According to a little research I’ve been doing there are 100,000 shipwrecks on the official list and another 80,000 to 110,000 being checked for duplication before being added.
The problem when we face personal shipwreck is that we can very quickly turn into a statistic. Shipwrecked marriages become divorce statistics. Shipwrecked businesses become bankruptcy and unemployment statistics, Shipwrecked dreams become lost hopes. And so on.
When Paul wrote to Timothy he told him:
Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.
1Tim.1:18-19
The Bible offers an alternative to shipwreck, it offers the chance to hold on to God, a chance to survive the shipwreck.
How to survive a shipwreck (Acts 27:27ff)
#1 Don’t go where it’s dangerous to go
The first lesson in surviving a shipwreck is to not get shipwrecked in the first place! It had already been a struggle to get to “Fair Havens” but something drew the ship’s pilot and owner on. Paul warns them of the possible consequences but another voice is stronger. The simple truth is that this shipwreck could have been and should have been avoided.
The simple lesson is don’t go looking for trouble you don’t need. You can’t avoid temptation, but you don’t have to give in to it. You can avoid the devil, but you don’t have to submit to him.
Prv. 19:3 A man’s own folly ruins his life
#2 Beware the calm before the storm
They say it’s very still and calm at the centre of a hurricane. I don’t know, it’s not been part of my experience.
On the other hand I have seen storms coming. I’ve stood overlooking a valley a watched a storm make it’s way up the tree line, I’ve watched the distant lightning and listened to the thunder. I have to say I actually love a good storm, from behind the windows. I’ve also stood and felt the wind drop and then run as the rain has started to pour down.
Sometimes there can be a period of calm before the real storm hits. If you get lulled into thinking everything will be okay you are certain to get caught out by the storm that’s around the corner.
#3 Stay with the ship
Seeing the rocks approach might make you think of jumping overboard. In this instance it was the wrong thing to do. Maybe it isn’t the rule every time, but staying with ship means seeing the shipwreck through rather than taking a chance and jumping off before you hit the rocks.
I guess there are times when we see the shipwreck in our lives coming, and we’re tempted to jump overboard and take our chances in the surf, but there may be a better outcome of we stay with the ship and see the shipwreck through.
#4 Prepare for survival
They did a number of things to prepare for survival. They got rid of all the excess baggage, all the cargo they were carrying. They ditched the lifeboats, they ate, and Paul at least prayed.
Preparing for survival is better than preparing to drown.
#5 Know the basis for our hope
When you face shipwreck, don’t face it not knowing the source of hope, the basis for hope. With God all things are possible. Remember the list of shipwrecks—relationships, jobs, futures. God offers us hope, not only to survive the shipwreck to go on surviving and face the future with hope and faith.
#6 Trust in the grace of God
They all made it safely to the shore. By the grace of God there is always hope for the future. The shipwreck is going to happen, but all need not be lost
#7 Look for a soft landing
You might look, but you may not find it. Aim for the sand bank, do all you can to avoid the rocks, you never know you might just make it, if you’re honest about the situation. If you ignore it then the rocks are all you have to look forward to, and it may be where you end up anyway.
#8 The shipwreck isn’t the end of the story
When they all made it to the shore they built a fire and what happens to Paul? He gets bitten by a snake.
The good news is that it’s possible to survive a shipwreck. The bad news is you’ve got shipwrecked in the first place.
Acknowledging the mistakes, accepting the consequences is all part of the process, but it’s the grace of God alone that can bring you safely to shore.
It’s the ultimate second chance, but it’s your choice.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Friday, June 23, 2006
Party Bag Giveaway
On Saturday June 24th the church is going to be at the Shortstown Funday. While we're there we're going to be giving away a party bag to the children that we meet. We've got 100 to give away, and once word gets out I don't suppose they will last very long.
We'll let you know how it went on Sunday.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
The vision thing: Church Away-Day 2006
On Sunday June 11th I talked about the challenge we face to bring the ethos of the church into line with the values, the vision and the goal of the church. The goal was defined simply in terms of bringing as many people as possible into the deepest possible relationship with God. In this context I’m using ethos to describe what we do and who we are. Both of these need to be in line with what we say we value and what we say we want to be.
To help us make this transition, (and I’m not suggesting that we’re not on the way, I’m just recognising that we’re on a journey of change together), we need to understand the context in which we are working these thing out and the focus of what we are trying to do.
