How Can I Pray for You?

Most of you know I believe the scriptures teach we should prioritize relationships. That’s what God did. The very nature of the incarnation shows that God left heaven and pursued relationship with you (John 1:14). God pursues relationship with us as lost people. Then if we receive Him (John 1:12) He continues the relationship. Relationships were important to Jesus as He discipled the 12 (Mark 3:13-15). He called them that “they might be with Him.” Jesus was His own curriculum. For 3 years He was living curriculum. For Jesus, mentoring people to cross the line of faith, grow, and becoming self feeding enough to birth new disciples was the goal of the process.

The other night our small group started out of our Sunday School class met to begin working through Purpose Driven Life. We ended our time together by going around the circle and each person responding to the question, “How can I pray for you?” When we ask that question of a few, and mean it, it’s transforming in their lives. Why? Because everyone wants to have their story told and heard. People by nature are relational. The other night as I watched everyone go around the circle, I saw not requests, but stories. Live stories not from the news or books, but lives. I realized a crucial truth all Sunday School or Small Group leaders should remember: 

There’s power in the question, “How can I pray for you?”

As you all look toward a fresh start in 2009, get close enough to see the action in peoples’ lives. Go to your Sunday School class and start a small group out of it. Disciple 12 this year. You never know what your efforts may do:

1. You might keep someone from smoking weed

2. You might keep a couple from separating

3. You might help someone from making a mistake before they make it

4. You might help someone from being lonely and falling out of the church to pursue relationship somewhere else

5. You might provide a family atmosphere for some whose families are broken or non-relational

6. You might provide pastoral care for everyone in your group (and class through many groups)

7. You might be able to help some understand and apply the scriptures from the sermon or Bible lesson

2009: A Heavenly Culture

2009 should be a year when the church seizes the moment on race relations. The two girls in the picture to the right are twins. They have an Black Dad and White Mom. It’s an amazing story if you want to read it, go here. The parents had twins recently and AGAIN, they produced twins: one black and one white. Look at the picture. That family does not view race like most Americans, including Christians. 

Rev. 5:9 says in the end time,

And they sang a new song, saying, Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.

The church has an opportunity to seize the moment and produce authentic racial unity. While I’m excited about the unity found in the election of our first Black President, I’m still looking for the people who should have racial unity to show up. The church must show up this year. The church has no reason to passionately pursue racial unity in the church as a witness to the community. 

1. Will the church do anything different this year OR, will we remain as divided as ever?

2. Will our country really see change, the mystical change we have heard about in our recent election cycle?

We will see! Let’s do our part. I’m going to do my part. We can experience a little heavenly culture on earth. How bad do we want it?

Why I’m Stoked About 2009

There are many reasons to be excited about 2009. In my previous post I outlined 10 things I plan to do in 2009. Here are a few reasons why I’m stoked about 2009. This is a shortened list because any good list is visionary and has been revised. Here’s the revision.

I’m stoked about 2009 because:

1. I am going to finish my doctoral project and prayerfully receive the Doctor of Ministry degree. I didn’t go to Gordon Conwell for a degree. I went to study preaching with one of the greatest homiletical minds of the past few decades, Dr. Haddon Robinson. I’ve become a better preacher and communicator because I studied and was mentored by Haddon Robinson during 3 doctoral residences. I’ve never been an educated person. I went to seminary only because I didn’t grow up in the church. My formal education will end this year (unless I do a PHD in Leadership at Dallas Baptist University, which does interest me, but I doubt it). 

2. I am going to accomplish more in 2009 because of my mistakes in 2008.  

• Work out more and eat better
• Watch my finances closer and spend less
• Spend less time in large group fellowships and spend more time investing in a few

3. 2009 will be a great year for race relations. If race relations and multicultural ministry is a possibility in the church, the time to experience it is now. With President Obama getting in, a real impact on race may be the only thing he can accomplish that would be something he could do that a politician has not tried yet.

4. I believe God’s going to bless the church who does His will (Matt. 2819-20) and out nation may experience revival. I believe God has stayed His judgement on our nation because He still wants to use the church. I do believe God will use the western church to reach the nations. Our economic situation will get better as we turn from greed. I believe a spirit of generosity will break out in the church as a witness to the world. 

 

2009 a Breakthrough Year

I have a good feeling about 2009. I’m not sure why, but I guess it may be 2008 seemed to be slow and sluggish in the church and country. But now the election is over and it seems we will see which church will show up in the West. I want to do my part in making things better. Here are a few things I hope to do better this year.

1. Develop fewer, more meaningful, long term relationships in the church. 

2.  Get further out of debt. 

3. Make sure I program and administrate with smaller group interaction as a part of the event or an after event opportunity.

4. Finish my doctoral degree and push sermon based small groups anywhere I can to help churches shut the back door.

5. Write 2 books.

6. Manage my time more effectively at home and work.

7. Take more initiative for my pastor especially in casting his vision.

8. Develop deeper relationships within my extended family. 

9. Make time in my schedule to work out consistently for a year. 

10. Retreat with God more. 

What are you looking to see or do in 2009?

Christmas Reflections

I had a great day today and have enjoyed the Christmas buildup this year. 

Today, I had 10 of my young adult small group members serve the poor. We went to an event that feeds them and gives them gifts. I was so pleased to see them show up and serve. Started a great tone for the day.

Then, I went to Cornerstone Baptist Church for worship while the small group continued to serve. We probably had 500 or so at that service. We have a good turn out for this service every year. It was great today.

I then came home and we had a fellowship with a couple of friends from church. 

I was really impressed with Rick Warren’s Christmas special on Fox News. I’m convinced Rick is the next Billy Graham. He shared the gospel in a simple yet relent way. It was excellent. I have my reservations about Foxnews, but they are the only thing out there beside the less conservative stations.

The main reason for the season is the incarnation of Christ and how others need him. The main message for life is the same.

How was your Christmas?