At the NYMC Graham Stanton gave a workshop titled God's Big Story, is there a simple way to tell it.
He came to the conclusion that it was not easy to tell it with being biased to individualism or community focused.
The main thought i really have been thinking thru though was a premise he gave out.
What you are converted by is what you are converted to.
if you come to know Christ in a conservative Christian Church you will find it hard to fit into a Charismatic Christian Church. with the same in return.
We looked at 2 ways to live and in the analysis, even though it is good, it brings in a Christianity that is singular in focus. there is no mention of Community or family or commitments to them. when we use this 'format' we bring people to Christ and they 'sign up' then we tell them they now have to be part of a community of believers and they can get their feathers ruffled. 'this is not what i said yes to!'
We looked at another 'format' that an American dude called James Choung. He takes the call and response of two ways and takes it to the opposite extreme of community base.
Both have faults and both have positives but what has been niggling away in my mind has been the application of this premise to our ministry and for me towards Youth ministry. what youth are converted by is what they are converted to is true. if you have a youth group that is 'entertainment based and you transition over to discipleship based ministry then there will be a fall out. why because those who came for the games and to blow off steam on a friday night are not interested in learning about God in a way that means they have to 'sit still' on a friday night. not say they aren't Christians but I am saying that that they are converted to God because of the 'fun games'.
The question that comes next and i have not thought it thru, but i have an idea of the answer, is;
how does this reflect on the transition from teenage Christian to Adult Christian, is there a correlation here with the 'loss' of teenagers to the world and the means by which they are converted by.
As i think thru this premise it takes away some of the burden and responsibility i feel with my youth ministry which i took over 18 months ago. it was heavily entertainment based and i am transforming it to Discipleship based ministry. In the process there are a number that are walking away saying things like "Friday is blow off time, Friday is a time to mess around, etc" and We are lifting the bar of expectations and they are not interested because what they originally came for is not what is on offer any more. Yes i am saddened that they are walking away from God but i see that they were converted by the entertainment and found God thru that and therefore struggle to find God without that entertainment.
the struggle i see is that when we have a change in direction with ministry we need to find a way that will not alienate those who are converted by what we are moving from.
God Bless
Cameron
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
death
I have just had an acquaintance die in a motorcycle accident. Dave was an experienced rider and competed regularly in Iron Butt Challenges, literally lots of km's in short amounts of time. Unfortunately just hte other day riding across America in such an event he came across a deer and the deer won.
Why this note? it got me thinking about the way people have responded. R.I.P., He's on the last great ride, rest in peace, He's in a better place etc.......
I was reading this morning from John's Gospel and read ch3 v36 'Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, But whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." there are many other places in God's word that plainly and clearly state what happens after our earthly bodies end.
Choice 1 - We know Christ and therefore have eternal life
Choice 2 - We reject Christ and therefore have the Wrath of God for eternity.
So if choice 2 is taken then for people to respond with Rest in Peace, etc....., I feel bewildered and sad for them. the person who has died had a choice and the result if choice 2 is taken is so far from R.I.P. that it is not funny. eternal life with God's wrath is not some that will be peace full.
Choosing Christ will mean we can rest in His Peace. we will have that 'last great ride' (for those into motorcycling).
the hard part is how do we say things like this to people in times of grief as someone passes away? how can we Show them God's Love for them whilst they morn the lost of someone they loved? Yes the answer is 'with Love' but that is easy to say and hard to put in practice.
If you read this and you don't know Christ, take some time to think about what you are doing in life and what happens when it is over
God Bless
Cameron
Why this note? it got me thinking about the way people have responded. R.I.P., He's on the last great ride, rest in peace, He's in a better place etc.......
I was reading this morning from John's Gospel and read ch3 v36 'Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, But whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." there are many other places in God's word that plainly and clearly state what happens after our earthly bodies end.
Choice 1 - We know Christ and therefore have eternal life
Choice 2 - We reject Christ and therefore have the Wrath of God for eternity.