Context and focus
We can think about the context and focus questions by asking ourselves: What does it mean to be Cotton End Baptist Church in 2006 and what might it mean to be Cotton End Baptist Church in 3 or 5 years time.
As I think about the future my dream, my vision is for a church that is actively meeting the needs of those within the church and those beyond the church. I dream of a church with a wide diversity of ministries balanced between spiritual and practical (although I’m not trying to suggest that something spiritual is not practical or the other way around).
I dream of a church that is growing in a sustainable way and a church that is always thinking creatively about how it can touch the wider community through kindness and in service, and open the door to a clear and compelling invitation to respond to God’s love shown through Jesus Christ.
I dream of a church that is willing to take Holy Spirit inspired risks in order to make a difference in the communities it serves. A church of radical believers who live wholeheartedly for Jesus Christ and will do whatever it takes to drive back the kingdom of darkness and usher in the reign of Christ.
Let’s get active!
Our mission statement is: To know God and to make God known. This is the focal point of our life together. Everything we do comes down to these two things: Knowing God and making God known.
To know God is all about my personal relationship with him. To make him known is all about how I share his love with others. If I were to put it simply then to make God known is all about loving people into a relationship with Jesus Christ.
But the challenge is turning this thinking into doing, or better still turning it into being. So the challenge is Let’s get active!
Active in discipleship
We’ll call this active following, because being a follower of Jesus is not a static thing but an active thing. You can get active in following Jesus by:
· Committing to a regular “quiet time”.
· Committing to regular corporate worship
· Committing to regular personal and corporate prayer
· Committing to a housegroup
I believe that housegroups are at the heart of the effective church. As we grow, housegroups will become more and more important. We have the opportunity to put in the best foundations for small groups by building and establishing groups right now. We have enough people around church to have at least 7 housegroups already. But only if we commit together to be a part of them.
Active in Evangelism
As you know I’ve been stressing Servant Evangelism for some time now. Let me just remind you of the principle and the context for SE.
Firstly the principle is simple: to do acts of kindness in Christ’s name with no strings attached. As such SE becomes a low risk, high grace strategy whereby we seek to touch lives through simple acts of kindness. Steve Sjogren calls this Active Kindness. But it’s important to realise that evangelism doesn’t end with SE. It’s one part of the picture. Alongside active kindness we need to get involved in Active Sharing of the gospel message.
Acts of kindness alone are unlikely to help anyone cross the line of faith, but they open the door of their hearts to the message. To paraphrase the Bible we need to be prepared at all times to give a reason for the hope we have.
Active Connecting
Active connecting is about how we go about building relationships with those not-yet-Christians. Again, one of our groups is going to look at this area, but here are a few thoughts to get us started.
Active Relationships
In keeping with the theme of getting active we can put active connecting into the context of active relationships. In other words, just as we are intentionally active in discipleship and mission, so too we are intentional in relationships. I’m going to suggest 6 key ideas about active relationships:
· Show genuine interest: Be interested without an agenda.
· Build true friendship: People should matter because they are people not projects.
· Not just an evangelistic opportunity: Too often we are in danger of befriending someone in order to share the gospel with them. I want to build friendships where the opportunity arises more naturally.
· Walk across the room: Initiating a friendship can be as simple as making a connection.
· Keep it simple: Don’t overanalyse or overcomplicate friendship. I suspect that people will see through any attempt to rush a friendship.
· Become intentional: Look for opportunities
To help us make this transition, (and I’m not suggesting that we’re not on the way, I’m just recognising that we’re on a journey of change together), we need to understand the context in which we are working these thing out and the focus of what we are trying to do.
Context and focus
We can think about the context and focus questions by asking ourselves: What does it mean to be Cotton End Baptist Church in 2006 and what might it mean to be Cotton End Baptist Church in 3 or 5 years time.
As I think about the future my dream, my vision is for a church that is actively meeting the needs of those within the church and those beyond the church. I dream of a church with a wide diversity of ministries balanced between spiritual and practical (although I’m not trying to suggest that something spiritual is not practical or the other way around).
I dream of a church that is growing in a sustainable way and a church that is always thinking creatively about how it can touch the wider community through kindness and in service, and open the door to a clear and compelling invitation to respond to God’s love shown through Jesus Christ.
