Author: petebeck3

Pete Beck III ministered as a pastor and Bible teacher in Burlington for over 34 years. He is married to Martha, with whom he has four children, ten beautiful grandchildren, and four amazing great grandchildren. He ministers in his local church as a Bible teacher and counselor. He has published two books - Seeing God's Smile and Promise of the Father - as well as a wide variety of Bible-related articles which he has compiled into books in PDF form.

Be an Answer to Prayer

If we are to fulfill the great commission, we must become an answer to prayer.

Jesus understood that the task of reaching harassed and helpless people who are separated from God is great. He also realized that his time here on earth was short and his personal ministry was limited in scope by the fact that he could only be in one place at a time. He asked his disciples to pray that God would raise up more workers to join him in the harvest field.

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38  therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38 (ESV)

The beginning of the larger answer to this prayer occurred on Pentecost Sunday when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples, thereby launching the church’s apostolic / missionary efforts in the world. After the Holy Spirit filled multitudes of his disciples, Jesus’ ministry was greatly expanded, as it continues to this day, but there is still a great need for more workers to respond to his prayer.

By context, in the above passage we understand that Jesus asked God to send people with a shepherd’s heart to help the harassed and helpless who fill our communities. Many of us think that gifted evangelists are the ones who bear the responsibility for bringing in the harvest, but this is not what Jesus prayed.

The Holy Spirit is raising up an army of compassionate people who have the Great Shepherd’s heart to enter the world of lost and hurting with an invitation to be reconciled to God.

In their desperation, many lost and hurting people cry out to God for help. I have knocked on more than one door to discover that the resident had been praying for God to send someone to them. What a privilege it is to be the answer to someone’s prayer! What a responsibility we have when we ask God to raise up laborers in the harvest. Why would we imagine that we are not among those who are called to join him in the work? It is one thing to pray, but quite another to obey.

If our prayers for the lost do not result in our entering the harvest field, we only may be playing at church.

Will you be an answer to prayer? Will you respond to God’s call? Will you enter the harvest field?

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8 (ESV)
Share this post...

Seeing with the Shepherd’s Eyes

One of the most important qualities needed by those who wish to “fish” for people and make disciples is have the heart and eyes of a shepherd.

We need not be dynamic evangelists, but just people who care about people.

Jesus said:

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ Matthew 13:15 (NLT)

How we see is a function of the condition of our hearts. Hearts filled with compassion see people quite differently from the way hardhearted people look at others.

Mission begins when we understand and embrace Christ’s Great Commission. It gains motivation and momentum when our hearts are gripped by his compassion for the lost and hurting.

How Jesus saw people is recorded in Matthew’s Gospel.

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:35-36 (ESV)

As Jesus went (the “go” part of the Great Commission), he encountered people who were hungry for what he offered – the good news of God’s family and kingdom combined with forgiveness, healing, and deliverance.

We see that Jesus’ motivation for ministry was compassion for the lost and hurting masses, the harassed and helpless.

The Jewish leaders viewed the common folk as the great “unwashed,” ignorant and relatively worthless crowds, who were not really deserving of their energy and attention. Jesus, however, was willing to invest himself in the most unlikely of characters. He saw past their ignorance, sin, and failures right into their hearts. He offered them what they longed for – love, healing, forgiveness, and someone greater than themselves to follow and serve. If we inject ourselves into the lives of those who live around us, we will encounter the same sort of people.

God wants us to understand, as did Jesus, that every person has a story worth hearing and every life has untold value with God.

Our Lord also understood that he was sent precisely to those whom the Jewish leaders despised, the spiritually defiled and sick.

But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. Matthew 9:12 (NASB)

It is natural for us to desire to put some distance between ourselves and those who are very needy, but a shepherd goes after those who most need him or her. Harassed and helpless people often appear to have little to offer, but that does not deter a shepherd. The spiritually sick may drain our energy, resources, and time, but the potential reward is great. These are the people who may become the greatest advocates for Jesus and the most devoted disciples. Who could have guessed that the woman at the well in Samaria would lead an entire village to Christ?

