Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win. – 1 Corinthians 9:24
Football season is upon us. It strikes me that football provides a good analogy for the spiritual contest between the church and the devil. In football it’s all about winning, through offense, defense and special teams. In church it’s all about H.I.M.: Hosting God’s presence, Imitating Jesus, and Making him known.
We know how a team moves the ball and scores in football. Here’s how the church moves the ball and scores in our spiritual battle.
Hosting God’s presence
• The church moves the ball every time we give more weight to what God wants in worship than to our own desires.
• The church moves the ball every time we give more weight to what will be attractive to those who need to find God than to those of us who already know him.
• The church moves the ball when our gatherings are as diverse as our community.
• The devil throws the church for a loss when we argue or complain about how we worship.
• The devil throws the church for a loss when people in the community say, “Those folks aren’t like me, I’m not sure I’d be comfortable there.”
• The devil throws the church for a loss if church services or other gatherings can be perceived as boring or artificial or self-serving or human-centered.
• When new folks say, “Wow, I felt God there,” that’s a touchdown!
Imitating Jesus
• The church moves the ball when a Christian imitates the character of Jesus through the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control (Galatians 5:22-23).
• The church moves the ball when a Christian imitates the wisdom and God-consciousness of Jesus through hearing and following the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14).
• The church moves the ball when a Christian imitates the power of Jesus in praying for people to receive a miraculous touch from God (John 14:12; Mark 16:17-18).
• The church moves the ball every time a Christian tries something new for God.
• The church makes a big play when a Christian finds his or her fit in God’s plan.
• The devil throws the church for a loss every time Christians allows fear or doubt to laziness to keep them from doing any of these things.
• The devil scores big if a Christian says or does anything that a non-Christian knows isn’t right, so they say, “See, I knew it, all Christians are hypocrites.”
• When a non-Christian notices a Christian acting like Jesus, that’s a touchdown!
Making him known
• The church moves the ball every time a Christian develops a genuine caring relationship with another person.
• The church moves the ball every time a Christian invites a new person to Jesus or a church activity.
• The church moves the ball big every time a Christian gains new skill or confidence in helping others know Jesus or grow in Jesus.
• The devil throws the church for a loss whenever a Christian is afraid to try something new.
• The devil throws the church for a loss whenever he keeps a Christian from doing any of the things mentioned above.
• The devil throws the church for a loss whenever he convinces people that only “trained professionals” or highly unusual volunteers can do all these things.
• When a Christian helps someone find his or her fit in God’s plan, that’s a touchdown!
Winning the game
• The devil will win if the church ever becomes so ingrown and self-centered that we stop doing the new things that are needed to attract and keep new people, because if that happens we will gradually shrink away into irrelevancy and, eventually, disappear altogether.
• The church wins the game when we keep reaching new people and helping them do the things that move the ball on the devil.
• If we can ever reach the place where ordinary everyday church folks are starting up groups that help new people know Jesus, in their homes or workplaces or schools or wherever, that’s winning the Super Bowl!
• And if those new people turn around and start their own new groups that reach even more new people, that’s a dynasty! And that’s what God had in mind when he created this team.
A football team wins by constantly practicing the fundamentals. A church is the same way. Come to practice every Sunday, so you can be prepared to go out and win the game!
Blessings,
“Coach” David
About Me
- Pastor David
- I serve as pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Annapolis, MD. I'm married to beautiful Paula, mother of my 4 sons and one daughter. I was a systems engineer before entering ministry 29 years ago.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
How to Put On the Armor of God
I've been preaching a sermon series called The Greater One, which talks in practical terms about how to make real in our lives the fact that the one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4). The audio for the 5-part series can be found on the website trinityannapolis.org.
As part of the most recent installment, on the armor of God, I prayed an example prayer of how I put on the armor of God. Several people asked for copies of that prayer. So for those who might be interested, I post it here.
Here’s how I pray it, based on Ephesians 6:10-19:
Lord God, thank you for your presence with me this day. As I prepare for the day, I put on the whole armor of God, according to the Bible.
I put on the belt of truth, that I may not deceive nor be deceived, nor deceive myself, but know the truth to be set free by it, and speak the truth in love to set others free.
I put on the breastplate of righteousness, that everything I say and do and think and feel may be righteous in your sight, O Lord.
I put on the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace, that I may be prepared for whatever happens to go in peace, stand in peace, and spread the gospel of peace in peace. Let me be prepared spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, and logistically. Let me make preparation a priority, and give me foresight to prepare.
