Weekend Update . . .

Here are links to three very informative, and worth reading, online Journals:

Themelios: It is available as a 178-page PDF and in HTML.

Catalyst Leadership (a webzine).

YouthWorker Journal (also a webzine).

This is from Between Two Worlds and Mars Hill Church:

Today in history, 1873, the steamship Ville du Havre was struck by an iron sailing vessel while crossing the Atlantic. 246 people died, including the four daughters of Chicago lawyer Horatio Spafford. His wife Anna survived. Just two years earlier their four-year-old son died of scarlet fever, and the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 financially ruined him.

While sailing the Atlantic to reunite with his wife after the death of their girls, he penned the beloved hymn, It Is Well with My Soul (the original manuscript is pictured to the right).

Here is Mars Hill on his life:


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BBC students, below is our class schedule for this week. If you have any questions, drop me an email. Otherwise, I'll see you in class!

This week’s schedule:

The Church's Ministry:

M (11/23) – Lecture: Community ~ Spiritual Gifts?

Educational Ministries of the Church:

M (11/23) – ORANGE (Note: Make sure you have the text): Chapters 1-3

Foundations of Ministry Leadership

T (11/24) – Situational Leadership

Effective Bible Teaching

T (11/24) – Lesson Presentations Conclusion; BRING YOUR FULL LESSON (to turn in); and we will get organized for the last two weeks of the course

Luke (Grad School)

Outline & Summary of Luke 9-13
No Forum Discussion
Week Assessment Quiz
Complete:"Redemptive Presence" Project
Start "Prodigal God" Project

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.

Children's Ministry?

Does Children's Ministry work?

Well, that would depend on what one means by "work." But recent research by the Barna Group indicates some very positive indicators between childhood church attendence and adult faithfulness to the church. Here are a few highlights of the study:

THE QUESTION

How do childhood and teen engagement connect to adult spirituality? The research examined four elements of adult religious commitment: attending church, having an active faith (defined as reading the Bible, praying, and attending church in the last week), being unchurched, and switching from childhood faith.

ADULTS THAT ATTENDED CHURCH AS CHILDREN, DO STICK.

When it comes to church engagement, those who attended Sunday school or other religious programs as children or as teens were much more likely than those without such experiences to attend church and to have an active faith as adults.

THOSE THAT DIDN'T, DON'T.

Measures of disassociation – being unchurched and changing from childhood faith – were also correlated with activity before age 18. The highest proportion of unchurched adults was found among those who had never attended as children or teenagers.

AND THOSE THAT DID, STAY CONNECTED TO THEIR HERITAGE.

Similarly, a person’s likelihood to switch faith views at some point was also correlated to their early-life spiritual experiences. The survey asked if people had the same faith perspectives today as when they were a child or whether they had ever significantly changed their faith views. The study indicates that individuals who recalled frequent religious attendance as a child were less likely to have changed central faith views than were those who attended less often.

PUTTING IT IN PERSPECTIVE

David Kinnaman, president of Barna Group, made several observations about the research. “It is important to clarify what this research does and does not indicate. First, correlation does not imply causation. This means that the research does not prove that spiritual activity as a young person causes spiritual engagement as an adult. In fact, the research confirms the pattern that many students who are active early in life disengage from their faith as they get older. And people’s recollections of childhood activities are only one limited way of understanding faith durability.

“However, the study shows that most American adults recall frequent faith activity when they were growing up. Moreover, it provides clarity that the odds of one sticking with faith over a lifetime are enhanced in a positive direction by spiritual activity under the age of 18. And it raises the intriguing possibility that being involved at least a few times a month is correlated with nearly the same sticking power as weekly involvement – especially among teenagers.”

I encourage you to read the entire report at the Barna website >>

Also, Southern Baptist missiologist and researcher, Ed Stetzer, has also made some observations about the study, you can read his perspective here >>

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.

Lessons in Temptation

Andy Naselli (a Professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), created the summary outline below of the strategies used by Screwtape to advise Wormwood in the C.S. Lewis classic: The Screwtape Letters.

