Disciple Driven Church

Who Teaches What Jesus Taught?

2012-01-21T07:07:00.001-06:00

"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

In America, most people’s lives are devoted to the acquisition and retention of money or the things that money can buy.

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.”

“And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.”

Are you aware of your cross? Are you even trying to find out what it means for you?

“So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.”

Why have you never been told to give up everything you own and follow Jesus? Why have you never been told that living for money is in conflict with living for God? Why is no one teaching you about how to identify your cross? Why are you not being taught to give up your life in service to Jesus?

Only your teachers can answer that. Jesus definitely taught these things. Christ spoke everything in quotes. One possible explanation is that so few pastors live what Jesus taught that they couldn’t teach what Jesus taught. You can’t lead someone to a place you have never been.

“If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.”

Whose life are you clinging to today?

Learning to Live Again

2011-12-01T09:14:00.000-06:00

I have been on a great journey over the last few years. God has taken me from the structured Modern American Church system and placed me on a path of Reformation outside of that system. I left the denominations, church hierarchy, the system and methods of American church. In the process He has been tearing down all of my preconceptions of how He intended the Church to minister in the world.

As I have surrendered the things of the world I have discovered more clearly the things of God. The house is gone and so are the car, the IRA, any savings, and a paycheck. For a period of time a shower and reliable heat were missing. Those things were removed from me for a reason. I needed to see clearly how God works His plans. I look back now and I see how He has allowed me to obtain and maintain so many things that I looked upon as blessings. In reality they were clouds that kept me from seeing clearly His hand at work.

He planted a vision in my heart that was so big it scared many of those I shared it with. Many said I was crazy and some still say that. This vision was very specific. It outlined the place, the work and the result. One very important thing was missing. That was the method. Until I had all of my worldly possessions removed I could not see clearly enough to grasp the method. It was outside of my ability to understand. How could a modern American raised in the culture of self-indulgence, ever understand the power of sharing our resources among a group of sold out Christ followers who have no desire to own the things of the world?

Those things I once saw as blessings, were things that perish. I now see them as merely tools God uses to accomplish His vision. Specifically the vision He gave me to steward. The difference is huge. If the thing doesn’t move the vision forward, I don’t want it. If the thing moves the vision forward I can rest assured that God has a plan for getting it for me to use. When I have those things I once took for granted like a shower and heat, I rejoice daily and I am filled with joy over the blessing of them. When they are removed from me I continue to pursue the vision and look to see more clearly what God is doing.

The biggest blessing I have found is in the group of people that are struggling to walk this path with me. They too have given up the desire for things. They throw their resources together and watch as God builds His work through this vision of reformation and renewal. It is by far the hardest thing I have ever done. That is not because the work is hard but because the surrender is hard. Being willing to truly forsake the things of the world in order to participate in the work of God was only a concept I gave lip service to a few years ago. Now I can say that He has taught me how to be content in whatever circumstance I may find myself in. I can truly embrace an often-quoted passage of Scripture in a way that was once just shallow. It is one of the most often quoted and out of context passages I know.

It is Philippians 4:12-13 - I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Understanding and living this verse is a requirement for our missionaries. God has made it possible for us to learn this as we minister. What a blessing it is to know God in such a way.

Learning to Build

2011-11-15T07:54:00.000-06:00

I remember learning how to build things. I would watch, as my dad would assemble the tools and the materials. He would layout the plan and ponder over it. When I first looked at the plan I could not understand it. It was far beyond my comprehension. He would start to measure and cut and all I could do was hand him tools as he asked for them. He would have to describe them to me because I didn’t even know which one was which. I would watch him use each one. I would pay close attention to how he handled it and how he worked with it.

As the parts began to take shape I could see how the thing we were building resembled the thing on the plan. There was always a point in each project where I was baffled as to how the thing would get from where it was to what the finished project looked like on the plan. I still lacked understanding of how to build.

I remember that as I grew older I was allowed to help in more ways. At some point my dad would hand me a tool and ask me to take my turn. I now had a saw in my hand and was expected to make the cut. I would begin to get nervous. The pressure was on. I tried to handle the saw the way I had seen my dad do it but I would cut crooked. I waited in fear of reprimand but instead my dad would remove the piece of wood and then show my once again how to cut it. As I went through a bazillion mistakes, I eventually learned how to use each tool. With experience I learned to read the plan.

I look at my life now and I see my heavenly father taking me through this process once again. He has shown me a plan, which I do not understand. The end will be beautiful but I am still clueless as to how we get from here to there. The tools are both familiar and there are new ones I have no experience using. I have made plenty of mistakes using these tools. Each time I do He gently removes the ruined part and shows me once again how to use the tool.

I am serving a master builder. He laid His son as the chief cornerstone of the project I am working to build. He made the plan, prepared the work, selected the tools, and is overseeing the entire project. I am being allowed the privilege of participating in building according to the plan.

As I first began to work for my Lord I was always nervous about what I was doing. Just like that kid who first picked up that saw I was afraid of the response I would get for that first crooked cut. I soon realized I was building according to His plan and He was training me to be a builder. He knew it would take practice to learn to use these new tools. He was always watching to correct any mistakes I made and to allow me to try again until I learned. He is great at correcting mistakes.

The plan I am participating in is an incredible project. It is way more than I could ever hope to comprehend when I first started. Now that I am older and I have some experience with the tools and with reading plans, I am beginning to see the finished product. I must admit that I still do not fully understand how we get from where we are to the finished product. I still, at times, feel like that little kid staring at the parts my dad had cut and the plans that we were working from and wondering how the next piece fit.

To Be or Just to Claim to Be – That is the Question

2011-11-07T08:13:00.000-06:00

Are you a Christ follower? Are you His disciple? Do you talk the talk or walk the walk? Here is how Jesus determines those who are His disciples.

A love for Christ that surpasses your love for anyone or anything - "If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.

Suffering in service - "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Sacrifice - So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.

Obedience is a must - Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.

A love that shows - "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

A true disciple of Christ will be busy about making other Disciples of Christ according to the pattern outlined above. We don’t have to guess if we are a disciple. Jesus tells us we can know if we are His disciples.

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

In today’s church in America the teaching of Christ has changed to accommodate the culture. How can we expect people to give up all material possessions in such a materialistic world? How can we obey all the teachings when so many run in contrast to our culture? How can we be expected to make other disciples? Why should we suffer in this country when we have so much?

The simple truth is that Jesus made the rules and they have not changed. He did not say here are the rules for now and I will give you other rules later. The way to follow Christ has not changed over time. The way the church teaches many to follow Christ has changed over time. Who are you a disciple of – your church – or Jesus Christ?

The Partial Path to Christ-likeness

2011-10-23T08:54:00.001-05:00

I have a question for you if you are a Christ follower. Is your faith centered on your church, its members, and its building?

I have noticed two things I see the modern method of American Christianity doing that I am not sure it even realizes it is doing. The first is to center the focus of our faith on the church. It does this by focusing all it does on itself. The things it participates in that are outside the church are still focused on getting people to the church building on a set day of the week. Does this describe your faith experience? Is it centered on serving and ministering to the lost in your community as you share the gospel?

The second thing I have noticed is that many ministries are focused on getting people “saved”. The majority of the time, talent and treasure are placed on getting people to church where they can hear the gospel and respond in faith. Its what comes next that I have noticed is odd.

Does your church take the next step as being one of connecting them to the church body? Or does it give them a clear path to walking out their gift and passion in public service? If it does the second choice then you would know because someone would have sat you down and said something like – “Now that you are a follower of Christ here is how you go from new birth to full maturity and actively use your spiritual gift to grow the kingdom.”

The sad truth is that many ministries today hope that the second part just happens. There is no plan to take the average convert from new birth to maturity. That is one reason it takes so many years for Christians to mature in the American church. Instead of making disciples we are focused on making converts that will become members of our church. This distorts our God designed purpose of being disciple makers in a fallen world to becoming passive participants in a church system. So Sad!

Church Attendance Trends in the USA

2011-10-20T17:18:00.001-05:00

 80% of the WWII generation attended church.
 50% of the “Baby Boomers” attend church.
 30% of “Baby Busters” attend church.
 3% of “Gen X'rs” attend church.
 65% of the Baby Boomers have dropped out of the institutional church.
 60% of Gen X’rs have never been in a church a single time, not even for a wedding or a funeral!

On Pastoring the Community

2011-10-14T08:59:00.000-05:00

Every community is in need of pastoring. Some communities are in more need than others are. Our community has a problem with drugs and violence. One of the ways we decided to pastor our community was to make sure that the services offered by the city were being provided to our community. One service many may take for granted is to have streetlights on at night. In our community we noticed that the lights were often not working and that repairs were taking a long time to get accomplished.

Our neighborhood is comprised of about 70 square blocks. It is a somewhat dangerous place to roam about at night. We thought that might have led to the lack of repair on the streetlights. We found out which city department was responsible for reporting the outages and we decided to assist them. We went out one Friday night with note pad and pen and we drove down every street in our neighborhood. We only had one instance where a car tried to block us in but I managed to get past them before they could get out. I am sure they just needed directions or something. By the end of the night we had documented 42 street lights out in our neighborhood.

I am happy to report that after one week it appears that 40 of these have been repaired. Our area is brighter at night and that will help to deter crime. We are making this a regular activity of ours. Last week, as we checked on the repairs to the reported lights, we found several more that had gone out. In our simple daily walk to live our faith and pastor our community we have found that the most basic of services can be held back if we do nothing. There are many other services the city offers that we see lacking in our community. Instead of looking for someone to blame and complaining about the lack, we have decided to assist them in their job.

Our next step will be to make sure we praise the civil servants that helped us correct these issues and to teach the community members how to access these services. As we do this publicly we will care for the residents, show our love for the community and promote unity between the city and its residents. All the while we get the privilege of shepherding the community Christ has given us charge over.

The Mission Field

2011-09-19T08:19:00.000-05:00

I want to tell you about a great mission field. The area was once a great area. It had wealth and prestige. It was well respected among the nations. For many years now the area has lost that standing. It is considered by many to be one of the most dangerous areas in the world. In its boundaries are many buildings that have been left vacant for decades. The city streets show the signs of the fleeing population. Hundreds of vacant and decaying buildings are mixed with the hundreds of vacant lots in the area. Trash covers the streets as an indicator of the desperate state of the remaining population. The residents have become so hopeless from generations of oppression that they fail to try to care for the area.

In this area the gangs of well armed men patrol with a declaration of ownership over the area. They shoot their opposition in broad daylight in front of crowds of people and yet no one comes forward to the authorities for fear of retaliation. They finance their reign of terror through drug sales, just as in many other parts of the world. The authorities appear helpless to stop these terrorists from ruling over the area.

The mission field here is unique as Christians who laid a foundation of the Christian faith at its core once colonized it. Yet here so many years later we find even the terrorist have Jesus stickers on their vehicles. The Doctrine of the Christian faith is far from the practice of those who proclaim it in this area. It has been replaced by a culture that in many cases values things that are opposed to the teachings of Christ. Ministering in this area requires us to look past the profession of faith that so many hold, and to discern the beliefs that truly rules the lives of the residents.

Poverty is rampant in the area. Over 50% of the residents live below the poverty line established for the area. There are homeless people all around that squat in the vacant houses. They live without electricity and running water. They scour the area for anything they can turn into food or alcohol. The children in the area run the streets without supervision. This leads many to be recruited by the local terrorists with promises of money, sex, and drugs.

The government over the area pours thousands of dollars into the area year after year hoping to make a positive change. Each year they make some headway and each year they lose some ground. There is a great lack of concern for the area from anyone living outside the area.

A few faithful men and women have dedicated their lives to changing the state of this area. They are missionaries with a vision for generational change. They moved to this area of North St. Louis to invest their lives into the area. They know what they are up against and they know it will not be easy or quick. If you want to experience the mission field without leaving America we invite you to visit us. We can use all the help we can get.

The Stronghold of Poverty

2011-08-29T13:44:00.002-05:00

The stronghold of poverty has nothing to do with the prosperity of the people. Being rich or poor is a relative state based mostly on the condition of those around you. In America the poorest of the poor are much wealthier than the rich in some third world nations. Can Satan really have a stronghold that is based on the relative condition of the people around them? It doesn’t seem right.

I looked up the word poor and found two conditions to be prevalent. One condition was that of being low or without things. It was also referred to in a spiritual sense of one being low in spiritual strength.
This can be a good things as in Matthew 5:3 or a bad thing as in Revelation 3:17
There was also an indication of being poor that is to be without things needed.

The other condition of the poor was to be in want. As I looked up the word used for poverty in the scripture it denoted a state of being in want. (H4270) The lack of material things was a condition that scripture says Jesus took on so He could set us free and we could become rich spiritually (2Cor. 8:9). The idea of rich in this passage is to have the abundance to bring salvation to people.

Poverty as a stronghold is not about what material things we have. The stronghold of poverty is the condition of “want” that keeps us from moving forward or takes our focus off of Jesus and His kingdom work. When Satan can get us focusing on the lack of material things it creates a stronghold in our lives whereby he can begin to have influence over us. The way to oppose the stronghold of poverty is to realize that our riches are not material things but the abundance of spiritual power and blessings that allow us to bring salvation to many. The only way that Satan can build a stronghold in our lives through poverty is if he can let the lack of material things keep us from building the kingdom and bring the good news of salvation to many.

God’s promise to us is that He will supply all of our needs according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ. The work of spreading the good news and bringing salvation to many will never be stopped by the lack of material things unless we allow Satan to build that stronghold in our lives. It is the “want” that is the stronghold not the abundance or lack of possessions. When we are satisfied with our material things then the stronghold of Satan is demolished as we move forward with what we have, spreading the good news and bringing salvation to as many as God gives us the privilege.

The condition of being poor is not the stronghold. There are many things that Scripture tells us can lead to this condition. Since Jesus was poor and the apostles were poor we cannot assume that our lack of physical things is always a result of something being wrong with us. Here are some things that lead to being poor.

To be drunk and squander wealth
Proverbs 23:21 - For the drunkard and the glutton (one who squanders) shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe [a man] with rags.

Being unteachable
Proverbs 13:18 - Poverty and shame [shall be to] him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

Following vain people (ethically worthless or void of the spirit)
Proverbs 28:19 - He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain [persons] shall have poverty enough.

Withholding for yourself
Proverbs 11:24 - There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.

All talk no action
Proverbs 14:23 - In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty.

Being hasty
Proverbs 21:5 - The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

Loving pleasure
Proverbs 21:17 - He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.

Oppressing the poor or giving to the rich
Proverbs 22:16 - He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

Ignoring the poor
Proverbs 28:27 - He who gives to the poor will never want, But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.

In 2 Corinthians 8 Paul instructs the church about the reason for giving to other churches. There is interdependence indicated. The safeguard against poverty is to give to the poor so that at some other time they can give to you.

Another safeguard from poverty is to fear the Lord. This leads us to be satisfied with what we have.

Psalm 34:9 - O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for [there is] no want to them that fear him.

In order to break a stronghold it requires us to walk in the truth of Scripture that opposes the lie the stronghold is built upon. Obey the Lord and avoid the things that lead us to captivity.

On Division and Its Roots

2011-08-22T08:51:00.001-05:00

The root of division is identity. When we embrace our heritage or differences as identity we forsake our God given identity. Our Godly identity says that we are all brothers and sisters in the same battle against the same enemy with the same king and savior. Division builds the lies that highlight our differences. It takes the past and puts it in the present. It takes what has been done to us or our ancestors and it gives us the right or obligation to set things right for past injustices. Division sets us against each other.

Behind division you will always find lies. That is how Satan works. He implants lies and then watches them do the work. To defeat the lie we must embrace the truth and walk in it.

Here are a few lies that lead to division. I have chosen to address Racism, Politics, Denominations, and Geography. There are many other causes of division but this will get you started.

The lies behind racism-
 My heritage is my identity.
 The injustice of the past gives me a right to demand or enact retribution today.
 The color of someone’s skin causes him or her to treat me differently because of the color of my skin.

The truth that sets us free from racism-
 My ancestry gives me a heritage that I can embrace but does not define me.
 All injustice is laid at the foot of the cross and is dealt with through Christ. Vengeance belongs to the Lord.
 Satan and his followers cause all evil. He may work through people to cause it and the appearance of evil may be related to race. The truth is that Satan works through those he has under his influence. To perceive evil as being the result of race is to let Satan off the hook.

The lies behind political division-
 The political system can solve our problems.
 Our enemy is our political opponent.
 It is my duty to be politically active as a means to bring about change.

The truth that sets us free from politics-
 Christ is the only solution and He works through spiritual weapons.
 Our enemy is Satan. He places uses politics to divide us as we embrace politics in the wrong way.
 Politics are a governing tool that is always under God’s direction and control. We can be politically responsible without being politically active. To spend our time in political activism is to battle in the tools of the world not the Spirit. If we prayerfully consider issues and exercise our right to vote we can operate on a spiritual level above the divisiveness of politics.

The lies behind denominational division-
 My denomination is theologically more accurate than others. The lie behind denominations is that we must define theology and practice in order to safeguard it from heresy.
 The structure over my denomination is God’s design for His church.
 Denominations are just unique expressions of God’s work

The truth that sets us free from denominationalism-
 The Holy Spirit defines theology and not men who rule through denominations.
 God’s design for His church is not expressed through man made structures and rules.
 God will express Himself in unique ways through the pouring out of His Spirit on His people. We do not need man’s rules in order to have a unique expression of God.

The lies behind geographical division-
 Where I live or grew up is in someway superior to other places.
 People in other areas in someway mistreat where I live or grew up.
 There are places that cannot be changed or redeemed

The truth that sets us free from geographical division -
 God loves the whole world and all its inhabitants.
 It is Satan who uses people to mistreat people. Where they are from or currently live is just another tool he uses to perpetuate division.
 Christ died to redeem us from the curse. There is no geographical region that is beyond His redemptive work.