I take the shield of faith, that I may quench the flaming arrows of the enemy. Give me discernment to recognize them and their source, wisdom to deal with them, faith to quench their flames and deflect their points, and faith to stand and to go in peace. Give me faith to believe all you have for me to believe - all the promises of the child of God, and faith to believe for miracles and healings; faith for all you have for me to receive - blessings and favor and fruitfulness and health and long life and abundance and love and friends; and faith to do all you have called me to do.
I take the helmet of salvation, that I may have the mind of Christ and the holy boldness that comes from knowing that I'm saved. Lord, give me your thoughts, your ideas, your attitudes, your feelings and emotions and responses, your creativity, inspiration, priorities, disciplines, wisdom, compassion, insight, foresight, understanding, perseverance, leadership skills, prayer skills, miracle skills, people skills, management skills, family skills, communication skills, everything I need to do what you have called me to do.
I take the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Please give me a growing love for your word, an ability to read it and understand it and apply it and obey it and teach it and convey it and impart this to others.
Help me pray at all times in the Spirit, that I may remain in constant communication with you. Please open my spiritual eyes, that I may see in the spirit realm. I want to see you, see what is happening and what you are doing so I can fall in line with it, see dreams and visions, see people as you see them, including myself. Open my ears to hear your voice, so I can speak your word and follow your guidance. Let me know your will and your way with clarity, accuracy, confidence and timely obedience.
Lord, I offer myself for whatever you have for me this day. Thank you that you are always with me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Pray this every day and I guarantee it will change your life!
As part of the most recent installment, on the armor of God, I prayed an example prayer of how I put on the armor of God. Several people asked for copies of that prayer. So for those who might be interested, I post it here.
Here’s how I pray it, based on Ephesians 6:10-19:
Lord God, thank you for your presence with me this day. As I prepare for the day, I put on the whole armor of God, according to the Bible.
I put on the belt of truth, that I may not deceive nor be deceived, nor deceive myself, but know the truth to be set free by it, and speak the truth in love to set others free.
I put on the breastplate of righteousness, that everything I say and do and think and feel may be righteous in your sight, O Lord.
I put on the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace, that I may be prepared for whatever happens to go in peace, stand in peace, and spread the gospel of peace in peace. Let me be prepared spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, and logistically. Let me make preparation a priority, and give me foresight to prepare.
I take the shield of faith, that I may quench the flaming arrows of the enemy. Give me discernment to recognize them and their source, wisdom to deal with them, faith to quench their flames and deflect their points, and faith to stand and to go in peace. Give me faith to believe all you have for me to believe - all the promises of the child of God, and faith to believe for miracles and healings; faith for all you have for me to receive - blessings and favor and fruitfulness and health and long life and abundance and love and friends; and faith to do all you have called me to do.
I take the helmet of salvation, that I may have the mind of Christ and the holy boldness that comes from knowing that I'm saved. Lord, give me your thoughts, your ideas, your attitudes, your feelings and emotions and responses, your creativity, inspiration, priorities, disciplines, wisdom, compassion, insight, foresight, understanding, perseverance, leadership skills, prayer skills, miracle skills, people skills, management skills, family skills, communication skills, everything I need to do what you have called me to do.
I take the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Please give me a growing love for your word, an ability to read it and understand it and apply it and obey it and teach it and convey it and impart this to others.
Help me pray at all times in the Spirit, that I may remain in constant communication with you. Please open my spiritual eyes, that I may see in the spirit realm. I want to see you, see what is happening and what you are doing so I can fall in line with it, see dreams and visions, see people as you see them, including myself. Open my ears to hear your voice, so I can speak your word and follow your guidance. Let me know your will and your way with clarity, accuracy, confidence and timely obedience.
Lord, I offer myself for whatever you have for me this day. Thank you that you are always with me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Pray this every day and I guarantee it will change your life!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Dream On!
Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. – Ephesians 3:20
God’s church, which is the body of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit, has been working on this earth for just short of 2000 years. So why hasn’t the message of Christianity been spread and demonstrated and accepted in every corner of the globe long before now? I’m sure there are many factors, but I’m convinced that one of the major reasons is something that may surprise you.
Lack of faith? That’s certainly a problem – few Christians take the time and effort to build and use the faith God gave each of us. Lack of prayer? If anything is more important than what I have in mind, prayer would be it. But I’m thinking of something else.