A local church’s culture of evangelism and mission will be directly connected to its developing the ability to see people through the Great Shepherd’s eyes.

Share this post...

The Great Commission

The reason that we want to develop a culture of mission and evangelism in our churches is because that is God’s heart as revealed in the Great Commission and throughout Scripture. Jesus gave his church a clear mandate before he ascended to his Father.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

Until we adopt the great mission as our mission, we are missing the mark.

It is easy for the church to substitute any number of good things for the great commission. We can make great preaching and teaching our highest priority. If you ask average churchgoers why they like their churches, many will say that it is the great preaching. Many churches opt for community service, potlucks, worship, prayer, you name it… anything but sharing the gospel and making disciples.

A sure fire way to arouse the devil’s resistance, including that which comes from some church  members, is to advocate for the centrality of the great commission.

Generally, we do not want to leave the comfortable confines of our church culture to pursue those who do not know Christ yet.

It is not enough to simply adopt the value of mission as a subset of the church’s activity and effort. It must become the engine that pulls the train. Otherwise the great commission will always be an option instead of the priority.

The Genesis command to be fruitful and multiply has not been rescinded.

The “Go” of the Great Commission

Most people want to stay put and enjoy the benefits of being part of a local church, which are many. The fellowship is wonderful. There is comfort in knowing that the people around us are like-minded servants of Jesus. It is great to be enveloped in a culture that fosters sound biblical thinking and values.

The result is that many Christians adopt a fortress mentality in which we try to wall out the world and its negative influences. In this scenario, mission devolves into inviting people to enter the fort and become part of the enclave.

But this is not obedience to the first part of the Great Commission, which is “Go.” Jesus told his disciples that he was sending us into the world.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” John 20:21 (ESV)

Going requires us to leave our comfort and safety zones and venture into the sometimes hostile world of those who do not know Christ.

For Abraham it meant leaving property, family, friends, culture, and familiar “gods” to serve the one true God in an unknown as yet place. It meant going by faith without the benefit of a well-designed plan or end game. All he had was the command to go coupled with a promise, and he went.

Jesus emphasized the “Go” when he taught the parable of the shepherd who left the 99 sheep to go after the lost one. He emphasized the “Go” when he prayed that the Father would send laborers into the harvest. Why then do we find it so difficult to go?

Going requires sacrifice, courage, faith, and a willingness to suffer and endure uncertainty, inevitable disappointment and setbacks, heartbreak, loss, and enormous challenges. Some of the people we “go” to will not appreciate it. Some will be hostile. However, some will be forever grateful, which makes it all worthwhile. More importantly, Jesus will be pleased and honored, and we will accrue eternal reward.

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30  who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 (ESV)

The going of mission is both the most rewarding thing you will ever do and the most challenging and costly.

That is why many of us shy away from obedience to the Great Commission. Jesus called it “falling away.”

And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. Mark 4:17 (ESV)

If we fall away from obedience to the mission in times of peace, what will happen to us when persecution arrives? In fact, does not the proper preaching of the gospel and obedience to the Great Commission actually invite persecution? Paul wrote:

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)

Perhaps the lack of persecution in our nation today betrays our lack of commitment to the Great Commission.

Making Disciples

The second part of the Great Commission is making disciples. There is a huge difference between a disciple and a mere churchgoer; although, disciples definitely have a strong commitment to the church.

Going to church meetings requires a relatively small commitment, but being a disciple means that we make the ultimate commitment to Christ and his mission.

So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33 (ESV)

Jesus violated just about every church growth principle in this passage. He comes across rather negatively, repeating the phrase, “cannot be my disciple,” three times. It is as if he were trying to weed out anyone who would not make the necessary commitment. The “leaven” of partial commitment is contagious, especially if leaders are infected with it. He did not tell us to try following him as best we can in the hope that gradually we might be able to become more committed. He encouraged us to become fully committed to him.