I dream of a church that is willing to take Holy Spirit inspired risks in order to make a difference in the communities it serves. A church of radical believers who live wholeheartedly for Jesus Christ and will do whatever it takes to drive back the kingdom of darkness and usher in the reign of Christ.
Let’s get active!
Our mission statement is: To know God and to make God known. This is the focal point of our life together. Everything we do comes down to these two things: Knowing God and making God known.
To know God is all about my personal relationship with him. To make him known is all about how I share his love with others. If I were to put it simply then to make God known is all about loving people into a relationship with Jesus Christ.
But the challenge is turning this thinking into doing, or better still turning it into being. So the challenge is Let’s get active!
Active in discipleship
We’ll call this active following, because being a follower of Jesus is not a static thing but an active thing. You can get active in following Jesus by:
· Committing to a regular “quiet time”.
· Committing to regular corporate worship
· Committing to regular personal and corporate prayer
· Committing to a housegroup
I believe that housegroups are at the heart of the effective church. As we grow, housegroups will become more and more important. We have the opportunity to put in the best foundations for small groups by building and establishing groups right now. We have enough people around church to have at least 7 housegroups already. But only if we commit together to be a part of them.
Active in Evangelism
As you know I’ve been stressing Servant Evangelism for some time now. Let me just remind you of the principle and the context for SE.
Firstly the principle is simple: to do acts of kindness in Christ’s name with no strings attached. As such SE becomes a low risk, high grace strategy whereby we seek to touch lives through simple acts of kindness. Steve Sjogren calls this Active Kindness. But it’s important to realise that evangelism doesn’t end with SE. It’s one part of the picture. Alongside active kindness we need to get involved in Active Sharing of the gospel message.
Acts of kindness alone are unlikely to help anyone cross the line of faith, but they open the door of their hearts to the message. To paraphrase the Bible we need to be prepared at all times to give a reason for the hope we have.
Active Connecting
Active connecting is about how we go about building relationships with those not-yet-Christians. Again, one of our groups is going to look at this area, but here are a few thoughts to get us started.
Active Relationships
In keeping with the theme of getting active we can put active connecting into the context of active relationships. In other words, just as we are intentionally active in discipleship and mission, so too we are intentional in relationships. I’m going to suggest 6 key ideas about active relationships:
· Show genuine interest: Be interested without an agenda.
· Build true friendship: People should matter because they are people not projects.
· Not just an evangelistic opportunity: Too often we are in danger of befriending someone in order to share the gospel with them. I want to build friendships where the opportunity arises more naturally.
· Walk across the room: Initiating a friendship can be as simple as making a connection.
· Keep it simple: Don’t overanalyse or overcomplicate friendship. I suspect that people will see through any attempt to rush a friendship.
· Become intentional: Look for opportunities
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Christian Bikers
Cotton End Baptist Church hosts the local branch of the Christian Motorcycle Assoiciation. They meet once a month in the church hall on the second Monday. Please get in touch if you would like to know more.
Free Water anyone?
It’s one of the hottest days so far this summer, so what would you like? That’s what we thought… a nice cold bottle of water. Off to the cash & carry to buy 3 roll along cool boxes (£40 each), 210 bottles of water (£29) and lots of ice from Tesco (99p for 2Kg).
Eleven nervous, inexperienced but willing and adventurous people and a box full of contact cards set off for the riverside in Bedford.
20 to 30 minutes later there are eleven excited people buzzing about having just touched over 200 lives with the love of God through a simple act of kindness.
It never ceases to amaze me how these simple acts have a profound impact on both the giver and recipient. One of our “givers” gave water to two couples, who sat next to each other on a bench and overheard the second couple saying, “God loves us,” as they read the card. The other couple turned around and said, “He loves us too!” “Way to go God”, I thought.
Eleven nervous, inexperienced but willing and adventurous people and a box full of contact cards set off for the riverside in Bedford.
20 to 30 minutes later there are eleven excited people buzzing about having just touched over 200 lives with the love of God through a simple act of kindness.