Perhaps the biggest reason the church has not reached its potential, perhaps the biggest reason most Christians never reach their potential, is the failure to do one simple thing: dream.
Moses dreamed of delivering his people from slavery. Nehemiah dreamed of rebuilding the demolished city of Jerusalem. Esther dreamed of saving her people from genocide. Paul dreamed of spreading Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.
What would have happened if they never had those dreams? What would have happened if they never followed through on them?
I want you to especially notice one thing, because this is the part that surprised me when I realized it. None of those were things that God specifically told them to do. Moses, Nehemiah, Esther and Paul dreamed up those things by themselves.
I’m not saying that God was opposed to what they did. In fact, God wanted those dreams to be fulfilled. My point is that those four, and countless others throughout history, didn’t just sit around waiting for God to tap them on the shoulder. They were close enough to God that they would not dream of doing things for selfish reasons or against God’s will. But they were free enough to follow their dreams.
(Yes, I know God appeared to Moses in a burning bush, but that was after Moses already tried to rescue his people in his own power. I know God called Paul to be a missionary, but it seems that it was pretty much up to Paul where he went – only once is it recorded that he was called to a specific place. There is no indication of any kind of divine commissioning for Nehemiah and Esther.)
Jesus said, “I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends” (John 15:15). God doesn’t want you to think of working for him, like an employee. God wants you to think of working with him, like a friend.
In other words, don’t sit around waiting for God to say, “Go do this job for me.” Instead, God says, “I have all kinds of important projects going on. I’m educating children. I’m fighting hunger and poverty and disease. I’m importing some of the beauty of heaven to earth, in art and music and craftsmanship. I’m expanding freedom and justice. I’m rescuing and protecting and defending people. I’m making goods and services available to make people’s lives easier. I’m doing all kinds of things, all over the world. I’d love to have you work with me. What sounds interesting?”
One of the great characteristics of God is that God is creative. God made you in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). That means God made you creative. Creativity starts with a dream. So dream!
I believe one of the main jobs of a church, and of a pastor in particular, is to encourage and help the people of God to dream God-size dreams and then carry them out. We have not always done a good job of that, and the world is the worse for it. But it’s never too late to start.
What is your dream?
Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” You can never dream bigger than God can fulfill. You may not get to see it through to completion – somebody said, “The only things worth doing take more than a lifetime.” But if you don’t get it started, who will?
Dreaming with you for God’s kingdom,
David
God’s church, which is the body of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit, has been working on this earth for just short of 2000 years. So why hasn’t the message of Christianity been spread and demonstrated and accepted in every corner of the globe long before now? I’m sure there are many factors, but I’m convinced that one of the major reasons is something that may surprise you.
Lack of faith? That’s certainly a problem – few Christians take the time and effort to build and use the faith God gave each of us. Lack of prayer? If anything is more important than what I have in mind, prayer would be it. But I’m thinking of something else.
Perhaps the biggest reason the church has not reached its potential, perhaps the biggest reason most Christians never reach their potential, is the failure to do one simple thing: dream.
Moses dreamed of delivering his people from slavery. Nehemiah dreamed of rebuilding the demolished city of Jerusalem. Esther dreamed of saving her people from genocide. Paul dreamed of spreading Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.
What would have happened if they never had those dreams? What would have happened if they never followed through on them?
I want you to especially notice one thing, because this is the part that surprised me when I realized it. None of those were things that God specifically told them to do. Moses, Nehemiah, Esther and Paul dreamed up those things by themselves.
I’m not saying that God was opposed to what they did. In fact, God wanted those dreams to be fulfilled. My point is that those four, and countless others throughout history, didn’t just sit around waiting for God to tap them on the shoulder. They were close enough to God that they would not dream of doing things for selfish reasons or against God’s will. But they were free enough to follow their dreams.
(Yes, I know God appeared to Moses in a burning bush, but that was after Moses already tried to rescue his people in his own power. I know God called Paul to be a missionary, but it seems that it was pretty much up to Paul where he went – only once is it recorded that he was called to a specific place. There is no indication of any kind of divine commissioning for Nehemiah and Esther.)
Jesus said, “I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends” (John 15:15). God doesn’t want you to think of working for him, like an employee. God wants you to think of working with him, like a friend.
