Category: Monthly

Monthly, Resources

October

When I was baptized, after turning (repenting) from my sin and trusting Jesus Christ only as my personal Savior and Lord, I quoted Luke 9:62 while giving my testimony to the congregation of Edina Baptist Church (today Grace Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota). It says in the Christian Standard Bible “But Jesus said to him, ’No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’” Jesus said this to three potential followers as He journeyed to Jerusalem. 
 
It is interesting to note that at times nobody appeared to come to Christ as a result of His teaching. At other times, however, we read that many desired to be among Jesus’ disciples after He taught but some did not continue following Him. Why? Because they were not of the right kind. In Luke 9:57-61 Luke  cited three instances that are typical of many who seemed to be true followers of Christ but did not continue with Him because they were not truly converted to Him. Among the New Oxford American Dictionary’s definitions of the word *convert* it says “cause to change in form, character or function. In the sense of to turn around and send in a different direction.” I think these three instances are written by Luke for the encouragement of those who preach and teach the Gospel today. That is, when we are disappointed when people who appeared to truly trust Christ and then fall away, we can know we are not worse off than our Lord Jesus was. It is tempting to become discouraged and lose heart in ministry when people we thought were genuine followers of Christ do not continue with Him. We need to realize that this happened in Jesus’ ministry and it happens, or will, in ours. 
 
Another thing to note from this text is that the three men do not appear to have any personal sense of sin. Nothing is said about repentance or their need for the Savior. It is a fact that some people who respond to our preaching have not turned from their sin (repented) and trusted Jesus Christ only as their personal Savior and Lord. They jump in and out of their *religion* because they do not have a *relationship* with Christ. They were not converted. If they were genuinely converted they would not again live as those who are unconverted. 
 
To my fellow preachers and teachers of the Gospel, we are not preaching and teaching in order to have converts to our way of thinking or to join our church or so we have a good reputation. We are preaching and teaching the Gospel for the genuine conversion of our hearers and students so they will become lifelong followers of Christ for His glory. Let us continue preaching and teaching the Gospel in the power of the Spirit. Remember we desire genuine followers of Christ not glowing reports and Facebook posts.   
Monthly, Resources

september

Our world is changing fast and on the move. People are urbanizing and economies are globalizing. Governments are changing. We have 24/7 “breaking news” and communication. People work, study and vacation abroad. Interracial and cross-cultural marriages are common. World views, cultures and religions mix together like a steeping stew of many ingredients. Rarely people live in isolation. However there are some things that never change. God never changes, His Word never changes and the meaning of His Word never changes. Another constant is the tug on our hearts as we think about the world’s needs and the lostness of the people around us.

 

As we study and are anchored to God’s Word we need to be aware of how our changing world affects how we deliver the Word, the type of building we meet in, the language we speak, the type of music we use for worship and the literacy level of those we minister to. Ministers of the Word need to adjust to countless new trends, technologies, crises and epidemics. New strategies and methods will have to be created to meet the challenges we face. In other words, our way of doing ministry may change from context to context. There are many applications of God’s Word and they vary due to thousands of specific situations but there is only one meaning. Studying God’s Word is essential to remain true to our unchanging mission and message.

 

What is our unchanging mission? The mission of the church is to worship God, glorify Christ, make disciples of all nations (people groups panta ta ethne), baptize believers and teach them to obey all that Christ has commanded. (Matthew 28:18-20) It is too numerous to mention the different methods used to engage the world in this but Jesus’ last command needs to be our first priority. God wants all people to worship and obey Him. Pastor John Piper rightly said “Missions exists because worship doesn’t.”

 

What is our unchanging message? It is the Gospel or Good News. It is laid-out by the “Romans Road”.

