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5 Questions the Pastor Must Ask God and Themselves
Posted on December 2, 2017 by Biblical Guy
The Church exists by what Christ has done for us in and for His Glory!
“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. ” I Peter 5:1-3
The 5 questions that the pastor must seek to God and themselves is this:
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How can I grow and live out the truths of Scripture and God’s will in society?
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How can I lead the people God brings me with His Word and Fruit?
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How can I minister effectively to my neighbor in all of life’s situations?
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What is my role and what are the gifts in my life? How do I please God with them?
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How do I glorify Christ in all that I do?
If the minister of a church cannot or refuses to be introspective of honestly evaluating what they think their call is and compare it to what Christ has actually called them too, they can’t possibly minister or lead a church effectively! For what we do with our self-directive call is lead by our whims and pride. In the actual call of Christ, we lead as he has called and shown. So, to be an actual Christ honoring gathering and leading His people effectually, we must bow to His Lordship and not the ways of the self, our fallen nature or worse another’s false lead.
The baton has been passed—not the role of head equipper and minister of the Word and Sacraments, but the baton of the responsibility to care and to live out our faith effectively to one another. These are the questions we must all answer diligently with the Word of God, and then follow through with our will to conform. Christianity is no longer a spectator sport; we are not Monday night couch quarterbacks. We are the people of God, called to do His will.
When we start to function as a cohesive group, the local church will be amazing! Your people and even your neighborhood will be amazed at the impact we have and the incredible, increased effectiveness in the building of the Kingdom of God. God’s Word tells us that we have “diversity,” yet in it all, we also have “unity.” We are not to allow the diversity of people’s ideas and feelings to be our focus, but we need to embrace them, train it, and direct it to the call, the goal, and purpose our Lord has for us. We will have a healthy form of codependency in Christ and cooperate with the laity and leadership, filled with encouragement and love. If not? As a pastor and church growth consultant this is what I have seen too much of: Bitterness, strife, and the unhealthy codependency to fads and false flags of leadership that ruins lives instead of building them up will no longer consume the ministry.
We all have different gifts and abilities given to us by the Lord for His purpose and glory. “Doing ministry” means we have pastors and leaders who are growing in Christ, operating in the Faith and Fruit of the Spirit and making decisions based on what the Bible says and what is best for the church and neighborhood. Not, how to I build a legacy for myself, the pastor! Or follow meaningless trends. We are to exercise the gifts that we each have received to accomplish His purpose. And, until the Lord calls us home or comes back, we are to keep plugging and persevering in.
Filed under: Building a Fruitful Church, Leadership Issues, Pastors, Uncategorized | Tagged: glorify Christ, lead the church, meaningless trends, pastor, prepare for ministry, purpose and glory, Questions Pastor Must Ask God, Questions the Pastor Must Ask Themselves, training pastors | 1 Comment »
Is the Advent Wreath Biblical?
Posted on December 2, 2017 by Biblical Guy
Traditionally, during the Christmas season, we have an “Advent Wreath” in our Churches, and this is remarkably celebrated in all Denominations, including Orthodox, Catholic, liturgical, Mainline and Evangelical. The Advent Wreath is a venerable tradition that cuts across denominational and theological boundaries. It dates to the beginning of the 19th century in Europe. This Advent Wreath is …>
via What is the Advent Wreath about and is it Biblical?
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Be reminded of what we have and who we are
Posted on July 29, 2017 by Biblical Guy
“And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” 2 John 5-6
Passages to ponder: 1 Peter 1:3-5, 13-16; 4:12; 5:10-11; 2 Peter 3:17-18; 1 John 1:5-7; 4:10-16; 5: 11-13; 2 John 5-6; 3 Jude 21-23
These early Christians needed to understand that knowing God was not a one-time event. Knowing God is a continual and continuing relationship in which we constantly rely on Him. He alone is the Hope we have. He alone gives us grace and peace.
Our place and security is in Heaven to come; our joy can be declared and lived out. Christ is sufficient for faith and salvation; there is no other and there will never be. Yes, we do have hope beyond hope. If our place is secured in eternity-and, it is; if we have a Savior in Whom we can have faith and trust-and, we do, then we can lead lives of endurance no matter what is thrown at us. These are things we cannot accomplish by our own means; we need Jesus. He needs to be placed first!
Christ is our living Hope that will never fade away!
We will face the sufferings and trials; we will even be persecuted for following the faith and being good witnesses. How we grow and what we learn through the trials is what matters to God and is the value to us. Jesus, being fully God, suffered on our behalf; we live in a world of sin that suffers due to the consequences thereof. Jesus bore our sins and took away our ultimate, deserved suffering.
We are chosen by God and by God alone! The Holy Spirit sets us apart.
