Tagged: Discipleship

Prosperity Gospel and Lottery may claim the same victims

Studies and statistics (here, here, here, and here) continue to show that it is those in the lowest economic percentiles who consistently spend their income on state sponsored lottery games.

I wonder if that same dynamic is at work in those who follow the “prosperity gospel” hawked by so many today?

Think about it:

  • Why would someone who is already successful in their job/career be attracted to the prosperity gospel?  It can’t give them anything they haven’t already gotten for themselves.
  • It only makes sense that those who truly have “felt” financial or health issues would be attracted to the “pie in the sky” promises of a theology that makes God their ultimate benefactor.

I’d love to see some research on this…

Theologically speaking…

The prosperity gospel is virtually the same as the lottery – a gamble, based on nothing that is theologically sound.  It’s the snake-oil salesman all over again.  Only this time he wears a $1000 suit.

God is not about our comfort… He’s about His glory, demonstrated through our holiness.  And getting us to holiness, typically doesn’t include dollar signs.

What do you think?  Are the same people victims of both?

Books from the PF Journal..

Rap that is FULL of Biblical theology! – FLAME – MOVE

I came across this video the other day… and my whole family LOVES it!

This guy is not only a good rapper (surrounded by some great dancers) – but he knows his BIBLE and what a consistent Christian life should look like!

In one video he hits ALL these topics:

  • Disobedience to Christ based in selfishness
  • The call to foreign missions
  • Christians who live together instead of getting married
  • Church membership
  • The need to reconcile with others
  • A husband’s responsibility to love his wife
  • A wife’s responsibility to submit to her husband
  • Jesus’ teaching, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments”

It’s WELL worth watching, even if you don’t like rap very much… ENJOY!

The theology of an 8-year-old…

My wife was having a conversation with my 8 year old daughter, Faith a few days ago.  Faith had been working on a string-bracelet-thing (see the picture) that she was going to give to our son, Caleb (11 years old).  She was showing my wife what she had done, pointing out the mistakes she had made, etc.

Please understand, we are not perfectionistic parents, but Mindi did want to take the opportunity to help Faith learn something about things like “doing your best, giving good gifts, etc.” – so she told Faith that she should think about re-doing the bracelet.

Faith let out a big sigh (SIGH), and said, “But I don’t really want to.”  Mindi asked her why, and she said, “Because it won’t be very fun to have to do it over.”  That’s where the theological conversation began.  Mindi asked her, “Do you think Jesus always wants us to have fun in everything we do?”  Faith said, “Yeah…”

Mindi went on to explain to her that sometimes Jesus wants us to experience difficulty, hardship, even pain – because He uses those things to teach us things that are more important than “fun” – things like self-control, trust, perseverance, etc.  It was a great conversation…

Christians today (at least in America) don’t come right out and say it, but I wonder how many wrongly believe that our Lord & Master only wants us to have fun… or pleasure… or happiness… or __fill in the blank___ ?  And when He doesn’t meet that preconceived “job description” we are disillusioned, discouraged, and sometimes even ready to bail on our faith entirely.

Jesus is not a Genie in a bottle.  He’s not a cosmic vending machine to dole out our every desire.  He’s the sovereign Lord.  He’s the ultimate Master of the Universe.  He’s in control of the course of our lives.  And His will and desires for us far exceed any we could have for ourselves.

Faith is not about fun… it’s about learning to trust Him as He leads the way…

Enteraining Churches VS Biblical Literacy – an interview w/Chuck Swindoll

The interview with Chuck Swindoll that I’m linking to below was originally conducted for Leadership Journal – and is an invaluable help to church leaders.  As leaders in the church of Jesus Christ, we MUST evaluate every decision, every method – in both it’s short term and long term impacts.  I think Chuck is RIGHT ON in his assessment of what has happened over the last 20 years or so.

Read prayerfully, thoughtfully, and carefully. – HERE’S THE ARTICLE

Tools for Your Quiet Time #7 – S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S.

This is post #7 in a series of posts “Tools for Your Quiet Time.”  You can find the earlier posts here: #1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 - #6

SPACEPETS (no, it’s not a joke)

This method is another form of the Question method, only with more specific questions. The name of this study method comes from an acronym used to help you ask questions of the passage you are studying. I first became aware of this method from Pastor Rick Warren, as covered in his book, “Dynamic Study Methods” which is now out of print.