It never ceases to amaze me how these simple acts have a profound impact on both the giver and recipient. One of our “givers” gave water to two couples, who sat next to each other on a bench and overheard the second couple saying, “God loves us,” as they read the card. The other couple turned around and said, “He loves us too!” “Way to go God”, I thought.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Jesus is in control
Have you seen the film The Perfect Storm? It’s the story of a fishing vessel that gets caught in a most unusual storm. Having tried to battle through the storm to get home with their catch, captain Billy Tyne decides it time to turn around and let the storm blow them back to calmer waters. For a moment there is hope as they see bright sunlight breaking through the clouds on the horizon, but it doesn’t last. The dark clouds soon cover the sun and one of the central characters simply says, “She’s not letting us go.”
There are times in our lives when we feel as if we are caught in the perfect storm, and it won’t let us go.
It may be the storm of a broken or difficult relationship; it may be the storm of an uncertain future. It may be the storm of illness or loss, of unrealised dreams and unfulfilled promises. It may be the storm of financial pressure or mounting debt.
And there may seem like there is no way out, that the clouds are closing in and the storm is getting worse.
Storm Chasers
Some people are born storm chasers.
Having survived being swept away in a flash flood at the age of 12, a year later Warren Faidley began chasing dust storms on a bicycle! He graduated to chasing storms of all kinds full-time. One interviewer said of him: "Like the boy who can't resist opening the cellar door to find out what is making that gnawing sound, Warren Faidley wants to meet the monster."
Whilst Warren chases weather patterns, some people chase the storms of life.
David chased the storm of illicit love as he watched Bathsheba take a bath when he should have been with the troops. Saul chased power and loyalty when he should have been chasing obedience towards God. Jacob chased a blessing when he should have been chasing the patience for god to fulfil his promises in his own time.
Storm Victims
As well as the chasers there are those for whom the storm appears to have chased them. The woman with the haemorrhage, the man born blind, the woman Jesus met by a well in Samaria.
Storm Survivors
Perhaps they are storm breakers not just survivors. People like Job who survived the storm of loss, or the prophets who rode the storm of national disobedience. Peter and Paul who faced their own storms or prejudice and pride.
A storm on Lake Galilee
Matthew, Mark and Luke all record the story of the day Jesus told the storm to calm down. The books will tell you that the geography of the area lends itself to sudden storms, and strong winds can rise suddenly on the surface of the lake. As the disciples pull hard against the oars, fighting for control over the boat as the waves roll over the sides, Jesus was asleep, on a cushion, in the stern.
I don’t know if you have ever been in a boat, in a storm, but sleeping is generally the last thing you’re probably going to do. But apparently Jesus does.
A matter of perspective
I don’t think that Jesus being asleep is a demonstration of anything other than perspective. From heaven the storm is not as big as it looks from a small fishing boat attempting to ride the waves. In the context of eternity, your current storm is not as big as think it is. That isn’t to suggest that it’s unimportant or that you should pull yourself together and deal with it. It’s just a matter of perspective. From heaven the view is different.
The view from here is not the view from there.
The Big Question
Perhaps the real issue at stake in the midst of the storm is not surviving, not even the how and why of being in the middle of a storm. The big question is: Does anybody care? Does Jesus care? When we face the storms of life we want to know. Does God care about us? Does he understand what we are facing? The storm is bad enough, but where is God? Or is he simply asleep in the stern of the boat, blissfully unaware of the nature of the struggle and the potential for failure.
The Big answer
I lift up my eyes to the hills--
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
PS 121:1-2
Surely God is my help;
the Lord is the one who sustains me.
PS 54:4
Jesus is in the boat. He may be asleep, but he’s in the boat. In the midst of the storm, he’s right there. And it’s not just a one off.
When they were out on their own in a storm, Jesus came to them walking on the water. When Paul faced certain shipwreck, Jesus spoke to him and assured him of his presence.
The truth is this: Whatever your storm, if you look for him, you will find Jesus there in the midst of it with you.
How can we know?
Four promises
#1 I am with you
Jesus told his disciples that he would be with them to the very end of the age and that goes for me and you to.
#2 I will never leave you
If it’s not enough to know that he is with us, it's getting close when we hear him say that he will never leave us.
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Heb.13:5
#3 Cannot be taken from me
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
John 10:28-29
#4 No more than you can bear
1Cor.10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Conclusion
Jesus offers peace. In the midst of out-of-control circumstances Jesus says, “You don’t have to be afraid, you don’t have to face this on your own.” If you will only take the heavenly perspective you will see this for the storm that it is, and Jesus is in control of the storm.