1. Romans 3:23: All have sinned and no one is innocent before God.
2. Romans 6:23a: The consequence of our sin is physical and eternal death.
3. Romans 6:23b and 5:8: Jesus Christ died for us! His death paid the price for our sin. His resurrection proves that God accepted Jesus’ death as the full payment for our sin.
4. Romans 10:9 and 13: Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sin and rescue us from eternal death. Salvation, the forgiveness of sin, is available to anyone who will trust fully in Jesus Christ only as their Lord and Savior.
5. Romans 5:1, 8:1, 8:38-39: The result of our salvation is we have peace with God through Jesus Christ.

 

As modern day disciples of Christ we must be willing and able to change the methods we use to proclaim the Gospel to those around us and teach them to obey Jesus Christ. Let’s be students of God’s unchanging Word and of our changing world so that our ministries meet people’s temporal and eternal needs.

Monthly, Resources

The Ministry Breaks Forth

The Bible says “From the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of heavens suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.” Matthew 11:12 RSV

Interestingly, many are baffled by this verse as to what it really means. What does violence have something to do with God’s Kingdom? 
Violence does not sound positive in connection with God’s activities let alone a characteristic of His Kingdom. Violence hurts people, tears communities apart, bring wounds and scars that would heal a lifetime. So what is this particular verse tell about the Kingdom of God.
We might conclude that Jesus talks about the persecution he and John the Baptist had faced. Or the Kingdom of God is using violence to achieve its purpose, which is really hard to fathom. But upon a closer understanding of the text , it has something to do with the nature of the Kingdom, how powerful ( violent ) grace works in our lives  and ministries today. The word “violence” can mean “forceful” in Greek and can mean “explosive” in Hebrew. So nothing negative is really meant here yet on the other hand God’s Kingdom of grace is both a promise and a threat for all mankind. A promise when we allow the rule or reign of God in our lives and ministries and a threat when we go against His will and do our selfish desires. What a reminder for all of us in the ministry. Once again a driving motivation and challenge of A4C ministries is ” The Life of the Minister is the Life of the Ministry.”
We are also reminded that God’s Kingdom is powerful that it will surely bear fruits according to His power and providence. It will surely bring forth when we faithfully serve Him, love His people and share the gospel to the rest of the world. Ministry anchored on the Word and empowered by the Holy Spirit will surely make a difference. The power of the gospel changes everything!
The ministry done in God’s way is breaking forth new vistas and horizons. The more we grow in the knowledge of God, the more we bear fruits for His glory. The more we bear fruit, the more we see our dependence on Him, and the more we depend on Him, the more our lives become intentional and deliberate. We implore His grace, we explode in humility, power and grace.
One of the Puritans said” Grace is glory in the bud and glory is grace at the full.” May this be a challenge for all of us this month! 

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A Heads-up from One who Knows

 Matthew 9:35-38 are among my life-verses. After Jesus and His disciples walked among the harassed and helpless crowds and compassionately ministered to many people, He said to his twelve men “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into his harvest.” (verses 37-38 ESV) He saw people as lost sheep needing a shepherd and as a harvest ready to be brought in (John 4:35), however, there were not enough workers. In chapter ten the disciples were sent out with instructions, a warning of persecution and a promise of reward to those who would receive them. Does what happened in Matthew chapter nine and ten only apply to them?

Here is my heads-up. I will say it straight. The key to the shortage of laborers is prayer which is in God’s hand. If you are praying for laborers to be sent to the ripe fields of the world, as Jesus instructed the Twelve, then be prepared to be sent yourself as He did them. Often we are God’s answer to our own prayers. If we are sure in good conscience before the Lord of the harvest that we are not to go with the Gospel then be a sender of those who are. The great commission, as Christ gave His disciples in Matthew 28:18-20, is not a great *suggestion* or only for select churches or special followers of Jesus. His commission applies to all His disciples, therefore, we have only three options, They are: go, send or disobey.