Apart from Christ and the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit there can be no unity. When we embrace our identity in Christ we can overcome racism. When we rest in God’s sovereign rule we can overcome the division of politics. When we throw off the structures of man that have been placed over the church we can defeat denominationalism. When we look at the world as the place God loved so much that He gave His only son to die for it, then we can overcome geographical division. In the end it is the Rule and Presence of God in our lives that make unity possible. If we embrace anything else above that it may become a source of unholy division.

On Methods, Strategies, and Obedience

2011-08-20T17:00:00.000-05:00

Scene 1

“Moses, go and smite the rock and water will come forth for my people.

Moses – Hits the rock and water comes forth for the people. A miracle and God was working to show Himself to his people.

Scene 2

“Moses, go and speak to the rock and water will come forth for my people.

Moses – Hits the rock and water comes forth for the people. A miracle and God was working to show Himself to his people.

Many times I hear about how God is at work in a particular church or denomination. Many times the person is trying to defend some activity that I may have suggested is unbiblical. God is at work, they proclaim. He is using many methods and many strategies. The Implication is that if God is at work, how can it be so wrong?

Moses learned the hard way what difference a method or strategy can make. He did not follow God’s instruction. Cut to scene 3 and see that Moses did not enter the Promised Land as a result of his disobedience in scene 2.

The message I bring you today is that God is at work. He has worked in the past and He is working now. He works through His servants, or pagan kings like Cyrus, or without our participation. See Paul on the road to Damascus.

The question for a follower of Christ is not only one of methods and strategies. It is one of obedience.

God will work wherever He chooses. He will work in a corrupt church system or in the heart of a pagan king. He will work in the life of a man like King David, who He claimed was a man after His own heart, or He might just choose to work through me. The method and strategy is only an issue for those who claim Christ as their Lord.

If you work in corruption you cannot be obedient. You may see God’s power working before your very eyes but what are you going to miss as a result of disobedience? Moses missed entering the land.

As for me, I only point out error at the obedience of my Lord Jesus. He wants you to know it matters what method and strategy His followers use. He will not let your disobedience or mine prevent His work from being done. So don’t think He isn’t watching and waiting for His bride to throw off the shackles of man-made religion and structure, He is!

As for me I desire to obey. My daily struggle is to learn from Him and obey what I learn. I often feel like I am seeing a completely different religion in scripture than I see playing out in front of me in the American Church. It is not my concern how my message is received or how many choose to walk with me in their faith. My focus is on Christ, my obedience to His Spirit, and those who God has given me to disciple and care for. God is definitely at work in many methods, strategies, and structures today. The question I ask you is are you smiting the rock when you should be speaking to it? You will know soon enough if obedience matters. You don’t have to look very far in Scripture to see its importance.

Jesus says - If you love me, you will obey what I command

Another Day in the Life

2011-08-12T08:37:00.000-05:00

We decided to take the morning to walk the neighborhood and ask God what He is doing and how we can participate. It was a very refreshing time. The heat wave has broken and there was a cool breeze blowing. As we returned to the shop it was nearing lunchtime. We pulled out the BBQ grill and fired it up. We sat in the shade talking and cooking and greeting those that passed by.

A young man rode up on his bike and abruptly asked if we would give him a job. It wasn’t exactly a text book approach to applying for work. He was modestly dressed in shorts and a tank top. He still had his headphones in his ears when he asked. I told him to talk to Jason and asked him his age. He said he was 14. I admonished him for his approach and told him I would help him in any way I could but the first thing we were going to do was talk about his approach.

As Jason began to talk to boy his story began to unfold. His mom is unable to work due to illness. Her live in boyfriend is also unable to work due to a back injury. His sister just had a baby out of wedlock and also lives in the home. This boy was sent out into our neighborhood each day to find work to make money to take home to his family. He said he refused to sell drugs and was not about to quit school. After we told him how we could help and that we did not have the money to hire him right now, he rode off on his bike. He said I don’t have time to work unless I am getting paid because my family relies on me for support. At 14 years of age he is carrying the emotional and financial burden of his whole family.

As the meat on the grill was now ready we brought out a table and chairs and began to eat. Here comes our new friend again. We invite him to eat with us. He had never had a pork steak. As we talked he told us how some thug who told him he was going to rob him had just threatened him. He was able to ride away on his bike but that is why he came back. He came to us for safety. As we finished eating he asked us if we could come to his house and meet his family. We agreed to that and followed him home. Mark and Jason went to the door and met with his family. We offered to help them in any way we can. They are willing to work in anyway they are able but just don’t know what they can do in their situation. We have offered to train them to sew and to supply them with fabric and machines. As we head into the Christmas season we may be able to give them some work.

When I look at the situation that rode up on the bike yesterday I can see what God is doing in my midst. He has set us on a path with solutions to a problem that we didn’t even understand. We have what this family needs and they will fully understand that it is God that has provided it for them. How can anyone hope to minister in conditions like this without the ability to dig in on a deep level? We see many churches and well meaning Christians coming to our hood to hand out food and proclaim a Gospel that few of them live. This shallow approach to ministry causes more problems than it fixes.

We don’t need another youth center, back yard bible club, food hand out in the park, or another emotional plea from a microphone that tells people Satan has lost his grip on their neighborhood. Those who live in his grip know he is alive and well. We need more people that have met God face to face. We need people that have been radically transformed by that experience. We need those that are willing to give up everything in order to meet a young boy on a bike in the middle of their busy day and then go and do whatever it takes to show his family the love of Jesus.

What is God doing today?

2011-07-15T08:06:00.000-05:00

God is very consistent. He is busy today doing what He has been doing for thousands of years. God is restoring His Spirit to mankind. Why is God doing this? His reasons are clear throughout Scripture. He is calling His people to be set apart from the rest of the world. Not in some weird – we can’t be near you because of your cooties – kind of way. He is setting his people apart as a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and His own possession. He is restoring His Spirit to man so that man can live and walk in holiness.

When God chose Abraham He promised to make him a great nation. When God called Israel out of Egypt He was setting them apart. Throughout the nation’s history they repeatedly strayed from God’s commands and let the practices of the nations around them corrupt His chosen people. They became intertwined in practices and lifestyle with the people around them that did not desire to know or follow God. Each time this happened God brought judgement or correction to His people. The people would recognize their error and eventually would embark on a new effort to obey their God.

Today we see God doing something in America. He is calling to His chosen people. He has seen the modern day Asherim poles of this corrupt society. They have crept into church practice over time and just like the false gods of yesteryear, they have corrupted God’s chosen people. In ancient Israel the people would dance around their idols and then come before the Lord. In modern America the people dance around their idols of pleasure and excess then come before the Lord. In times past the people would lower the requirements of God’s commands and allow things that He would not condone. Same thing happens in America today.

Do you think you can continue in your self-indulgent lifestyle and still proclaim that God is your Lord? Do you think He will tolerate that charade forever? I understand that you may “like” your church but what does God think of the way your church operates. Does God command or permit unbelievers to enter the worship gathering? He certainly doesn’t instruct us to invite them there or to hold special events to attract them there. Show me that in scripture. Does God ordain one man to be hired to a position to lead the church or a plurality of leadership gifts that come from the Holy Spirit? Does God tell us to separate our families on Sunday morning or does He tell the parents to train their children and equates the church with a family?

Have you been trained to personally make disciples, overcome the attacks of the enemy, how to use your spiritual gift(s), strengthened in your personal spiritual disciplines, encouraged to baptize your new converts, or to pray and fast with the rest of your church family? If you have not then you should ask yourself why your church has not done this when these practices are so clearly laid out in Scripture.

Or does most of your encouragement from church leaders revolve around giving money to them and using your time to serve the “church” in one of the programmed ministries that they chose to offer? Take a serious look at Scripture. Does you see your church practices described there? Or do you see in your church a very different structure and practice that God may be ready to reform or bring judgement upon.
1 Peter 4:17 - “For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

The Reformation is Coming!

2011-07-15T07:33:00.001-05:00

No words strike more fear into church leadership. Standing against opposition from the outside is a part of the job. Standing against a work of God from the inside is a different thing. Reformation is about God taking His elect out of the corruption that has distracted them from His true calling. In Martin Luther’s day it was about church doctrine that had overstepped its bounds. Luther felt the church leadership was putting itself in a place that God did not ordain. The theology had resulted in certain practices that he felt were contrary to Scripture.

Could you imagine being Christian in Martin Luther’s day? To stand against the church leadership meant excommunication and possibly even death. If you complied with the institution you were “in”. If you did not then you were “out”. Today the church leadership structures deal in a different way. In America there is no death penalty for opposing the doctrine of the church but there is still that “in or out” mentality.

Let’s make it clear that I am definitely “out”. I left the organized American church in 2009. I turned in my credentials and followed after the reformation I saw coming. In America our doctrine of secularism has lead the church to certain practices that are indeed unbiblical. The average American Christian does not know the basic doctrine of their faith nor do they ever examine the organizational structure of the thing they call church. Many church leaders have never read the Bible from cover to cover. Think your leader is an exception? Ask them if they have and when they did it.

The reason I refer to the church in America as the thing “they call church” is because what I see described as church in the bible is very different than what I see represented as church in America. The church in the bible is comprised of only those who have received Christ as their Lord and savior and now possess the Holy Spirit of God as a guaranty of their future inheritance. What I see described as the church in America is the building where people gather on a set day of the week. These people can include anyone without regard to their spiritual state. Sorry folks but you are not a part of God’s church unless your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and there is only one way to get there. It is not the attendance roll call at your local church.

So if Martin Luther reformed church doctrine then what is God reforming now? God is doing what He has been doing since the time of Abraham. He is calling out His chosen people and setting them apart as a royal priesthood, His own possession. The Baal’s and the Asherim may look different today but they are no less offensive to God. When the church is conformed in its methods and practices to the corrupted society around it then correction is needed.

“Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don't touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you”

The time for reformation in America is here. Come out and join it. Let’s talk.

Hard to Put in a Box.

2011-07-13T15:44:00.002-05:00

I am taking many inquiries lately from potential missionaries to America. The questioning is always fascinating as the candidate tries so gracefully to assess what kind of a group this is that is calling for new missionaries. The questions reveal their understanding of ministry in way that I am not sure they even understand. Our methodology in the American church has so engrained our brain with “the way” ministry is done.

I am here tell you that what we are doing is outside the box and will stay there for some time. Here is why our adventure is so different. The first main difference is that we do not have an official state sanctioned or organized church. That is right, no corporation, no paid positions in the church, the church does not and cannot own property, and most importantly the only thing to join is our worship gatherings where only our disciples are invited to attend. We don’t exclude people we just don’t invite them. If someone is gifted to lead we recognize that and empower that person in their gifting. These gifts that lead the church are found in Ephesians 4. If someone makes disciples then it is right and biblical for that person to receive gifts from their disciples for their ministry to them in the Word. Everyone is empowered and released to make disciples and minister in their spiritual gifting. The congregation as a whole recognizes wise and spiritually mature men among the group and turn to them for counsel when needed. They also help people through crisis and protect the doctrinal integrity of the group. We recognize and affirm spiritual gifts, deacons, elders, and leadership gifts.

The second main thing is that we have an organized incorporated 501(c)3 non-profit that facilitates our ministry on the ground. It owns property and has payroll but it does not run the church. Some disciples may work for that non-profit but others may not. The non-profit is a tool God uses to provide the physical aspects of our ministry. The church and the non-profit run separately but also are dependent upon each other. The non-profit has a Board of Directors and an Executive Director and it reports to the IRS each year. It runs under the laws that govern non-profit organizations.

What difference does this make? The non-profit has, by its very structure, a focus on serving the public interest or benefit. It must do its social mission. The non-profit does not hire pastors or church leaders to do those jobs. The assets of the non-profit can’t be controlled or manipulated in order to control the church. They hire people to do jobs within the non-profit. This separation is incredibly helpful if you want a church that is free to operate in Spirit and truth at all costs.

The church on the other hand keeps its spiritual focus and is not bogged down with facilities and employees that can slow it down, cause divisions, and distract its focus onto physical things that it sees as growth indicators. The church in America is measured for the most part by facilities and budget. These things are non existent in our church. The church leaders operate in the church free from financial manipulation and leadership structures that can use their paycheck or ordination paperwork as a tool to pressure certain behavior.

Our missionaries can do what God has called them to do. They can apply to work in the non-profit, hold a full or part time position with another employer, start or operate their own business, or live off the support of their disciples. The non-profit manages facilities that help the missionaries to minister in the target areas. It can help the missionaries start their own ministry and provide training and relocation assistance to new missionaries. We are truly working outside the box. If you want to learn more just email me with the subject line – Missionaries to America. Click Here

Getting Robbed for Money!

2011-06-30T08:27:00.001-05:00

Do you understand what our current economic system has done to us? We dedicate ourselves to a career or job. This job then controls much of our time. In some cases it controls the majority of our waking hours. It puts us in a competitive environment every day. We compete with other businesses for a share of the market or for that customer. We compete with our co-workers for advancement. We have a benevolent yet competitive relationship with our bosses. In all this the ultimate goal is money. I’ve heard it said, “If it weren’t for the money I wouldn’t need this job.”

What does this do to our ability to live our faith in an active way? In the middle of your day can you stop to minister for several hours without the fear of losing your job? Does your employment force you to put your ministry on a calendar? Many times even those in full time ministry do not have the freedom or flexibility to adjust their schedules as the Spirit leads. Is this the way it has to be?

We are experimenting here in St. Louis. We are working in our ministry and trying to keep our focus on the spiritual. We work with our hands and try to stay flexible. So far we have learned a few things. One thing we have learned is that the 40 – 50 hour workweek does not have to fit a schedule. If you are all working together for the same goal then it results in flexibility. The other morning someone knocked on our door at 6:15am asking us to help move furniture for an elderly couple that was being evicted. We were able to re-arrange our workday to allow us to minister. Flexibility is the key. Can we truly have that flexibility when a profit motivated entity is our employer? Can we have that ability to minister in that way when our employer demands our presence from 9 – 5? We can only have flexibility when the social aspect of our faith rules over the money aspect of our work.

We have also learned that we must lead frugal lifestyles in order to enjoy this flexibility. We consume too much as Americans. We live excessive and exorbitant lifestyles. Look around your house and see what I mean. Our appetites and affections rob us of flexibility. In the end it is the pursuit of money that has robbed us. Paul rightly implored the Corinthians that it was their affections that restrained them.

Many people have bought into the lie that money will determine our quality of life. In the pursuit of “Our” money we have lost sight of the reality of community that God intends us to live out. We think we can ignore problems in other areas as if they are not our own. American’s believe they can secure their family’s future with their wealth and by relocating to “safe” neighborhoods. This is a shell game. History shows us that the poor will not be left to die. They rise up and rebel against the wealthy. In America they are doing it politically and through taxation. When God’s people store up for themselves with little regard for the care of others then God Himself will avenge the poor.

As we experiment in St. Louis we hope to rediscover the balance that the Christian life was meant to have. We work with our hands to supply for our needs and then we sacrifice our lives for others. If we are successful in our experiment we will find a balance between supplying for our needs and working in the power and leading of the Holy Spirit to minister to those around us.

A Few Days in the Life of a Missionary to America

2011-06-15T09:24:00.000-05:00

So I decided to communicate what it is like to be a missionary to America working in the inner city. Here is a glimpse into the last few days.

Monday starts with a full workload in the wood shop. We need to assemble and deliver three pieces of outdoor furniture. Five of us have breakfast together and get to work. Once the product was assembled we made appointments to deliver. We stopped midday to pick up a load of donated pallets and unload. A sixth missionary showed up in the afternoon to help break apart the pallets for processing. We loaded up the truck and took off to deliver.

On our way to the second stop we see a man lying on the sidewalk. We stopped to see if he was ok. He was obviously drunk but claimed he was hurt so we called 911 and waited with him for help to arrive. 15 minutes later the EMT’s show up and scold us for calling them. They said “When people that aren’t from around here see someone on the sidewalk they freak out and call us. Around here we just let them lay there and sober up”. I didn’t bother to tell them I was from around here. Instead I informed them that they could expect me to stop and call them every time I happened to see someone on the ground because it is the right thing to do.

We delivered our last load and stopped to talk to 2 young men that were starting recording studio and youth center. We left there to go do laundry at a Laundromat on the Hill. After that a stop at the Sprint store to get a phone repaired and then dinner. We finished eating at about 9:30 and made it back to the opportunity Center for some sleep. It was a long day to start the week.

Tuesday was not an early start. We had a great breakfast cooked by Suzette and visitors showed up about 9am. As I spoke with a city employee on the steps of our building he asked me to clean up the trash at the house across the street. I told him there were two homeless people squatting in the vacant house and the owner knew they were there. They were the ones throwing the trash in the yard and I didn’t want to pick up after them. He went over and woke them and threatened to call the health department on them. After six months of squatting and throwing trash outside they are finally cleaning up after themselves but still squatting in a house with no plumbing or utilities.

We loaded up a bench for one more delivery and as we were preparing to leave we see metal being thrown out of the basement window of the other vacant house across the street. I approached the house and asked the person what they were doing. They said they worked for the city and were turning off the water to prepare to demolish the building. Metal theft is rampant in our area so I asked for some ID and paperwork. I called the city employee that was visiting earlier and he came over and immediately called the police. Long story short – they were authorized to be in the building turning off the water. They were just stealing whatever scrap was in each building as they went about their business. Police made them put the metal back and let them continue to work.

Later that day we picked up a load of dirt, mowed one of the garden lots, set the base for a prairie kit to be installed and called it a night about 7pm. We all decided it was becoming a long week so we went to the Dubliner on Washington Blvd. And ate dinner on the sidewalk in the cool evening. Then we stopped at Gelateria Tavolini for some gelato and again made it home about 9:30.

In between all of this I found out that a woman that we work with at the Catholic Church had her appendix explode. The sponsoring organization for the festival I am chairing had their funding cut and cannot do what they committed to do. We made contact with the pastor of a new church in the area and asked him to pray with us, still waiting for that answer. Had three people ask me for handouts but not for work. Referred one of our workplace re-entry participants to a new job he started Monday.

Today we prepare for a group of volunteers to work in the gardens. We still have a full load of work in the wood shop. We have one less missionary today, as he is off at his other job. We are already tired and we aren’t even half way through the week.