If he could speak peace and clam to the storm on the lake, what can’t he speak that same peace to in your life?
There are times in our lives when we feel as if we are caught in the perfect storm, and it won’t let us go.
It may be the storm of a broken or difficult relationship; it may be the storm of an uncertain future. It may be the storm of illness or loss, of unrealised dreams and unfulfilled promises. It may be the storm of financial pressure or mounting debt.
And there may seem like there is no way out, that the clouds are closing in and the storm is getting worse.
Storm Chasers
Some people are born storm chasers.
Having survived being swept away in a flash flood at the age of 12, a year later Warren Faidley began chasing dust storms on a bicycle! He graduated to chasing storms of all kinds full-time. One interviewer said of him: "Like the boy who can't resist opening the cellar door to find out what is making that gnawing sound, Warren Faidley wants to meet the monster."
Whilst Warren chases weather patterns, some people chase the storms of life.
David chased the storm of illicit love as he watched Bathsheba take a bath when he should have been with the troops. Saul chased power and loyalty when he should have been chasing obedience towards God. Jacob chased a blessing when he should have been chasing the patience for god to fulfil his promises in his own time.
Storm Victims
As well as the chasers there are those for whom the storm appears to have chased them. The woman with the haemorrhage, the man born blind, the woman Jesus met by a well in Samaria.
Storm Survivors
Perhaps they are storm breakers not just survivors. People like Job who survived the storm of loss, or the prophets who rode the storm of national disobedience. Peter and Paul who faced their own storms or prejudice and pride.
A storm on Lake Galilee
Matthew, Mark and Luke all record the story of the day Jesus told the storm to calm down. The books will tell you that the geography of the area lends itself to sudden storms, and strong winds can rise suddenly on the surface of the lake. As the disciples pull hard against the oars, fighting for control over the boat as the waves roll over the sides, Jesus was asleep, on a cushion, in the stern.
I don’t know if you have ever been in a boat, in a storm, but sleeping is generally the last thing you’re probably going to do. But apparently Jesus does.
A matter of perspective
I don’t think that Jesus being asleep is a demonstration of anything other than perspective. From heaven the storm is not as big as it looks from a small fishing boat attempting to ride the waves. In the context of eternity, your current storm is not as big as think it is. That isn’t to suggest that it’s unimportant or that you should pull yourself together and deal with it. It’s just a matter of perspective. From heaven the view is different.
The view from here is not the view from there.
The Big Question
Perhaps the real issue at stake in the midst of the storm is not surviving, not even the how and why of being in the middle of a storm. The big question is: Does anybody care? Does Jesus care? When we face the storms of life we want to know. Does God care about us? Does he understand what we are facing? The storm is bad enough, but where is God? Or is he simply asleep in the stern of the boat, blissfully unaware of the nature of the struggle and the potential for failure.
The Big answer
I lift up my eyes to the hills--
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
PS 121:1-2
Surely God is my help;
the Lord is the one who sustains me.
PS 54:4
Jesus is in the boat. He may be asleep, but he’s in the boat. In the midst of the storm, he’s right there. And it’s not just a one off.
When they were out on their own in a storm, Jesus came to them walking on the water. When Paul faced certain shipwreck, Jesus spoke to him and assured him of his presence.
The truth is this: Whatever your storm, if you look for him, you will find Jesus there in the midst of it with you.
How can we know?
Four promises
#1 I am with you
Jesus told his disciples that he would be with them to the very end of the age and that goes for me and you to.
#2 I will never leave you
If it’s not enough to know that he is with us, it's getting close when we hear him say that he will never leave us.
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Heb.13:5
#3 Cannot be taken from me
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
John 10:28-29
#4 No more than you can bear
1Cor.10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Conclusion
Jesus offers peace. In the midst of out-of-control circumstances Jesus says, “You don’t have to be afraid, you don’t have to face this on your own.” If you will only take the heavenly perspective you will see this for the storm that it is, and Jesus is in control of the storm.
If he could speak peace and clam to the storm on the lake, what can’t he speak that same peace to in your life?
Monday, June 12, 2006
The vision now
The Vision Now
Around the weekend of June 10th-11th, the church celebrates two major anniversaries. 230 years ago a decision was made to form a new congregation in Cotton End. 170 years ago the congregation decided to build a new place of worship. Without these visionary people we would not have our current site and our rich heritage of witness in the village. But what about us? Where are we in this unfolding story of the church in Cotton End?
