23 December 2013
12 December 2013
Book Review – “What Is A Healthy Church Member?” by Thabiti Anyabwile
Before His ascension, Jesus entrusted his church with the
task of producing disciples by teaching them to conform their lives to the
commandments of the Lord. That means
that the church should be calling people to follow Jesus and to walk in the way
of their new Lord and Savior. This is “Great
Commission” language that is easily understood by most. But, what does it specifically mean to “follow
the teaching of Jesus” or to “walk the way He walked”? What does a healthy, growing follower of
Christ look like? These are the
questions that Anyabwile’s book is aimed at answering. It is organized around ten areas of
faithfulness that a Christians should display in order to be described as a
healthy member of his or her church. He
describes these areas as follows; a healthy church member is: a discerning listener, a biblical reader, a
gospel-centered person, a genuine convert, a biblical evangelist, a committed
worker, a seeker of discipline, a lifelong learner, a humble follower and a
prayer warrior.
There are at least two ways in which this short book can be
of benefit to the church. First, it is a
helpful read for individual church members who want to seek to grow in their
faith by taking a comprehensive look at how they are serving God through their
membership in the local church. Some may
be intimidated by the subject matter of the book, assuming that it will result
in a guilt-inducing laundry list of the things that they aren’t doing. Having read the book, however, I
can tell you that Anyabwile’s tone is upbeat and optimistic. It is obvious that his goal
is to encourage Christians toward greater joy in our walk with the Lord rather
than heaping on rules, regulations and guilt.
Second, it can be a helpful read for church leaders and teachers who are thinking through how best to shape the disciple-making focus of their church.
Here are some important excerpts:
“The Lord’s intent is that you play an active and vital part in His
body, the local church. He intends for
you to experience the local church as a home more profoundly wonderful and
meaningful than any other place on earth.” p. 14
“Apart from the
gospel, the church has nothing to say—that is, nothing to say that cannot be
said by some other human agency.” p. 39
“It sometimes appears
as though some Christians believe the gospel was meant to be preached widely
until it reached them and then stored safely in the vault of their person
history, away from everyone else.” p. 44
“We must be converted
ourselves. This may sound obvious, but probably
40 percent of the people I interview for membership in our local church tell me
of a time when they were church members but did not understand the gospel and
were not, by their own assessment, converted people.” p. 48
“God’s intent [is that]
the local church be central to the life of His people.” p. 64“It is impossible for members of a church to care effectively for each other if only a few people own the responsibility of correcting or instructing brothers or sisters in need of it.” p. 81
“The most chronic
problem facing churches and Christians is the lack of consistent spiritual
growth and progress in discipleship.” p. 83
“Neglecting to
participate in the corporate life of the church or failing to actively serve and
be served is a sure-fire way to limit our growth.” p. 91
“The health of a local
church may ride exclusively on the membership’s response to the church’s
leadership. How the congregation
receives or rejects its leaders has a direct effect on the possibilities of
faithful ministry and church health.” p. 95
02 December 2013
24 November 2013
18 November 2013
Book Summary - "The Masculine Mandate: God's Calling To Men" by Richard D. Phillips
Our culture is in the midst of some profound conversations surrounding the meaning of gender and the attendant subjects of marriage and sexuality. This promises to be a subject that will stay at the forefront of public debate for the foreseeable future. Doubtless it will continue to make its way into conversations around the family dinner table as well. In light of this, it is important for Christians to think deeply and biblically on the subjects of manhood, womanhood, marriage and family so that we will be able to give more than impressions or opinions, but rather well-considered convictions. In service to that goal I read "The Masculine Mandate" by Richard Phillips. It tackles the difficult task of trying to define what it means to be a man by biblical rather than cultural standards. No book, especially one of 170 pages, could hope to exhaustively treat this subject, but "The Masculine Mandate" is an immensely helpful book in helping to zero in on the core distinctives of masculinity. It is readable. Phillips does a good job of explaining biblical passages in an approachable way while weaving in enough illustrations and personal reflections to bring the force of those passages home to the present day. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking clarity on the issue of male identity.Here are some important excerpts:
"That is the Masculine Mandate: to be spiritual men placed in real-world, God-defined relationships, as lords and servants under God, to bear God's fruit by serving and leading." p. 9
"We have been taught that women are the main nurturers, while men are to be 'strong and silent.' But the Bible calls men to be cultivators, and that includes a significant emphasis on tending the hearts of those given into our charge." p. 14
"The Lord has commanded man not to make and image of God, but to be the image of God." p. 31
"By God's design, as seen in Genesis 2, a man is completed by a woman, and not just any woman, but by a wife. From this it follows plainly: It is vital for the well-being of almost any adult man that he becomes married." p. 59
"The idea is that the woman corresponds to the man, not as a mirror image but as a puzzle piece that clicks." p. 60
"The struggles that men and women experience in marriage are intended by God to drive us to our knees and to our Bibles, that we would restore God to the center of our lives." p. 74
"The main threat against which a man must protect his wife is his own sin." p. 87
"As our children grow, our power over them increasingly consists of influence rather than authority." p.104
04 November 2013
28 October 2013
21 October 2013
16 October 2013
2013 Walk For Life
On
September 21st, members from Gilead participated in the Clarity Walk
For Life. This was an opportunity to
raise support and awareness for the ministry that Clarity has in sharing the
gospel and seeking to save unborn babies in our community. Gilead had five sponsored walkers who raised
money by seeking your sponsorship. I
have always enjoyed participating in the walk since we moved into Hardin county
several years ago, and this year was no exception. It is always exciting to see so many people
from churches all across the county come together in visible support of this
important work.