We are able to hear and receive His Words of grace and life. We need to be reminded of what we have and who we are in Christ. If not, we will soon forget and replace His guidance either with our frailty or with the ways of the world. Our Lord modeled for us how we are to deal with suffering (1 Peter 1:16-21; 2:21, 4-25).
The key to the Christian life and spiritual growth is our faith that develops our trust in Christ, and our submission to His precepts which produces character and maturity (1 Peter 2:12; 5:10-11).
These early Christians were oppressed, confused, and struggling. They are seeking to live for Christ in a world that not only does not understand but also persecutes those of the faith. In the midst of the oppressions of the world and family, others come along who seek to deceive and entice them to live in sin and not for Christ. Thus, the need to be encouraged, challenged, and hope to remain in Christ. We need to be aware and be on guard to live for Christ, putting on His virtues and not the world’s. These epistles are as relevant today as they were 2000 years ago; what they experienced, we experience! The early Christians needed hope and encouragement just as need these today; the Truth is for all for all time.
False teachings, mysticism, empty philosophies, legalism, and bad traditions also threatened the health and well-being of the Christians and their evangelistic opportunities. Sound familiar? The Christians were under siege by prideful men seeking sensationalism and mysticism rather than Christ as Lord. Christ’s Deity was being challenged and rebuffed for more so-called “clever and newer” ideas (Acts 19).
© 2016, 2017, R.J. Krejcir, Ph.D., Francis A. Schaeffer Institute of Church Leadership Development www.churchleadership.org/
Filed under: Building a Fruitful Church, Pastors | Tagged: absolute Truth, argumentations, Grace and truth, inheritance, kindness, Lord Jesus Christ, love, mercy, negativity, patience, Praise be, relationship with God, resurrection, set your hearts, set your mind, spiritual growth, Truth, walk as Jesus | Leave a comment »
The Epistles were written to a Church under siege
Posted on July 29, 2017 by Biblical Guy
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:10-11
Passages to ponder: 1 Peter 1:3-5, 13-16; 4:12; 5:10-11; 2 Peter 3:17-18; 1 John 1:5-7; 4:10-16; 5: 11-13; 2 John 5-6; 3 Jude 21-23
The siege was both internal and external with bitter conflicts and schemes from within the church and attacks from militant pagans and some hostile Jews. Thus, the Apostles write to encourage how to cope with and prepare for the worst that would come-even more heinous persecutions. The encouragement is this: Heed Christ as Lord, His Truth, and fight against anything that comes against this! Be on guard and fight against heresies and false doctrines while being vigilant building faith and the Church.
The church was in a difficult place-surrounded by a Greek and pagan culture, they were having birthing and growing pains. They were being negatively influenced and confused by the spectacle of cults and false religions that surrounded them. They needed the Truth; they needed a Savior. They could not just retreat inward or run away; they had to fight with faith and model the love of Jesus for those who did not understand or want it. This was written for the early Christians; this is written for us.
Christ is our Redeemer who is our living hope even when we are hurting!
Jesus offers His forgiveness and grace; by, with and through Him, we are enabled and empowered to live holy lives. He, indeed, has a plan and a purpose for us! Life here-now-is preparatory and temporary. Our citizenship is to come in a glorious, wondrous eternity! Our God is in control and totally sovereign. He gives us the faith and the ability to face whatever comes our way, so we do not become the hurting who hurts others (1 Pet 1:3).
We are called to set your hearts. This means to have understanding, to think, and to have a desire for real, bona fide faith as well as Truth. We are to think about Christ and consider what we have in Him to experience our new lives. Truth is something we want to learn for triumphant lives and effectual churches, something we want to live in. As long as we are in Christ, our connection to purity is maintained; thus, we should not sin and live as we please. We have no right to sin deliberately, and we have no right in thinking, “I am already forgiven so it is OK to sin” (Col. 1:9; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Pet. 2:2)!
We are called to set your mind. This means to place Christ first. Bad thoughts and actions lead to bad lives, so we are called to purposefully focus ourselves on Christ, His precepts, and His presence. When we focus on Christ, our attention is off other things and distractions–even sin! Heavenly values will translate into earthy values when we are centered on Christ, allowing His work in and through us (Matt. 6:33; Rom. 8:5; Phil. 1:23; 4:8; 1 John 2:15-17).
We are urged to put Christ first and move on to spiritual maturity. This creates a healthy church, prevents false teachings, and facilitates a mutual faith and hope that is contagious and effectual. We know His Truth, and we can still be triumphant in Him in the time we have here on earth. In so doing, we need to be known for who we are in Christ, not for just what we are against.