I guess when I put it likes this – I do have a great life!

Two Years and Counting

2011-05-22T06:44:00.001-05:00

In the early part of 2009 I answered the call of God to go to the inner city and begin what He said would be a reformation of the church and a revival of the land. The call was to train and relocate missionaries to America’s inner cities. This did not excite many that were part of my “church” at the time and many of them no longer speak to me today. The call was not to take them along. This call was specific to my wife and me. We were to go even if no one else came with us.

We started out with no other direction than to serve the people and listen to the Holy Spirit. Over the course of the next year we met many people and learned a lot about our city that we never knew before. We picked up trash, helped with a Christmas party for the poor, met the homeless and the drug dealers, cleaned the park, and most importantly we prayed.

One year into our mission we were given a building. It was to become a place of Opportunity. It would not be a traditional church, even though believers would gather and worship together there. It would become an economic tool to free the missionaries from traditional bi-vocational ministry. It took us until May of 2010 to get the building cleaned out and passed its inspections so we could occupy it.

Since that day we have worked diligently to establish a base of operations in the area. Yesterday we celebrated our first anniversary of opening the Opportunity Center. It gave us time to reflect on what God has accomplished in the past year. Here is a short summary.

We have 12 missionaries dedicated to relocate to the area. We have new Christ followers from the neighborhood. We have established the beginning of the way in which many of the missionaries will make their living. They will work with their hands in the wood shop or sewing center as they minister side by side with the lost in the community. We have built working relationships with churches and organizations that cross a wide spectrum of society. These groups range from secular to Christian and are as varied as the people that have become supporters of our work. We have been accepted and supported by the political leaders. We have been granted access to all levels of city government to express our call and mission. We have gained the respect of the business community. We have been granted the opportunity to lead town meetings in prayer and proclaim the Gospel through music in the public arena. We have preached a gospel of reformation and total dedication to serving Christ with our lives.

As I look forward to the next year and can only be excited about what I see God doing in my midst. The Master Builder has solidly built the foundation. Today we hit the streets preaching the Gospel and fully expecting the signs and wonders of God to follow. We look forward to meeting the next group of missionaries that God is preparing to bring into this work.

Finding the Right Path to Your Ministry

2011-05-04T08:17:00.001-05:00

As I read the New Testament I see many times where a progressive path is laid out. I see in Corinthians where the path for establishing the church is laid out. I see in Peter a path for disciple making. I also see in Peter a path for each of us to find our ministry. When I refer to finding our ministry I am referring to the Ephesians 2:10 works that God has made for us to walk in from long ago. Here is a passage from 1Peter 5.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”

Look at the process. It requires us first and foremost to walk humbly under the mighty hand of God. This is such a difficult thing to grasp and explain. God is a master builder. He seeks those who will allow Him to build without interference. This means we may not see the results we are looking for in our efforts. The requirement for humility is tested in us as we selflessly serve others and wait for God’s plan to unfold.

The second instruction is to be alert. Many times our enemy can destroy us because he catches us off guard. He will attack us in our results. He will tempt us to try to move faster, to get us to value results over process. If we humble ourselves under the hand of God it requires us to turn over the results to God. He builds His church. He is the only one that can transform a life. Only God can restore His Spirit to man no matter how hard we try.

The third instruction regards suffering. Many misunderstand the context of suffering because of the way it is taught today. Many see it as suffering in this present life like losing your job or getting ill. I think the suffering referred to in Scripture has more to do with spreading the gospel and what is required of us to live a set apart life. If we are truly to live differently than the rest of society then suffering will be a natural result. After suffering to be set apart we see the explanation of the process.

Peter says that after these things God Himself will perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. What exactly do these terms mean for us?

Perfect – To set free from sin and guilt. To break our bondage of the past. It is the Freedom that is referred to in Galatians. To be perfected is to be free to walk in the Spirit.

Confirm – We are established in our faith as we discover our spiritual gifts. God confirms our place in His household as He works through us in His power. If you don’t discover and use your spiritual gifts then you lack this confirmation.

Strengthen – We are strengthened as we walk in our freedom and our gifting. Through our use of spiritual disciplines we grow in the grace and knowledge of God. This strengthening enables us to engage in Spiritual warfare. Without being strengthened in our inner man, as Paul puts it, we lack the ability to take on our role in the battle against our enemy. This strengthening occurs as we put to death the things of the flesh and this world in our lives and rely more wholly on the Spirit.

Establish – This is where your ministry takes shape. The discovery of your Ephesians 2:10 works. If you try to shortcut the system then you end up producing wood, hay and stubble.

Here is the progression. Humble yourself under God’s hand. Be patient and wait for Him to exalt you at the right time. Don’t be anxious. Be alert and watch out for the devil’s schemes. Resist the devil and stand firm in your faith. Seek freedom from sin and your past. Seek to understand your spiritual gifts. Put on the full armor of God by establishing yourself in a spiritually disciplined life. At the proper time God Himself will exalt you and establish you in the work He designed for you to do.

This is the promised rest in Christ. This is the path of discipleship. Are you on the right path to your ministry? Is someone helping you find the way?

Missionaries to America

2011-04-30T07:43:00.000-05:00

I have been working for the past two years to begin a missionary movement to America. This vision is to call, train, relocate, and release missionaries into America’s inner cities starting in North St. Louis Missouri. The idea of being missionaries in your own country may seam strange to some. Many missions organizations involved in overseas missions have already realized the need to raise up indigenous leaders for their work in foreign countries. We do not consider this in America because the church is on every corner.

In the devastated inner cities of our country the church is often ineffective in growing the kingdom and combating evil. Many of the inner city churches are made up of people that do not live in the area where the church is located. Many times the majority of the congregation and pastoral staff are coming into the neighborhood for services and then leaving to their suburban homes. The churches with the greatest impact are residents of the community.

The idea of a missionary movement to the inner cities may have escaped the eyes of many people. What God is doing in our midst is to prepare a place and a means whereby we can facilitate a large movement of missionaries to a specific place. This movement will allow us to work interdependently together as we tackle some very big issues that have plagued these areas for generations.

We are working as missionaries outside of the traditional church structures. We do not “do church” the way many people are used to seeing it done. We do not have public services. We gather the missionaries and their disciples for organic gatherings of worship. We share our resources with one another as each has need. We work co-operatively in non-profit business ventures to supply the needs of the work and to pastor the community where we live. We take on large tasks together and empower each missionary to do what God has made them to do (Ephesians 2:10). We support each other in their work and together we operate as the sacred assembly of Christ in the midst of a fallen world.

As our foundation has been set over these past two years we see an acceleration coming. We have a wood shop and sewing center that makes products from mostly re-purposed materials. We are negotiating for the use of a commercial kitchen in the area that will allow us to make and package food for sale. We have been offered a 3100 square foot café and retail space starting next year. We have 12 missionaries working in the area with 5 already living in the neighborhood. We are ready to begin rehabbing housing to provide for the needs of future missionaries.

We have been given extreme favor with the business and political leaders of the area. The kind of favor that can only come from God’s grace. We are beginning to see a working of unity among the leaders and ministers that live in the area. We are seeing young people accept Christ and make life changes. These are only first fruits and there is much work to do in our area.

If you feel a call to work outside the church structure but remain in America then I want to hear from you. We can help to provide, train, empower, and release you to become a part of what I think will be the largest missionary movement to America in it’s history. Those who are chosen will find work, housing, support, and freedom to minister in one of the most dangerous and depressed areas of our country. You must be dedicated to making disciples that make disciples and working outside the traditional church model.

For more information contact Terry by email at terry@sunministries.org

The Sacred Assembly

2011-04-07T07:37:00.000-05:00

I have been watching the events unfold for some time now. I once was as they are now. I see them writing on their Blogs or Facebook about their growing frustration or discontentment with the “church.” Many are questioning. They are looking at the traditions of their fathers and they see so much truth and so much error that the contradiction becomes unbearable. The organization called the “church” hardly resembles the character of the God it is supposed to serve. How can this be? How can so many good people occupy their time and energy with such things as these? Where is the care for the widow, the orphan, the poor, or for my friends? What if I don't like the things the system requires of me? What if I know I was made for more? Why do I need their approval in order to serve my God? Where is the unity of the faith that Paul speaks about? Why is there so much division and backbiting? Why do we separate over such small doctrinal matters?

Sadly, for many this faith journey ends in dissatisfaction. The questions go unanswered and bitterness begins to set in. An uncomfortable compromise begins to take shape. Many leave the “church” but with no real direction. It is a trap of the enemy! The trap is that I am now on my own faith journey and it's just between me and God. The lie is that you can find God and walk with Him outside the Church. This is not God's design. It never has been. God's design is for a Sacred Assembly to rule the earth. From the time of Abraham even unto now God has been setting apart His people to be a Sacred Assembly.

Another trap is that doctrine is the problem. If we re-examine the doctrine that divides us, we may find the solution to our dissatisfaction. God is truth and to know Him requires us to know truth. Godly doctrine is the expression of the truth of who God really is. To live apart from solid doctrine is to live in something other than truth. God is seeking those who will worship Him in Spirit and Truth!

Look at the Scripture. The context is clear. We were designed to be an interdependent, doctrinally sound, biblically functioning community of Christ followers. We are to care for each other. We are to share with each other. Our gifts are meant to be inseparable. Together we are the temple of God where His Spirit dwells. When we pursue God alone we deny the truth that God designed us to be together. From the time of Adam God declared it is not good for man to be alone. This Community was meant to live radically different lives from the people around them. This community was meant to be the abode of the Holy Spirit actively manifesting among a lost and dying world. The people of God were meant to live united lives. The problem comes not from the “church” but from the structures that bind the “church.” When the church is lead by the Holy Spirit it is exactly where Christ followers find freedom, contentment, care, and empowerment. The problem for most in your generation is that you have never experienced this kind of community before. You long for it but can't find it. You express your discontentment with those who are older and they do not seam to understand. They do not have the same feelings about “church” that you have. They like it. They can't understand why you don't like it. They may even infer that the problem is with you and not the “church.” They even go as far as to question the legitimacy of any expression of church that does not resemble what they approve. They rationalize the problems in order to defend what they hold dear and so might you if the roles were reversed.

The problem is not really a problem at all. It is a work of God in our generation. God is calling out a remnant from the old work to a new work. He is doing what He has done so many times throughout history. God is reshaping the Church to revive it. He is calling you to something deeper. He wants you to live a radically transformed life so a decaying and corrupt world can see your bright light shine. He wants your light to go to the dark places of your country and make a difference. There is nothing wrong here. There is a stirring of the Holy Spirit among a young generation. God is moving on you and many others like you to come out of the structures that you were raised in and to find newness of life in a Sacred Assembly. In the Sacred Assembly you can be all that God made you to be. You can shed the corruption of your flesh and find new spiritual life. You can live interdependently with other Christ followers much like you see expressed in Acts chapter 2. In the Sacred Assembly you can discover and mature that spiritual gift that God placed in you. You can walk in Freedom from sin and find the Ephesians 2:10 works that God made beforehand for you to walk in. You can be a light in a dark place.

Don't let them hold you back. Alternative faith communities exist in America today. They have broken free from the structure that binds the church and they are living radical interdependent lives in very dark places. Jesus walked outside the “church” structure of His day because God was reforming that system. Jesus did not walk alone. Neither should you.

On Spiritual Maturity

2011-04-06T08:52:00.001-05:00

"The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.”

When examining the process of making disciples we must look at one goal of making disciples. One goal is to bring people from a place of no knowledge of God to a place of maturity in Christ. This place of maturity is one of the desired results of discipleship that is referred to in Scripture.

If one goal of discipleship is to bring people to maturity in Christ then how can we know when we are successful in making disciples instead of just making converts? Let's look at some of the characteristics of the spiritually mature.

In 1Cor. 2 Paul talks of speaking wisdom to the mature. It is a wisdom that is not of this world. This wisdom is not understood by many including the rulers of this age. Position and title does not equate to spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity is a work of the Holy Spirit and is accomplished through the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit that produces maturity through the Pleroma of Christ. That is the fulness of all that Christ has for us. It is the ever present dwelling of the Spirit of Christ within us that allows us to operate in the spiritual above the physical. The spiritually mature is first and foremost subject to the Spirit.

Hebrews 5 and 6 speaks of moving on to maturity by leaving the elementary instructions and moving on. This moving on denotes that something must be left and something else must be attained in order to indicate spiritual maturity. The thing to leave is the elementary teachings. There is a time for foundational instruction but it is not something for those considered mature to be receiving. A sign of maturity is that they can now discern good and evil because by practice their senses have been trained to do it. Spiritual maturity requires an active and discerning practice of our faith.

Another indication of a mature disciple is the bearing of fruit. Jesus indicates that bearing fruit is how we prove to be His disciples. When we look at the difference between the spiritually mature and the babes in Christ, we can see the following characteristics.

Spiritually mature Christians are filled with the Pleroma of God, they have left the elementary teachings, they have moved on to an active faith being lived out in a process that practices discerning good from evil. They are actively involved in making new disciples. They have become teachers instead of only being learners. The spiritually mature understand a wisdom that is not of this world, they work in their spiritual gifts. The spiritually mature Christian bears fruit for Christ that is brought to spiritual maturity.

Have you become spiritually mature? Does your current faith community produce spiritually mature Christians?

The Cart Before the Proverbial Horse

2011-04-04T08:26:00.000-05:00

Ministry is a simple thing right? Expanding the kingdom of God is what is accomplished by ministry. That sounds easy. So what do we consider ministry to be then? Is it any activity by which we expand the kingdom of God? Is it serving the people of God in the local church? Is it having spiritual conversations with the already professing friends that like church activities?

Consider this thought first. What are we commanded to make? Converts or disciples? If we were commanded to make converts then ministry could easily be any thing we do that helps bring people to a profession of faith. However, we see in scripture that it is said of many that confess Christ that He never knew them. Profession of faith is not the goal. We see in the Sermon on the Mount that many prophesy, cast out demons, and perform miracles in the name of Jesus but He never knew them.

We can see from the passage about the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25 that the physical realities of ministry do matter. The only difference between the two that is cited in the passage is first what they did or did not do, and second is that the Lord knew one group and not the other. How can people do so much in the name of Christ and never really know Him?

Consider the cart of physical activity and the horse of spiritual transformation. When we do things in order to facilitate spiritual transformation we quite literally put the cart before the horse. Much of my life I have been involved in church activities. I would do what was in front of me because I was persuaded that this is how we bring people to Christ and then to maturity. There were convincing diagrams resembling baseball diamonds or concentric circles that would clearly show me the path people were expected to take to spiritual maturity. These diagrams would allow me as a leader to assess where people were in their walk and direct them to the next step. This model of ministry is prevalent in America today. It is easy to communicate and for a leader to follow. According to recent statistical analysis of the church in America it is also completely ineffective at producing mature fruit bearing Christians. This bearing of good fruit is what was lacking in the condemned group from the Sermon on the Mount.

As I started Sun Ministries I could see how the church in America was not very active in “Sheep-like” activities. They were constantly involved in “Goat-like” behavior. In the inner city there were more “sheep-like” things happening because there was a greater visible need for those things. I still had a hard time believing that the difference between sheep and goats could only be in what they did or did not do. That would be too easily faked. In Matthew 7 the fakers appeared to think they had it right. In Matthew 25 the goats act like they never saw the need and the sheep appear amazed that what they did counted for so much.

I think the true difference between these groups was that one lived lives transformed by the Holy Spirit and the other did not. The reason I believe this is because the Spirit transformed follower of Christ naturally does the things that are near and dear to God's heart. The untransformed professor of Christ does not even see the things that God sees. They simply go through the motions and follow in what they have been taught to do by other men.

As I engaged in the bigger picture of spiritual warfare for my community I see the activities we do in light of spiritual battle. If we are truly opposing the weapons of Satan that are targeting the people that God created, then there can only be one solution and that must be spiritual. Therefore every physical manifestation of ministry must have at its very beginning a spiritual transformation. The goal of obtaining a spiritual transformation as a result of our physical activity is a trap. The spiritual gets lost in the physical activity. Keeping the goal of spiritual transformation at the front of everything we do requires us to keep the horse in front of the cart. We can never assume that we can reach people as a result of our activities. Our activities are tools to break Satan's strongholds.

All of our physical activities must have a spiritual context. Are we doing things that combat the physical manifestation of Satan's attack on God's people? Are our activities overcoming his weapons of poverty, division, corruption, self-indulgence, drugs, crime, promiscuity, etc...? Are we doing it with Spirit transformed followers of Christ or are we doing it in order to try to make Spirit transformed followers of Christ? The only thing that can regenerate man is the recognition of his fallen state and heartfelt surrender to a loving God. The only thing that can lead to that according to Scripture is the preaching of the Gospel. When Spirit transformed followers of Christ serve their community in love and stand in opposition to Satan’s tools and strongholds, then the Gospel will transform those who decide to obey it. Only then will the physical manifestations of ministry aid in transforming the disciple to maturity. Getting people to follow in worthwhile activities is not an indicator of transformation.

To do activity in order to attract or convert people to Christ is to rob the Gospel of its power and to put the cart of the physical ahead of the horse of the spiritual.

Watching Reformation Take Place

2011-03-24T06:58:00.001-05:00

Over the past year God has given me great understanding of what He is doing in America at this time. There is a movement of reformation among us. In this movement of God I see many people that are being stirred to question or even becoming unsettled with the statues quo of American Christianity. Dissatisfaction with their faith experience seams to be brewing for many people. It appears to be affecting a broad range of people too.

In this period of “unsettledness” (if I can use that term) people are making choices about what correction is needed. Some leaders are responding by changing the way they perform their Sunday Services. They are adding contemporary music or casual dress. Those that have already made those changes are changing the way they present the church to the public. They are taking their denomination’s name off the billboard. Some are moving into bars to hold church or community interaction times. Others are changing the way they view the truth of Scripture and asking questions about our interpretation of major doctrines like heaven, hell, and homosexuality.