I
was particularly encouraged by the way that you all responded in providing
financial support to our walkers. You
made their jobs a joy rather than a labor.
At the risk of sounding a little proud, I also wanted to let you know
that Gilead was one of the top ten giving churches in the walk this year. I know that it isn’t a competition. It is just wonderful to see your eagerness to
see God’s work go forward even if it means offering some of your hard-earned
resources.
I
pray that God will continue to keep His hand on us and give us more and more
opportunities to advance His kingdom.
14 October 2013
07 October 2013
30 September 2013
09 September 2013
26 August 2013
20 August 2013
05 August 2013
22 July 2013
15 July 2013
24 June 2013
17 June 2013
28 May 2013
20 May 2013
29 April 2013
17 April 2013
Do You Look Like You Are Glad To Serve?
Delight in divine service is a token of acceptance. Those who serve God with a sad countenance, because they do what is unpleasant to them, are not serving Him at all. They bring the form of devotion, but the life is absent. Our God requires no slaves to grace His throne. He is the Lord of the empire of love, and would have His servants dressed in the livery of joy. The angels of God serve Him with songs, not with groans. A murmur or a sigh would be a mutiny in their ranks. That obedience which is not voluntary is disobedience, for the Lord looks at the heart, and if He sees that we serve Him from force, and not because we love Him, He will reject our offering. Service coupled with cheerfulness is heart-service and therefore true. Joyful willingness is the test of a Christian's sincerity. If a man is dragged to battle then he is no patriot. But the man who marches into the fray with flashing eye and beaming face, singing, "It is sweet to sacrifice for one's nation," proves himself to be sincere in his patriotism. Cheerfulness is the support of our strength. In the joy of the Lord we are strong. It acts as the remover of difficulties. It is to our service what oil is to the pistons of an engine. Without oil the engine soon grows hot and accidents occur. Similarly, if there isn't a holy cheerfulness to oil our pistons then our spirits will be clogged with weariness. The man who is cheerful in his service of God proves that obedience is his element. He can sing, "Make me walk in Your commands, because it is a delightful road".
Reader, let me ask you this: Do you serve the Lord with gladness? Many people in the world think that our religion is a slavery. Are we showing them that it is a delight and a joy to us? Let our gladness proclaim that we serve a good Master.
I found Spurgeon's observations to be convicting, because I have certainly been guilty of bringing cheerless service before the Lord in my life. When we are struggling to serve and worship the Lord with joy, the antidote is to concentrate on the goodness of our God rather than the deadness of our feelings. We do serve a good Master. Take a little time to concentrate on His goodness and give that contemplation a chance to warm your heart and to quicken your joy in His service.