Although some move toward greater and greater commitment over a lifetime, the reverse is often the case. People can easily “backslide” from their initial devotion because the cost becomes greater than the price they are willing to pay.

Being a disciple means that we commit to Jesus the Lord as a person. We submit to his rule in our lives through obedience to his teachings and to the indwelling Holy Spirit. This will lead us to obedience to the Great Commission, which lays upon us the task of teaching others to be disciples who will also make disciples. Therefore, in order to create a missional culture in a local church, a commitment must be made by leaders and the flock to develop disciple-making disciples. In other words, we will prioritize duplicating themselves in the lives of others.

Churches that commit to making disciples will examine their values, priorities, and programs… everything… in light of whether or not it advances making disciples.

Disciple making is much more than giving lectures at church meetings. It involves one-on-one and one-on-few instruction and mentoring. It includes demonstrations of how to do ministry, followed by giving disciples the opportunity to put into practice what was learned with follow up instruction as needed.

The goal of discipleship is to produce a practitioner, not a mere theologian, churchgoer, or moral paragon.

Churches that commit to creating a missional culture will devote their energy, talent, time, and resources to pursuing the Great Commission.

Share this post...

Introduction to Developing a Culture of Mission in the Local Church

The Great Commission deserves our full attention. It should be a top priority for the local church to develop a culture of mission. Here’s a novel idea that might shock some church growth proponents.

What works is not always what is best.

For example, advertisers know that sex sells products. If they can create the impression that using their product will enhance your sex life, they know we may be induced to purchase it. This is an easily recognizable ad strategy, but we still fall for it. What may not be so easy to discern is when local churches adopt methods that prey upon our human fleshly tendencies. It may be nearly impossible for us to see clearly how our own culture impacts the church because we think our culture is normal.

Modern churches are more greatly influenced by consumerism than we imagine.

Even how we measure success may be culturally driven. Since the advent of the church growth movement, success is largely measured in numbers of people in attendance. Secondary success factors may be facilities, income, and internet presence and reach. Using these metrics, leaders are under intense pressure to draw and keep ever increasing numbers of people in attendance.

If our goal is simply to draw people to our meetings, we may (must?) adopt the strategy of providing what people want,  perhaps at the expense obeying Christ and giving them what they truly need.

Modern American Christians have been conditioned by the culture and by the church itself to view the church experience through the eyes of consumers. We “shop” churches using consumerist criteria, sometimes looking for the one that provides the best value in exchange for whatever level of commitment we are willing to make. This is how consumers are trained to think. Those so influenced by the culture tend to measure a church’s desirability or value by the main speaker’s abilities, the worship experience, the programs for children and other social sub-groupings, and the general “presentation,” which includes facilities, audio-visual, and professionalism. Attenders of smaller churches are not immune and may also be consumers looking for a different product. They may put experiencing a sense of family near the top of their list. Of course, none of the above are “wrong.” In fact, we hope that all of our churches do their best to be attractive, but never in subservience to consumerism or at the expense of making disciples. Perhaps surprisingly, however, none of the criteria listed above is actually a “right” reason for joining a church.

Logically, the means by which we attract people to our churches is how we must strive to keep them, unless we can move them away from consumerism to a discipleship orientation to life and ministry.

If we allow that church leaders who use consumerist strategies have the best of intentions, we can believe that their reason for doing so is to simply have an opportunity to influence the greatest number of people. Their thinking is that if people  are not attracted to church meetings, they will never hear the truth of the gospel. Some churches use this strategy to gain a great number of conversions, but bringing a person to Christ is only the first step. After a fish is caught, it must be cleaned. This brings us to discipleship.

The opposite of consumerism is discipleship.

The cost of discipleship actually tends to sift people out of the local church because it requires so much from us.

A disciple-making church will adopt an equipping model for ministry, the goal being to equip the people to do ministry on their own outside the four walls of the meeting place.