Another group is leaving the structure of American Christianity completely. These people are going into the most evil and oppressed parts of our country and they are living their faith among those that they find there. They choose to work outside the system and apart from the theological debate. What they find in that place is that Jesus is a powerful and transformational God that intends to empower you with the Holy Spirit to transform the world. In that place theology becomes clear and life meets faith. The spirit realm opens up around you and you lose your questions about many things described in Scripture. Walking in this way brings clarity to life and faith.

Walking outside the system and the debate is exactly what Jesus did. He did not debate theology He proclaimed it. He did not walk under the ruling system He challenged it. He did not store up for Himself earthly things or avoid the unseemly He walked above the worldly things and embraced the least.

No matter where you go to church in America these days it appears God is stirring people to seek more. Do not get trapped in into a belief that a change in style or theology is what God is doing. God is calling His people to action. The only thing God needs from us is obedience to the call. Make disciples, feed the hungry, serve the poor, care for the widows and orphans, and house the homeless. Walk in the power of the Holy Spirit to transform the world. The reformation that is stirring is not about style or doctrine – it is about what it’s always been about. It’s about how you live what you profess to believe.

Are you living like Jesus lived?

Walk This Way

2011-03-05T08:30:00.000-06:00

Throughout Kings, Chronicles, and Ezekiel there are many people that are described as “walking after the way” of someone that preceded them. Ahab walked in the way of Jeroboam. It is said of other kings that they walked in the way of their fathers or the king that came before them.

The idea of walking after someone is communicating that there was a way that was taught or prevalent in the society. This way was followed by choice. The person that chose to walk after someone's way, did not just come after that person but they also did the things they saw that person doing.

In Israel it was often the case that these people whose way was followed would have been leaders. They would have appeared to have God's approval on their life and work. Many times they were set over the religious system of the day.

Even though we can look in hindsight and see that God was unhappy with the corruption of their day, it was likely more difficult to see it if you were living in that day. The same can be said for our day. Many times we walk after the way of someone else. We follow the religious system we were taught to follow. It can be very difficult to see the corruption that has crept into our religious systems. We can overlook it intentionally or we may choose not to look at all. In the end, we must realize that God has given us example after example of how easy it is to walk in a corrupt way because it was how we were taught.

Many times God tried to bring correction to Israel. Many times we see the prophets facing the same people we are told are walking in corruption. Often they cite their position as justification for their right to lead in the way they are found leading. Today we can see a much more polished system in place to keep down prophetic correction. This leaves you in a position of responsibility. You cannot walk blindly in the ways of someone else. Your obedience is your responsibility. Only you will answer for the way in which you walked your life. Maybe the time has come for you to examine what you are walking in and seek the way of the Lord instead of the ways of men.

Walking It Out

2011-02-19T08:14:00.001-06:00

I have engaged in rediscovering the lost pursuit of making disciples that make disciples. I have returned to the scripture for teaching and committed to walk outside the established religious system of our day. This was a personal conviction and a faith journey that I believe was in obedience to a clear call from God on my life. Over the last few years I have learned many things and I have found a relationship with God that I had once only read about. Here are a few things I learned.

The Narrow road is really narrow and few will find it. I understand this teaching today.

You can only follow one master is truly a choice we make every day. God or money – which will it be?

The corruption that I saw in the church systems I was in is more widespread and deeper than I first imagined.

Even in deeply corrupt church systems there are great people that love God and serve Him and others from that motivation of love.

The way church operates in America today, is for the majority, a far distance from what Scripture describes or defines. This keeps many from walking in the power of God to transform the world. The church systems will often consume the resources of its people on itself.

I do not need to have followers in order to change the world. While most religious leaders count the things that they can see I will focus on the change that I can bring.

I have discovered how big and awesome and sovereign God really is. I do not need to worry about what others are doing or not doing. I need to seek holiness, be obedient to God’s word, and be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is within me, at all times.

As one dedicated to making disciples I need to be willing to walk along side those that seek to find what I have found. I must teach, preach, encourage, correct, empower, and release those who wish to dedicate their whole life to Jesus. Anything less is not worthy of our time or our lives. Those that wish to hold on to their lives and seek God with less than all that they have, must be shown again the call of Jesus on their lives and left to make their own decision.

Unity is possible but can only happen as we lay aside our own agenda and begin to serve others selflessly. God’s agenda naturally brings unity to those that are following.

I would love to help you find what I have found but first you must count the cost – Luke 14:33

Whose Call are You Following?

2011-02-05T07:26:00.001-06:00

There are some teachings of our faith that are so foundational to our lives that they cannot be ignored if we are to claim the name of Christ as our Lord. Some of these are the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Without belief in these we can hardly claim to follow Christ. What about the call that Jesus made to follow Him? We see it in three of the Gospels.

“And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”

To deny ourselves is the first step in answering this call from Jesus. He defined what it takes to be a follower. As I look around me in America and I see the excesses of modern Christianity, I have to ask myself if people are even being called to follow Jesus in the way He called them to follow? Does the church itself follow the way in which Jesus called?

Does the church in America deny itself? I am looking for those churches. Can you help me find them? The church that denies itself will make do with what it has in order to serve the poor or the lost. It will make choices to do without the things that comfort, attract, or entertain the crowd so it can use it resources to pastor the community.

I am truly looking for those churches but I can hardly find them. What I find instead are organizations that expand themselves like a field of dreams scenario. As soon as they are at 60% of capacity they start planning another expansion. If we build it … They provide latte's for the crowd but very little for the hungry outside. How can leaders teach people to follow if they cannot get step one correct – deny themselves?

How do you spot those churches that have learned step one? I once attended a large church in California. It was one of the first Mega Churches in the country. The pastor was well known and on the radio nationally. He put off expanding the church to the point that he was preaching 5 services each Sunday as well as his other commitments to travel and radio. Easter services were held in the parking lot. His reasoning was clear. While an expanded sanctuary would alleviate the load on his personal life and bring comfort to his followers, he felt that building too soon would jeopardize the nearly $1,000,000.00 that the church gave to missions each year. He did not want to risk the work of the kingdom for his own personal benefit or for the comfort of the crowd.

As you go to church this Sunday keep in mind the great call of our Lord Jesus. Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me. Does your church practice and preach the call of Jesus?

Looking for Work

2011-01-30T06:38:00.000-06:00

Ephesians 2:8-10 - For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

God made us and saved us to do good works. These works were prepared for us beforehand that we should walk in them.

Do you believe this applies to you? Are you walking in the prepared work of God for your life? Or are you like so many I meet that are still wondering what those works should be? If God prepared the works for you specifically and He prepared them beforehand, why is it so difficult for many to find those works?

The only way to find the prepared works is to follow the God that prepared them for us. Many times we let other things lead us into ministry hoping to find the Eph. 2:10 works. We sit and plan and try to come up with what things are needed in order to do the works we think God wants from us. We plan and budget how much money it will take to do what we think we are made to do. Structure and money should never lead ministry. These things are the other master Jesus refers to when He tells us there are only two masters we can serve.

The thing that often leads people in their search for the 2:10 works is this idea that their likes and passions will guide them to the works. When we search for the works through our filter of what we like and what we are passionate about we are basically following ourselves. This can often lead us to search for the existing thing that we find appealing. What if God has called you to a work that does not yet exist. Can you ever find it in this way?

So how do you find the 2:10 works for your life? Here is how I have found them and how I have led some others to find them.

First you must consecrate your self. Deal with your sin and pursue holiness. No more messing around. Get serious about your faith. Read the Bible from beginning to end. Dedicate yourself to prayer. Begin to learn about and apply fasting in your life. Give up your love for money. Start by giving it away. Prepare to share your faith. Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.

Next you must learn to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. He is here to guide you into the 2:10 works. Without hearing from Him you will never find them. Once you are consecrated and listening it is time to act. Learn to make disciples. Serve other people. These two things are at the heart of God. If you are consecrated and listening, and you start acting in obedience to serve others and make disciples, you will find the 2:10 works. God is ready to lead you there. You just have to follow His way.

One of the Greatest Lies Ever Told

2011-01-16T08:44:00.001-06:00

“We must be like them to win them to Christ.”

It sounds good at first glance. We can use the Apostle Paul’s words to confirm this thought.

“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.”

To the Jews I became a Jew – Paul did not embrace again the Law and its requirements. He respected those who did embrace it. He did not approach them with the argument against following the Law but rather the Gospel of Christ, which frees us from the Law.

To those not under the Law – He did not approach the gentiles with the legalism of adhering to something they were not under. He preached the Gospel.

He did not approach the weak in power so as to intimidate them into submission.

What Paul is referring to here is serving every man as a servant in order to win him to the Gospel. When we focus on behavior instead of serving in love, we miss Paul’s message.

If we examine Scripture from beginning to end what we find is a common theme. God wants His people to be set apart and live differently than those who reject Him. When we believe that we must be like those who do not follow God we fall into the same trap that Israel did so many times in the Old Testament.

God’s people are to be a sacred assembly, a peculiar people. Six times in Scripture God refers to His people as a peculiar people or treasure to Him. The Sacred Assembly of God’s people are to live by God’s rules and embrace God’s ways. The design is for us to be as a light on a hill showing in our lives that serving others and following God is preferred over the ways of the nations.

When we embrace the lie that we must in some way be like those who reject God then we lose our brightness and corrupt the assembly. The problem today is that it is easier to be like others than it is to live set apart. God’s design has not failed to reach. God’s people have failed to embrace His design. We see the greatest growth of God’s kingdom in the regions where we see the greatest contrast between the lives of God’s people and the lives of those who do not follow God.

If You Found It You Should Be Using It.

2010-12-30T08:57:00.001-06:00

Grace is an amazing thing. It was brought to us through Jesus Christ. The Bible says it was grace that allowed Christ to die for us. Stop and think about that for a minute. Do you know Jesus? Are you living to be more like Him? He left us an example of how to live and one of the greatest examples is found in His death. It was grace that allowed Him to do it.

If we understand grace it will effect our lives. It is what establishes us in God. Many pursue knowledge as a way to be grounded in their faith. Knowledge of God will multiply grace to us according to 2 Peter. Knowledge alone does not establish us in Christ. Understanding the grace given to us is what allows us to persevere and steward grace to others. Grace destroys pride. In fact, God gives grace to the humble.

Understanding grace will compel us to serve others. When we steward the grace of God it is not voluntarily. Understanding grace brings us to a place of stewardship that is from compulsion. Have you experienced God’s grace but not been moved to a place of showing that grace to others. Many are waiting to find a place that fits them. They look for a desirable way to serve God. In this age of smorgasbord ministry we can be lured into waiting to find the perfect fit for our lives. Grace is rarely found in a place that fits our lives.

If you want to experience the grace of God more fully, you must follow God to the place where you need His grace the most. Jesus did this as an example for us and it allows us to participate in stewarding God’s grace to others. Even in His most desperate hour Jesus found grace that was sufficient. Of that moment when He cried in desperation the scripture says of God’s response to Him. - For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

Grace is best found when we run to serve those that others avoid.

Have You Found It?

2010-12-09T07:54:00.000-06:00

“It” is an amazing thing. It saved Noah from the flood. It saved Lot from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. It exalts servants to become rulers and widows to find new husbands. It brings a child to the barren. It comes by way of Jesus Christ and when we find it we are to abide in it. When we experience it we are to testify to others about it. Through it we believe and will receive salvation. Our faith gives us access to it through Christ. It is sufficient for us to do all things and it can provide for us to do every good work. The proud do not receive it but the humble will find it. It is the inheritance of those that obey Christ. We are stewards of it.

It is Grace. It is kindness we do not deserve. It is the favor of God. Grace does not promise an easy life. It does not promise us luxury and ease. Grace is a gift that we must understand in order to walk uprightly in it. We must always keep in mind our own fallen and broken state so that pride does not rob us of the grace of God. To understand Grace is to become able to walk in lowly circumstances and begin to steward the most precious thing we have ever been given – God’s favor. Grace allows us to engage the broken in a real relationship of reconciliation. Grace permits us to look past the surface. Grace makes it possible to walk in any circumstance and continue to see God working around us.

Behold our shield, O God,
And look upon the face of Your anointed.
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside.
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
O LORD of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in You!

Finding grace changes us from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God. Finding grace is not a one-time event but rather a daily experience found as we walk in obedience to God’s commands. May you find the grace of God and then show the same to others.

Revelations from Revelations

2010-10-31T06:39:00.000-05:00

When I see something like this in Scripture I decide it must be worth a deeper look.

Revelations 5:6

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.

So I looked through Scripture and I found seven spirits attributed to God.

7 Spirits of God listed in Scripture

1. Spirit of Judgement and Burning – Is 4:4
2. Spirit of Counsel and Might – Is 11:2
3. Spirit of knowledge, understanding and wisdom – Is 11:2
4. Spirit of Grace – Zech 12:10
5. Spirit of Truth – John 14:17
6. Spirit of Holiness – Romans 1:4
7. Spirit of slumber – Romans 11:8

There were actually more than seven if you separated them by each name but when they are categorized by function I could only find seven. What does all this mean? Well I guess that is for us to discover unless we are under the influence of number 7! There may be more on this later God willing.

How Important is it to Obey?

2010-10-21T08:46:00.000-05:00

The Gospel that was first preached to me was all about repentance and forgiveness. The idea was that if I said I was sorry I would get to go to heaven and not hell. Now so many years later I see a rather disturbing theme in Scripture for anyone that came to Christ through that Gospel. How important is it to leave that starting point and obey the commands of Christ?

Let the Scripture be your guide!

John 3:36 - "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

Acts 5:32 - "And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."

Romans 2:8 - but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.

Romans 6:16 - Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

2 Thess. 1:8 - dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Hebrews 5:9 - And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,

1 Peter 4:7 - For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

If you claim Christ as your savior and yet you do not obey His commands you may be in for a terrible outcome. I find the passage from 2 Thessalonians the most disturbing. It clearly names two different groups of people. There are those that do not know God and then those that do not obey God. Are you in either of these groups today?

Spotting a Fraud or Spying out the False Circumcision

2010-10-17T05:29:00.001-05:00

Here is an old warning with as much meaning today as in the day it was written.

“Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;”

Paul warns the Philippian church to beware! There were people who were frauds among them. He says that he has often told them about these frauds that try to derive their righteousness from the Law. He later declares that these people are actually enemies of Christ.

“whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.”

How can we know how to spot such frauds? Who are they and why are they in the church? We gain insight as we see the characteristics of the ungodly openly portrayed by them.

To Timothy Paul says these types are = always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. – These men would puff themselves up in their study of God’s Word but it would not produce in them the knowledge of the truth that produces a changed life. They were experts at study and failures at living truth.

Again to Timothy Paul describes these types = holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. – The power of God is to transform lives. It brings people to Christ and moves them beyond where they are. These types denied the power of God. I must believe it came from never experiencing the power of God in their lives. Only those who have never tasted God’s power could deny it.

Paul again warns - But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

There are imposters among us. A false circumcision, a false church, goats mixed in with the sheep, tares sown in the church by the devil himself. Spotting them will help us avoid them and to move on into fruitful service. Once we spot such a person how do we determine for sure they are one of the false circumcision? Jesus Himself gives us some assistance in answering this question. In Matthew 25 He tells us how He will separate these at the end of the age – sheep on one side and goats (false circumcision) on the other. In the end it appears the only difference between the two is what they did or didn’t do!

We don’t have to guess or judge, we just need to call people to a decision to act in obedience to what they acknowledge. Sheep obey and goats run away!

There is an Alternative

2010-10-14T08:11:00.001-05:00

The Bible describes an active faith based on a personal relationship with Jesus. This faith is evidenced by the active presence of the Holy Spirit of God inhabiting His people. When God’s people are sanctified, denying themselves, taking up their cross, and following Jesus there are some predictable results.

Widows, orphans, and the poor are cared for by them, the Gospel is preached by them, the Holy Spirit manifests through them and does miraculous things like healing and miracles, the works of the devil are destroyed through them, demons are cast out by them, and an organic fellowship called the church results.

So look at your faith today. Are you experiencing these things? When was the last time you preached the gospel? When was the last time you led someone to the Lord as their savior? When was the last time you witnessed a healing or a miracle? Have you ever experienced a demon or cast one out? Do you care for widows, orphans, or the poor personally? Does the power of the Holy Spirit manifest through you? If you have taken up your cross could you describe that to someone or is it a mystery to you? Are the people around you that claim to be the church doing or experiencing any of these things? Is your church experience an organic free flowing experience of fellowship or a programmed set of meetings that fit on your calendar?

Many read the Bible and desire to experience the faith they see described in it. Many never have experienced it but still bounce from one church to the next hoping to find it. Others stay in the same church forever and just rationalizes that what is described in Scripture do not happen today. The problem is not that God does not desire to lead you into these things. The problem is that a false church operates today. A church that has been molded by men and not by God. Look at your church and then look at how church is described in Scripture. Does it agree? The building, the senior pastor, the worship band, the seating arrangement, the lack of opportunity for those attending the service to participate in what is being said or done are all additions of man designed to bring control over the church. Are you part of a denomination? Where do you find that in Scripture?

You may rationalize these things as needed developments in order to operate in the modern world but these are not modern developments. Most came into being over 1700 years ago in order to bring political control and influence over the church. Denominations arose after the reformation as men looked to define their differences and control what happened in their groups. You may wish to change your church and still hold out hope that the ship can be turned around. The truth is that there is nothing wrong with your church except that it has an unbiblical structure over it. Unless the structure is removed it can never be what God designed it to be. It must embrace God’s design for structure and leadership in order to be what God designed for it to do.

The good news today is that there is an alternative. There is a growing group of people that have discarded the structures of man and have embraced the structure that God describes. You cannot experience it without leaving your old structure. It requires you to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus through the leading of the Holy Spirit. It requires you to become a disciple and learn to disciple others. It requires you to be open to the spiritual realm where the eternal things of God operate. It requires you to give up your life to find the life of Christ. If you want to learn more just email me.

Relational Evangelism and the Distortions of the Church Growth Movement

2010-10-04T06:58:00.001-05:00

The Church Growth Movement uses the following five precepts as their guide for how ministry is most effective.