The list was part of a review by Naseli - in the online journal: Themelious, - of the recently released dramatization of The Screwtape Letters by Focus on the Family. You can read the entire review here >>, and access the Focus on the Family Screwtape web site here >>

I have posted it here because as one surveys this list, I think you can see that it is a wise and informative warning of just how Satan does attack us. Not all our sin can blamed on him, but CS Lewis give us a useful warning of where we should be on guard.

Naseli writes: Here is a summary of each of Screwtape’s letters that advise Wormwood how to tempt his “patient” (who becomes a Christian between letters one and two):

1. Make him preoccupied with ordinary, “real” life—not arguments or science.
2. Make him disillusioned with the church by highlighting people he self-righteously thinks are strange or hypocritical.
3. Annoy him with “daily pinpricks” from his mother.
4. Keep him from seriously intending to pray at all, and if that fails, subtly misdirect his focus to himself or an object rather than a Person.
5. Don’t hope for too much from a war [in this case, World War II] because the Enemy often lets our patients suffer to fortify them and tantalize us.
6. Capitalize on his uncertainty, divert his attention from the Enemy to himself, and redirect his malice to his everyday neighbors and his benevolence to people he does not know.
7. Keep him ignorant of your existence, and make him either an extreme patriot or an extreme pacifist who regards his cause as the most important part of Christianity.
8. Make good use of your patient’s series of troughs and peaks (i.e., “the law of undulation”), and beware that the Enemy relies on the troughs more than the peaks.
9. Capitalize on trough periods by tempting him with sensual pleasures (especially sex), making him content with his moderated religion, and directly attacking his faith as merely a “phase.”
10. Convince him to blend in with his new worldly acquaintances.
11. Understand the four causes of laughter (joy, fun, the joke proper, and flippancy), and shrewdly use jokes and flippancy.
12. Don’t underestimate the power of “very small sins” because “the safest road to Hell is the gradual one.”
13. Don’t allow him to experience real pleasures because they are a touchstone of reality.
14. Make him proud of his humility. Use both vainglory and false modesty to keep him from humility’s true end.
15. Make him live in the future rather than the present.
16. Encourage church-hopping.
17. Encourage gluttony through delicacy rather than excess.
18. Convince him that the only respectable ground for marriage is “being in love.”
19. Understand that the Enemy does not genuinely love humans. (But we don’t know what his real motive is.)
20. Don’t give up if your direct attacks on his chastity fail. Try to arrange a desirable marriage.
21. Convince him to use the pronoun “my” in the fully possessive sense of ownership (e.g., “my time,” “my boots,” “my wife,” and “my God”).
22. Understand that the Enemy has filled His world full of pleasures and that you must twist them before you can use them.
23. Encourage him to embrace a “historical Jesus” and to treat Christianity as merely a means to a political end such as social justice.
24. Confuse him with spiritual pride for being part of an elite set.
25. Replace “mere Christianity” with “Christianity And” by increasing his horror of “the same old thing” and thus increasing his desire for novelty.
26. Sow seeds of “unselfishness” during his courtship.
27. Twist his prayers.
28. Guard his life so that he grows old because real worldliness takes time.
29. Defeat his courage, and make him a coward.
30. Capitalize on his fatigue, and manipulate his emotions with the word “real.”
31. His end is inexplicable, but we must win in the end.

This video serves as a great introduction to the book and dramatization:

Blessings

3 John 8

Bill H.

From Bad Leaders to Good Leaders

Because of a personally hectic schedule this week, I am going to cheat a little and fall back on some things I've had on file and waiting to share. I will resume and finish my series on "The Mark of the Christian" next week.

The first thing below is a short article full of much wisdom about leadership and change. It comes from Southern Baptist researcher, and prolific author, Thom Rainer. For those of you in leadership positions, the seven "major transitions" are worth serious reflection. Rainer . . .

From Bad Leaders to Good Leaders
by Thom Rainer 9/22/2009

Sometimes I just like to look through the old files.

