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

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

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?

cycles

I was teaching scripture today and we are working thru some of the Old Testament and how there is a cycle the runs thru it with the Israelite nation.

Disobedience

Judgement

Cry out for Help

Rescue

Peace

this cycle goes round and round and God is faithful every time they call out for Help. When they have done nothing to deserve His love He shows them unconditional love.
Reflecting over this, this arvo, i can see we do this today! When things are going well we try live for ourselves (disobedience to God) then judgment comes along and life gets hard and we struggle to the point of seeing our failure and cry out for Help.
God, being Faithful as He is, comes along and gives us what we need to get out of the hole, and we go into times of 'peace' and then we go back to doing it on our own strength. The cycle begins again!

I truly believe God will one day say enough is enough and call the world to an end. were are we going to be standing at that time?

What is your Heart Focused on?

This is note a whinge or a 'bashing' of any of the programs that are running or about to run. So don't read this note with that sitting at the back of your mind.

Q. how many people do you know that are non- Christians? hopefully there is a number especially if you are not in fultime Christian ministry.
Q. how many groups or organizations are you part of?
Q. do you know your Neighbours?
these are ll questions that these programs are asking and wanting to promote activity in. this is a good thing. they want us to go into our community and talk about our faith.
Q. what is you main topic of conversation at the moment?
Q. What is your focus in life?
Why do i ask these Questions? well about 10 years ago my focus in life revolved around cars. I read about cars, i worked on cars, i watched cars in racing, I talked cars with mates. If you asked someone what my life revolved around they would say Cars.

I went to a Mens conference a few months ago and the speaker was talking about promoting the Gospel (some might say evangelism, pre- evangelism). He talked about the fact that there was so many "programs" "training sessions" to help us tell the gospel and talk to others about Jesus. the speaker made the point that it did not make any difference to us if our heart was not focused on God. As I said, 10 years ago all i talked was cars, today i want to talk about Jesus, not because i am paid to as a Minister but because that is the focus of my heart. Talking about cars came easy to me back then because i was passionate about it, today i naturally want to talk about Jesus because it comes naturally.
if our churches took Jesus seriously and had Him as our focus then 'connect 09' would not need to be run. the money could be spent elsewhere.

I believe that unless we have a heart attitude change then 'connect 09' won't be the success that it could be.

Take notice of the conversations you have with your christian friends. think of what they are focused on and see if there is a balanced view with Christ and the world. If the balance is not leaning to God then we need to adjust it.

Jesus called the disciples to follow Him. they stopped talking about Fishing and started Talking about Jesus. they were Fishermen focused on catching fish, they became men that focused on catching people to Jesus. I am sure their conversations did not always focus on Jesus but the heart change would have been evident through their conversation.
Knowing Jesus changed their lives from the heart. Has He truly changed our hearts? those Christians that God has blessed us with to minister to have they allowed Jesus to truly change their hearts.

We need to get the focus of our hearts right before we head into any 'outreach program'.
what our heart focus is what naturally comes out of mouth. what is coming out of yours?