Earlier this week in the midst of celebration of Advent and preparing for the Christmas day activities, I received an email from our home church that one of our very good friends went into the hospital to have surgery. Because of some other medical conditions the surgery was a risk.. A couple of days and another email revealed that this person was not doing well. Sadly, this person passed away. Although as Christians we know that this person is far better off now, we are still saddened by the passing of our dear friend.
As I was reflecting on my friend I began thinking about the effect this must have been having on my former Sr. pastor. He was in the midst of replacing a staff person, preparing for messages, and all the others aspects of pastoral ministry. Yet, in an instant all that put to the side- to be at the side of a good friend who was dying as well as a being with this family losing of their father.
In ministry there are so many roles for the pastor. These roles include but not limited to: being a visionary to the congregation, being a comforter to the hurting, managing the administrative duties, challenging the staff, and even changing the daily agenda to go and be Jesus for a family who lost a loved one. At any point these various points can create a tension within the pastor to "be all things to all people." I have often wondered how my former Sr. pastor survives the tension. Looking back over the course of my time serving with him one thing that stands out to me are those times of prayer!
While prayer may seem to elementary or simplistic, it is the core of our connecting with God who gave us the abilities we have to be "all things to all people." My former pastor is a great example of a pastor who carries the challenges of pastoral ministry to the throne room of God and seeks the face of God for renewing and refocusing!
There between the mission of the church and mourning the loss of a friend or family member; prayer stands as the power of God poured out on us to face another day and fight another week.
Martin Luther once said “I have so much to do that I should spend the first three hours in prayer.” Prayer, the act by which we set our hearts and minds on the things of God, should not be the last act of a desperate soul. Rather, it should be the first response of someone who understands that strength is found in weakness (2 Cor 12:9–10).
Pastors and friends as we encounter the challenges of ministry may we have the power of God to realize when to set aside our agenda for the agenda God has. May God also grant us strength to be Jesus to the mourning among us! Most of all, may we find that place between the mission and mourning called prayer!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
The Church Where Time Stood Still
A few months ago I visited an old Methodist church that was in a little rural town surrounded by corn fields. This church was built in the early 1900's. Upon entering this building I was amazed to see the natural wood finish of the alters and the position of the sanctuary in relation to the class rooms. All of these details presented the idea that there were two main purposes to this facility. 1) This was a place where the gospel was central becasue of the placement and arrangement of the pulpit and the furniture. 2) This was a place where Sunday school was a dominant element because over a half of the facility was made up of class rooms.
At one time these elements and the people were undoubtedly a close comunity of believers.
Now, as I sat there taking in all the details of the sancutary, my eyes went to the clock hanging on the wall. A very old clock made of deep hard wood, a very amazing time-piece!
However, there was something very strange about this clock. It was not working. In fact, it had apparently stopped working at ten minutes before 11 o'clock.
As I sat there trying to take in the message, my mind was distracted by the non-functional clock.
Then trying to break my focus on the clock, I glanced to their current attendance records that hung on the wall. Their average attendance was 19. Now, I know that church is not about numbers, but on another wall there were pictures. These pictures showed better days for this local church. Pictures of hundreds of people gathered in front of this building back at the beginning of the ministries there, events, revivals, better days!
Somewhere along the way, this church lost numerous people. Where did they go? When I asked some of the members about the people of this church there was a fond remembrance of "the good ole days." Yet, there was not much said about the present ministries.
While there is not enough time to discuss the details of my visit, I have been thinking about the clock in that church. Was the clock a symbol? If so what did it mean? Was the church broken, dying, out of time? Afterall, the people spent a great deal of time remembering the better days.
I will leave that church in my prayers and in God's hands for it's not for me to say one way or another.
However, what about the church I'm involved with? Where are they in the midst of their life?
- Dr. Charles Arn states "First, it is important to realize that every church has a lifecycle. And every church—
including yours—is somewhere on its lifecycle. The lifecycle describes a local church’s
progression from infancy…to maturity…to death. Where you are on the lifecycle has a great
deal to do with your church’s ability to reach new people for Christ and assimilate them into
your church family. Churches well into their lifecycle find it increasingly difficult to mobilize
people and programs in pursuit of their mission."
Where is your church after considering this idea of lifecycle? Are there ways you could engage in conversation with your pastor, leaders, or others and explore your church's current postion in that cycle?