They tell the stories of hundreds of consultations I led from 1988 to 2005. During that time I led the Rainer Group, formerly known as Church Growth Visions, to help churches all across North America. When I became president of LifeWay Christian Resources, I closed the company and my son, Sam Rainer, continued the work through Rainer Research.

The files I love to review are the stories of churches that made positive changes. Inevitably, each of these success stories has another great story within it. I then remember how leaders in these churches made changes in their own lives. Many of them didn’t believe at first that it was possible, and then God began to change them. He gave them strength they never knew they could have.

And they went from bad leaders to good leaders.

When change is good

The bad leaders were not necessarily bad persons. But there was something about their leadership styles and efforts that was detrimental to the churches they led and served.
The good news is that a number of these leaders did make significant changes. They were willing to listen to input and seek God’s strength to move in a positive direction. As a consequence the churches they led became healthier as they made the changes.

Look at seven of these major transitions by the leaders. Every leader I studied in these files made at least one, and some made several, of the changes.

Seven major transitions

From Arrogance to Humility. While some of the weaker leaders lacked confidence, others were simply self-centered. Sometimes our congregational surveys would reveal this perception. It was heartening to hear some of the leaders acknowledge their self-sufficiency, and move toward greater humility.

From Caution to Faith. On the other hand, some of the leaders were fearful of doing anything significant lest they offend someone or engender criticism. When they made the positive transition, they began to take steps of faith. The critics did not go away, but the vast majority of the church gladly followed.

From Inwardly-focused to Outwardly-focused. It was not uncommon to see some of the struggling leaders focus all of their attention on the needs of those in the church. While those needs should not be neglected, a church whose ministries are primarily focused inwardly is already dying. These leaders led their churches in the spirit of Acts 6:1-7, from self-centered to missional.

From Activity-driven to Goal-driven. The Apostle Paul said, "I pursue as my goal . . ." (Philippians 3:14, HCSB). His mission was one that was goal-centered toward Christ. Struggling leaders make the activities and the programs their goals. Those who became goal-driven looked at the reason behind the activities and focused in that direction.

From Credit-seeking to Credit-deflecting. It was absolutely amazing to watch these leaders move from persons who sought recognition and credit to persons who only desired that God be given the glory. They were also quick to praise and compliment others and to give others the credit.

From Prayerless to Prayerful. Leaders are often so busy that they take little time to pray. Those who became great leaders knew the Source of their strength, and they made time to pray. And it seems that the more prayerful the leaders became, the more prayer-filled their churches became.

From Somber to Joyful. One of the greatest rewards of observing these transitions was to see leaders move from a near joyless disposition to people who "rejoice(d) in the Lord always" (Philippians 4:4). Their joy was contagious, and they led churches to become congregations of joy.

Read more from Rainer at his website >>

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H,

Sunday Worship ... Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Chorus:
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

Chourus(x2)

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.

Weekend Update . . .

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President, Dr. Al Mohler posted an article on his blog about the new generation of young Pastors that are emerging as leaders in the evangelical church across our country. He highlights the qualities listed below in his article. Indeed, these are quailites I would love to see in every student and graduate of the school I teach at, I hope we are nuturing them.

Here’s a summary of Mohler’s eight points:

1.They are deeply committed to the Gospel and to the authority of Scripture.
2.They love the church.
3.They are gifted preachers and teachers.
4.They are eager evangelists.
5.They are complementarians who affirm the biblical roles for men and women in both the church and the home.
6.They are men of vision.
7.They are men of global reach and Great Commission passion.
8.They are men of joy.

Read the antire article here >>

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BBC students, below is our class schedule for this week. If you have any questions, drop me an email. Otherwise, I'll see you in class!

This week’s schedule:

The Church's Ministry:

M (11/16) – Personal Stewradship Project
W (11/18) - Guest Lecturer: Dr. Don McCall
F (11/20) - Lecture: Community

Educational Ministries of the Church:

M (11/16) – Project Revision
W (11/18) – ORANGE (Note: Make sure you have the text, get to the bookstore if you still need it)

Foundations of Ministry Leadership

T (11/17) – Six Leadership Practice
Th (11/19) - Six Leadership Practices

Effective Bible Teaching

T (11/17) – **Lesson Presentations Continued**
Th (11/19) - **Lesson Presentations Continued**

Luke (Grad School)

Outline & Summary of Luke 7-9
Forum Discussion (2)1P2F
Week Assessment Quiz
"Redemptive Presence" Paper Due

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.