© 2016, 2017, R.J. Krejcir, Ph.D., Francis A. Schaeffer Institute of Church Leadership Development www.churchleadership.org/
Filed under: Building a Fruitful Church, Pastors | Tagged: absolute Truth, argumentations, Grace and truth, inheritance, kindness, Lord Jesus Christ, love, mercy, negativity, patience, Praise be, relationship with God, resurrection, set your hearts, set your mind, siege, spiritual growth, Truth | 1 Comment »
How far is your church’s reach with kindness and truth?
Posted on July 29, 2017 by Biblical Guy
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade…” 1 Peter 1:3-4
Passages to ponder: 1 Peter 1:3-5, 13-16; 4:12; 5:10-11; 2 Peter 3:17-18; 1 John 1:5-7; 4:10-16; 5: 11-13; 2 John 5-6; 3 Jude 21-23
These early Christians who were grateful for Christ, placed Him as LORD, realized we need to guard His Truth so to live in truth and love. How are we doing with that?
The people God brings you, that is the ones in your care need to know the importance of our relationship with God and with one another. If you are not doing that you have a gaping hole in your church!
Realize the people are given to you for stewardship, but they are not yours, they belong to Christ! You are to minister and train them up for Christ’s glory. And in the character and precepts of Christ. In this way, we can be positive with those who do not know Christ. And not manipulative or controlling or hateful or embrace those rotten fruits…. Let’s take it where the Church today is lacking…. We must be known for who we are in Christ, not just for what we are against.
In so doing, we must show kindness and patience–the key characters of love–to those we ‘feel’ we must hate. We never will reach others for the Gospel by our negativity or argumentations. Our reach is effective by our kindness, by holding on to Truth, not compromising Biblical theology, and mostly by being patient with those who are ignorant or even hateful of the Truth, the Word of God.
In the calls of Scripture, we are encouraged to remain faithful, live a life of submission, purity, godly living, and be steadfast and faithful even in persecution.
Grace and truth, the covenant that God has with humanity and His steadfast purpose to keep and fulfill it. The truth is that there is no guarantee of happiness as a Christian; our salvation only by faith in Christ Jesus is the guarantee. Our living hope is our new birth in Christ. Things will not always be what we want. In a fallen world, there will always be suffering.
There is Truth! There is ABSOLUTE Truth. God’s Word-the Truth-remains unchanged and inerrant even when you may not feel it or when others proclaim otherwise.
We are called to learn and know the Truth and be on guard against false truths. He also reminds Christians to be faithful and prepare for the coming persecutions. Be diligent to live out and guard God’s true Truth!
The early Christians were positive with the Gospel and the call to love our fellow believers and enemies. They exercised kindness with one another and with outsiders. They were patient with the decadent society and persecutions they were in. However, they had to guard the Truth from those who come into the church, not seeking Christ, but who sought to destroy, wreak havoc, and to distract others with a prideful disregard for all that is Holy and Right and True.
© 2016, 2017, R.J. Krejcir, Ph.D., Francis A. Schaeffer Institute of Church Leadership Development www.churchleadership.org/
Filed under: Building a Fruitful Church, Pastors, Uncategorized | Tagged: absolute Truth, argumentations, Grace and truth, inheritance, kindness, Lord Jesus Christ, love, mercy, negativity, patience, Praise be, relationship with God, resurrection, set your hearts, set your mind, spiritual growth, Truth | Leave a comment »
Who is Greater in your Church?
Posted on March 25, 2017 by Biblical Guy
“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:15-17
Jesus clearly tells us what a leader is and how one should act and work.
Have you ever seen problems in a church because leaders’ even pastors make mistakes at the expense of their congregation because they did not undergo enough training beforehand?
How would you feel if Jesus stole your presumptions and false ideas, and replaced it with His Truth and the real intention that God has for you? Consider comfort and compliancy versus Ephesians 5:14 and the call to wake up.
How can we make sure that our ministry is not about what we want, but rather about following Christ as a showcase for others to see and follow? What can you do to make this happen?
The word “Servants” referred to slaves or hired workers. They were much like the butlers and maids we have today, except they were usually “owned” by another person. The point here is that even though there were different types of slaves and servants, Jesus is referring to where the authority lies, which is always with the master; the servant exercises his authority through the master’s authority as a representative and thus servants are subordinate to him. In context, this is a reminder to never forget who you are, a child bought and redeemed by Christ. Do not take yourself so seriously; instead, take Him seriously (1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:28; Eph. 6:9; Phil. 2:7-8; Col. 3:11; 4:1).
Jesus clearly tells us what a leader is and how one should act and work. It is not about pride or power or control; it is about being a servant.