Adopting missional strategies to equip and launch followers of Christ into evangelism and disciple-making ministries will run counter to what our consumer culture wants, but it will satisfy Christ’s Great Commission mandate, bring glory to God, and end up bringing fulfillment to individuals.

The next several articles will look at ways we can develop a missional culture in our churches.

Share this post...

Spiritual Transformation

Spiritual transformation is a priority with God.

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:29 (NLT)

In addition to exalting his Son as Lord of Lords, Father God’s is working to transform us into Christ’s image. Christ is the exact representation of the Father; so, Father is committed to the process of gradually making us more and more like himself while we live here on planet earth. When Jesus returns, the transformation will be instantaneous and complete when we receive our new resurrection bodies.

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53  For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54  When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55  “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 (ESV)

Every day we are challenged to interact with God’s Spirit, the Scriptures, and other believers as he works from the inside out to make us more like Jesus.

Each day presents us with choices and opportunities to avail ourselves of the grace that is available to us in Christ. (2 Peter 1:3-8)

Each of us has what the Bible calls the “old man” or the “flesh,” which is the residue from the corrupt sin nature inherited from Adam. When we are born again, our spirits are transformed and joined to God’s Spirit, giving us the internal desire to love and serve God; however, the residual “flesh,” which is connected to the sin cursed pre-resurrection body, retains its antipathy towards God and his will, setting up within us a spiritual struggle that will continue until the resurrection. (Galatians 5:17 – I have written extensively about this elsewhere. If you wish to read more, click here.)

None of us is able to transform ourselves.

Misguided attempts to do so always result in the frustration of legalism. However, we do have a responsibility in the matter to cooperate with the Spirit and be open to correction from the Word of God and our brothers and sisters. This presupposes membership in a local church where we allow ourselves to be known by others and not just hide out in meetings where we can remain anonymous. (You can read more about our responsibility in spiritual transformation by clicking here.)

Ministers also are responsible before God to participate in this process. Paul told Timothy, his disciple:

Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2 (NLT)

Those who are wise will listen and respond.

God is also fully involved through a process called discipline. Like a good parent, he is committed to taking steps to insure that his children develop into responsible mature adults. God’s discipline can be minor or major. That is up to him. We should never presume that he will not play “hardball” with us. (Hebrews 12:5-13)

Spiritual transformation is designed to maximize God’s glory and our happiness.

God is glorified when his people reflect his character. Our joy is made complete as we become more and more like our Creator – Sustainer – Redeemer.

The missional church is committed to teaching, encouraging, and participating in this process with an attitude of love, patience, and mercy combined with a firm commitment to truth, while avoiding even a hint of legalism. (Ephesians 4:14-16)

Share this post...

Spiritual Disciplines

Spiritual disciplines are an often neglected part of discipleship. I will highlight four in this article: prayer, fasting, alms giving, and service. It should be clearly understood that these disciplines do not earn or maintain for us a right standing with God. That comes by faith in Christ’s finished work, through which his right standing with God becomes our own.

Spiritual disciplines are God-given ways for us to connect with God’s heart in a greater way, which makes us more receptive to the indwelling Spirit’s voice and direction. The more we get in step with the Spirit, the more we grow and thrive as disciples.

Prayer

When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6  But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:5-6 (NLT)

Prayer is a lifeline with God. It can be broken down into four types of prayer: worship, thanksgiving, petition, and intercession.