So if choice 2 is taken then for people to respond with Rest in Peace, etc....., I feel bewildered and sad for them. the person who has died had a choice and the result if choice 2 is taken is so far from R.I.P. that it is not funny. eternal life with God's wrath is not some that will be peace full.
Choosing Christ will mean we can rest in His Peace. we will have that 'last great ride' (for those into motorcycling).
the hard part is how do we say things like this to people in times of grief as someone passes away? how can we Show them God's Love for them whilst they morn the lost of someone they loved? Yes the answer is 'with Love' but that is easy to say and hard to put in practice.
If you read this and you don't know Christ, take some time to think about what you are doing in life and what happens when it is over
God Bless
Cameron
Mentoring
I went to the Men Meeting the Challenge conference on Saturday and was challenged about a number of things. it was a real pleasure to be there even thou it was a long day. do we have a Paul in our life? do we have a Barnabas in our life? and do we have a timothy in our life? was one question that was given to us. Paul - someone we are mentored by. more often than not someone that is older than us not just in age but in spiritualality. is there someone that keeps you accountable and helps you grow as a Christian? Barnabas - is there someone in your life that is about the same age as well as spiritual age that keeps you accountable and that you keep accountable? someone you can lean on to support you as you walk together in faith. Timothy - Is there someone who you are mentoring? someone younger than you both in Age and Spiritual walk. is there someone you are not just saying read your bible! Pray! but showing them how it is done? someone that you are encouraging to grow as a Christian as they start out in their faith? This is a simple model for a healthy growth as a Christian. If we are being feed we need to use that feeding to feed others, we need to encourage our peers to keep walking in faith by example. the other thing that i was challenged about which ties in here as well is: What Legacy are you leaving behind? Money? Houses? Friendship? Love? Christ's impact on your life? God bless Cameron
Thursday, March 19, 2009
picking up your cross?
In luke Jesus tells his disciples
Lk 9:23 Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me"
we were wondering how we could bring the term 'cross' to its full influence for today. The cross back then meant more than it does now. We then wanted posed the thought of what word could fit in for today.
We talked about the cross being a cruel and humiliating way to die. the thoughts of what the cross means today- it is glorified and has no real relevance to death any more. so when we hear pick up your cross daily has lost it's original hard meaning. what today would be a way to help people get to the true meaning in regards to the hardship and humiliation that it was for Jesus and the Jews. the thoughts of 'moving away from your 'comfort zone', maybe having to rent instead of being a home owner, having to leave your family. and the thoughts were left there.
well after 2 weeks of thought and further discussion we came to a thought that the Cross for Jesus was what he came for, it was his responsibility. He came to earth to do a job, that is die on the cross to pay the price of our sins. the final sacrifice. He had a choice in the matter, we see this when he is in the garden of Gethsemane when he prayed;
Lk 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup z from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
He took his responsibility that was placed on his shoulder and fulfilled it.
so when Jesus says to deny ourselves, pick up our cross daily and follow Him to day it would mean for us that we need to put our desires aside (deny ourselves) and take our responsibility that God has given us (picking up our Cross daily) and follow Him.
What is this responsibility? Love God and Love our neighbours as ourselves.
Lk 10:25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Lk 10:26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
Lk 10:27 He answered: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; r and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’’”
Lk 10:28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
so Daily we need to be loving God and if we are truly loving our neighbours then our lives will be different to those around us, we will be taking the opportunities to share the Gospel with those around us. taking up our Cross Daily!
re-written "Deny yourself, pick up your Responsibility daily and follow me.
God Bless
Lk 9:23 Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me"
we were wondering how we could bring the term 'cross' to its full influence for today. The cross back then meant more than it does now. We then wanted posed the thought of what word could fit in for today.