In other words, don’t sit around waiting for God to say, “Go do this job for me.” Instead, God says, “I have all kinds of important projects going on. I’m educating children. I’m fighting hunger and poverty and disease. I’m importing some of the beauty of heaven to earth, in art and music and craftsmanship. I’m expanding freedom and justice. I’m rescuing and protecting and defending people. I’m making goods and services available to make people’s lives easier. I’m doing all kinds of things, all over the world. I’d love to have you work with me. What sounds interesting?”
One of the great characteristics of God is that God is creative. God made you in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). That means God made you creative. Creativity starts with a dream. So dream!
I believe one of the main jobs of a church, and of a pastor in particular, is to encourage and help the people of God to dream God-size dreams and then carry them out. We have not always done a good job of that, and the world is the worse for it. But it’s never too late to start.
What is your dream?
Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” You can never dream bigger than God can fulfill. You may not get to see it through to completion – somebody said, “The only things worth doing take more than a lifetime.” But if you don’t get it started, who will?
Dreaming with you for God’s kingdom,
David
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Dream On!
Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. – Ephesians 3:20
God’s church, which is the body of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit, has been working on this earth for just short of 2000 years. So why hasn’t the message of Christianity been spread and demonstrated and accepted in every corner of the globe long before now? I’m sure there are many factors, but I’m convinced that one of the major reasons is something that may surprise you.
Lack of faith? That’s certainly a problem – few Christians take the time and effort to build and use the faith God gave each of us. Lack of prayer? If anything is more important than what I have in mind, prayer would be it. But I’m thinking of something else.
Perhaps the biggest reason the church has not reached its potential, perhaps the biggest reason most Christians never reach their potential, is the failure to do one simple thing: dream.
Moses dreamed of delivering his people from slavery. Nehemiah dreamed of rebuilding the demolished city of Jerusalem. Esther dreamed of saving her people from genocide. Paul dreamed of spreading Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.
What would have happened if they never had those dreams? What would have happened if they never followed through on them?
I want you to especially notice one thing, because this is the part that surprised me when I realized it. None of those were things that God specifically told them to do. Moses, Nehemiah, Esther and Paul dreamed up those things by themselves.
I’m not saying that God was opposed to what they did. In fact, God wanted those dreams to be fulfilled. My point is that those four, and countless others throughout history, didn’t just sit around waiting for God to tap them on the shoulder. They were close enough to God that they would not dream of doing things for selfish reasons or against God’s will. But they were free enough to follow their dreams.
(Yes, I know God appeared to Moses in a burning bush, but that was after Moses already tried to rescue his people in his own power. I know God called Paul to be a missionary, but it seems that it was pretty much up to Paul where he went – only once is it recorded that he was called to a specific place. There is no indication of any kind of divine commissioning for Nehemiah and Esther.)
Jesus said, “I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends” (John 15:15). God doesn’t want you to think of working for him, like an employee. God wants you to think of working with him, like a friend.
In other words, don’t sit around waiting for God to say, “Go do this job for me.” Instead, God says, “I have all kinds of important projects going on. I’m educating children. I’m fighting hunger and poverty and disease. I’m importing some of the beauty of heaven to earth, in art and music and craftsmanship. I’m expanding freedom and justice. I’m rescuing and protecting and defending people. I’m making goods and services available to make people’s lives easier. I’m doing all kinds of things, all over the world. I’d love to have you work with me. What sounds interesting?”
One of the great characteristics of God is that God is creative. God made you in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). That means God made you creative. Creativity starts with a dream. So dream!
I believe one of the main jobs of a church, and of a pastor in particular, is to encourage and help the people of God to dream God-size dreams and then carry them out. We have not always done a good job of that, and the world is the worse for it. But it’s never too late to start.
What is your dream?
Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” You can never dream bigger than God can fulfill. You may not get to see it through to completion – somebody said, “The only things worth doing take more than a lifetime.” But if you don’t get it started, who will?
Dreaming with you for God’s kingdom,
David
God’s church, which is the body of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit, has been working on this earth for just short of 2000 years. So why hasn’t the message of Christianity been spread and demonstrated and accepted in every corner of the globe long before now? I’m sure there are many factors, but I’m convinced that one of the major reasons is something that may surprise you.
Lack of faith? That’s certainly a problem – few Christians take the time and effort to build and use the faith God gave each of us. Lack of prayer? If anything is more important than what I have in mind, prayer would be it. But I’m thinking of something else.