Worship opens the door for us to get in sync with God’s heart and purposes. As we focus and delight in the Lord, we grow in faith and gain his perspective, which helps us pray in line with his will. When we do that, we can be assured that our prayers will be effective. (1 John 5:14-15)

Thanksgiving is closely aligned with worship. Whereas worship focuses on God’s person, character, power, and worthiness; thanksgiving is the way we consciously and deliberately remember and show our gratitude for his many mercies and blessings. Being thankful is perhaps the most important character quality a person can have. Developing a habit of thankfulness is a primary concern for growth as a disciple. (Philippians 4:6)

Every healthy relationship involves conversational give and take. If all we do is talk during prayer and ask God for things, we miss out on a most important element of petitionary prayer – listening to God. We all have needs and desires, but not all of them are God’s best for us. If we learn to delight in him first, he will fulfill our deepest longings. (Psalm 37:4)

Intercessory prayer is when we go to bat for someone else. God loves his people to take on a Spirit inspired prayer burden for other people and the things God wants and plans to do on the earth. Jesus continually makes intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25) and delights when we join him in that ministry.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)

 

Fasting

And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17  But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18  Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18 (NLT)

Good things happen when we fast; even though, it may not always seem so initially. Fasting can be done in any number of ways, from complete abstinence from food and water to some more specific sort of fast, such as limiting oneself to liquids only. Fasts can be for any duration.

The important thing with fasting is to be led by the Spirit and use the fast to set aside time to focus on and listen to God through praying and reading the Scriptures.

Sometimes fasts are directed toward a specific purpose, such as asking God for direction at a particularly confusing, difficult, or important crossroad in life. At other times, we may fast simply to draw closer to God. Fasting shows that we value God more than food itself. It is a way for us to deny ourselves in order to pursue God. As with prayer, we do not gain or maintain our right standing with God through this discipline. It is a matter of the heart.

While fasting sometimes we clearly hear God’s voice. At other times, we may seem to receive nothing. We may receive a spiritual breakthrough that may be accompanied by spiritual warfare, as God opens a door for us that Satan seeks to block. Remember that Jesus encountered severe temptations just as he completed a long fast. After conquering those temptations, he launched his public ministry.

Alms Giving

Giving is a very important part of discipleship. Jesus warned his followers that we must give up all we have to be his disciple. (Luke 14:33) Tithing was an old covenant concept that continues to be practiced by many disciples today. Generally it is understood that tithing involves giving ten percent of our “increase” or income to God. Usually this is done through the local church. The idea is that the tithe is not ours to direct; so, we put it into the hands and under the authority of church leadership.

Alms giving is when we freely give beyond the tithe at our own discretion to whatever or whomever the Spirit directs.

Jesus advocated giving to the poor, as does the Bible in general. In the Sermon on the Mount, he elevated it to the same level as prayer and fasting.

Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2  When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3  But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4  Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:1-4 (NLT)

If we are going to be disciples after Jesus’ heart, we will ask the Spirit to develop in us a generosity toward the poor combined with wisdom in how to give without inadvertently causing more harm. (See When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.) God promises that the generous will receive abundant blessings in return.

Serving

Serving is one of the hallmarks of true discipleship. Jesus taught his followers to elevate servanthood to an exalted status in the kingdom of God.

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26  But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27  and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 (NLT)

I included serving as a spiritual discipline because serving does not come naturally to most of us. It must be cultivated and deliberately pursued. Growth as a disciple can be measured in terms of how willing we are to serve others. All ministry is service, and, when we serve others, Jesus taught us that we are actually serving him.

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:40 (NLT)
Share this post...

Teaching Basic Life Skills

Due to the breakdown of the family and society in general, many people are not learning basic life skills at home or in school.

They arrive at our churches having never seen or experienced a biblical family structure, learned personal discipline, acquired some social skills, or known how to manage finances, a home, or a business.

Discipleship builds the whole person; so, remediating these deficiencies is important.

Every person is unique; so, I believe we should use a diagnostic and prescriptive approach for each individual. Over time it will become apparent to the disciple maker what areas needs to be shored up. Diagnosis can happen quickly by using precise questions and gradually over time by observation. Once we know what needs to be taught and demonstrated, we can begin the personal remediation process.

As with all discipleship, life change happens through personal devotion to God, interaction with others, sound teaching, and practical application with feedback.

