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In the Newmarket church where Charles Spurgeon first served as pastor, there was an old gentleman familiarly known as Father Sewell. One day a meeting on behalf of home missions was being held, and he was only able to get to it at the very end. The pastor said, "Our brother who has just come in will, I am sure, close the meeting by offering prayer for God's blessing on the proceedings of the evening." He stood up, but instead of praying began to feel in his pockets. "I am afraid that my brother did not understand me," Mr. Spurgeon said. "Friend Sewell, I did not ask you to give, but to pray." To which the bluff old saint replied, "Aye! Aye! but I could not pray till I had given. It would be hypocrisy to ask a blessing on that which I did not think worth giving to." (W.Y. Fullerton, Charles Haddon Spurgeon: A Biography) Could it be that one of the things blocking many of our churches from advancing is that those of us in leadership roles -- including pastors -- are calling on others to sacrifice, while we are often failing to model such sacrifice in our own lives? Even as we call on others to give and serve sacrificially, they are looking at us to see if we practice what we preach. Michael
Duduit, Editor My comments last week about using the sermons of others generated a load of comments on both sides of the question. Click here to go to "I Was Just Thinking" (my blog) and read the entries and comments that follow. And feel free to join the ongoing discussion! http://www.michaelduduit.com/weblog/weblog.html
Youth ministry thrives, but not into young adulthood Six out of 10 teens involved in a church will probably not continue their spiritual commitment into early adulthood, according to a Sept. 11 study by the Barna Group reported by Associated Baptist Press. The study, conducted from 2001 to 2006, shows that despite previously high levels of spiritual activity, many people in their 20s lose interest in religious activities and often carry that apathy into middle age. But the survey also found that 20 percent of people in their 20s maintain the same spiritual activities -- like attending church, studying the Bible, donating money and using Christian media -- they did in high school. Nineteen percent of teens who did not participate in those activities remained disconnected from the Christian faith in adulthood. David Kinnaman, the research director, said some experts question whether the disengagement is just a phase typical of that age or whether it is unique to the current generation. Both explanations have some merit, he said, but ultimately that debate misses the point. "[The point] is that the current state of ministry to 20-somethings is woefully inadequate to address the spiritual needs of millions of young adults," he said. On the other hand, ministry to teens is thriving. According to the report, half of the nation's 24 million teens attend some sort of church-related activity each week. More than 75 percent discuss faith with friends, and three out of five attend at least one youth group meeting at a church during a three-month period. All told, more than 80 percent of teens attend church for at least two months during high school. Kinnaman said teens are generally so receptive to matters of faith because of a certain willingness to explore their character, try new things and establish an identity. "There are certainly effective youth ministries across the country, but the levels of disengagement among 20-somethings suggests that youth ministry fails too often at discipleship and faith formation," he said. (Click here to read the full story.) http://www.abpnews.com/www/1383.article.print
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Transformation requires clarity Charles Halton has written a presentation called "Never the Same: How to Create Transformational Experiences." Although designed for teachers, there are good insights for preaching as well, including this one under the heading Make It Clear: "When creating transformational experiences, your job is not to make everyone think you're the smartest person in the room. Your job is to help people change their lives for the better, for life. To do this, your audience must understand you. I know this sounds simple, but how many presentations or lectures have you sat through in which you felt that the person speaking was really smart but you had no idea what they were saying? The mark of a truly intelligent person is an ability to make complex things simple. Complexity is just one more barrier and excuse for people not to change. Make your ideas as clear and concise as possible." See the Link of the Week below for more on this presentation.
