
    • must have strong intercession
    • intense spiritual warfare…

Learning about Church Planting Movements Part 4

We continue to learn about patterns of Church Planting Movements…

Make Disciples of all Nations

What is the purpose of our lives?

MAT 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.  (NIV)

Why does God send us into the world?

MAT 9:36-38 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."  (NIV)

2PE 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  (NIV)

What does our Resurrected Lord call us to do?

MAT 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  (NIV)

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2TI 2:2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.  (NIV)

Learning about Church Planting Movements Part 3

Beginning the second full day of CPM training in Hamminkeln, Germany…

After a time of worship and prayer…

We begin by asking each other, “How has God fed you most recently?”  And then, “How will you obey?”  Germans, Americans, Kenyans, Scots asking each other the questions…

The disciples rejoined Jesus at the well and they asked “Have you eaten?”  And Jesus replied, “I have food that you don’t know about.”  

Genesis 11:31 - 12:3  Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran. The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."  (NIV)

Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.  (NIV)

Contrast between Terah – who set out for one place but stopped along the way – and Abram who became the Father of the Faithful. Often God tells us what we must leave behind before you can be effective. God spoke to Abram to leave behind:

• His country
  • some missionaries leave, but never “leave,” instead they create a “little home-country” to remain comfortable… comfort is the enemy of change
• His people
  • traditions and culture
  • leave room for new deep intimate relationships… if you remain attached to everyone back home (hours on internet, SKYPE, FaceBook with home folks) leaves little emotional energy for NEW relationships
  • developing new friendships is s Gospel thing
• His family
  • in Abram’s time it was the family that cared for you, defended you and provided for you
  • God was calling on Abram to shift his dependence to God from his family systems

God told Abram to follow Him and He would lead him to where God wants him to go.  It’s a matter of trust in a moment by moment relationship.  God promises blessings for those who bless Abram and curses for those who curse Abram.

We must always ask ourselves, are we still on track with God?  Have we left those hindering things behind as we move forward with God in His plan for us.

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Looking at Jesus’ commands for sending out others…

Matthew 10:1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.  (NIV)

Matthew 10:5-10 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.  (NIV)

Luke 9:1-6 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: "Take nothing for the journey – no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.  (NIV)

Luke 10:1-12 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. "When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.  (NIV)

From the instructions of Jesus…

Do’s

• Pray for harvesters
• go 2x2
• when you enter the house bring peace to the house
• stay in the house that welcomes you
• go to every town
• heal the sick, cast out demons
• look for a son of peace
• eat what’s in front of you
• preach the Kingdom
• shake the dust from your feet

Don’t

• don’t take purse, sandals
• don’t go from house to house
• don’t greet others
• warning and shake the dust
• go to Gentiles/Samaritans
• go needy and God will take care of you

Jesus gives very specific instructions to disciples (the 12, the 72)  Pray that God will raise up harvesters from the field.  Bring peace those who receive you – go prepared spiritually to call on God to demonstrate His power, love and compassion to solve whatever problem is found.

Jesus says to the disciples, when you don’t find the person of peace, move on. Often we spend too much time attempting to persuade those who are non-receptive to spend the time with those God has prepared.

When you find the Person of Peace, stop looking and moving around and stay with them.  Start modeling, assisting, watching and preparing to leave.

Acts 10… longest story in the Book of Acts: the story of Cornelius.  God prepares Cornelius and then prepares Peter.  (Working with persons of peace mean that you do not evangelize only single people but their families.)  When we go, God has already prepared people.  Our job is not to persuade, but to find those God has already prepared.

Jesus is interested in entire households and family groups not just in individuals.

Universal Issues:

• Person of peace – placed by God – is a universal aspect of church-planting where the Gospel isn’t.  God has prepared someone to receive the Gospel.
• Not everyone is called upon to be a church-planter. But everyone is called to make disciples.
• God intends that all people, all generations, all cultures to have a local expression of the Body of Christ.
• “Harvesters” bring to faith those who are in their spheres of influence.

It’s simple:  the intention is to start a church and you search for the man of peace, and if you do not find him either stay there and become the man of peace or move on and find the man of peace elsewhere. 

More later..