Discipline is a huge key to success in life. When a disciple maker encounters a lack of this in a disciple, it should be addressed. Discipline can only be encouraged, not mandated, but those who show little or no interest or progress in this area disqualify themselves from further development and should not be allowed to absorb too much time from the disciple maker. Those who have never been part of a biblical family situation, with a loving father and mother both being present, should be invited to participate at some level in a healthy family dynamic. Those who grew up in broken families may never have seen a good marriage. They should be exposed to couples who have exemplary marriages. In addition, foundational teaching on the subject can be shared one-on-one or in groups.

The absence or ignorance of basic etiquette and social skills can hold people back in a big way and should be addressed by the mentor. The same is true when a lack of understanding of how to budget and handle finances rears its head, and likewise regarding skills in how to run a family or operate a business.

This aspect of discipleship can provide an avenue of service for those in the church who may not be motivated or gifted to teach the Bible, but who have a wealth of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom in practical matters.

Each person in the church is capable of being part of the discipleship making network of resources.

Share this post...

Developing Small Group Leaders

 

If churches choose to adopt a structure that is best for making people into disciples, they will use small groups extensively, which makes developing small group leaders a top priority.

Churches that make their Sunday morning services their priority will end up producing mostly spectators.

Whether we consciously realize it or not, those who attend such churches often come to see and hear a “show” or a production. Mega-churches make no bones about it. They realize how important is their Sunday production and allocate their best people and resources toward making it the best possible. Church members at such institutions will likely praise the worship, the sermon, or the various programs on offer. I remember hearing a big fan of such a church tell me that one can tell a good church by the quality of the sermon.

While a good sermon, worship, and programs are tremendous, the proper goal for churches should be to produce disciples who are becoming proficient in ministry and disciple making in their own right.

As a caveat, many event-focused churches do a great job in preaching the gospel and involve their people in worthwhile ministries. However, in production-focused churches, many do nothing more than attend the Sunday “show” and hopefully contribute financially. I think it goes without saying that the people who attend such churches like it that way, as do the church leaders; otherwise, they would structure things differently. The ostensible reason for doing church this way is to efficiently gather people to receive ministry from highly trained and gifted ministers.

If our goal, however, is to equip, develop, and launch people into ministry, small groups tend to provide a much better format. Every small group needs a leader, a host family, a worship leader, a Bible teacher, a kid’s minister, etc. If the group grows and splits into a second group, which should be the goal, double that number of leaders and ministers. The need to provide a show is non-existent. Generally the challenge is to find people who are willing to accept responsibility and grow in leadership and ministry skills, no matter what their current level of development.

At the small group level of church, when people begin to do something outside their previous comfort zone or ability, it is celebrated and encouraged, since growth is the goal, not a high level production.

Another benefit to small groups, if they are run properly, is that they involve everyone in discussing God’s Word together, worshiping, prayer, and interpersonal ministry, often around a fellowship meal. If groups are kept small enough, it is impossible to avoid getting to know people and being known, as we share our thoughts, needs, and cares honestly with one another.

Many prefer the anonymity of a larger church, which probably accounts to some degree for the popularity of the the traditional American church model. But why do attend church gatherings? Is it to spectate and go home, or do we want to grow as a disciple?

If a church believes that small groups provide the greatest opportunity to develop disciples; then, one of our greatest needs is to develop new leaders. Groups cannot multiply unless leaders do.

Apprenticeship is the best method to develop leaders in a disciple making church.

Time can be devoted to teaching basic concepts and principles in a one-on-one or classroom setting, but most of the useful training will happen by observation and by doing, especially when such is accompanied by feedback.

A streamlined way to maximize the apprenticeship process is for the church leader to meet weekly with an apprentice and current small group leaders to teach them the Bible lesson that all the small groups will use the following week.

Teaching teachers is a wonderful way to multiply ministry.

The small group leaders can be instructed to take what they learn and translate it into their own ministry style, without losing the essence of the message. Those top leaders who want to retain complete control over content will balk at allowing any deviation from the official script, but once again we must ask, “What is the goal?” Are we trying to duplicate the official church teaching or develop people who are capable ministers in their own right? In order to clarify, as parents, what is our goal? Do we want children who grow up to lead their own families, or do we want them to live at home forever under our leadership and decision making? Should we not have similar goals for those we disciple?