Perhaps the biggest reason the church has not reached its potential, perhaps the biggest reason most Christians never reach their potential, is the failure to do one simple thing: dream.
Moses dreamed of delivering his people from slavery. Nehemiah dreamed of rebuilding the demolished city of Jerusalem. Esther dreamed of saving her people from genocide. Paul dreamed of spreading Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.
What would have happened if they never had those dreams? What would have happened if they never followed through on them?
I want you to especially notice one thing, because this is the part that surprised me when I realized it. None of those were things that God specifically told them to do. Moses, Nehemiah, Esther and Paul dreamed up those things by themselves.
I’m not saying that God was opposed to what they did. In fact, God wanted those dreams to be fulfilled. My point is that those four, and countless others throughout history, didn’t just sit around waiting for God to tap them on the shoulder. They were close enough to God that they would not dream of doing things for selfish reasons or against God’s will. But they were free enough to follow their dreams.
(Yes, I know God appeared to Moses in a burning bush, but that was after Moses already tried to rescue his people in his own power. I know God called Paul to be a missionary, but it seems that it was pretty much up to Paul where he went – only once is it recorded that he was called to a specific place. There is no indication of any kind of divine commissioning for Nehemiah and Esther.)
Jesus said, “I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends” (John 15:15). God doesn’t want you to think of working for him, like an employee. God wants you to think of working with him, like a friend.
In other words, don’t sit around waiting for God to say, “Go do this job for me.” Instead, God says, “I have all kinds of important projects going on. I’m educating children. I’m fighting hunger and poverty and disease. I’m importing some of the beauty of heaven to earth, in art and music and craftsmanship. I’m expanding freedom and justice. I’m rescuing and protecting and defending people. I’m making goods and services available to make people’s lives easier. I’m doing all kinds of things, all over the world. I’d love to have you work with me. What sounds interesting?”
One of the great characteristics of God is that God is creative. God made you in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). That means God made you creative. Creativity starts with a dream. So dream!
I believe one of the main jobs of a church, and of a pastor in particular, is to encourage and help the people of God to dream God-size dreams and then carry them out. We have not always done a good job of that, and the world is the worse for it. But it’s never too late to start.
What is your dream?
Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” You can never dream bigger than God can fulfill. You may not get to see it through to completion – somebody said, “The only things worth doing take more than a lifetime.” But if you don’t get it started, who will?
Dreaming with you for God’s kingdom,
David
Friday, March 4, 2011
Getting Unfrazzled
We often hear that we shouldn’t be part of this rush-rush society we live in. In fact, many doctors are telling us that the stress of constant busy-ness is downright unhealthy. But isn’t that the way the modern world works? Is there really anything we can do about it?
God had an idea we might run into this kind of thing. That's why he told us - no, commanded us - to take one day out of seven just to relax. It’s number four in the Ten Commandments: “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days a week are set apart for your daily duties and regular work, but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God.” (Exodus 20:8-10).
Personally, as somebody who works on Sunday, I define “Sabbath” as whatever rest day works for me – as long as I get one every seven days. And I define “work” as anything I have to do, and “rest” as anything I want to do that makes me feel relaxed, restored or rejuvenated.
I love the story of when Jesus was told that his friend Lazarus was on his death bed. Jesus didn't automatically rush back and heal him. Instead he asked God what to do about it. God told him to take his time. When Jesus did get back there (four days late by most people's estimation) the miracle was even bigger. And Jesus wasn't frazzled.
The other part of it is to be sure we don’t try to cram too much into the other six days. Some of us just need to learn to say “no.”
But then, what if we wind up with not enough to do? We sure don’t want to be bored. I find the middle ground is to not overbook appointments or things with deadlines, so I don't get frazzled, but always keep a project going so I have something to do if boredom threatens.
The big thing is that God knows how much you can do in 24 hours, including the necessary rest and personal care, and he doesn't expect you to do more than that. The key is differentiating between God’s expectations and people’s expectations – including our own.
God had an idea we might run into this kind of thing. That's why he told us - no, commanded us - to take one day out of seven just to relax. It’s number four in the Ten Commandments: “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days a week are set apart for your daily duties and regular work, but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God.” (Exodus 20:8-10).
Personally, as somebody who works on Sunday, I define “Sabbath” as whatever rest day works for me – as long as I get one every seven days. And I define “work” as anything I have to do, and “rest” as anything I want to do that makes me feel relaxed, restored or rejuvenated.