We dream of a church where... This is where we begin--the dream of what church could be, the dream of what church should be.
Two things help define this vision:
#1 Our Core Values: commitment to Christ; authentic lifestyle; commitment to each other; commitment to serve and reach; centrality of prayer and worship
#2 Our Mission Statement: To know God and to make God known
But what picture does this paint? If you turn it around and ask, "What sort of church looks like this?", what kind of answer would you get?
The Four Essentials
These are the non-negotiables of church life. They may be expressed in subtly different ways, but they are at the heart of what it means to be the church for me.
A Biblical Church: In other words a church that is committed to being a church of the book. We want to let the word of God get deep down in to our lives, to affect the way we think and live. We do not want to conform the message to the way we think and live, we want to think and live in conformity to the message.
A Mission-involved Church: A church that is not committed to taking as many people as possible into a relationship with God cannot be a true expression of church.
A Relational Church: Jesus said it would be our love for each other that would speak of our connection with him.
A Praying Church: Prayer does not generally come easy to us but we must make it a priority. Without it we are disconnected from God, we cannot know what he is calling us to do because we are not talking to him and listening to him.
The Challenge
The challenge we face is simple. We need to change the ethos to match the values; change the ethos to match the vision; change the ethos to match the goal. The goal is simply:
To bring as many people as possible into the deepest relationship with God possible
The ethos of the church is how it really is, and this must change to match the dream, the vision.
There is nothing like the local church when it is working right. Its beauty is indescribable. Its power is breathtaking. Its potential is unlimited. It comforts the grieving and heals the broken in the context of community. It builds bridges to seekers and offers truth to the confused. It provides resources for those in need and opens its arms to the forgotten, the downtrodden, the disillusioned. It breaks the chains of addiction, frees the oppressed, and offers belonging to the marginalized of this world. Whatever the capacity for human suffering, the church has a greater capacity for healing and wholeness. No other organization on earth is like the church. Nothing even comes close.
Around the weekend of June 10th-11th, the church celebrates two major anniversaries. 230 years ago a decision was made to form a new congregation in Cotton End. 170 years ago the congregation decided to build a new place of worship. Without these visionary people we would not have our current site and our rich heritage of witness in the village. But what about us? Where are we in this unfolding story of the church in Cotton End?
We dream of a church where... This is where we begin--the dream of what church could be, the dream of what church should be.
Two things help define this vision:
#1 Our Core Values: commitment to Christ; authentic lifestyle; commitment to each other; commitment to serve and reach; centrality of prayer and worship
#2 Our Mission Statement: To know God and to make God known
But what picture does this paint? If you turn it around and ask, "What sort of church looks like this?", what kind of answer would you get?
The Four Essentials
These are the non-negotiables of church life. They may be expressed in subtly different ways, but they are at the heart of what it means to be the church for me.
A Biblical Church: In other words a church that is committed to being a church of the book. We want to let the word of God get deep down in to our lives, to affect the way we think and live. We do not want to conform the message to the way we think and live, we want to think and live in conformity to the message.
A Mission-involved Church: A church that is not committed to taking as many people as possible into a relationship with God cannot be a true expression of church.
A Relational Church: Jesus said it would be our love for each other that would speak of our connection with him.
A Praying Church: Prayer does not generally come easy to us but we must make it a priority. Without it we are disconnected from God, we cannot know what he is calling us to do because we are not talking to him and listening to him.
The Challenge
The challenge we face is simple. We need to change the ethos to match the values; change the ethos to match the vision; change the ethos to match the goal. The goal is simply:
To bring as many people as possible into the deepest relationship with God possible
The ethos of the church is how it really is, and this must change to match the dream, the vision.
There is nothing like the local church when it is working right. Its beauty is indescribable. Its power is breathtaking. Its potential is unlimited. It comforts the grieving and heals the broken in the context of community. It builds bridges to seekers and offers truth to the confused. It provides resources for those in need and opens its arms to the forgotten, the downtrodden, the disillusioned. It breaks the chains of addiction, frees the oppressed, and offers belonging to the marginalized of this world. Whatever the capacity for human suffering, the church has a greater capacity for healing and wholeness. No other organization on earth is like the church. Nothing even comes close.