No matter what method we use to grow people as disciples, there will always be risk.

There will always be the danger of leaders taking the people and running off with them. There is the concern that they may distort the truth and lead people into error. There is the possibility that small group leaders might become spiritual bullies or lazy do nothings. The list goes on, but developing and launching people into ministry is always hazardous. Ask any parent. Even God’s kids often went astray, and he is the perfect parent. Jesus had a disciple go off the “rails,” so to speak. It is the nature of the world in which we live. We have no guarantees how things will turn out, but when we see a child or disciple develop into a loving, responsible adult or leader, it is well worth it.

Jesus said for us to go and make disciples, not stay and grow a church.

Share this post...

Hospitality

Hospitality is a defining mark of a disciple. In the time when the New Testament was written, there were no motel or restaurant chains. People depended more on the willingness of strangers to open their homes to provide hospitality. Peter wrote:

Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. 1 Peter 4:9 (NLT)

Jesus made hospitality a measuring stick of our willingness to put his teachings into action.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35  For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. Matthew 25:34-35 (NLT)

Hospitality is a ministry skill and practice helps us to be more effective in our pursuit of fulfilling the Great Commission.

The first element of the Great Commission is the “GO.” We are not called to build structures to host all our outreach and evangelism efforts. We are not merely to invite people to come to a church meeting with us to listen to the preacher. That may be an “efficient” easy way to try to do evangelism, but Jesus asked us to pray for God to send out people with a shepherd’s heart who will leave the comforts of home and church to go into the ripe fields of our neighborhoods looking for those who need Jesus.

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:36–38 (NKJV)

One aspect of the “going” part of the Great Commission can be best pursued by the minority of individuals who have powerful evangelistic pulpit ministries and can attract large crowds to hear gospel messages. Most disciples, however, do not have such a ministry gift and must rely on more down to earth methods to “catch” people for the kingdom of God. That is where hospitality comes into play.

Lifestyle evangelism is built on the premise that relationship building with our friends, neighbors, and coworkers is a gateway to reaching people, leading them to faith in Christ, and helping them become missional disciples in their own right.

There are no shortcuts in building relationships. Whereas, one can “button hole” a stranger in order to share a “one minute” version of the gospel, the kind of trust that allows us to speak to the deeper issues in a person’s life can only be built the old fashioned way – through making the effort to build a genuine relationship over time.

Most of us live in neighborhoods in which we probably don’t even know a great number of the residents.

How do we break through the  invisible barrier that has been erected against truly knowing one another? I believe it starts with a decision to be deliberately outgoing and hospitable.

Fortunately we do not have to be extroverts to be good at this. Most of us are mixtures of introversion and its opposite. We can learn to function effectively as an extrovert, even if we are not naturally internally motivated to engage and be with people. Our motivation springs from a commitment to the Great Commission and a compassion for people whom Jesus described as “harassed and helpless” and who have no Shepherd.

Making a decision to become more involved in our neighbor’s lives should result in our sending prayers to heaven on their behalf and making the effort to speak to them when we have the opportunity.

Here’s a thought: if we don’t talk with people, we will never get to know them or be able to share the gospel with them. Being an island to ourselves is antithetical to the Great Commission.

Once we begin to have conversations with people, we are going to learn all sorts of things about them, which can give us opportunities to pray for them and otherwise speak into their lives. It also gives us a chance to receive from them. Good relationships are always a give and take proposition. It is important for us to learn how to receive. There are not many things more off putting to a relationship than being a “know it all” who never needs any help. If there is no give and take, we don’t really have a relationship. We simply may be hunting for a gospel “trophy.” If we are properly motivated, we love people just regardless of how they respond to the gospel. Our goal is to love as unconditionally as God does. Otherwise, people will see right through us.