We talked about the cross being a cruel and humiliating way to die. the thoughts of what the cross means today- it is glorified and has no real relevance to death any more. so when we hear pick up your cross daily has lost it's original hard meaning. what today would be a way to help people get to the true meaning in regards to the hardship and humiliation that it was for Jesus and the Jews. the thoughts of 'moving away from your 'comfort zone', maybe having to rent instead of being a home owner, having to leave your family. and the thoughts were left there.
well after 2 weeks of thought and further discussion we came to a thought that the Cross for Jesus was what he came for, it was his responsibility. He came to earth to do a job, that is die on the cross to pay the price of our sins. the final sacrifice. He had a choice in the matter, we see this when he is in the garden of Gethsemane when he prayed;
Lk 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup z from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
He took his responsibility that was placed on his shoulder and fulfilled it.
so when Jesus says to deny ourselves, pick up our cross daily and follow Him to day it would mean for us that we need to put our desires aside (deny ourselves) and take our responsibility that God has given us (picking up our Cross daily) and follow Him.
What is this responsibility? Love God and Love our neighbours as ourselves.
Lk 10:25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Lk 10:26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
Lk 10:27 He answered: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; r and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’’”
Lk 10:28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
so Daily we need to be loving God and if we are truly loving our neighbours then our lives will be different to those around us, we will be taking the opportunities to share the Gospel with those around us. taking up our Cross Daily!
re-written "Deny yourself, pick up your Responsibility daily and follow me.
God Bless
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Basics in Ministry
I have been thinking about ministry models and the like over the last few weeks, in regard to reaching 'small' or reaching 'large' groupings first. if you are quick this comes in the thought of 'Funnel' ministry models or as some might say and upside down funnel where you start small and go large.
the general funnel method is pushed by many people and influential people at that. They talk about Jesus ministry and the fact that it started on a big scale then ended up with just Jesus on the cross
'We see this in the life of Christ - at the mass events there were thousands to hear and eat - only 70 were sent out, only 12 in his discipleship group, only 3 in the inner circle and only 1 at the cross.'
So we are encouraged to run mass events that will drawer in the crowds but when most do this they fail keep Jesus as the centre of the program. Jesus drew a crowd and he spoke of Commitment and sin and the need to repent. when we run large events to bring non christians to church we leave all that out. why? cause we don't want to offend and we think that by making it 'fun' they might come back. Jesus layed it on thick and fast, He never made it 'easy' for people to follow Him.
But when i read the gospel of Mark, Luke and John it talks about Jesus calling his disciples and working out from there. Matthew just goes into the beatitudes and does not seem to make much mention of the 'calling of the disciples'. this is in fact like an upside down funnel.
I guess my question comes back to the way they say that Jesus started out big and came down in numbers, what is their scriputural backing for this because as i read it it works the other way:
Jesus calls 12 - works with them, and has a tighter bunch of 3, and sends out 72, yes at His death there is on Himslef left, yes he preaches to the crowds but to what extent do we say they are part of His "followers"? He is asked questions and He does not give 'soft' answers he tells it straigh and even offends people. why in today are we so affraid of offending someone?
God Bless
the general funnel method is pushed by many people and influential people at that. They talk about Jesus ministry and the fact that it started on a big scale then ended up with just Jesus on the cross
'We see this in the life of Christ - at the mass events there were thousands to hear and eat - only 70 were sent out, only 12 in his discipleship group, only 3 in the inner circle and only 1 at the cross.'
So we are encouraged to run mass events that will drawer in the crowds but when most do this they fail keep Jesus as the centre of the program. Jesus drew a crowd and he spoke of Commitment and sin and the need to repent. when we run large events to bring non christians to church we leave all that out. why? cause we don't want to offend and we think that by making it 'fun' they might come back. Jesus layed it on thick and fast, He never made it 'easy' for people to follow Him.
But when i read the gospel of Mark, Luke and John it talks about Jesus calling his disciples and working out from there. Matthew just goes into the beatitudes and does not seem to make much mention of the 'calling of the disciples'. this is in fact like an upside down funnel.
I guess my question comes back to the way they say that Jesus started out big and came down in numbers, what is their scriputural backing for this because as i read it it works the other way:
Jesus calls 12 - works with them, and has a tighter bunch of 3, and sends out 72, yes at His death there is on Himslef left, yes he preaches to the crowds but to what extent do we say they are part of His "followers"? He is asked questions and He does not give 'soft' answers he tells it straigh and even offends people. why in today are we so affraid of offending someone?