Bill Hybels
Sunday, June 4, 2006
Winning life's battles
It can seem as if life is one battle after another. We face battles over our money, our relationships and our time. We are challenged in areas like our honesty and integrity, self-image, loneliness and fear.
We face battles that are:
Personal (I don’t like the way I look)
Emotional (I’ll do anything to be accepted)
Mental (I need to be the best)
Spiritual (Who am I going to follow)
Is it any wonder that there are times when we feel like giving up and letting the enemy win the fight. The question isn’t: How do I avoid the battles. It’s more like: How do I survive the battle or even how do I win the battle.
The bible is full of stories of people who faced battles. Sometimes they fell, sometimes they overcame. People like Job who overcame loss, or Jonah who overcame fear. David who overcame persecution, Daniel who overcame exile. Peter who overcame failure and Paul who overcame prejudice.
How did they do it? Was it their personalities or strength of character?
Undoubtedly these things had some part to play, but there is more to their stories than simply a matter of personal perseverance.
Winning the Battles
Before we talk about winning strategies for life’s many battles, we must first understand the nature of the battle. In many respects we could summarise the battle we face as a battle for our hearts, our minds, our strength and our souls. In other words, the very things with which we are to love God (heart, soul, strength and mind) are the very areas in which we come under attack.
In Ephesians 6 Paul defines the battle first in terms of what it is not. It is not a battle fought on a human level against a human enemy.
Our struggle is not against flesh and blood
It is:
Against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Or as Eugene Petersen puts it:
This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the devil and all his angles. Be prepared. You’re up against more than you can handle on your own.
According to Paul, the best defence against these attacks is the armour that God provides. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the shoes of the gospel and the sword of the Spirit. To this armour Paul adds the importance of prayer. But once you’re in the armour, what’s your strategy going to be?
Winning Strategies
#1 Prepare well
You don’t get far if you don’t prepare well. Sometimes you can wing it, sometimes you can get away with minimal preparation, but in the end it usually tells.
I have the utmost respect for everyone who takes part in a marathon. Whether they compete as a serious athlete or as a chicken. But if you watch the race unfold you’ll notice there are some who don’t look like they’ve prepared particularly well.
If we are going to win the battle, we must prepare well. I think the key to good preparation is simply this: honesty before God. Honesty before God means saying: I can’t do this on my own, I can only do this by the grace of God.
But good preparation also means to know the enemy, to understand the tactics and to prepare your defence. A rusty sword is of little value.
#2 Seek God’s strategy
Paul promises us that we won’t face anything that God has not prepared us to face. God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but will, with the temptation, make a way of escape.
When we go it alone we miss God’s strategy.
#3 Follow the plan
It’s easy to get the plan and then forget to follow it. This happened to Saul in the Old Testament. It can happen to you and to me too. Following the plan means that we submit ourselves unconditionally into the hands of God.
To make this step means we have to trust God, we have to believe he can be trusted. Jesus said: You trust in God, trust also in me.
#4 Persevere
Have you ever watched a marathon? At the starting line there are a lot of smiles. The chickens and super heroes all line up and chat away to the crowd and each other. Everyone begins in a happy smiley mood.
Now depending on your fitness levels that feeling may last 10 or 12 feet before reality sets in. Your feet begin to shout stop, your legs begin to shout stop, every muscle in your body begins to shout stop (you’ve probably reached 20 feet by now!)
At some point over the next 26 miles you will, as any runner will tell you, “hit the wall”. What you do at that point will determine whether you finish the race or not.
Perseverance is the key. Will you keep on running, will you keep on walking with God despite the pain and heartache that’s crying out to you to stop.
As followers of Jesus Christ we are called to be persistent in prayer, persistent in doing good, to press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me.
Facing the Battle
If the principle call upon our lives is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, strength, soul and mind and to love our neighbours as ourselves, then it seems reasonable to assume that this will be the focus of the major battle that we face.
The battle for our mind is the battle for our thoughts and our thinking; the battle for our strength is the battle for our time, for what we will do with our lives; the battle for our souls is the battle for our faith, the very things that we believe; the battle for our hearts is the battle for our commitment.
