 December 2009 |
|||
|
|||
LEADERSHIP MOMENT During a breakout session at the recent BGAV meeting, we considered this question: Which is more important, that a person is evangelized or that they are discipled? Obviously, the answer to the question is “both/and” – and the breakout group quickly recognized that. In another conference setting a few weeks ago, I heard Jim Henry, former pastor of First Baptist, Orlando, share a humorous contrast. He noted how an auto assembly line can start with a nut and end up with a car. Churches, on the other hand, start with a nut and end up with a nut! Dr. Henry wasn’t calling church members “nuts.” But, I do think he was suggesting that not a whole lot of our folks are experiencing anything near the personal spiritual transformation envisioned on the front end of their spiritual journey. They’re Christians and they’re church members, but beyond that... George Barna insists that evangelism without discipleship is nothing less than spiritual abuse. As church leaders, are we guilty of perpetuating that form of spiritual abuse when we give in to the temptation to measure ministry success based solely on the number of persons baptized by our churches? Don’t hear me suggesting evangelism isn’t important. But, to be fair to Christ’s Great Commission – and to those who entrust their spiritual lives to us – we must view evangelism and discipleship as two sides of the same coin. There is much concern about Christians’ failing to impact our culture for the Kingdom – and rightly so. But, is it possible one reason for our failure is that we’ve misplaced the priority of discipleship? Do those new converts entrusted to us by God understand (more to the point, do we understand?!) that conversion is a lifelong process of spiritual transformation, not just a one-time event allowing us to “punch our ticket for heaven?" After all, as I heard Henry Blackaby say, “You can’t share with someone else what you don’t have yourself!” |
|||
|
GET A FRESH OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW YEAR! Diploma/Undergraduate classes Masters classes View listing of Spring classes. Contact Gary Chapman for more information about classes to be offered - 540.777.3014 (in Roanoke) or 866.223.9344 (toll-free).
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR THE LEADERSHIP GATHERING Guest Speaker: Reggie McNeal $15 Early Bird discount for early registrants.
|
|||
Are we so busy doing church that we've forgotten to be the church? Many church leaders are busy arguing about online community, online campuses, twitter, facebook, cell phones, and if the church should use them. "If" is the wrong question. "If" actually will kill your church. If you're not already asking "How?” you need to start today. Our weekend services are important and should be given the utmost attention, but they should pivot around mission to our immediate world and the task of disciple making. When mission and disciple making becomes our focus we have more to celebrate on the weekends. We rejoice together in the kingdom bounty that is being produced by our missional community. Our worship songs that declare, "I give my all to you" and the like, become true. Just do what's inside you, and realize that it's not about you. Someone recently said "If we cared more about blessing people than impressing people, Jesus would be happy." We always worry about "what's this gonna look like, what's this gonna sound like, how can I get more people to read this" — who cares? Just let it be a blessing to someone. |
|||
|
Why is the star a fitting symbol for the arrival of Christ, the Messiah?
A Case of the Munchies It only takes one 10 p.m. McDonald’s commercial to stoke my appetite. Even with a great dinner just over my shoulder I’m dreaming of a milkshake in my left hand and hot fries in my right. If I’m strong I’ll settle for some of that cardboard stuff known as “Fat Free Popcorn.” Hey, we all crave the wrong things occasionally. In a world of Little Debbie cakes, fast food on every corner, and grocery stores gaudy with too many choices, we are a culture addicted to food that is bad for us. We are some serious snackers in the spiritual sense, too, having too often settled for a fast-food religion rather than the life sustaining gourmet feast that is really ours. Jesus challenges us in John 6.26 with a word to the throngs following him around after the feeding of the 5,000: “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” The message of the munchies is that we’ve settled – once again – for something less than God’s best for us. We’ve chosen ritual over relationship, sappy over substantial, and flashy over the real nourishment of Christianity. |
|||
|
Click links to read articles. |
|||
 The Southwest Virginia Christian Leadership Network Gary Chapman, Director 4845 Cloverdale Road, Roanoke, VA 24019 |
|||
| Contact Us | Visit Website |