Deep & Wide

I just finished reading Andy Stanley's book Deep & Wide and I'm once again pumped up about being part of a church that is relentless in expecting, welcoming and being irresistible to those who are not part of it!  He writes in his conclusion, "Let's decide not to do anything that makes it unnecessarily difficult for those who are turning to God" (Stanley 2012, 317).

Amen.

Tough Questions Series

I'll be attempting to bring some answers to some of the tough questions raised in our sermon series called "Tough Questions" for July and August at Dallas Church.  Don't miss a Sunday as we navigate real questions that we often wonder about and maybe keep us up at night!

From commonprayer.net today:

"Twentieth-century Presbyterian theologian and writer Frederick Buechner has written, “Who knows how the awareness of God’s love first hits -people? Every person has his own tale to tell, including the person who would not believe in God if you paid him. Some moment happens in your life that makes you say Yes right up to the roots of your hair, that makes it worth having been born just to have happen. Laughing with somebody till the tears run down your cheeks. Waking up to the first snow. Being in bed with somebody you love. Whether you thank God for such a moment or thank your lucky stars, it is a moment that is trying to open up your whole life. If you try to turn your back on such a moment and hurry along to Business as Usual, it may lose you the whole ball game. If you throw your arms around such a moment and hug it like crazy, it may save your soul. How about the person you know who as far as you can possibly tell has never had such a moment? Maybe for that person the moment that has to happen is you.”

Professionalism and Ministry

I spoke about this recently at a gathering of local Pastors in Dallas:

DMA Devotional for May 7th, 2015

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”  

He concludes, “11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

We are tempted to to be RELIGIOUS PROFESSIONALS…John Piper, in his book Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, says that professionalism in ministry alludes to our education, skills and clergy-defined practices that are all possible without Jesus.  He adds: “…professionalism can push our supernatural center more and more into the corner while ministry becomes a set of secular competencies with a religious veneer.”

I’m tempted to coast on my up-front skills.  i look Spiritual but is it authentic?  In the pursuit of doing our very best, honing our skills in preaching, teaching and equipping, may we not lose our center, our core dependence upon Jesus as our Savior, Lord and boss!

Jesus said, “5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Let me end with this prayer from John Piper today:  “Banish professionalism from our midst, O God, and in its place put passionate prayer, poverty of spirit, hunger for You God, rigorous study of holy things, white-hot devotion to Jesus Christ, utter indifference to all material gain, and unremitting labor to rescue the perishing, perfect the saints, and glorify our Sovereign Lord.  In Jesus’ great and powerful name, Amen.”