BENEFITS

  • This method will help you to consider the meaning of a passage from a wide variety of angles.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

  • A trustworthy Bible translation (ESV, NIV, NASB, NKJV, KJV, RSV)

HOW TO DO IT

  • Read your selected passage. Perhaps read it again to get a better feel for it. Make sure you have a good grasp of the situation and context, as well as the basic ideas in it.
  • Begin walking through the questions below, asking them to yourself as you read the passage again.

In this passage is there any…

  • Sin to confess? Do I need to ask forgiveness of anyone or make any restitution?
  • Promise to claim? Is it a universal promise? Have I met the condition(s)?
  • Attitude to change? Am I willing to work on a negative attitude and begin building toward a positive one?
  • Command to obey? Am I willing to do it no matter how I feel?
  • Example to follow? Is it a positive example for me to copy or a negative one to avoid?
  • Prayer to pray? Is there anything I need to pray back to God?
  • Error to avoid? Is there any problem that I should be alert to, or beware of?
  • Truth to believe? What new things can I learn about God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, or the other biblical teachings?
  • Something to praise God for? Is there something here I can be thankful for?

Tools for your Quiet Time #5 – Questions

This is post #5 in a series of “Tools for Your Quiet Time.”  You can find the earlier posts here: #1 – #2 – #3 – #4

THE QUESTION METHOD

This method is actually a part of all the other methods, but deserves to be addressed all on its own because of how useful it can be when you focus on it more intently. The question method is exactly what it sounds like. You ask a series of questions about the passage you are considering to help you better understand the context and meaning.

BENEFITS

  • This method will open up new doors of understanding for you.
  • This method is so easy, anyone can do it.
  • This method will force you to look at the context carefully so you can get a more complete understanding of the passage.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

  • A trustworthy Bible translation (ESV, NIV, NASB, NKJV, KJV, RSV)
  • A journal or notebook (optional)

HOW TO DO IT

  • Read the passage you’ve chosen.
  • Begin to ask questions about the passage:
    • WHO is speaking?
    • WHO are they speaking to?
    • WHAT are they saying?
    • WHY are they saying it?
    • WHAT importance does it have?
    • WHAT is the main point of what is being said?
    • WHEN was this said (in history)?
    • WHAT is being said about behavior, attitude, or heart?
    • WHAT does it say to me, my situations, my life?
    • WHAT is happening in me as I begin to understand this truth?
    • DOES the passage reveal God’s thinking or heart about a subject?
    • DOES it show me something I should change in my life?
    • AND ANY OTHERS THAT COME TO MIND…
  • Write down the answers to the questions you ask (optional).

Do you get the point? (Another question there… get it?) These are only suggested questions, you could literally ask thousands of questions about every passage you read. Feel free to make up your own! You’ll find that you understand the passage to a much greater degree as you ask and answer questions about it.

Intellectual Discipleship (from Al Mohler)

(This post was originally posted on Al Mohler’s blog)

The biblical master narrative serves as a framework for the cognitive principles that allow the formation of an authentically Christian worldview. Many Christians rush to develop what they will call a “Christian worldview” by arranging isolated Christian truths, doctrines, and convictions in order to create formulas for Christian thinking. No doubt, this is a better approach than is found among so many believers who have very little concern for Christian thinking at all, but it is not enough.

A robust and rich model of Christian thinking—the quality of thinking that culminates in a God-centered worldview—requires that we see all truth as interconnected. Ultimately, the systematic wholeness of truth can be traced to the fact that God is himself the author of all truth. Christianity is not a set of doctrines in the sense that a mechanic operates with a set of tools. Instead, Christianity is a comprehensive worldview and way of life that grows out of Christian reflection on the Bible and the unfolding plan of God revealed in the unity of the Scriptures. Keep Reading

The Profile of a Disciple – Service

This post was originally posted as part of a series of posts on the Profile of a Disciple at theresurgence.org

A disciple of Christ should be a servant. The word “servant” can also be translated “minister”.