My wife and I have served in the Philippines for almost thirty-three years with ACTION among the poorest of the poor such as street children. We remember clearly when we were called to leave our home, family, friends and church as we prayed earnestly Matthew 9:38. It was not easy with two little children but were determined to follow Jesus. There was no turning back. Then and now we are not super-stars. We are joyfully obedient. Today we have no regrets about following the Lord of the harvest. He has been totally faithful to us and His promises. He will be to you too if you resolve, by the grace of God, to obey. I know.

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Biblical Definition of Discipleship

Definition of discipleship according to Merriam-Webster: one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another: such as:

a. Christianity: one of the twelve in the inner circle of Christ’s followers according to the Gospel accounts

b. a convinced adherent of a school or individual

Definition of discipleship according to Jesus in John 8:31: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.”

A *Christian* disciple follows Jesus Christ. A Christian disciple is someone who loves God with everything he has. (Matthew 22:37-38) A Christian disciple, by God’s grace, becomes more and more like Jesus through a lifetime of faith and obedience.

 Real Life

Definition of integrity according to Merriam-Webster: 1. firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values (incorruptibility), 2. an unimpaired condition (soundness), 3. the quality or state of being complete or undivided (completeness)

Have you ever met someone who says one thing and does another? “Don’t do as I do but do as I say”. He behaves differently than what he says he believes. It is a contradiction of behaving and believing. If one’s actions contradict one’s words, which is true? According to Jesus, our actions clearly speak to what we really believe. Therefore in following Him, we must hold to His teachings in our daily lives.

When we read the Gospels in the New Testament, we realize that those who followed Christ truly were His disciples. Because of their love for Him, many left their jobs, homes and security to walk with Him as He ministered to people throughout Palestine. They had the benefit of walking with Him in the flesh. How about us today, with Christ risen from the tomb and the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, what are the characteristics of a true disciple of Jesus?

1. A true disciple of Jesus in one who worships God. If you are a new creation in Christ, you are someone who brings glory to God and honors Him.

2. A true disciple of Jesus is one who is confident in the power of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection to secure his salvation. He must know that he is a child of God and that Christ dwells within him.

3. A true disciple of Jesus is one who walks in the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is responsible for everything that happens in the life of a believer, his new birth, daily walk, understanding of the Bible, prayer, witnessing and worshipping, etcetera. He produces the fruit of the Spirit in us, which enables us to live godly lives and be a witness for Christ.

4. A true disciple of Jesus is one who demonstrates love for God and our neighbors, fellow disciples and enemies. Jesus commands us to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbor as ourselves. (Matthew 22:37-40)

5. A true disciple of Jesus is one who knows how to read, study, memorize and meditate upon the Word of God and to store its truths in his heart. It is impossible to walk in the fullness God’s Holy Spirit without understanding God’s Word. We need the Holy Spirit’s help in order to understand and apply God’s Word.

6. A true disciple of Jesus is one who prays. Jesus models throughout the Bible that communicating with God the Father is one of the most important things in a Christ-one’s life. He shows that a true child of God speaks with his Father in heaven.

7. A true disciple of Jesus is one who obeys the commands of God in a lifestyle that honors Christ.

8. A true disciple of Jesus is one who trusts God and lives a life of faith. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that “without faith it is impossible to please him”. (God)

9. A true disciple of Jesus is one who understands God’s grace. God loves us unconditionally, whether we obey Him or not. This is the opposite of legalism which urges us to try to obey God’s laws in our own wisdom, power and strength.

10. A true disciple of Jesus is one who witnesses for Christ as a way of life. If we love Jesus, we will tell others about Him testifying to what He has done in our life.

How do we measure up to the Biblical definition of discipleship? Here are questions for application:

1. What are some characteristics of a Biblically defined disciple that I see in my life?

2. What are some characteristics of a Biblically defined disciple that I struggle with? Have I asked for the Holy Spirit’s help to grow in this area/s?

Other verses to prayerfully consider:

Luke 14:27: “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”

John 13:35: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Bible verses cited are from the English Standard Version.