I love the story of when Jesus was told that his friend Lazarus was on his death bed. Jesus didn't automatically rush back and heal him. Instead he asked God what to do about it. God told him to take his time. When Jesus did get back there (four days late by most people's estimation) the miracle was even bigger. And Jesus wasn't frazzled.
The other part of it is to be sure we don’t try to cram too much into the other six days. Some of us just need to learn to say “no.”
But then, what if we wind up with not enough to do? We sure don’t want to be bored. I find the middle ground is to not overbook appointments or things with deadlines, so I don't get frazzled, but always keep a project going so I have something to do if boredom threatens.
The big thing is that God knows how much you can do in 24 hours, including the necessary rest and personal care, and he doesn't expect you to do more than that. The key is differentiating between God’s expectations and people’s expectations – including our own.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Show and Tell
As we continue looking at what Ezekiel can teach us about revival, we come to a very interesting command from God.
“And now, son of man, take a large clay brick and set it down in front of you. Then draw a map of the city of Jerusalem on it. Show the city under siege. Build a wall around it so no one can escape. Set up the enemy camp, and surround the city with siege ramps and battering rams. Then take an iron griddle and place it between you and the city. Turn toward the city and demonstrate how harsh the siege will be against Jerusalem. This will be a warning to the people of Israel.” – Ezekiel 4:1-3
God calls us to proclaim his message by word and by action. We understand proclamations issued in verbal form. Modern western society is all about words. Proclamation by actions is another matter.
Usually when we hear someone say we should proclaim God’s word by our actions, we think in terms of living a good and kind and holy life. We may think of St. Francis’ saying: “Preach the gospel always; use words when necessary.”
(I understand the point behind St. Francis’ words, but I think it can become an excuse for not using words. After all, if people think that I’m a nice guy just because I’m a nice guy, and don’t know that it’s because of Jesus, it doesn’t help them toward the kingdom of God.)
All this is good, but it’s not what God was telling Ezekiel to do. God instructed Ezekiel to perform what theologians call “prophetic acts.” Regular people would call it “street theater.” God wants his message to get across, and he knows that some people’s eyes glaze over whenever a preacher starts talking. So he told Ezekiel to add to his preaching something that would communicate with the non-verbally oriented people. God basically told Ezekiel to do a show-and-tell.
Annapolis is a highly educated town, and most people can understand verbal communication. That doesn’t change the fact that many people respond better to other means of getting a message across. I believe God is calling his people to be creative. After all, God created us in his image, and God is the creator. What kind of show-and-tells can we create to help make God’s message clear and accepted? The better we can do that, the better our chance of making Annapolis a target of God’s revival fire.
“And now, son of man, take a large clay brick and set it down in front of you. Then draw a map of the city of Jerusalem on it. Show the city under siege. Build a wall around it so no one can escape. Set up the enemy camp, and surround the city with siege ramps and battering rams. Then take an iron griddle and place it between you and the city. Turn toward the city and demonstrate how harsh the siege will be against Jerusalem. This will be a warning to the people of Israel.” – Ezekiel 4:1-3
God calls us to proclaim his message by word and by action. We understand proclamations issued in verbal form. Modern western society is all about words. Proclamation by actions is another matter.
Usually when we hear someone say we should proclaim God’s word by our actions, we think in terms of living a good and kind and holy life. We may think of St. Francis’ saying: “Preach the gospel always; use words when necessary.”
(I understand the point behind St. Francis’ words, but I think it can become an excuse for not using words. After all, if people think that I’m a nice guy just because I’m a nice guy, and don’t know that it’s because of Jesus, it doesn’t help them toward the kingdom of God.)
All this is good, but it’s not what God was telling Ezekiel to do. God instructed Ezekiel to perform what theologians call “prophetic acts.” Regular people would call it “street theater.” God wants his message to get across, and he knows that some people’s eyes glaze over whenever a preacher starts talking. So he told Ezekiel to add to his preaching something that would communicate with the non-verbally oriented people. God basically told Ezekiel to do a show-and-tell.