God Bless
Monday, November 17, 2008
what do we have to do?
With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:6-8
Studying for an Old Testament exam and i found this passage in Micah. it grabbed my attention because it is still relevant today.
What can I do to get into Heaven? was the question being posed back then and it is still being posed today in various forms. burnt offerings? no, Thousands of Rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? no! sacrificing first born? No!
What does He require of us? To act Justly, Love mercy and walk Humbly with Him!
things really have not changed other than we now have the Empty tomb and a Risen Lord to walk Humbly with.
God Bless
Cameron
Studying for an Old Testament exam and i found this passage in Micah. it grabbed my attention because it is still relevant today.
What can I do to get into Heaven? was the question being posed back then and it is still being posed today in various forms. burnt offerings? no, Thousands of Rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? no! sacrificing first born? No!
What does He require of us? To act Justly, Love mercy and walk Humbly with Him!
things really have not changed other than we now have the Empty tomb and a Risen Lord to walk Humbly with.
God Bless
Cameron
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Radical Sacrific!
i have been challenged lately about how much we truly have to sacrifice to follow God in our Sydney culture. do we truly give Christ everything and rely on Him. I have been getting into John Piper lately and he has a sermon called 'the supremacy of Christ creates radical Sacrifice' (found at www.desiringgod.org). he is calling us to take a look at ourselves and challenges us to step outside our 'comfort zone'. Piper goes back to the Book of Hebrews and starts at ch10 and looks at the first hearers being encouraged to look back at what their life was like when they first came to Christ. they made radical sacrifices for Christ even to the point of having their possessions taken from them.
why did they allow this? Hebrews 10:34b "because you knew the you yourselves had better and lasting possessions." that being treasures in heaven not on earth. they were Radical Heavenly minded and had freed themsleves from 'stuff' their possessions, things of earthly value because they knew of their heavenly reward that would come at the end.
Piper also brings Christ to the front and picks up Hebrews 12:2 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God". Jesus gave the complete radical sacrifice! Death! He sacrificed His life for us.
What are we sacrificing for Him?
What do we hold onto tightly and not hand over to God? How frustrated do you get when you can't find your Ipod/mobile phone/ keys etc. we love our possessions, but are we prepared to give them up for Christ?
Are we willing to sell/give away everything to go where God calls us?
Are we willing to sacrifice our comfortable life style for the spreading of the Gospel?
Are we willing to stand up and say Yes I am a Christian even if it means we will lose 'friends'?
are we willing to Sacrifice our time to spend praying?
Are we prepared to be like Moses and stand for Christ knowing that it means suffering but doing it because we are looking ahead to the reward that God has promised us/
Are we ready to make Radical Sacrifices for Christ?
why did they allow this? Hebrews 10:34b "because you knew the you yourselves had better and lasting possessions." that being treasures in heaven not on earth. they were Radical Heavenly minded and had freed themsleves from 'stuff' their possessions, things of earthly value because they knew of their heavenly reward that would come at the end.
Piper also brings Christ to the front and picks up Hebrews 12:2 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God". Jesus gave the complete radical sacrifice! Death! He sacrificed His life for us.
What are we sacrificing for Him?
What do we hold onto tightly and not hand over to God? How frustrated do you get when you can't find your Ipod/mobile phone/ keys etc. we love our possessions, but are we prepared to give them up for Christ?
Are we willing to sell/give away everything to go where God calls us?
Are we willing to sacrifice our comfortable life style for the spreading of the Gospel?
Are we willing to stand up and say Yes I am a Christian even if it means we will lose 'friends'?
are we willing to Sacrifice our time to spend praying?
Are we prepared to be like Moses and stand for Christ knowing that it means suffering but doing it because we are looking ahead to the reward that God has promised us/
Are we ready to make Radical Sacrifices for Christ?
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