I put visitation next on the list.

Talk can be fairly cheap, but a visit speaks louder than words.

When our neighbors welcome us into their homes, they may begin to open up their lives to us on a whole new level. The favor can be returned by our inviting them into our homes, too, just for a visit, or perhaps for a meal.

Deeper relationships can often be built over shared meals. This allows us to enter the realm of biblical hospitality.

Showing hospitality has its own reward, but what if it results in our being able to help a neighbor experience God’s love through the gospel? How can that properly be valued? Making disciples is a big reason why we are here. We can experience the joy of opening our homes and lives to our neighbors, if we take the leap into being hospitable.

(A great resource on this topic is a book by Rosaria Butterfield entitled The Gospel Comes with a House Key.)

Share this post...

Train Disciples to Be Competent Counselors

Most of us think of counseling as belonging to the realm of trained professionals and church leaders, not a ministry to be done by the average disciple. But what does the Word of God say?

And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. Romans 15:14 (NASB95)

The Greek word that is translated “admonish” is noutheteo, which means to admonish, exhort, or give instruction. While it is true that some people have deep problems that those who have experience and training can best help, the average disciple who has the Holy Spirit inside them and who has studied the Bible has the ability and responsibility to counsel others.

We all need periodic input from others in order to maintain an “even keel” in life. God made us to be dependent on him and interdependent on one another.

Most problems, including relational, financial, and marriage issues, can be solved by applying general life principles found in the Bible.

In other words, the key to a happy and fulfilled life is following Christ’s teachings with the help of the Holy Spirit. For example, marriage problems usually arise when one or both partners violate Christ’s teachings. Marriages are always better when both spouses seriously seek to live as true disciples.

All followers of Christ who apply themselves to the study of God’s Word and listen to the Holy Spirit are able to guide and advise others.

All disciples are competent to counsel, to admonish, and to instruct at some level.

We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. 5  It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 (NLT)

Some of better at it than others, but all disciples can and should do it.

The most important counselors in the world are parents. They have the responsibility to disciple their children from birth forward to fear of God, follow Christ, love of people, and live responsibly as adults. During the child rearing process, parents are responsible to address and correct sinful and foolish behavior and teach their children principles for holy and wise living. If we do a good job, our children will acquire spiritual insight and practical skills that will help them be successful adults. Parents are able to use daily events and situations to instruct their offspring what it means to fear and serve the Lord and love and respect other people. No other counseling is so pervasive or as important as parenting.

If we expect the average follower of Christ to be able to parent, surely we are also competent to counsel one another in most things.

The best counselors seek to teach people how to go to God and the Bible for their answers. The goal of parenting is for children eventually to mature to the point where they do not need continual input from their parents. Because many people are lazy or insecure, they either do not want to go to the trouble to seek the Lord and read the Bible for themselves or they do not have confidence in their ability to make sound judgments.

Rather than simply tell people what to do or not to do, if we are going to help them grow, we should ask them to first go to God and the Bible for an answer.

We can then act as a “sounding board” for them, either confirming what they heard from God or showing them how they are mistaken. This way of doing things propels them into maturity and increases their confidence that they can make sound decisions with God’s help.

Just as a physician who is a good general practitioner knows when to refer a patient to a specialist, we must realize when people have problems that exceed our wisdom, experience, or faith level. For example, if a marriage is falling apart, the pastor or elders in a church should be consulted. If spouses are just struggling a bit, another believer or couple may be well able to handle it. If there are deeper and more serious mental, physical, or spiritual issues, It would be wise to consult church leadership. There is no shame in admitting we either do not know what to do or realize a particular situation is more properly in another person’s domain. We certainly do not want to compound problems by trying to help when we do not really know how.

The more that average disciples are willing to accept the responsibility for inputting in to other disciples’ lives, the healthier will be the body of Christ.

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15  Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16  He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:14-16 (NLT)

Disciple-making churches teach and equip their people to be competent counselors.

Share this post...
Share this post...