A pastor or a Christian leader must not be in leadership just to command or be in charge for any reason beside how do I teach and exhibit Christ and what is the best way for me to do this? Leadership must not be to satisfy one’s pride or desires, or for personal gain. Rather, we are to point others in His direction by our example. If pointing to Christ is not our goal or purpose, then we are in the wrong position. We must exit the church as fast as possible, drop to our knees, repent, and get right before God before reentering.
Leadership is all about Christ, not us or even our vision; it is purely and plainly how do I glorify and serve.
Just look how our LORD God, the Creator and Sustainer did. Jesus took a towel and washed His disciples’ feet. This can be an act we can simply use for a “Maundy Thursday” service (a “foot washing” reflection before Easter) and never give it much more thought. It is something where we may act more like Judas or Peter, missing its significance and refusing to apply it to our hearts, minds, and mission. If God, Creator of the universe, performed the lowest job in that culture-washing feet-then who am I to think I am better? Jesus is our example; we are never to think too highly of ourselves or buy into our own propaganda to perform tasks we are called and made for.
Church leadership is not about a mission; rather, it is who the Mission is for and how He has called us to be within it. Our servant attitude is imperative!
God desires to bestow upon us a significant favor and grace! The stipulation to this is we must be faithful to His Lordship! We do serve “the God who blesses us”-to be deeply happy and content because we are enjoying God and His special favor. There is a direct correlation between following Christ and receiving His blessedness and contentment, and following ourselves, pride, and evil to be self-destructive and miserable (Deut. 27:11-28:6; Jer. 1:11-12; Ezek. 36:24-27; Mic. 1:10-15; Matt. 5:3-11; John 3; 7:37-39; 1 Peter 1: 3-12).
Be blessed!
Filed under: Leadership Issues, Pastors | Tagged: Be blessed, command, compliancy, Example, faithful, following Christ, Greater in your Church, John 13:15-17, Lordship, personal gain, problems in church, servant, servant attitude, washed His disciples' feet., what a leader is | Leave a comment »
Robbing God of our Opportunities?
Posted on January 7, 2017 by Biblical Guy
Some tough questions to make sure your church is aligned up to His true Truths and principles:
“Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue,…” Matthew 12: 9-21
What can you do to prevent robbing yourself of the opportunities God gives you?
Jesus went into their… church, what if it was your church?
To the Pharisees, Jesus robbed their bank and stole their possessions. To a point, He did, as He took away their presumptions and false ideas, and replaced them with the Truth and the true intention God had for them (Hos. 6:6; Micah 6:6-8). They did not want the Truth or what God had for them; they only wanted their postulations and their power to rule.
This brings us to, He went into our church…. Thus, the questions we have to ask ourselves are,
“Are we robbing God of the opportunities He tries to give us?”
“Do we mix them up with habits, pride and traditions?”
“Do we make grandstanding pretenses, showing off our faith while we have a heart full of soot?”
Do our passions line up with political agendas, or the precepts of His Word?”
Passion is paramount, but it has to be grounded in God’s Truth, not the ideas and desires of man. Seek initiative and inspirations from Christ, not from the traditions. Do not filter your faith and practice through the filter of traditions or habits. Rather, filter through the clarity of God’s Word!
As A leader in God’s House, what blocks Christ’s work in me from working and being exhibited in me?
We have been saved, not of any effort or reason on our part except by faith, so now what do we do with it? What do we do with it as a leader in God’s House? We are to take it to the streets in how we live to ourselves, others and even our enemies. Yet, most Christians, even us leaders, respond with a rear end firmly planted in a pulpit that goes nowhere in real effectual service or glory to Christ. Many of us hold on to a will that will not allow conviction or change in the routine or life. Thus, the church is just a club for comfort and not a “huddle” to strategize and put forward how to play the game of Christian life from receiving our orders from the Coach.
The questions we have to ask ourselves, are we ignoring our Lord? “Are we robbing God of the opportunities He tries to give us?”
“Do we mix them up with habits, pride and traditions?” “Do we make grandstanding pretenses, showing off our faith while we have a heart full of soot?” “Do our passions line up with political agendas, or the precepts of His Word?” Passion is paramount, but it has to be grounded in God’s Truth, not the ideas and desires of man. Seek initiative and inspirations from Christ, not from the traditions. Do not filter your faith and practice through the filter of traditions or habits. Rather, filter through the clarity of God’s Word!
Who is Jesus to you? What have you done with this knowledge? Do you see, feel, and know His Divine Fullness?
Filed under: Leadership Issues, Uncategorized | Tagged: false ideas, God’s House, intention God, Jesus went, passions, presumptions, pretenses, robbing God, Synagogue | Leave a comment »
Posted on January 7, 2017 by Biblical Guy
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: heretic | Leave a comment »
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