1. The Gospel spreads most contagiously, not between strangers, nor by mass evangelism, but along the lines of kinship and friendship networks of credible
Christians, especially new Christians.
2. The Gospel spreads more easily to persons and peoples who are in a receptive season of their lives, and Church Growth research has discovered many indicators of likely receptive people.
3. The Gospel spreads more naturally among a people through their language, and the indigenous forms of their culture, than through alien languages or cultural forms.
4. “First Generation” groups, classes, choirs, congregations, churches, and ministries, and other new units are more productive than established old units.
5. Apostolic ministry is more effective when we target people groups than when we target political units or geographical areas.

Each one of these is a subtle distortion of the truth of Scripture and I consider them to be tares that have been sown into the modern church. I will take them one at a time and look to see the distortions involved.

1. The Gospel spreads most contagiously, not between strangers, nor by mass evangelism, but along the lines of kinship and friendship networks of credible
Christians, especially new Christians.

This principle defies Scripture and history. The largest movements of the Holy Spirit have come from mass evangelism and work started by seasoned ministers of the word. In acts we see 9000 people added to the church in just two sermons. I can also cite the reformation and the Great Awakenings. When we look at how the Apostle Paul worked in his ministry we see him going to new areas and preaching in the public square. The western society has been hardened to the idea of mass evangelism. It is not that the Holy Spirit cannot still fall on the public at large, it is more that we package mass evangelism into stadium tours and attempt to program the work of the Holy Spirit. The truth of the Bible is that the Gospel spreads most contagiously when it is preached and the Holy Spirit falls on the hearer – period – no other conditions required.

2. The Gospel spreads more easily to persons and peoples who are in a receptive season of their lives, and Church Growth research has discovered many indicators of likely receptive people.

This may sound like the Church Growth Movement has developed a soil test for the parable of the sower. This precept is actually true for the modern American church. When we package Christianity the way it is packaged in America, then certain people will respond to it at certain periods in their life. This is more of a self-fulfilling prophecy than it is a guide for effective ministry. The truth is that very few disciples are being made in America. What this precept actually describes is how you can more effectively get people to show up on Sunday during certain periods of their lives if you offer them the right attraction. If this were true then why would God be silent on the matter? Getting people to church was never God’s intention. Reconciling people to Him through Christ was always His intention. There is no indication in Scripture that the Holy Spirit is more likely to fall on you at one time in your life over the other.

3. The Gospel spreads more naturally among a people through their language, and the indigenous forms of their culture, than through alien languages or cultural forms.

There is some biblical support for this precept. When people spoke a different language, God would at times, intervene and deliver the message through tongues in their native language. The error here is that something beside the Gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit is required.

4. “First Generation” groups, classes, choirs, congregations, churches, and ministries, and other new units are more productive than established old units.

Once again this is a self-fulfilling prophecy resulting from the way we see church programmed in America. If the first generations were so effective then why do we see throughout history that God raises up seasoned ministers to begin new works? The thing that determines the fruitfulness of a ministry is the passion level for God that the group maintains. Under the programmed approach to ministry we find in America the passion is zapped from the converts after a short time. If we would increase the passion level by empowering and releasing ministry, we would see old works bearing fruit.

5. Apostolic ministry is more effective when we target people groups than when we target political units or geographical areas.

Paul was a minister to the gentiles and Peter was an apostle to the Jews. While these are biblical claims for each apostle we must be sure that each ministered geographically. The call of these apostles to a people did not negate the way in which they did ministry, which was geographically. If we build by people groups then we will build divided. If we build geographically then we can build across lines that divide and build unity. Which of these two fits God’s heart for His people?

Relational ministry has been distorted because the truth about relationships and ministry is the key to seeing people redeemed. When we see our role in the relationships God gives us in a biblical way then we will become effective agents of reconciliation to all those that God calls to himself. If we continue to follow the subtle distortions of men, we will continue to see the decline of the church in America.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

2010-09-22T08:25:00.002-05:00

Since posting the previous post I have had several people “debate” what the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is and if it is still active today or if it is automatic at the moment of salvation. Every person that entered this discussion with me did so with one thing in common. They, or someone that started a discussion with them, treated the subject with the attitude that there are many acceptable views on this topic. I want to express a clear and prophetic warning to anyone with this viewpoint.

In several places in Scripture God says clearly that only some people will understand some things of God.

Some will understand God’s teaching and others will not. This is a clear teaching of Scripture. The ones who will have understanding will have it because God gives it to them through the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit the Scripture is foolishness.

Here is the warning!

There is one sin that will not be forgiven - Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy [against] the [Holy] Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

The word for Blashpemy here is translated by Strong’s Concordance as –
1) slander, detraction, speech injurious, to another's good name
2) impious and reproachful speech injurious to divine majesty

If you cannot teach about the Holy Spirit with conviction from Scripture and come to a clear understanding of who He is and how He works than you may be in danger of committing this sin. If you attribute actions to Him and put restrictions on Him that cannot be found and rooted in Scripture then you are at risk.

The Holy Spirit is the active presence of God at work in the world today. To misunderstand the Holy Spirit and not see His work clearly is to misunderstand God and not see His work in this present world.

If you lack clarity about the Holy Spirit and how He works then you should fall to your knees and ask God to teach you who He is and how He works. Until then you should probably remain silent as a safeguard for yourself.

You have been warned.

Help Wanted

2010-09-20T10:46:00.000-05:00

Job Title - Bondservants

There are many positions open for this opportunity. This job is available to anyone that meets the following requirements.

Qualifications; Must hate this present world and all that it offers.(Galatians 6:14) Must be willing to freely share all that is paid to them for their service. (Acts 4) Must not care for or pursue personal possessions. (1Timothy 6:7) Must be ready and willing to engage in battle with forces that are not of this world. (Ephesians 6) Must be willing to lay down their life for their friends. (John 15) Must have the Holy Spirit (Acts 1) Must be willing to be purged of sin, sanctified, and prepared for good works. (2 Timothy 3:21)

Job Description: The victorious candidate will first deny himself or herself. This will be represented by a change in lifestyle that will be evident to all around them. They will then take up their responsibility to serve God in and through the church. This will be done while following the lead of Jesus Christ. Once the candidate has completed these first steps they will then be asked to GO!. This position requires action. This is not a passive position. Those that go will engage in making disciples, tearing down the works of the devil, and setting captives free.

Warning – do not be fooled by other similar job offers that never really get to the end result of making disciples, tearing down the works of the devil, or setting captives free. These offers can be easily spotted as counterfeits by the offer itself. If it emphasizes community, belonging, low commitment, or anything else that appears to fill a need in your life and it does this above or before your recognition of your state as a sinner in need of forgiveness, it is likely a fraud. If the offer is presented in a light hearted and clever presentation separated by attempts at humor it might be a scam. The easiest way to avoid be taken by these false offers is to recognize that God is God and He does not transact with you He relates to you in order to transform you.

If you are interested in exploring this opportunity send your qualifications along with the answers to the following questions.

1. When did you receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
2. When was the last time you had the opportunity to lead someone to the Lord?
3. Do you feel that your faith currently resembles what you see portrayed in Scripture?
4. Do you really think that if you keep doing the same things over and over you will get a different result?

Upcoming Training Dates

2010-09-10T21:29:00.002-05:00

I will be teaching a weekend training on the principles of Disciple Driven Church. It will cover the history of church structures and the biblical teachings on discipleship, pastoring the community, spiritual warfare, spiritual gifts, church leadership and operations, and many other reformation topics.

The training will be my first ever in the Hyde Park area of North St. Louis. The dates are October 9 + 10. The sessions will run all day on both days. This will be a packed weekend.

Email me for more information. terry@discipledrivenchurch.org

Doctrines and Precepts

2010-09-03T08:09:00.001-05:00

You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:
'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'"

What were the characteristics of some of the religious people in Jesus’ day? According to these words of Jesus they had these characteristics.

1. They were honoring God with their lips.
2. They worshipped God in vain.
3. Their hearts were far from God.

If some of the religious of Jesus’ day had these characteristics, how could you tell which ones He was speaking about. The indicator He expresses here is that they taught the precepts of men as doctrine. What were these precepts or commandments of men? The one He addresses directly is that of dedicating future giving to the temple as an excuse to not care for your parents. Stewardship? Today I see many teachers of Christian finances using the idea of stewardship as an excuse to store up for us and not give to the poor. The idea of stewardship is explored deeply in the parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16. The idea of stewardship is most often applied in Scripture to spiritual things not money.

What are some other precepts of men that are being taught as doctrine? The senior pastor model of leading the church. The worship leader position. Ungodly forms of church leadership and unbiblical mandates of submission to hired positions of church authority. Allowing and inviting unbelievers to participate in worship. Giving practices that focus on supporting the local church instead of what we see in Scripture where giving is directed to helping the needy and supporting individuals doing the work of God.

What Jesus said is that when we teach men’s precepts as doctrine we worship God in vain and our hearts are far from Him. Lord help me to see through the precepts of men that have clouded my heart and to only follow your teachings as doctrine.

Preach It Brother!

2010-08-27T07:08:00.002-05:00

There is a clear teaching in Scripture that the message of the Gospel is to be preached. What is often overlooked is that this Gospel is the message of the cross of Christ. The Gospel is the message that Jesus suffered and died so we can have eternal life. Jesus defined eternal life for us in John 17:3. Eternal life is not eternal existence as many today preach it to be. Everyone has eternal existence. Some will exist in hell and others will exist in heaven. Eternal life is to know God and to know Christ. That is the Gospel of the cross of Christ. To know God requires that we become disciples of Christ. We must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. The "gospel" of eternal life being to live forever is a false Gospel.

The Gospel of the cross of Christ is one of walking in an obedient and abiding relationship with God through Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit. So how do we recognize when a false Gospel is being preached? Paul says that there is one sure way to void the cross of Christ. it is found in 1 Corinthians 1:17. When you see the Gospel being preached with cleverness of speech you are watching the cross of Christ being voided.

The Sacred Assembly Part 6

2010-08-04T07:20:00.001-05:00

Separating the holy from the profane.

Looking at the very nature of God we can see God’s desire for a sacred assembly. From the beginning of man’s corruption God has been separating the holy from the profane and the clean from the unclean. This started before the giving of the Law.

Abel’s sacrifice was accepted while Cain’s was not.
Noah was set apart from the corrupt world and placed in the Ark.
Abram was set apart so that God could make him into a holy nation, a people set apart for God.
Israel was separated from Egypt so God’s people could go and worship Him and He could dwell among them.

From the time God promised the land to Israel He began warning them of corruption that would come by mixing with the inhabitants of the land. Time and time again God sent judgement upon the people for letting the profane idols and practices of those around them creep into the sacred assembly. God cursed an entire priestly line in Ezekiel 44 for allowing the uncircumcised in heart or flesh to take part in the assembly. The tribe of Benjamin was nearly wiped out for taking wives from among those outside the covenant.

Between Leviticus 18 – 22 the word profane appears 15 times in the KJV. The Law defined and separated the holy from the profane, not to make anything holy but rather to help the godless see the difference according to 1 Timothy. It is Christ that makes holy and calls us to be holy. God has never stopped separating the holy from the profane and He will continue to do so until the judgement. At the judgement, all that are found holy will enter into the presence of God and all that are found profane will not.

See what God says about the profane - "Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

Today we see a corrupted gathering where a sacred assembly is desired by God. We see this passage play out before our eyes. The line between holy and profane is being blurred in the church. Those who are to be His holy nation, the called out ones, are profaning God’s name.

God has been separating the holy from the profane for centuries. Man has been corrupting the holy with the profane for centuries. The nature of God is holiness. The people of God should do all they can to reflect the holy nature of God. 1 Peter 1:15-16 and Ephesians 5:27.

The church that will be the bride of Christ will be a holy people set apart from the world. The separating of the holy from the profane is how God is preparing His bride.

The Sacred Assembly - Part Five

2010-07-30T07:33:00.002-05:00

Instructions for Judgement or Gibberish?

If you had no other starting point but the Bible you would never find instruction for allowing unbeliever’s to enter the worship gathering. Since we have 1700+ years of tradition teaching us that is the way to do things we must deconstruct you back to the clear teaching of scripture.

One way to see the truth is to follow the instructions for the church that is found in scripture. Allowing unbelievers to participate in the worship gathering makes many of these instructions impossible to follow. This may be why many are just ignored today or modified to fit the current operating system.

"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

A couple of quick problems to note. There is no expectation to tolerate sin in the church. In the system that mixes unbelievers in the church this instruction is meaningless since the punishment would be to treat them as an unbeliever, which would mean what - to include them in everything, beg them to come in or even bribe them to show up? Can we allow the unbeliever in yet exclude the believer who sins? Maybe that is why church leadership mostly ignores this passage today.

Paul gave the Corinthian church some instructions for judging.

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.

OK so don’t associate with immoral brothers? But allow the immoral unbeliever to participate in the assembly that you exclude the immoral brother from attending. Yikes!

Again we are instructed …

Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

So if we follow this instruction in today’s system we could set unbelievers up as judges over believers, which is exactly what the passage instructs us NOT TO DO! So let’s get this clear. Sin is to be confronted and dealt with in the church not invited in and tolerated. We must associate with immoral people in order to be in this world but we are to remove the wicked from our midst. We are not to be judged by the unjust but rather by the least esteemed in the church, which cannot include the unjust, or we void the instruction.

The Sacred Assembly Part 4

2010-07-22T06:45:00.002-05:00

By the Letter.

The letters to churches that are contained in the New Testament indicate that the writers are only writing to believers. This is because the true church is only composed of those who believe. Assembling together with unbelievers means you are corrupting the sacred assembly. The instructions in these letters can only be properly applied when the context is understood. Changing the context changes the meaning of the instruction. The context is a sacred assembly.

1 Corinthians - Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

2 Corinthians - Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm

Galatians - You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

Ephesians - To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:

Philippians - To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:

Colossians - To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae:

1 Thessalonians - We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

2 Thessalonians - therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

Hebrews - Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

James - Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

1 Peter - To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

2 Peter - To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

1 John - we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ

2 John - The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:

Jude - To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:

Revelation - The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place

The Sacred Assembly – Part 3

2010-07-18T07:09:00.000-05:00

The church defined by design and function.

God builds His church Matthew - 16:18
He adds those who are saved – Acts 2:47
Those he purchased with His own Blood – Acts 20:28
The church sends missionaries – Acts 15:22
The church consists of those sanctified in Christ Jesus – 1 Corinthians 1:2
The church is the temple of God – 1 Corinthians 3:16
God builds His church by placing real spiritual gifts into His people – 1 Corinthians 12:28
Christ leads the church – Ephesians 5:23
The church declares the manifold wisdom of God to the spiritual realm – Ephesians 3:10
The church will one day be presented to Christ – Ephesians 5:27
The church is the pillar and ground of truth – 1 Timothy 3:15
The church is made up of those whose names are written in Heaven – Hebrews 12:23

How do unbelievers participate in these things? They can’t. The unsaved are not part of the true church. They are not sanctified in Christ. They should not be choosing or sending missionaries. They are not part of the temple of God where His Spirit dwells. They do not follow Christ’s lead. They do not possess spiritual gifts. They will not be presented to Christ as His bride. They cannot proclaim the manifold wisdom of God to the spiritual realm, as they do not know what it is and only proclaim rebellion towards God to the spiritual realm. Their names are not written in heaven and they have not accepted the truth of who Christ is, the very truth the church is meant to present.

It does not matter how many people profess faith in Christ, open a building, call it a church, and invite unbelievers to attend a show. There is only one church and God defines who it is and what it is meant to do. God builds it and everything else that is built and called church is a fake. The true church only contains those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Only the true church has the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. Only the true church can participate in the spiritual act of service and worship described in Romans 12. Only the true church is the temple of God and a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

We are warned not to have unbelievers in our temples – 2 Corinthians 6:14
Be warned that God does not want His temple defiled – 1 Corinthians 3:17

The sacred assembly is the time and place where the true church gathers to be built up by spiritual gifts and to proclaim to the spirit realm the manifold wisdom of God. Unbelievers cannot participate in these functions so why are they there? The answer is simple. A long time ago men decided to let them come in so they could use religion as a tool for political power. If that is your goal then continue in your ways. If you want to experience the power of the sacred assembly you will have to leave the fake church to find it.

The Sacred Assembly – Part 2

2010-07-15T08:20:00.000-05:00

In his letter to the Galatians Paul asks for peace and mercy to be upon the Israel of God. In his letter to the Romans he says that not all that are of Israel are Israel. He goes on to speak of a partial blindness that has fallen of some of Israel. The connection Paul makes to Israel in his letters shows us the connection to the original intent in God’s plan of setting apart a sacred people for Himself. He was addressing confusion regarding those who walked under the Law as a nation for so many years. He was expressing the fact that many of them did not seek God in their spirit. In fact the nation had become corrupted into an assembly of idol worshippers. Paul addresses this further in his letters to the Corinthians.

The letter to the Hebrews speaks of God establishing a New Covenant with “Israel”. In chapter 8 verse 10 it says –

"FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

The continuity from Old to New is clear. The New Covenant, just like the Old Covenant, was meant to separate God’s people as a unique people from among the nations. God showed this separation under the Law by requiring His people to adhere to certain practices and rituals. It is clear from Paul’s teaching in Romans that the acts themselves never reconciled the person with God but rather it was faith that reconciled them to God.

The same can be said of the New Covenant and of the new set of practices and rituals that people perform today. They do not make a person part of the Israel of God, the Israel whose mother is spiritual and from above as Paul puts it in Galatians. The passage from Hebrews quoted above clearly says that God will put His law into their minds and on their hearts. This is how God marks His people. The way in which He does this is by placing His Holy Spirit in them. Only those who have placed their faith in Christ and have had the Holy Spirit of God placed on them as a seal (see Ephesians 1), are of the Israel of God.