Regret . . . Schaeffer

Continuing in his discussion of how Christians are to respond when they disagree, in this next section of Francis Schaeffer’s book, The Mark of the Christian, Schaeffer helps us to understand proper “regret.”

Specifically, as follow up to the topic of disagreement deal with in the last section of the book, Schaeffer addresses the question: “How can we exhibit the oneness Christ commands without sharing in the other man's mistakes?” (p. 26)

REGRET

First, we should never approach such disagreement without regret and true sorrow, there must honest regret and humility that it has come to this point of disagreement. Schaeffer makes this point quite vividly: “The world must observe that, when we must differ with each other as true Christians, we do it not because we love the smell of blood, the smell of the arena, the smell of the bullfight, but because we must for God's sake” (p. 27).

Second, there should be a proportionate display of love equal to (if not more than) the importance and degree of the disagreement (p.28). The word he uses is that this love should be “seeable,” reminding us again of the apologetic nature and message of this text.

Unfortunately, the reverse is too often more true; when we have minor disagreements, it is easy for us to show love, but the test comes with, and is most important—because this is when the unbelieving will be most observant—when there are major rifts. This is when we should be most careful to display “seeable” love to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Key statements from this section (p. 26-28):

There is only one kind of man who can fight the Lord's battles in anywhere near the proper way, and that is the man who by nature is unbelligerent.

If it is only a minor difference, showing love does not take much conscious consideration. But where the difference becomes really important, it becomes proportionately more important to speak for God's holiness. And it becomes increasingly important in that place to show the world that we still love each other.

As the differences among true Christians get greater, we must consciously love and show a love which has some manifestation the world may see.

You can read the online edition of the entire book here >>

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.

When Christains Disagree . . . Schaeffer

In the next section of Francis Schaeffer’s book, The Mark of the Christian, Schaeffer carefully suggests to us how to properly disagree. [This is the 14th post in analytically blogging my way through Schaeffer’s book.]

In the previous two sections, he has introduced us to the need to say we’re sorry and to grant forgiveness; for without these two very practical steps, our love will only be a good idea. But how are we to handle honest disagreement, and disagreement that surfaces over matter of holiness, or lack thereof?

WHEN CHRISTIANS DISAGREE

First when dealing with sin or holiness, Schaeffer appeals to the example of how Paul admonishes the Corinthian church (1 Cor. 5:1-5) for their failure to directly and forcefully deal with a clear matter of sin in their midst. Thus, sin cannot go unattended by the church. To do so is to ignore the holiness of God, our witness to the world, and to violate God’s law (p. 25).

Conversely—and do not miss the irony—Paul will later write to scold them for not properly loving and accepting this repentant brother back into the fellowship of the church (2 Cor. 2:6-8).

The point: we must have, and display, a proper—and very delicate—balance between exercising rightful justice and giving proper love; that is, living and showing: “grace and truth.”

Why, Schaeffer reminds us again of the apologetical nature of our Christian relationships when he concludes with this imagined quote from Jesus to the church family at Corinth: "Don't you realize that the surrounding pagans of Corinth have a right to say that Jesus was not sent by the Father because you are not showing love to this man that you properly disciplined?" (p. 26).

Key statements from this section (p. 25-26):

What happens, then, when we must differ with other brothers in Christ because of the need also to show forth God's holiness either in doctrine or in life?

First, in I Corinthians 5:1-5 he scolds the Corinthian church for allowing a man in the midst of fornication to stay in the church without discipline. … After they have disciplined him, Paul writes again to them in II Corinthians 2:6-8 and scolds them because they are not showing love toward him.

These two things must stand together.

You can read the online edition of the entire book here >>

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.