To minister is to serve

Serving others is certainly not encouraged in our individualistic society. To be a servant means we must look after the interests of others. It means selflessness as opposed to selfishness. A servant asks, “What can I do for others?” instead of “What can they do for me?” Jesus set the example of being a servant by saying, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Jesus modeled servant ministry

Christian ministry is God’s way of showing the love of his son, Jesus, through his church. Christians must strive to be like Jesus, our perfect example. Mark 10:45, above, beautifully embodies the task of Christian ministry. Disciples are to serve and give their lives for others. Serving is the example Jesus gave and the example his followers should follow.

Servant ministry is a call to love others.

God wants the church to rediscover Jesus’ model of servant ministry. Jesus met both the physical and spiritual needs of the people he ministered to in the Gospels. As the body of Christ, we become his representatives to a lost world. Believers become the hands, feet, and voice of the Lord on earth. Therefore, words and actions are of eternal importance.

Serve others to serve Jesus

Jesus says to us, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:35-46 tells us about the call to be a servant in detail. Servant ministry is a call to love others. This type of love is described in 1 John where he tells us to love our brothers and to serve others in need. 

A disciple is a good steward

Disciples should be good stewards of every area of their life. Nearly 25% of Jesus’ teaching was related to money (e.g. Matthew 24:45-51; Luke 12:16-21; Mark 12:1-11). One of the most important biblical concepts that Jesus taught was stewardship.

What’s yours is his

To be a “steward” primarily denoted being the manager of a household or an estate. Being a Christian steward means being managers over the possessions and wealth God has entrusted to you.

Everything is God’s; therefore, believers should be faithful over everything God has given them. Being a good steward begins with acknowledging that all possessions come from God and belong to him. Christians must cultivate a Christ-centered attitude of stewardship.

What he’s given you should be shared with others

According to Scripture, the Lord also wants us to be good stewards over our talents andgifts, our possessions, our time, and our family. God has blessed us in each of these areas so that we may be good stewards of them. Faithfulness results in fruitfulness. Disciples must strive to be better stewards over everything the Lord entrusted us with. Galatians 6:7-10 says, “…for whatever one sows, that will he also reap…So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Discipleship is for everyone

Discipleship is not for a select group of people or scholars, but is for all Christians, whether they be pastors, professors, or plumbers. The Christian faith is more than theory taught in a classroom; it is meant to be practiced in everyday life.

 

Profile of a Disciple

from The Resurgence by Winfield Bevins

Churches are growing larger than ever before, but thousands of professing Christians in North America do not fit the New Testament definition of disciple. One survey concludes that only 25% of evangelicals meet the biblical standard for disciples. Researcher George Barna reports:

The church in America is comprised of many converts, but shockingly few disciples.

It is imperative that we seek to discover and define what it means to be a biblical disciple of Jesus Christ in the 21st century.

What is the profile of a disciple? The word ‘disciple’ implies much more than its literal meaning of “a learner or a pupil”; it is someone who has totally committed their life to the training and teaching of a master or a school of thought.

What is a disciple?

Throughout the ages, different Christians have emphasized various marks for being a disciple. However, the most important factors in defining the true marks of a disciple are found in the pages of the New Testament. The New Testament offers several marks that should be common to all disciples of Jesus Christ.

A disciple studies the word

Disciples study the word of God. Studying the Bible is very important for Christians to grow as disciples. Jesus told his disciples, “If you abide in my Word, you are truly my disciples, and you willknow the truth, and the truthwill set you free” (John 8:31-32). Disciples need to immerse themselves daily in God’s Word, like the people who lived in Berea and who searched the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11).

God speaks through his Word as believers read and study the spiritual truths of the Bible. There is nothing more important than a regular systematic study of the Bible. John Calvin tells us, “Scripture is needed as guide and teacher for anyone who would come to God the creator.” A daily reading of the Bible helps disciples to grow and mature spiritually. The Bible will strengthen your faith, speak to your heart, and guide you in all of life’s tough decisions.

A disciple knows Scripture is God-inspired

It is imperative for disciples to have a high view of scripture. The Bible was written by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20–21). The Bible says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Inspiration literally means God breathed. In other words, God supernaturally inspired the writers by the power of the Holy Spirit to write the books of the Bible.

Roy B. Zuck describes it in the following way: “Though human writers were used by God to record the Scriptures, using their own styles of diction and expressing their own personalities, their words were the ‘out-breathing’ of God. Inspiration then is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit whereby he guided and superintended the writers of Scripture so that what they wrote is the Word of God.”