Commitment to truth means making moral distinctions Senator Rick Santorum, in a speech to the Heritage Foundation, said that, "At the same time Americans confound secularist predictions about God's imminent demise, we are increasingly reluctant to make critical moral distinctions when necessary. Whether things are true or false, right or wrong, good or evil doesn't seem to concern us very much anymore -- so long as we are all pleasant to each other and do nothing to call into question our collective self-esteem. Social critic Michael Novak writes, 'I don't know if 'judgmentaphobic' is a word, but it ought to be. Where conscience used to raise an eyebrow at our slips and falls, sunny non-judgmentalism winks and slaps us on the back.'" Santorum goes on to cite "the paradox of a people that strives to be both religious and non-judgmental. How is it possible, I wonder, to believe in the existence of God yet refuse to express outrage when His moral code is flouted? To have faith in God but to reject moral absolutes? How is it possible that there exists so little space in the public square for expressions of 'faith' and the standards that follow from belief in a transcendent God? How is it possible to be a theist, a traditionalist and a post-modernist, a believer and a 'judgmentaphobe' -- all at the same time? How is it possible to maintain liberty while banishing from the public square any reference to a transcendent moral code?" ("The Necessity of Truth," Heritage Foundation Lecture, 7/29/99)
ILLUSTRATION: Thankfulness, Blessings In a recent blog entry at www.joemckeever.com, Joe shares, "Some years back I read in The Commission magazine an incident I will never forget. A church group from New Bern, NC, had traveled to the Caribbean on a mission trip. Their host took them to visit a leper colony on the Island of Tabago. While visiting with these sad patients, they held a worship service in the campus chapel. The lepers filed in and took their seats on the pews and the Carolinians led them in hymns. The pastor of the group -- his name is Jack; wish I had the last name -- noticed that one patient was sitting on the back row, facing in the opposite direction. How unusual. Jack said, "We have time for one more hymn. Does anyone have a favorite?" Now for the first time, the leprous woman on the back row turned around to face the front. Jack said, "I found myself staring into the most hideous face I had ever seen. She had no nose and no lips. Just the bare teeth, like a skull." As she turned, she raised her hand in the air. Except it wasn't a hand. It was the bony end of her arm, just a nub. As poor Jack was trying to take this in, she spoke. "Could we sing 'Count Your Many Blessings'?" That's when the pastor lost it. He stumbled out of the pulpit and through the door into the yard, with tears in his eyes. Someone else stepped up and led the hymn and a friend walked outside and put his arm around Jack. "You'll never be able to sing that song again, will you, Jack?" "Oh, yeah. I'll sing it," Jack said, "but not in the same way." Serving the Lord, rejoicing in Him, obeying, giving, loving, praying. Regardless."
Register now for 'Preaching Truth' conferences Now is the time to register for one of the Preaching Truth in a Whatever World seminars planned for this Fall. These one-day preaching conferences explore strategies for effective biblical preaching in a postmodern world. Led by Preaching editor Michael Duduit and a variety of guest speakers (including Bill Self, Bill Bouknight, J. Alfred Smith and more), these conferences offer a valuable time of insight and refreshment for those who proclaim the Word. Preaching Truth conferences will be held in the following cities: Atlanta,
GA -- Sept 28 For more information or to register, call (800) 288-9673, or visit the website at www.preaching.com/truth
ILLUSTRATION: Church, Passion Paul Powell writes, "Do we have the passion to do what needs to be done? Early in his pastoral career, Jonathan Edwards, who led the great awakening, said he had to grapple with what it would mean for his congregation to be revived. His church was solidly orthodox. They could rattle off the tenets of the Christian faith. But few of them cared deeply about Christ. They were absorbed and fascinated by business and everyday life, but they gave little attention to God. Many of our churches are the same way. They like things as they are. They don't want to be revived. They are content to sit and sing "Just As I Am" to one another. That's why they die. I remind you that one man with a passion is worth 100 men with an interest. The church exists by mission like a fire exists by burning. When the fire stops burning it goes out. It dies. And when a church loses its sense of mission, then the church is dead even though it may continue to meet and have all the outward signs of life. . . . "Paul Harvey put it best, 'When small men cast long shadows, the sun is about to set.' In a dying church it is the little thinkers who are the big stinkers. This is no time for small leadership either in the pulpit or in the pew, in the staff or in the laity. We must rise to the occasion if we are to win our world to Christ. (How to Start a Church Fire)
ILLUSTRATION: Grace, Salvation When John Calvin died at Geneva in May 1564, his entire estate consisted of a modest sum of money, a small collection of books, his manuscripts, and few pieces of furniture. In his will, written less than a month before his death, Calvin left these immortal words: "I also embrace with my whole heart the mercy which he exercises towards me for the sake of Jesus Christ, atoning for my crimes by the merits of his death and passion, that in this way satisfaction may be made for all my transgressions and offenses, and the remembrance of them blotted out." Calvin understood that mankind's greatest need, and God's greatest gift, were fulfilled when Jesus Christ died for the salvation of lost sinners. (from the 8-22-06 issue of Tuesday Mornings; to subscribe send an email to barnard22@cox.net)
ILLUSTRATION: Prayer, Deals Fred was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place. Looking up to heaven he said, "Lord take pity on me. If you find me a parking place I will go to church every Sunday for the rest of my life and give up drinking." Miraculously, a parking place appeared. Fred looked up again and said, "Never mind, I found one!"