These four areas express our every faculty and capacity to do and to be the people the God. As we come under pressure, as we face the battle we can be sure of one thing. God is with us. Jesus Christ came into the world so that we would not have to face this battle alone. You need not be alone. You need not face the enemy of your soul alone.
We face battles that are:
Personal (I don’t like the way I look)
Emotional (I’ll do anything to be accepted)
Mental (I need to be the best)
Spiritual (Who am I going to follow)
Is it any wonder that there are times when we feel like giving up and letting the enemy win the fight. The question isn’t: How do I avoid the battles. It’s more like: How do I survive the battle or even how do I win the battle.
The bible is full of stories of people who faced battles. Sometimes they fell, sometimes they overcame. People like Job who overcame loss, or Jonah who overcame fear. David who overcame persecution, Daniel who overcame exile. Peter who overcame failure and Paul who overcame prejudice.
How did they do it? Was it their personalities or strength of character?
Undoubtedly these things had some part to play, but there is more to their stories than simply a matter of personal perseverance.
Winning the Battles
Before we talk about winning strategies for life’s many battles, we must first understand the nature of the battle. In many respects we could summarise the battle we face as a battle for our hearts, our minds, our strength and our souls. In other words, the very things with which we are to love God (heart, soul, strength and mind) are the very areas in which we come under attack.
In Ephesians 6 Paul defines the battle first in terms of what it is not. It is not a battle fought on a human level against a human enemy.
Our struggle is not against flesh and blood
It is:
Against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Or as Eugene Petersen puts it:
This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the devil and all his angles. Be prepared. You’re up against more than you can handle on your own.
According to Paul, the best defence against these attacks is the armour that God provides. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the shoes of the gospel and the sword of the Spirit. To this armour Paul adds the importance of prayer. But once you’re in the armour, what’s your strategy going to be?
Winning Strategies
#1 Prepare well
You don’t get far if you don’t prepare well. Sometimes you can wing it, sometimes you can get away with minimal preparation, but in the end it usually tells.
I have the utmost respect for everyone who takes part in a marathon. Whether they compete as a serious athlete or as a chicken. But if you watch the race unfold you’ll notice there are some who don’t look like they’ve prepared particularly well.
If we are going to win the battle, we must prepare well. I think the key to good preparation is simply this: honesty before God. Honesty before God means saying: I can’t do this on my own, I can only do this by the grace of God.
But good preparation also means to know the enemy, to understand the tactics and to prepare your defence. A rusty sword is of little value.
#2 Seek God’s strategy
Paul promises us that we won’t face anything that God has not prepared us to face. God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but will, with the temptation, make a way of escape.
When we go it alone we miss God’s strategy.
#3 Follow the plan
It’s easy to get the plan and then forget to follow it. This happened to Saul in the Old Testament. It can happen to you and to me too. Following the plan means that we submit ourselves unconditionally into the hands of God.
To make this step means we have to trust God, we have to believe he can be trusted. Jesus said: You trust in God, trust also in me.
#4 Persevere
Have you ever watched a marathon? At the starting line there are a lot of smiles. The chickens and super heroes all line up and chat away to the crowd and each other. Everyone begins in a happy smiley mood.
Now depending on your fitness levels that feeling may last 10 or 12 feet before reality sets in. Your feet begin to shout stop, your legs begin to shout stop, every muscle in your body begins to shout stop (you’ve probably reached 20 feet by now!)
At some point over the next 26 miles you will, as any runner will tell you, “hit the wall”. What you do at that point will determine whether you finish the race or not.
Perseverance is the key. Will you keep on running, will you keep on walking with God despite the pain and heartache that’s crying out to you to stop.
As followers of Jesus Christ we are called to be persistent in prayer, persistent in doing good, to press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me.
Facing the Battle
If the principle call upon our lives is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, strength, soul and mind and to love our neighbours as ourselves, then it seems reasonable to assume that this will be the focus of the major battle that we face.
The battle for our mind is the battle for our thoughts and our thinking; the battle for our strength is the battle for our time, for what we will do with our lives; the battle for our souls is the battle for our faith, the very things that we believe; the battle for our hearts is the battle for our commitment.
These four areas express our every faculty and capacity to do and to be the people the God. As we come under pressure, as we face the battle we can be sure of one thing. God is with us. Jesus Christ came into the world so that we would not have to face this battle alone. You need not be alone. You need not face the enemy of your soul alone.
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