The Holy Spirit is the only one that can allow you entrance into the set-apart people. The problem today is that the false Israel preaches a false gospel that tells people they can be a part of the true Israel by participating in the practices and rituals or just showing up on a Sunday morning. They have allowed the assembly to be corrupted with those who are not a part of the Israel of God. They allow those who are not of God to partake in the Holy things of God that were meant to be reserved for His set-apart people. They may tell them they must pray a prayer first but do they tell them of the commands to be separate, holy, God’s chosen people, a royal priesthood, and an uncorrupted assembly where a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Do they teach them to put out the immoral brother or are they instead taught that we must tolerate sin because we are all just a work in progress? Is this message consistent with the teaching of Scripture? Teaching that says – It was for freedom that Christ set us free – The truth shall set you free – Be holy – do not be yoked together with unbelievers – don’t associate with an immoral brother – judge those that are in the church.

The church opened its doors to unbelievers and the sacred assembly was lost. Making disciples was replaced with bringing people to church to let the priest/pastor preach the word to them. Evangelism became an in house ordeal. The Spirit became a theological assumption or something that was faked in order to attract followers to men. The assembly became flooded with the common things of man as bait to lure in the heathens. Instead of being the sacred assembly of God’s chosen people the entire place became more and more heathen until we reached a place where those inside the false church are barely distinguishable from the rest of the world. Shame on us.

I for one will not remain silent any longer. There is a false Israel at work today just as it was in Paul’s day. Its time for God’s Israel to come out of the corruption and once again be set apart as a holy people of God. A people that handles the holy and spiritual privilege that God bestows on them as a royal priesthood. Whoever has eyes to see and ears to hear take notice. The restoration of the Holy and Sacred Assembly starts with you leaving the false and corrupted assembly.

The Sacred Assembly - Part One

2010-07-13T14:50:00.000-05:00

On Glory, Discipleship, and the Purpose of Creation

God created everything as a declaration of His glory. Scripture is clear that the heavens declare the glory of God, man declares the glory of God, and that Jesus is the physical representation of the fullness of the invisible God. God is at work declaring to all of creation that He is all in all, mighty God, ruler and creator of everything.

In the beginning God created man in His own image and set him in the garden. This representation or likeness of God was intended to be a declaration of God’s glory. Man fell into sin and God’s declaration of His glory was corrupted. The man was set apart from God and commanded to reproduce. In spite of man’s wickedness, God promised to send forth a way for man to return to God and through His Holy Spirit to be restored to the man’s holy and uncorrupted original state. In this state man had fellowship and communion with God.

In the early ages of this plan God set apart a man and promised to make a great nation from him. This man was to be set apart from others and bear the mark of His covenant with God. As time progressed God continued to lead and guide His chosen people. He established the covenant of the Law and the sacrificial system. The rules were strict. Anyone could become a part of the assembly but no one could be a part of the assembly without adhering to the rules. The assembly was considered sacred and only God’s people could be part of the assembly.

It is recorded many times in the Old Testament that the people corrupted the assembly and suffered because of it. They corrupted it by allowing those outside the covenant to enter the assembly. This happened so often that by the time of the apostle Paul this offense was punishable by death. In the book of Acts we see where Paul was accused of bringing Greeks into the temple and the Jewish leaders sought the death penalty.

The purpose of God in creation is to declare His glory. His declaration through man was corrupted when man fell into sin. When people turn to Christ the Spirit of God is restored to them and God’s glory is once again declared through them as they choose to obey God. God has chosen discipleship as the method by which men learn to obey God and walk in His ways. God’s purpose in restoring mankind through His Spirit has not changed since He first called Abraham and set him apart. God is setting apart a holy people for Himself.

This people are called the Church. It consists of all those who through faith in Christ have had the Spirit of God restored to them. This people are instructed throughout Scripture to be set apart from the profane things of the world. We are to have no yoke with unbelievers, no fellowship with demons, and no unbelievers in our midst when we gather as God’s Holy assembly. The purpose of the church is defined as spiritual in nature and unbelievers do not have the spirit and therefore cannot participate.

The representation of the church in America today can be likened to the corrupted assembly of the Old Testament. When the church allows (or invites, begs, advertises for and even bribes) an unbeliever to enter into the sacred assembly it defies its purpose for existence. Not only does it defy its purpose but also it mocks God by allowing His enemies to partake in what was intended to be holy. The church in America has many problems today and many people that are hoping to correct them from the inside out.

There is one problem above all others that must be fixed before God’s church is what He intended it to be. The church must close its doors to unbelievers and cleanse the assembly. Until the assembly is cleansed the corrections to the structure of the church will only be superficial. No change in style or structure will produce a sacred assembly. The only way to have a sacred and holy assembly is to only allow those who possess the Spirit of God to partake of it.

To the Unknown god

2010-07-09T06:42:00.001-05:00

I sometimes feel like I live in a modern day Athens. I see in scripture a God that says deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me. I see a Gospel of power that comes through walking in the Holy Spirit and making disciples. All around me I see people proclaiming faith that appear to follow other gods. These gods are gods made with hands or with their own imaginations. They include the god of self-gratification, television, fear, lust, pleasure, entertainment, and the list goes on and on. If someone asks me about what I do I usually explain in detail and try my best to teach from scripture my motivation for doing what I do.

Then I see in the book of Acts this morning that the response I have been getting is a common response of the Athenians, especially the religious Athenians. In Paul’s day these religious Athenians were referred to as Areopagites. They assembled on Mars Hill to discuss matters of philosophy and religion and to judge its merit. According to mythology this hill belonged to (Ares) Mars and was therefore called Mar's Hill; so called, because, as the story went, Mars, having slain Halirrhothius, son of Neptune, for the attempted violation of his daughter Alicippe, was tried for the murder here before twelve gods as judges. This place was the location where the judges convened who, by appointment of Solon, had jurisdiction of capital offences, (as willful murder, arson, poisoning, malicious wounding, and breach of established religious usage). The court itself was called Areopagus from the place where it sat.

The people that assembled here in Paul’s day had a curious habit. The scripture says “For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.” So it appears today that the primary pastime of religious people is to tell or hear something new. Amazing how many Christians still run to Mars Hill today to do nothing other than tell or hear something new.

The Kingdom of God is not about knowledge but it is rather about power. The power of God poured out through His people who choose to go and DO his will. 1Cor. 4:20

Let’s get off Mars Hill and go. Matthew 28:18-20

We have the Temple

2010-06-20T09:19:00.002-05:00

Many years ago a people claimed to love God. They were God’s chosen people. Through confessing a desire to belong to these chosen people one would then go through a process of outward signs that would join them to the covenant. This gave them access to the temple. Many of the people saw this access as a sign that they were in good standing with God. The priests at the time assured them that their confessions and compliance with the required regulations were a guaranty of their acceptance by God. It became so common that to claim the temple was proclaiming a confidence in your position before God. Then came the prophet Jeremiah…

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, "Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house and proclaim there this word and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah, who enter by these gates to worship the LORD!'" Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words, saying, 'This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.' For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.

"Behold, you are trusting in deceptive words to no avail. Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you have not known, then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, 'We are delivered!'—that you may do all these abominations? Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I, even I, have seen it," declares the LORD.

In a similar way there are people today who trust in a profession of faith that has not changed their hearts towards alien, orphan, or widow. They claim to have a faith in God that they claim will allow them forgiveness of their sins. The “priests” of today gives them confidence that their participation in religious rituals is enough to get the acceptance of God. The Lord does not change. What was true in Jeremiah’s day is true today. There were many people in the first century AD that witnessed the coming of Christ and the destruction of the temple. Those that rejected Jesus’ call to repent and held instead to their confidence in the temple lost much. As Jesus cleansed the temple He quoted the end of this passage.

If you place your confidence in anything other than a growing, obedient, and active relationship with God you stand the chance of missing something that you may now be confident that you possess. How do your actions represent your concern and care for the alien, orphans, and widows? Are you trusting in deceptive words to no avail?

What if you were God’s enemy?

2010-05-30T09:18:00.000-05:00

What if you were put in the place of the devil for a period of time and really had to play the devil’s advocate? How would you defeat God’s people?

Here are a few ground rules.
1. You cannot win in the end. The outcome of the match has been decided.
2. Your opponent – God – is superior to you in every way. You lack the power to have any level of lasting victory.
3. You have two primary weapons – deceit and fear.
4. When a person fully surrenders to God they are set free from you and can overcome you. They are empowered by God to set others free. When they assemble together they work together as an even more effective weapon against you.

How would you fight this battle. It appears that God can wipe you out at anytime and He can never be defeated by you. The only result you can hope for is to take as many of His created beings with you to your defeat. What would you do?

Modern warfare suggests a few standard operations that are a part of any battle. First – you must take out command and control. This is done first through covert operatives that infiltrate the enemy to gather intelligence and make strategic strikes at key leadership and facilities. Next you take out communications. No army can fight effectively if they don’t communicate. Divide and conquer. Once you have done this you must pin down your enemy. They must retreat to their bunkers where their only hope is to defend themselves. With the enemy divided and secure in their bunker you cut them off from any reinforcements. If you can accomplish this you will eventually defeat your opponent.

So how has the devil been doing in His battle strategy?

Operatives - The enemy has infiltrated the church. The church doesn’t even try to keep them out at this point. It begs the enemies of God to show up every week. Some even bribe them with prizes to come. Infiltration became easy once the church became legal.

Leadership - Through a deception of how the church should operate the devil has convinced many in church leadership of a way the church should operate. This way is not found in Scripture. The leaders of the establishment persecute the leadership that points this out. Thus it has been for thousands of years – see Matthew 23.

Communications – Prayer is our method of communication in this battle and the devil is effectively cutting it off for many. Prayer is one of the most neglected things in the church today – even in prayer meetings!

Division – Just look at the number of denominations today. The church has been fractured with division for centuries.

Pin them down and cut them off – For so many people today their religious experience revolves around what happens at their church building or functions. Meanwhile the enemy has cut most off from the lost. Most cannot tell you the last time they shared their faith of preached the Gospel to someone. The church in America is in sharp numerical decline. The reinforcements are cut off.

With this picture of battle in mind it looks like the devil is fighting a pretty effective war for a defeated enemy. Why is he so effective? The truth is that so many love their bunkers that they are afraid to leave them. They fear the evil in the world. They have been deceived into believing that what they do on Sunday is how God designed the church to operate even though they cannot support most of it from Scripture. The devil has effectively used his two tools – deceit and fear.

Reinforcements are coming. In the end Jesus will come back with the hosts of heaven and they will cast the devil into the Lake of Fire. The real question is this. How many will he take with him because the bunkers are full of deceived and frightened people that should be walking fearlessly in the truth?

Guns, God, and Idolatry

2010-05-03T07:08:00.001-05:00

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Is it acceptable to live in fear and claim faith in Christ? Many professing Christians claim they have faith in God yet live each day in constant fear of something. The Bible says those people are not yet perfected in love.

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

This passage speaks of losing our fear of judgement. What about our fear of other things? Does the Bible speak about fearing man or harm? Below I have listed a few passages that address this issue.

“And David spoke the words of this song to the LORD in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said, "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, You save me from violence. "I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies.”

“Some [trust] in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

“In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.”

“The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted”

I see fear as a lack of faith in God. I see the Bible instruct us not to fear but rather to trust in God. So when I woke up this morning and saw an article on the news feed about a Guns & God ministry in a church in Wentzville, I was struck. The headline read “Grandmother brings guns & God together in church ministry”

Read the full story here - KSDK 5

Here is a small quote from the story

"I'm not afraid to live alone because I have my brothers - Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson - with me," she told a about a dozen other members in a church classroom Sunday.

McClelland said there's a kind of confidence she's found in them - the guns - and in Christ, and it's something she wants to share.”

How can a church call something a ministry when at the very core of its teaching is the idea of placing confidence in something other than God? I am not a gun control fanatic. This is not about guns. Many Christians place their trust in things above God. Some trust in guns to keep them safe, others in where they live. Some trust in their wealth to keep them safe and others in their education to keep them wealthy. When we place our confidence in something instead of in God that thing is an idol. When the church teaches people to place their confidence in something other than God it is teaching idolatry. Owning a gun and learning to use it properly is legal and acceptable in the U.S. The lady in the story clearly says she wants to share the confidence she has found in guns and that crosses a line of idolatry.

Perhaps someone should teach these Christians that they do not have to fear what man can do to them because they have the Spirit of the Living God dwelling within them.

More things that never change ...

2010-04-12T05:51:00.002-05:00

God was speaking to His people many years ago and said this.

"As I live," declares the Lord GOD, "Sodom, your sister and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done. "Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.

I am speaking today saying this same message can be repeated today to millions of people that claim to love God. Are you one of Sodom's sisters?

Christianity 101

2010-03-15T07:34:00.001-05:00

Good morning class.

Our text this morning is from the book of Hebrews. Now I know that most of you are accustomed to discussing the debatable issues like authorship and eternal security. Some of you even like to dip into the deep theological issues revealed in this book like substitutionary atonement and covenental relationships. Today class, we are looking only at Christianity 101. Let’s start with this section.

Concerning him (Christ) we have much to say, and {it is} hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

Let us be clear that this passage may apply to you. You may be the dull of hearing that is referred to in this passage. You may be in need of some milk today. Let’s continue and see if you are drinking milk or eating meat.

For everyone who partakes {only} of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

An interesting observation class. The passage says that our senses are trained to discern good and evil by our practice. One of the factors that determine if you are on milk or meat is your practice. Very interesting, let’s continue.

Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

This is a great list of elementary teachings. What are you spending your time doing these days Class? Are you immersed in Bible studies on the topics listed above? Are you engaged in religious rituals? Are you consuming your time debating the laying on of hands and eternal security of the believer? If you wish to move on to maturity it requires you to be moving.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging {one another;} and all the more as you see the day drawing near. For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.

If you are not practicing what you preach, if you don’t stimulate one another to love and good deeds, if you forsake gathering with other believers, if you don’t encourage each other, if you go on sinning, you are still just a baby Christian stuck in Christianity 101. It appears from this teaching that we need to do something with what we learn. We need to go and do something to train our senses to discern. We cannot spend our time simply learning about our faith – it is a faith that must be lived!

That is all for this lesson of the Christianity 101 class. If you decide to continue as babes drinking milk we hope you come back for the next lesson in this series where we will discuss what the last sentence in this passage means and who should really be fearful of that whole fiery judgement thing. Class dismissed!

Some Things Never Change

2010-03-04T09:12:00.001-06:00

I was reading a little bit of Jeremiah when a couple of passages jumped out at me. I thought I would share them here along with my thoughts. I think this first one describes very well what I have discovered to prevail in the American Church today. See if you agree.

“'For wicked men are found among My people, They watch like fowlers lying in wait; They set a trap, They catch men. 'Like a cage full of birds,

So their houses are full of deceit; Therefore they have become great and rich. 'They are fat, they are sleek, They also excel in deeds of wickedness;

They do not plead the cause, The cause of the orphan, that they may prosper; And they do not defend the rights of the poor.

'Shall I not punish these {people?}' declares the LORD, 'On a nation such as this Shall I not avenge Myself?'

"An appalling and horrible thing Has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule on their {own} authority; And My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?”

As I have moved into a ministry among the poor I have run up against the attitude mentioned here. Church leaders have repeatedly made commitments that they did not keep. They have expressed clearly that their motive for being involved in what we do would be to get people into “their” church or cage as Jeremiah puts it. I attend community meetings and police functions yet one group of people is noticeably absent – Pastors! This passage describes a group that collects men for their own benefit.

Another passage in Jeremiah caught my eye.

“Because from the least even to the greatest everyone is greedy for gain; From the prophet even to the priest Everyone practices deceit. "They heal the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially, Saying, 'Peace, peace,' But there is no peace.”

This passage reminds me of the people I find preaching and teaching a message of superficial freedom. A freedom that comes through paid counseling or church participation. They preach peace but do not have any peace for themselves. What are we to do? It appears the problems in the church today are the same as in Jeremiah’s day. This should serve as a strong message to anyone that is trying to fix the church from the inside. If it has always been broken in this way then how has God fixed it in the past? If you see what Jeremiah predicted for these people it will scare you. It’s time for us to repent from our sins and return to the Lord.

Forsaking "Unity"?

2010-02-20T08:40:00.003-06:00

I have noticed that the idea of unity in Christian circles has grown to almost mythic proportions. I use the term "mythic" because no one appears to have found unity. It is as if it is an elusive thing that we are to strive for but cannot be found. I think I know why unity is so elusive in Christian circles.

The first and most easily demonstrated reason is that we include our enemies in those circles. Yes, enemies! The Bible makes clear that friendship with the world is enmity with God. Whoever is a friend of the world is an enemy of God. We cannot win the world through friendship. All that this accomplishes is a dilution of the power of the church to transform the world as the immanent affective presence of God's Spirit is diluted.

The second reason I see is that we seek unity in the wrong way. Every ministry is trying to get other ministries to join them in their cause. I have been told so many times by followers how cool our vision is and how I need to talk to their pastor about what we are doing so their church can participate. I have learned over time to put the ball back in their court and ask them to have their leader call me. Yes, I am still waiting for all those calls that never come. Why don't they call? They are busy. Busy busy busy ... Why should they call. They are already using all of their available resources doing what God has called them to do. Leadership working together is not the answer to the issue of unity.

The answer to the issue of unity is to address the inactive and unbelieving that permeate the American Church. If the leadership would challenge the people to live what they profess and to get out and do something, we could start to see unity develop. If the goal was no longer building "their church" but rather transforming the world, then unity could develop. If we finally said to the world - "You can't take part in what happens on Sunday unless you respond to the Gospel with repentance" - we could start to see unity develop. Once the enemies of God are outside the Holy Assembly, we could start to see the Spirit develop unity in those who He indwells.

So here is why I am forsaking the goal of unity - I cannot make it happen! According to John, fellowship and unity are a work of the Holy Spirit. He is the only one that can bring unity. I will now focus on action. If you profess Christ and do not walk in what you profess, my goal is to encourage and exhort you to live what you claim. Get out and serve the world. As you start walking in your faith, God will start to work in you. As we walk together in service to the world, the Holy Spirit will develop unity in us. I am convinced it cannot happen in any other way. God must do it and He works as His Spirit flows through our gifting as we serve the lost and dying world. All we have of value to offer the world is that part of God that dwells in us, that eternal Gospel, that living water we carry around in broken jars.