Save
$100 if you register by October 1 The third International Congress on Preaching will be April 17-19, 2007, in Cambridge, England. The theme is "For Such a Time as This: Preaching Truth in an Age of Idolatry." In this historic setting you'll enjoy addresses, sermons and practical workshops led by a remarkable team of preachers and teachers, including David
Jeremiah and many more! Registration is now available at a big discount -- register by October 1 and save $100 off the normal rate. (Enough to buy a bunch of fish and chips!) To learn more visit the website at www.preaching.com/icop or call (800) 288-9673 (outside the US, call 615-312-4245.)
"I don't make jokes. I just watch government and report the facts." (Will Rogers)
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ILLUSTRATION:
Temptation, Reasoning At the regular weekly meeting of a weight-loss class, the instructor held up an apple and a candy bar. "What are the attributes of this apple," she asked, "and how do they relate to our diet?" "Low in calories" and "lots of fiber" were among the answers. She then detailed what was wrong with eating candy, and concluded, "Apples are not only more healthful but also less expensive. Do you know I paid seventy-five cents for this candy bar?" The group stared as she held aloft the forbidden treat. Then from the back of the room a small voice spoke up, "I'll give you a dollar for it."
"If you've done big things in life you must expect to have excited some criticism. It's only people who've done precious little who get no criticism at all." (Margaret Thatcher)
Signs That Old Age Might Be Creeping Up On You Your favorite section of the newspaper is "25 Years Ago Today." The parts that have arthritis are the parts where you feel best. A big evening with your friends is sitting around comparing living wills. Your clothes go into the overnight bag so you can fill the suitcase with your pills. Somebody you consider an old-timer calls you an old-timer. Your idea of a change of scenery is looking to the left or right. Your knees buckle, but your belt won't. (from Cybersalt Digest)
And finally . . . Who would have guessed that they have rednecks in China? A Sept. 20 Reuters story tells the story of Zhang Xinyan, a Chinese migrant worker who had a little too much to drink -- four jugs of beer, to be precise -- then went to the nearby Beijing Zoo. Feeling a sudden urge to touch a panda bear, he jumped into the panda enclosure and startled Gu Gu, a sleeping bear, who proceeded to bite the 35-year-old man's leg. At that, Zhang got angry and kicked the panda, who then bit his other leg. So the man tried to bite Gu Gu in return. "I bite the fellow on the back," Zhang told a local newspaper. "Its skin was quite thick." Zookeepers subdued the panda by spraying it with water, and Zhang was taken to the hospital. He told a reporter he had seen pandas on television and "they seemed to get along well with people. No one ever said they would bite people. I just wanted to touch it. I was so dizzy from the beer, I don't remember much." By the way, I understand that next season NBC will have a situation comedy called, "My Name is Zhang."
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