*Psalm 100.2 (esv)
03 April 2013
25 March 2013
05 March 2013
21 February 2013
Hitting The Ground Running
I’ve really been looking forward to hitting the ground running in 2013. The beginning of a new year is an exciting one in the life of a church as we come off another celebration of Christmas and look forward to another year of opportunities to see, savor, and serve our Lord. Well … I’ve hit the ground, but I will likely do less running than I had initially hoped. Nevertheless, there are many ongoing and upcoming projects for which I am excited. I may be on crutches but Gilead is not. Here are some examples of opportunities for which we should be both grateful and prayerful:
* We were able to complete a mission to Metairie, LA, in support of Hope Church. The team consisted of fifteen people representing three different churches. As with any such undertaking , there were some plans that had to be adjusted; however, we were able to serve the Hope community in tangible ways and to sow seeds that we pray will eventually bear fruit. The team will be giving a report on our trip on Sunday night, March 3rd. Please plan on coming to hear about what the Lord showed us.
* Last Sunday the new windows were finally installed in Judy Dupin’s home. We participated in this project in cooperation with other churches in the Glendale area. Your compassion for those in need and your willingness to sacrificially reach out to meet those needs are evidences that the Spirit of God is truly among us. When we care about the same things that our Father cares about, it shows that we are His children. Please remember to encourage Pam Young for her leadership and work on this particular project.
* This last Tuesday we began our 2013 session of the Good News Club at Creekside Elementary School in Sonora. We had over 30 children sign up for club this year. With each year our experience and effectiveness have increased in this outreach. We are still in need of more workers, so please consider giving an hour of your week for the next couple of months to introducing children to the life giving gospel of Jesus.
* On Wednesday night we began a new Gilead U study called “The Praying Life.” For adults who have not been to Gilead U before, let me encourage you to come and participate in this informal time of study on the vital subject of talking with God. Some of you may have participated in prayer studies before, and these studies may have left you feeling overwhelmed and guilt-ridden. I think that you will experience this study in a very different way. Give it a try on Wednesdays at 6:30. What do you have to lose? Better yet, what do you have to gain?
* On Sunday, March 24, we will be having a Gilead Outreach (G.O) night where we will canvass our surrounding community to let them know about our Easter weekend events. Those of you who participated in our last G.O. night know what a blessing it can be, so please pray for the Lord’s favor on our labor.
* On April 28th, we are planning a Sunday morning question and answer forum, in which you will be able to submit theological and cultural questions to the pastors. We think that this will be a fun and informative occasion for you to get some of your most perplexing questions answered. Stay tuned for more details.
So, as you can see, there are many reasons to be excited-the Lord is opening doors around us! I hope that you will seek to hit the ground running this year.
* We were able to complete a mission to Metairie, LA, in support of Hope Church. The team consisted of fifteen people representing three different churches. As with any such undertaking , there were some plans that had to be adjusted; however, we were able to serve the Hope community in tangible ways and to sow seeds that we pray will eventually bear fruit. The team will be giving a report on our trip on Sunday night, March 3rd. Please plan on coming to hear about what the Lord showed us.
* Last Sunday the new windows were finally installed in Judy Dupin’s home. We participated in this project in cooperation with other churches in the Glendale area. Your compassion for those in need and your willingness to sacrificially reach out to meet those needs are evidences that the Spirit of God is truly among us. When we care about the same things that our Father cares about, it shows that we are His children. Please remember to encourage Pam Young for her leadership and work on this particular project.
* This last Tuesday we began our 2013 session of the Good News Club at Creekside Elementary School in Sonora. We had over 30 children sign up for club this year. With each year our experience and effectiveness have increased in this outreach. We are still in need of more workers, so please consider giving an hour of your week for the next couple of months to introducing children to the life giving gospel of Jesus.
* On Wednesday night we began a new Gilead U study called “The Praying Life.” For adults who have not been to Gilead U before, let me encourage you to come and participate in this informal time of study on the vital subject of talking with God. Some of you may have participated in prayer studies before, and these studies may have left you feeling overwhelmed and guilt-ridden. I think that you will experience this study in a very different way. Give it a try on Wednesdays at 6:30. What do you have to lose? Better yet, what do you have to gain?
* On Sunday, March 24, we will be having a Gilead Outreach (G.O) night where we will canvass our surrounding community to let them know about our Easter weekend events. Those of you who participated in our last G.O. night know what a blessing it can be, so please pray for the Lord’s favor on our labor.
* On April 28th, we are planning a Sunday morning question and answer forum, in which you will be able to submit theological and cultural questions to the pastors. We think that this will be a fun and informative occasion for you to get some of your most perplexing questions answered. Stay tuned for more details.
So, as you can see, there are many reasons to be excited-the Lord is opening doors around us! I hope that you will seek to hit the ground running this year.
28 January 2013
07 January 2013
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