So I am sorry to all of you who want to "fix" the church from within. Its not about your church. It is about a lost people and thousands die each day without knowing Christ. Many because our enemy has convinced them of lies about God because of what they see in His people. If we - His people - will go and show them love, care, compassion, and the truth, we may just find that thing we all desire.

By the way, I want to add a couple of truths for you. It is not about you it is about God's Glory. He is not glorified by your large building. He is glorified when His people obey. Also, there is nothing going on in your building on Sunday that can't happen out there in the real world. Why do we arrogantly tell the world that they must come to us to find God? People can find God anyplace. They don't need your church to find God. (see the Apostle Paul's story) Isn't it time we started going to them with no strings attached. If you serve the God I read about in the Bible then you can trust Him to work outside the walls. It just may be where He does His best work.

Dear Sad S.A.C.

2010-01-29T07:22:00.000-06:00

Dear Suburban American Christian,

This is an open letter to you. You are proclaiming Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. First things first. Let’s get this out of the way. He can’t be one and not the other. We need not argue about works based salvation or lordship salvation or any other theological straw man. If Jesus is not your Lord then He is not your savior. If He is your Lord then let’s get real for a minute.

Jesus did not suffer, die, and rise from the dead so you could live a fat, happy, self-centered life. There I said it. How do you feel? I feel much better already. Proclaiming you believe in Jesus won’t get you into heaven. See James 2 and Romans 10:9-10. If your faith does not produce good works then ask yourself what James asks in chapter 2.

I meet a lot of Christians in my work. Here is my insight for you to digest. I am sure that none of this describes you. It is a generalization of the characteristics of the majority of self-proclaimed suburban American Christians that I meet. Very few have a sound grip of the major orthodox doctrines of the faith. They don’t understand what others believe and why. They don’t feel they can adequately share their faith with others. Many struggle to establish daily spiritual practices in their life. These practices include reading scripture, a meaningful prayer life, sacrificial giving, or serving outside their church. I meet many that are convinced that their faith will be a struggle for them their entire life. It is as if they have been taught that the Christian life is a life of struggling to find God and not a life of walking victoriously with God.

I can safely say that most have no idea what spiritual gift God has given them. Because of this they do not function in the church through their gift. Most are aware that something is very wrong with the way church operates in America today. They are plagued with sin that they never get victory over. The same sin that plagued them 5 years ago still plagues them today. They never have time to do anything else once they work, take care of chores, go to church, and see to their recreation. Most have never personally experienced a miracle or the power of God working through them. They think that studying the Book of Revelation is “deep teaching.” They know the poor exist and when the news shows them their plight they may text $10 bucks to help.

For the most part these self-proclaiming Christians lead lives that look exactly like their non-professing neighbors with one exception. They occasional go to a building on a set day at a set time to hear a guy talk about their faith. Other than that and an occasional bible study, they are watching the same movies and television shows, listening to the same music, building their retirement, fixing up their homes, drinking the same beer, struggling with the same problems, yet proclaiming they have found something that others have not. They know every winner of American Idol, what Jack Bauer is up to these days, and the next trend in reality TV. Yet they don’t know the history of their faith and have not yet taken it serious enough to practice most of what is written in the bible they claim to revere. Most have never even read the entire book.

So here is a dilemma for you if you know a Self-proclaiming Suburban American Christian. Can we continue to allow them to be the public face of the Christian faith? When you question them they get defensive. They don’t have any answers so they don’t want you to ask them questions. You can’t even hint that they may be stuck in a false system of church that does not resemble what is described in the Bible. That possibility is off the table. Immediately any opposition is labeled heretical or rebellious. What is a disciple of Christ to do? (See John 15:8 for definition)

It is time to come out of the system. It is too far-gone to be reformed from the inside. It’s time to make new faith communities built on the practices taught in Scripture. This must be done from the top down. To change practices and leave an unbiblical structure in place is self-defeating. The structure is not biblical so it cannot produce a biblical faith community. (Luke 6:43) It is time for you to be serious about your faith. You must throw off what hinders and deny yourself. You must discipline yourself for the sake of godliness. You must find your spiritual gift and walk in it. You can claim the freedom from your sin that Christ died to give to you. If you are not learning how to do this where you are, then contact me. I would love to help you live the faith you read about.

Removing More Structure...

2010-01-05T07:58:00.002-06:00

Disciple Driven Church ceased being a corporation on December 31, 2009. The official government structures that are required in order to be considered a legal church have been dropped. I am no longer "ordained" in the eyes of the state. I am not a pastor. I am officially unemployed.

What God compelled us towards 3 1/2 years ago is now more true for us than ever before. We are engaged in a work of reformation. The reformation cannot take place from within the current church structures simply because the structure is what needs to be reformed. To reform the current church structure is equal to doing away with it. This is what we have done.

What does that mean for Disciple Driven Church? It now becomes what it always has been. It is a call to a way of life. A life dedicated to personal consecration and fulfilling the Great Commission. The name remains and the vision stands firm. The main difference is that there is nothing to join apart from the universal body of believers.

The web site remains and will be used to teach, equip, connect, and empower people who share the same passion for reformation as I have. The site is a resource for those that share my concerns about age segregation, invitational and attractional ministry, unbelievers in the worship gathering, and a lack of personal discipleship, Holy Spirit led ministry and the missional supremacy of the Great Commission.

I have placed many resources on this site and all can be obtained at no charge. I have a link to a free downloadable copy of my book, Disciple Driven Church - The Coming Reformation. I have videos explaining some of the major doctrines of reformation and things I see hindering the church. I have a music page where songs are posted for free. These songs are original works that are coming out of those that have answered to call to reformation. Many more will be coming in the near future.

Do you hear the call to reformation? Examine the site and see if you share my passion for reforming these things. If you do then contact me and let's communicate. I hope to begin connecting like minded people around the country in this organic and unstructured passion for reform.

Disciple Driven Church

What would happen if...

2009-12-06T05:52:00.002-06:00

What would happen if a group of Christ's followers decided it was time to throw off the shackles? What would happen if the church returned to an organic ministry that only added the structure that was found in the Bible? What would happen if a group of Christ's followers would reject forming a church by government standards? I mean really go organic. No corporation. No tax reciepts for giving. No formal positions. No ordination certificates. No elected board of elders. No ownership of property.

What if they functioned and governed like we see described in the Bible? What if the Holy Spirit manifesting through a spiritual gift was the qualification for ministry? What if the men of the church led. What if the people supported those that ministered the word through freewill giving. What if the call to the lost was to come to Christ and not church? What if parents had to pastor their children because no other option was facilitated? What would hapeen to a church like that?

We are about to see...

How Does Mission Impact the Church?

2009-11-30T08:55:00.002-06:00

I was raised outside of any church influence. After hearing and receiving the Gospel I spent the majority of my adult life in different churches. I was always under an assumption. The assumption was that if everyone is doing church this way then it must be the right way ?

About 3 years ago my eyes were opened by the the Holy Spirit as Richard Greene taught about walking in the Spirit, making disciples, pastoring the community, and spiritual warfare. Within 2 years I found myself outside the system. A year ago I turned in my ordination papers and started walking in what I was learning. It was a huge step for me. I still remember the emails from some of the pastors of that denomination prophesying my demise. I saw up close an often hidden side of denominational control.

I had been trained, Masters of Theology, Church Planting Bootcamp, the best seminars American Christianity could offer, and years of Bible studies. I was led to endeavor to build the church. All of my efforts, no matter how subtly it was emphasised, was to build the church. The goal was not to build the Kingdom, though that language was used. The goal was always to build the Kingdom by building "our" church. This was consistent in every church I attended.

Now I was hearing a new call. Walk in the Spirit, make disciples, engage in spiritual warfare, and pastor the community. What a change that would make in my personal faith. While the language was accepted by the established church hierarchy, the actions were not. Without focusing on building "our" church we were labeled as a cult because we did not have a building. Every cult I have ever heard of has a compound or some building. By putting an emphasis on walking in the guidance of the Holy Spirit we were either labelled as charismatic or unorthodox. When we emphasized making disciples and only gathering the disciples into our worship we were shunned by existing churches and accused of hating people for not preaching the Gospel to unbelievers in our worship gatherings. When we taught and walked in spiritual warfare the spirit realm manifested in our presence and many were unable to handle the reality of the spiritual battle. When we began to pastor the community - everything changed.

When we connected all that we learned about these basics of the faith with the mission of pastoring our community amazing things started to happen. We began to find the remnant. There are many that have disconnected from the church and are living quietly among us. We connected with unbelievers in a new way. Because we are doing what Jesus' commands, caring for the poor, widows, orphans, and oppressed, those that deny God are connected with our mission. It is a fingerprint of God. Everyone is made to care about these things. God cares about these things. We are made in God's image. We now have people that have no regard for "church" asking us if they can help us minister to the community. We have people that are not connected with any church offering us resources.

As I look to the New Year I see a small group of highly trained and gifted disciples. They know how to Walk in the Spirit, make disciples, engage in spiritual warfare, and they are beginning to pastor the community. Now that we have the basics in place God is connecting us to our mission. Go! Not to build a church, that is God's job. (Matthew 16:18) Our mission is to transform the world. We must do it the way God designed. We must bring the transformational power of Christ to the world and not beg the world to come to "our" church.

If you want to know how mission impacts the church you must first stop trying to do God's job - building the church. Next you must look at your community and see how the Holy Spirit would have you minister. These simple changes in focus will transform your spiritual life and then the world.

I Am Thankful

2009-11-17T09:41:00.001-06:00

I am thankful for God’s grace – It forgives me

 When thousands starve to death and I waste food and throw leftovers away.

 When thousands die of thirst as I waste water on my lawn

 When I buy a larger house as so many sleep outside

 As so many die from curable disease and I debate healthcare

 As I spend my wealth upon myself and rationalize my behavior

 As I firmly place other peoples problems at their own feet and then place my own problems at Jesus’ feet.

 When I avoid an entire area of my own city or country – its their problem they should fix it

 When I consider myself privileged because of “me”

 When I act as though I am the center of God’s attention on Sunday morning and then
I ignore the widows, orphans, poor, and homeless.

 When I proclaim that Jesus is all that and more yet I never share the Good News.

 When I study and study to show myself approved but never turn what I learn into action.

 When I miss what love is according to Jesus – laying down your life for another

 When I hold onto my right to have a good home, a newer car, good food and clothing, and the rest of the list from the American dream.

 When I pollute the Holy Worship Assembly of God with His enemies and rationalize it as acceptable even though I cannot support it from Scripture

 When my politics affect my actions more than my faith but I don’t see the difference

 When I read this list and all the while I am convincing myself these things don’t apply to me or I am justified in my behavior.

God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. It is God’s grace that forgives these things so be humble and receive His grace.

One day we will all stand before judgement and be shown our actions from God’s perspective. On that day there will be no excuse. On that day I will again be thankful for God’s grace.

Things are Changing Fast

2009-11-11T05:46:00.002-06:00

There is a growing trend in St. Louis and around our great country. The trend is armed security guards at your church! In certain areas of our city this has become common. So common that some would not consider attending a church without good security.

Is this a trend or just a passing fad brought on by recent church rampages? Time will tell. My business sense tells me this is a trend. Here is why. Insurance! There are a handful of insurance companies that specialize in insuring churches. I think this trend will develop based on common sense and good stewardship principles. Insurance companies will encourage this trend until it becomes viable to require armed security in order to stay insured. At that point churches will face 3 choices.

1. Hire armed security
2. Go uninsured
3. Change the way they meet from public to private.

I say most will choose number one. Choosing number two leaves every Elder or Board member open to liability in this liturgis society. Most successful business men will not put themselves in that position. Choosing number three requires churches to operate in a way that most find foreign. No more attractional events. No more invitational ministry. How will they possibly get the message to the unbeliever if they don't get them to church?

So in the end I think most will get used to passing armed guards and walking through metal detectors on their way to a sermon. I bet some will turn it into a positive thing. I can see a flyer coming soon to my mail box.

"Relevant, relational, secure! A new kind of church. Come to one of our highly secure worship services."

Security may be marketed like music is marketed.

8:00 am Traditional security
10:30 am Contemporary security

Guest appearances will combine the speaker and security as an additional draw.

Come see Four Star General Powell Speak this Sunday, with special guests the Army Ranger's anti-terrorist Special Forces providing security.

All of this will be done in order to maintain operating in the same way they learned to operate. Many will adjust and even rationalize it as a good thing. The American church will continue to struggle trying to get a disconnected generation to COME to church. Only now those unreached will have to consider if its worth risking their life to come. If it isn't dangerous why do they have armed security.

Fear and the Lord

2009-11-03T06:39:00.000-06:00

Deuteronomy 20:2-4
"When you are approaching the battle, the priest shall come near and speak to the people. "He shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.'

As I enter into what most consider dangerous areas I find my enemy has paralyzed the army of the Lord with fear. I see professing Christians shrink from the battle because they fear something. Some fear the loss of life. Some fear the loss of reputation for going against the established structure. Others fear the loss of wealth or the imaginary security that they think it brings to them. Others are just overcome with the fear of life.

I must admit my frustration with cowardice. I know I have no right to be frustrated but the feeling does overcome me at times. I find myself taking a deep breath, stepping back into God’s perspective, and I realize this is not a new problem. The question has been asked of me by some if this fear is sin? Can people really help it if they are afraid? Fair question right? We live in a society that puts the most cruel and gruesome aspects of society in front of us everyday. What is a reasonable way for us to respond. When all we see is one story after another of how someone was shot in this area today, isn’t it reasonable to fear for our lives when asked to go to this area?

In Matthew 8:26 the disciples were fearful. They had good reason to be afraid. They were at sea in a terrible storm. Their lives were in immediate danger. They wake Jesus and His response gives us insight into His attitude towards fear.

“He *said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.”

Jesus equates fear with a lack of faith! In Revelation 21:8 it says the fearful will have their part in the lake of fire. That should scare anyone that is fearful.

1 John 4:18 says this - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

God says fear is a lack of faith. He says the fearful will have part in the Lake of Fire. He says one who fears is not perfected in love. Is someone teaching you this? Are you acting on it? Walking in faith through the Holy Spirit will build your faith and prove God’s love to you so you no longer have to walk in fear. The Christian life is not a life of fear. The only fear approved by God is a fear of the Lord.

Dueling Smorgasbords

2009-10-25T07:20:00.000-05:00

I have been seeing a common theme among various ministries lately. No matter where they locate, suburbs or inner city, they have problems in common. There is a burnout or near burn out in the leadership and a lack of volunteer help to operate. They all look tired. At some point they express giving up or not knowing what to do to get people motivated. Meanwhile the church members express that they have no idea what their ministry should be. They have resources that are under utilized. Be it the church building that sits empty 5 days a week or stacks of stuff that goes undistributed.

Now I see this from an insider’s perspective. It is not what is being portrayed to the public. In fact, I think what is being portrayed to the public is the cause of these problems. Our rush to embrace a programmed approached to ministry has led us to place ministry on the table as an offering to those we minister to and with. The idea behind programming ministry comes from addressing the “felt needs” of the community. Therefore we design an offering to address the need and we present it to the public. Many things may look like programs but there is a unique and subtle variety that stifles ministry. I will do my best to describe it.

When we design a ministry in order to involve or serve people as a means to grow a church we misplace the focus. When we design a ministry in such a way that it offers a way for people to serve for the sake of serving we strip ministry of its required need for passion. What I see saturating the landscape are many good ideas that have been developed in staff meetings and offered as a smorgasbord to the public and the volunteers. Leadership envisions a solution to the “felt needs” of the community and then designs a way to solve that problem that requires as little commitment as possible from the volunteers. They present it in such a way that – You can serve as much or as little as fits your schedule.

The first problem is that most of these programs are designed to get people in the church or a bible study or small group. This means that the main emphasis is not on the person but the growth of the church. This influences what needs are addressed. It also places the unsaved in a position of questioning the motivation of the offering. Do they really want to help me or do they just want to convert me?

In the area where I serve there is no doubt that one of the biggest needs in the community is a job. I have yet to see a church that is doing anything to bring jobs back to the area. It does not mean it is not happening it just means I have not found it. But I am looking. So if they are doing it, it must be held tightly inside the walls of their church and not out where the public can find it.

I have seen people feed the poor then require them to attend a bible study to get the food. I have seen basketball programs that require the players to attend a halftime bible study in order to play. I have seen a homeless shelter that resembles an assembly line moving people from one station to another. One of the stations in the middle of the line is a video of the founder sharing the Gospel. Is it wrong to share the Gospel? No. Is it wrong to link our compassion to a requirement to listen to it? I think yes.

Many of the programs I see offered today have a dehumanizing effect on people. Those offering the program may not see it. Before you volunteer again take a moment and put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel if all you wanted to do was play basketball and make some new friends and you were told the only way you can play with us is if you attend our bible study? How would you feel if I said I would feed and cloth you but made you show up at a set time and walk through a line like cattle? How would you view the Gospel if it were forced on you in order to obtain the basics of life? Programming the ministry sanitizes it and makes it safe. Ministry is supposed to be messy and dangerous. Read Hebrews 11.

So what is my problem with all of this? I see a passionless system of burnt out volunteers and leaders trying to meet needs as a tool to present the Gospel. I say enough already. Its time you take your passion and get empowered to use it to minister to the poor and the hurting of the world. When you do what inspires you, you will not burnout. Get yourself equipped to put into words what God has done for you. I promise that sometime along the way you will get the opportunity to share your testimony, the Gospel, with those you are ministering to. As others connect with your passion they will come alongside you and your ministry will grow. Focus on the people and let God build His church.

No longer willing to be looked at as an Outsider

2009-10-14T08:55:00.001-05:00

I have now taken a strong public stand against many of the practices of the modern American Church. As I go about the task that God has called me to, I am confronted by an imposed ideal I will no longer be placed under.

I will continue to proclaim that:

 inviting unbelievers into our worship gathering
 segregating by age and affinity
 inviting or attracting as a method of ministry
 and a lack of the personal responsibility to fulfill the Great Commission

are tares of the devil sown into the modern church.