Annapolis is a highly educated town, and most people can understand verbal communication. That doesn’t change the fact that many people respond better to other means of getting a message across. I believe God is calling his people to be creative. After all, God created us in his image, and God is the creator. What kind of show-and-tells can we create to help make God’s message clear and accepted? The better we can do that, the better our chance of making Annapolis a target of God’s revival fire.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Speak Their Language
Then he said, “Son of man, go to the people of Israel with my messages. I am not sending you to some foreign people whose language you cannot understand. No, I am not sending you to people with strange and difficult speech. If I did, they would listen! I am sending you to the people of Israel.” – Ezekiel 3:4-7
Ezekiel would have been a very successful missionary. God said that if he sent Ezekiel to a foreign people with a difficult and obscure language, they would listen. But God did not call Ezekiel to be a missionary.
Why would God deliberately steer someone away from a ministry in which he would be successful? That’s not my topic here, but take note: just because you are good and successful at something, even something that seems like God’s work, that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what God wants you doing with your life. Take the time to seek God until you receive his specific guidance for you. (In the meantime, do what seems best, trusting that God will let you know when it’s time for a change.)
God has sent me to Annapolis. With regard to that, I want to look at what may seem like a very minor point. God didn’t refer to the other nations as a people “who cannot understand your language.” He said, “whose language you cannot understand.” The emphasis was on Ezekiel’s ability to adapt to and understand the language of the people, not vice versa.
Shortly after being beginning my ministry at a previous church, I convened a staff meeting and asked why there was not a monthly newsletter. The answer was, “If people want to find out what’s going on at the church, they can call the office.”
To me, that’s totally backwards. We no longer live in a culture in which people seek out the church. We are the ones who are trying to get our message to them. If that means getting a newsletter physically into their house through the U.S. mail, or putting up a sign that is so big and clear that they can’t help but see it even if they aren’t looking for it, or whatever it takes to get their attention, that’s what we have to do. If we want to communicate with people, we can’t demand that they learn to understand our language. We have to understand and use theirs.
A recent article said that the model of evangelism that is based on inviting or attracting people to a church service or event no longer works for 60% of Americans. “Come to church” is not part of their operational vocabulary. What they are saying is, “If you want me, come to me.” If we don’t understand that, we effectively eliminate over half the population from our efforts at advancing the Kingdom of God.
God’s message never changes, but the way we communicate it must. Even Jesus used a variety of methods: sermons, stories, miracles; in synagogues, in homes, in fields; with individuals, with small groups, with large crowds.
Certainly we must keep up our efforts to attract people to church, because four out of every ten people are open to that. But we must also learn the language of those who consider themselves spiritual, even love Jesus, but don’t want to have anything to do with church.
Ezekiel would have been a very successful missionary. God said that if he sent Ezekiel to a foreign people with a difficult and obscure language, they would listen. But God did not call Ezekiel to be a missionary.
Why would God deliberately steer someone away from a ministry in which he would be successful? That’s not my topic here, but take note: just because you are good and successful at something, even something that seems like God’s work, that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what God wants you doing with your life. Take the time to seek God until you receive his specific guidance for you. (In the meantime, do what seems best, trusting that God will let you know when it’s time for a change.)
God has sent me to Annapolis. With regard to that, I want to look at what may seem like a very minor point. God didn’t refer to the other nations as a people “who cannot understand your language.” He said, “whose language you cannot understand.” The emphasis was on Ezekiel’s ability to adapt to and understand the language of the people, not vice versa.
Shortly after being beginning my ministry at a previous church, I convened a staff meeting and asked why there was not a monthly newsletter. The answer was, “If people want to find out what’s going on at the church, they can call the office.”
To me, that’s totally backwards. We no longer live in a culture in which people seek out the church. We are the ones who are trying to get our message to them. If that means getting a newsletter physically into their house through the U.S. mail, or putting up a sign that is so big and clear that they can’t help but see it even if they aren’t looking for it, or whatever it takes to get their attention, that’s what we have to do. If we want to communicate with people, we can’t demand that they learn to understand our language. We have to understand and use theirs.
A recent article said that the model of evangelism that is based on inviting or attracting people to a church service or event no longer works for 60% of Americans. “Come to church” is not part of their operational vocabulary. What they are saying is, “If you want me, come to me.” If we don’t understand that, we effectively eliminate over half the population from our efforts at advancing the Kingdom of God.
God’s message never changes, but the way we communicate it must. Even Jesus used a variety of methods: sermons, stories, miracles; in synagogues, in homes, in fields; with individuals, with small groups, with large crowds.
Certainly we must keep up our efforts to attract people to church, because four out of every ten people are open to that. But we must also learn the language of those who consider themselves spiritual, even love Jesus, but don’t want to have anything to do with church.
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