If it would help, you can check out the full article by Dr. Arn and read more throughly about church lifecycle and discover where your church is and how you can help.
It is my hope and prayer that this blog could be a place where ideas and conversations could happen regarding the church. I have been in those struggling churches that did not know what to do with the difficult days. It is not fun nor is it what God desires. God has a grand plan for the church to be a missional body of believers who are making an impact on the world. Sadly, many churches in the US are not living out the awesome potential. So, knowing where your church might be in their lifecycle might help develop a plan to refocus, reform, remold the ministries of your church.
And hopefully, you will not find yourself in the church where time stood still.
Read and be encouraged you can make a difference!
Dr. Arn's Attached File:
While there is not enough time to discuss the details of my visit, I have been thinking about the clock in that church. Was the clock a symbol? If so what did it mean? Was the church broken, dying, out of time? Afterall, the people spent a great deal of time remembering the better days.
I will leave that church in my prayers and in God's hands for it's not for me to say one way or another.
However, what about the church I'm involved with? Where are they in the midst of their life?
- Dr. Charles Arn states "First, it is important to realize that every church has a lifecycle. And every church—
including yours—is somewhere on its lifecycle. The lifecycle describes a local church’s
progression from infancy…to maturity…to death. Where you are on the lifecycle has a great
deal to do with your church’s ability to reach new people for Christ and assimilate them into
your church family. Churches well into their lifecycle find it increasingly difficult to mobilize
people and programs in pursuit of their mission."
Where is your church after considering this idea of lifecycle? Are there ways you could engage in conversation with your pastor, leaders, or others and explore your church's current postion in that cycle?
If it would help, you can check out the full article by Dr. Arn and read more throughly about church lifecycle and discover where your church is and how you can help.
It is my hope and prayer that this blog could be a place where ideas and conversations could happen regarding the church. I have been in those struggling churches that did not know what to do with the difficult days. It is not fun nor is it what God desires. God has a grand plan for the church to be a missional body of believers who are making an impact on the world. Sadly, many churches in the US are not living out the awesome potential. So, knowing where your church might be in their lifecycle might help develop a plan to refocus, reform, remold the ministries of your church.
And hopefully, you will not find yourself in the church where time stood still.
Read and be encouraged you can make a difference!
Dr. Arn's Attached File:
Friday, December 10, 2010
Missional God
I can only begin to imagine the conversations that must have been going on in Eternity. What did they say? How did they come to the decision that was made? Was it difficult? Was it a joyful decision? How would it feel sending your one and only son to be born, live, and die, only to be raised to life again? He left His throne above, He left His Father and did it willingly. He became a missionary to humanity bringing hope and salvation for all!
-Matthew 1:23 reads " Behold , the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means God with us." (NASB)
-Luke 2:7-11 reads "And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flocks by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.(NASB)As we read the biblical accounts from the the gospel writers about Jesus birth we can and should have great joy over the great love and great news of Jesus coming into our world.
The Gospel of John 1:14 reads "And the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." NASB
The conversation has now come to our world. What is the substance of our conversations? How do we respond to the news of Jesus? Are we rejoicing? Are we sharing the good news? Are we excited about God being with us!?
In this season of busy activity; buying gifts, gathering family and friends let us remember the best gift, let us imagine, let us have conversations about how Jesus was born! Let's read about the greatest missionary in the entire cosmos. Most of all let us be filled with joy for God is indeed with us- Immanuel our Missional God!
-Matthew 1:23 reads " Behold , the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means God with us." (NASB)
-Luke 2:7-11 reads "And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flocks by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.(NASB)As we read the biblical accounts from the the gospel writers about Jesus birth we can and should have great joy over the great love and great news of Jesus coming into our world.
The Gospel of John 1:14 reads "And the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." NASB
The conversation has now come to our world. What is the substance of our conversations? How do we respond to the news of Jesus? Are we rejoicing? Are we sharing the good news? Are we excited about God being with us!?
In this season of busy activity; buying gifts, gathering family and friends let us remember the best gift, let us imagine, let us have conversations about how Jesus was born! Let's read about the greatest missionary in the entire cosmos. Most of all let us be filled with joy for God is indeed with us- Immanuel our Missional God!
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