I will not be placed in the position of defending these stands unless those who oppose them can supply a biblical basis for them. These practices do not come from Scripture and should not be treated as something that has pre-eminent rights to be practiced in the church. Opposition to them should not be treated as an attack on God since He never instructed us to do these things.

I am often confronted with an ideal that the practices of the existing church is in some way above questioning. Because these practices exist they must have merit. Therefore I am looked at as some “outsider” that is opposing or threatening a “God ordained” system of religious hierarchy that is above question.

I am no longer willing to be placed under this ideal. If you choose to practice these things without examining the Scriptures then the risk is on you. I am sounding the warning for you. These practices are opposed to the clear teaching of Scriptures!

You may ask “why then are they so prevalent?” The answer for this is complicated and I would be glad to share my opinion for the cause of each. The real question is not “why are so many doing it?” The real question is “why are you doing it?”

Can you find one Scripture that instructs or allows the practice of bringing unbelievers into the worship gathering. It was never allowed in the temple. It will not be allowed in heaven. Why now and where is the clear instruction?

God’s design for the church was to be a family. Family should not divide by age for every thing they do. The root of this practice is found in Darwinian Evolution and is well documented.

Inviting or attracting as a ministry method is a result of allowing unbelievers into the worship gathering. It came as a result of the professional clergy established by Constantine. This idea of professional clergy eventually took the responsibility for fulfilling the Great Commission off each believer and placed it on the professional clergy.

I will no longer be looked at as an outsider. It is you that must deal with the challenge to these practices. My voice will only get louder and the remnant will only grow larger. God is calling His church to shed the baggage of these false practices and return to the practices He ordained. If you won’t look at your practices in the light of Scripture then you will have to answer for that. Take note of this – as you stand before that Great White throne on judgement day there are two excuses that you will not be allowed to use. The first is – I didn’t know. You have now been told and that excuse is taken away. The other one is that – Everyone else was doing it!

Vicarious Christianity

2009-10-02T07:48:00.001-05:00

Is your faith based on a vicarious relationship?

As followers of Christ we must accept the vicarious atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ in order to become a part of His church. In this context, the word would take on the following meaning. - performed, exercised, received, or suffered in place of another.

It is the vicarious atonement for our sins that brings us forgiveness, cleansing, and a restored relationship with God. Without this vicarious act we would be unable to satisfy the demands of God’s justice and therefore be forever condemned to eternal punishment.

In America today I see another form of vicarious Christianity that I find troubling. This vicarious relationship is with the church that the Christian attends. In this context the definition of the word would be one or all of the following - taking the place of another person or thing; acting or serving as a substitute - felt or enjoyed through imagined participation in the experience of others

This form of vicarious Christianity has crippled the transformational power of God’s people. When I ask people about their ministry I often hear people tell me about things their church does that they take no part in themselves. When I speak of my ministry I often hear – our church does something like that. It is as if there is an outline of responsibility in the Bible that can be met through membership in an organization that contributes to an effort. Yes the body is to work together to bless the world but each Christian has personal responsibility to minister as well. I believe this is one of the attractions of large churches. I believe that people feel better about their vicarious faith if the church they are attending is addressing as many issues as possible.

This approach to faith and ministry has only propelled the consumer attitudes of today’s churchgoers to a new level. Its almost as if they know they have a responsibility to preach the word, serve the poor, help the widows and orphans, etc… If their church has a ministry addressing one of these issues then they are vicariously addressing the issue and therefore off the hook for their own personal responsibility to these issues. The prime example of this is the huge number of people that try to compel people to come to church to hear their pastor when in reality they do not share their faith personally with anyone.

So we find the smorgasbord of programs laid out on pamphlets in the foyer. New guests can quickly assess if the church will provide a vicarious substitutionary provision for their personal responsibility. Now I can become affiliated with that church and I can appease my own conscience when someone asks me, “what is your ministry?” I can answer with “we” do this or that even if I don’t participate in any of the mentioned ministries. I can avoid the tension of sharing my faith personally by inviting people to hear my pastor.

We need people to return to the place of accepting and fulfilling their personal responsibility as Christians.

I Have Just Finished My First Book

2009-10-01T12:38:00.002-05:00

I have just released my first book. This book is a big picture look at the coming reformation of the church in America. Please feel free to share the link with anyone that might be interested.

Disciple Driven Church - The Coming Reformation

Should Unbelievers be Allowed to Enter Our Worship Services?

2009-09-16T10:55:00.003-05:00

Just a quick thought. Under the Law only those who were a part of the covenant were to be allowed to enter the temple where worship took place.

In the age to come the only people allowed to enter the New Jerusalem or heaven are those who have their name written in the book of life.

No unbelievers in the worship in the past and none in the future. If we are supposed to allow it now then where is the instruction of Scripture to do this? Anyone?

A Picture from the Book of Numbers

2009-09-04T08:18:00.004-05:00

This is just one of many reasons I find the Book of Numbers so fascinating. As I read this morning I was wondering why God would care to put in such detail on the number of people in each tribe and camp. I decided to make a visual picture of the described layout of the camp in the wilderness. I put the numbers into a graph tool and made size proportioned boxes for each total. I then placed them as they are described in the book. Here is what I came up with.

What a visual representation of our true hope and that of Israel. The ultimate fulfillment of the covenant. The rest they were seeking could only be found at the cross - see Hebrews 4!

Separating the Holy from the Profane

2009-08-31T08:32:00.002-05:00

2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

14 - Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
15 - Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
16 - Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
17 - "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you.
18 - "And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.

Many commentators have dissected this passage over the years. It has been applied to the business world, marriage, and even to entering into pagan temples or other types of religious worship centers. The place it is rarely applied is in a literal sense to the worship gathering of Christians. What is the reason the instruction is not applied here? Is it not clear? Or is it more likely that it conflicts with the methodology and traditions that are binding the practices of the modern church? You decide.

One thing that is clear from the passage is that the two things that are never to be “yoked together” are Christians and unbelievers. The point is stressed emphatically as Paul takes the comparison to extremes by using Christ and Belial as the comparisons. Why would we bring unbelievers into a service that does the things we see described in 1 Corinthians? Could the unbeliever participate in a meaningful way? Could they offer up a spiritual gift for the edification of the body? Can God’s Word edify them prior to their accepting Christ as their Savior? The Bible clearly says in 1 Corinthians 2:14 that the things of the Spirit of God are foolishness to the natural man. He cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

If the practice of allowing unbelievers into the worship gathering were to stop many things would immediately change in the church. Invitation and attraction would no longer be used as a means to grow the church. Leaders would have to teach the people to make disciples or the church would never grow. The devestating effects of consumerism would be immediately wiped out.

The practice of inviting or allowing unbelievers in the worship gathering is so entrenched in our society that most never stop to ask if God intended us to allow it. Their is overwhelming evidence that the early church did not allow it. Only after the Edict of Milan was the practice allowed. We can easily see that under the Law no one outside the covenant could participate in worship. No place in the New Testament writings is this practice allowed. It is time that Christians stop and ask themselves what we gave up when we began to allow unbelievers into the worship gathering.

It is my firm belief that this is the first practice that must be stopped if the church is return to its transformational power. I believe that God has begun a reformation of the church and this practice must cease. I also believe that this is the reason that the institutional church in America can not be reformed from within. Its very existence and operation depends upon the practice of offering public worship gatherings. Which means, its very existence relies on a practice that violates Scripture and was not a part of the practice of the early church.

New Works in the Making

2009-08-24T11:37:00.002-05:00

Disciple Driven Church has sent two of its leaders to begin new works. Anthony Marks will be returning to Northern Indiana this fall to begin a new work and Terry and Suzette Goodwin are beginning to work in the Hyde Park neighborhood in North St. Louis.

It is exciting to see new works begin as the vision of Disciple Driven Church begins to unfold. God has begun His reformation and we are blessed to be a part of it.

Summer Internships 2009

2009-08-24T11:36:00.001-05:00

Our interns have returned to their homes after an exciting summer of transformation. We wish them the best as they return to their lives and begin to apply what they learned this summer.

Summer Internship Update

2009-07-22T08:19:00.001-05:00

Over the next 3 weeks our Summer internship will be coming to a close. For many of the interns it has been a life changing experience. Here are some updates from the past month.

Dave - It feels like something is different now. It seemed that before this past week, I've had a very scared and intimidated spirit. I was going through a lot of uncertainty with a lot of new restrictions put on me and it was and still is hard, however, I feel now I have a greater understanding of declaring Christ's authority in my life and over the my sins and bondage in my life. My spirit isn't as timid as it once was and I find I'm not afraid of the restrictions put in my life, especially as I come to a greater understanding of what they are and how they're meant to help me. I find I'm not afraid to be alone with God any longer.

Zach - So, God's spent the last week teaching me a lesson that i don't know how i lived so long without: the supremacy of Christ's act on the cross. I referenced this lesson in my last post, i think, but it has become more real for me this past week than ever before. The victory over sin HAS BEEN WON at the Cross. For the longest time, i was afraid of my sin, that i would never stop wanting it on some level, that i was always going to succumb to it because i would never let it go. But THAT SIN WAS DEALT WITH AT THE CROSS.

Jeff - I want to live like a rebel. I don't want to live by the worlds standards and care about myself or be criticized by people who don't know what my "true" mission is. I live by a Christ-like standard and not a worldly standard. Could it be that I could get criticized for posting this...yes. I just want people to know the truth. To not live like hypocrites. To not live by tradition, but to live by God. He is constantly speaking to us through his word, through the holy spirit, and through others. Don't' listen to tradition or history. Listen as the holy spirit prompts you to. Live like a rebel. LIVE THE MISSION. The Great Commission

Are you ready to be changed by Christ?

Summer Internship Reports

2009-06-10T07:23:00.002-05:00

Our 2009 Summer interns are only 2 weeks into their stay and already God is doing some amazing things with each of them. Here are some snippets from their reports.

From Jeff -
"This is an amazing place for the view and for the people, but when it comes to everything that I hold dear in my life...it needs to go. I can't worry about anything out here. I can't have my mind focusing on relationships, my family, school, or my friends back home out here. 100% of my mind and concentration needs to be on Christ out here. No more can I focus on things that won't last in this life. God has my heart and my mind right now, and I'm ready for the brokenness this summer will continue to bring."

From Greg -
"I’m overwhelmed even as I type this right now. Not with fatigue or exhaustion from work, but my spirit is absolutely in pain. I think I shared with you in my last letter that I asked very simply that our God would show me His heart. I don’t know why that particular prayer was so burdensome, as if I just had to ask Him that (I couldn't not, you know what I mean?), but I did, and I think He is beginning to do just that and I’m not allowed to close my eyes. It's broken. His heart is broken and I don’t know if I’ve ever really felt it like this before. I’ve met four different people in the last nine days that I have literally had to fight back tears because of the nature of the Spirit's openness in that moment. I’m not used to that and it’s really overwhelming. I know that God is showing me this pain in my generation for a reason, without doubt it is beneficial, but certainly I did not expect it."

From Zach -
"I never realized how many of the values God has put into the core of my being that i had taken for granted. Even at home, in St. Charles with its predominantly catholic influence, there was at least an illusion of morality. Like "i know I'm not supposed to act this way, but i do and i have some cockamamie excuse for why its OK." But here, people don't even care. The things i find crude, rude or socially unacceptable or even vile are just normal. run of the mill. alright. normal. it's like Romans 1 where Paul says that not only are the people immoral, but they approve of and reward their immorality. I am really out of my element."

The internship is intended to get the intern out of their comfort zones. It is meant to get them into a culture they have not experienced and to put their focus on their relationship with God and what that means in this world. I think we are off to a good start. If you have any interest in 2010 contact me soon.

Terry

Internship 2009

2009-05-26T09:08:00.002-05:00

Last week we held our training for the 2009 Summer Internship. While only a dozen interns made the trip this year we had over 20 people show up for the training. It was a very challenging time for many of these people as they were challenged to live out the faith they have been professing.

One of the best parts of our training is when we ask God to baptize people with His Holy Spirit. On Sunday night we gathered around a small fire in our backyard. We sang praise and listened to testimonies from many of the young people in the group. Three of the interns received this baptism. It is a life changing experience when God falls on you.

This was a great way to start the summer. Over the next twelve weeks these future leaders will seek consecration in their lives as they experience God in new ways and learn to minister outside their comfort areas. Please continue to pray for these young people.

Men of Privilege

2009-05-01T13:42:00.006-05:00

Here is a short message that addresses the high drop out rate of men in the church today. If you are a man and feel overwhelmed by your duties you must watch this message.

God Still Heals!

2009-04-27T07:51:00.002-05:00

On Saturday our church gathered at a park for our worship time together. It was a beautiful day. We decided to ask God to show up and do something amazing in our group. We gathered and stopped to pray. After we prayed one man suggested that someone wanted something from God but was afraid to ask. This turned out to be true and the man who had been born with cerebral palsy asked for us to pray that his legs would be healed. He was always in pain, could only walk on the balls of his feet and could not run without great pain.

We laid hands on him in prayer and God healed him! He started to walk and then took off running. Do you know the God that heals the lame? I would be happy to introduce you to Him!

Option A or Option B - You choose

2009-04-14T13:30:00.002-05:00

Wake up American Christians. The news gets darker everytime you turn around. If you continue to do what you have always done and ignore the writing on the wall (Option A) you may just lose an entire generation.

If you wake up and return to your first love and strengthen the things which remain (Option B) - God may bless us again and turn the hearts of the people to their God.

See the Story Here

God's Glory and the Great Commission

2009-04-11T19:16:00.003-05:00

This is the second in a series of videos that expand on the first post of this blog.

The focus is on the foundational issue of God's Glory and how that effects life.

Let the Remnant Connect

2009-04-09T15:49:00.003-05:00

A little something to get started. More videos will be uploaded as I get them done. Everything on the first post will be dealt with in detail. Connect with me if this stirs your passion for reformation.

A Call to Reformation

2009-04-03T10:17:00.000-05:00

Reformation is God's refining fire for His Church. Have you studied it in the past? Have you felt the need for it in the present? Reformation is not evil as the broken and corrupted establishment has always labelled it to be. Reformation is the work of God. When His Church is straying away from His ways then He sends His Spirit to set fire to the souls of those He has chosen to bring about reformation. It is always His work.

Reformation is risky business. People have died in the process. Hundreds even thousands. Many of them killed by the established leaders of the church. They do it in the name of God using justification language. Peace, unity, our God given authority, heresy. Words meant to mask their intentions and to keep people under their influence. They did this to Jesus so why not to the reformers He has called.

The fuel of Reformation is the Word of God. See what Martin Luther had to say.

"Take me, for example. I opposed indulgences and all papists, but never by force. I simply taught, preached, wrote God's Word: otherwise I did nothing. And then, while I slept or drank Wittenberg beer with my Philip of Amsdorf the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that never a prince or emperor did such damage to it. I did nothing: the Word did it all. Had I wanted to start trouble.... I could have started such a little game at Worms that even the emperor wouldn't have been safe. But what would it have been? A mug's game. I did nothing: I left it to the Word." (Luther's Works)

Speak the truth of God's word and Reformation results. That is the formula today as it was in Martin Luther's day. Notice that he did not continue in the system that he sought to reform. He separated himself and let the word of God work. Reform is quite predictable in one sense - it never happens from within the system it seeks to reform. The system will make corrections in response to reformation but the true reformation occurs in new works.

It is time for reform. It is time to let the word of God cleanse us from man’s corruption on God’s Church. We have wandered from the path and He will set it straight by His Word. What needs to be reformed. How did Martin Luther know what to address in the Reformation he began? God placed it on his heart and then he saw it with his eyes.

Here is my call for this Reformation. The Top Ten list of my call to Reformation!

1. Return to the Great Commission. Every Christian personally fulfilling the Great Commission.

2. Restore the family. Age segregation is destroying our society and the church. It is time to return to God’s design for both.

3. Training Godly leadership. No more training to administrate the organization. We need leaders that can multiply spiritual warriors.

4. The Holy Spirit must lead all ministries. All disciples must be taught how to walk in the Holy Spirit. The church is meant to operate on the basis of spiritual gifts. As disciples are baptized in the Holy Spirit, walk in the Holy Spirit, and become skillful in the use of their spiritual gifts, they will be equipped for the works of ministry.

5. Structure may never lead ministry. Structure is defined as physical things used in ministry. The age of making ministry happen with money and systems must end.

6. God desires us to dwell in unity. John 17:21 declares that unity is one way in which the world will know that Jesus is Lord. Denominationalism stands as a block to unity. We must call for everyone to stop growing “their” church and start growing God’s kingdom.

7. A Personal return to consecration and personal spiritual disciplines.

8. An end to Program Driven Ministry. Program Driven Ministry is defined as ministry that is designed, scheduled, packaged, promoted, and offered up to society as a means by which to address certain apparent needs in society. It generally takes the form of age, gender or interest segregation. Program Driven ministry offers up the latest and greatest to address the needs of sinful men. It calls people to participate in activities or events as a means of spiritual growth.

9. An end to Invitational and Attractional Ministry. Many American churches operate on a philosophy of attracting people to their services as a means of growing the kingdom of God. The Bible does not tell us to do this.

10. Stop mixing Unbelievers in the Worship Service. This practice is so entrenched in our modern society that many Christians are not willing to even consider that it might violate God’s instructions.

This stands as my "Thesis Outline" for this generations reformation. This forum becomes the place for expressing the word of God regarding these matters. Video will be the media of this generation's reformation. The printing press fueled Martin Luther's message as YouTube will fuel mine.

As for those of you that are in the establishment, I ask this of you. Drop your guard and open your heart. God is speaking to you today. If your spirit confirms that there is a problem then join this reformation! Do not be decieved into thinking that change will come from within. The problems are too deep. The systems are too dependant upon their errors for survival. Before you decide to stay and fight, try to imagine what your church would look like if it stopped doing all these things. Could it continue to operate?

"For where God built a church, there the Devil would also build a chapel”
Martin Luther quote

If your heart connects with this call contact me and let's explore this reformation together.

Terry Goodwin