Communication as a Part of Leadership

Email, Facebook, Blogs, Web Sites, LinkedIn, Smart Phones, texting, even “land-lines” and so many other methods of communicating exist that one might wonder why anyone in leadership should have any trouble communicating anything to anybody.

Even with all that’s available to us, leaders still have issues with properly communicating with their constituents.

Part of the problem is that they don’t realize the importance of good communications, mostly because they have never been trained at it. The need for effective communication has never been driven home to them.

Another issue is that they don’t know how to communicate efficiently. They know very well how to use the available communications resources (the equipment, programs and aps), but they don’t have the skills, the training or the gift of communicating. Some of the best speakers in the world don’t communicate well from off the stage or platform.

A speaker, leader or pastor who is not skilled in communicating needs help from someone who knows how to do it well. That might be a secretary, an administrator or a member of the organization or church who is willing to take the time needed to do a good job.

Often leaders consider that they have done a good job of communicating if they talk among themselves about a subject. They might not realize that their communications have not gone past the group and made it to the constituents.

Communicators must know their target audience. They must answer the question of who needs to hear their ideas, goals and action plans. Do they need to communicate with a committee or with the entire organization? If it is with the entire organization, how is that to be accomplished? In many cases it is better to include more people than necessary than it is to leave somebody out.

That leads us to methodology. There are many avenues of communication available today. Due to the potential for misunderstanding, the telephone (land-line or cell phone) might not be the best choice. Announcements from the pulpit are likely to be forgotten by a large number of people. Something in writing is probably the best way to communicate. Expenses might prohibit direct mail, but it should be carefully considered. Email is certainly a good way to reach a lot of people, but not everybody. Not everybody has Email. Social media, such as FaceBook and Twitter, can be considered in certain circumstance, but since not everybody has a computer, and since what goes on social media goes to the whole world, its use should be restricted.

The right use of words is very important in communication. Words have meaning. Sometimes we think we are communicating when we use phrases and words that are common to a particular region. People who are not from that region might not understand them. They might even be offensive in some cases. Often we think we are communicating because our words mean something to us but we might be failing to communicate if those words don’t mean the same thing to the recipient.

Use proper grammar when communicating. Failure to do so might lead to being misunderstood or to appearing ignorant. It might sound polite and selfless to say, “He gave the book to her and I,” but it would be wrong. You should say, “He gave the book to her and me.” It’s not hard to figure out; just drop the other person and say the sentence. You certainly would recognize the problem with saying, “He gave the book to I.” You would say, “He gave the book to me.” No matter how many other people the book was given to, if it was given to me, too, the sentence should end with “me,” not “I.”

There are rules about subjects and predicates, too.  Subjects and predicates must agree with each other in Voice, Mood, Tense, Person and Number. That’s easy to remember. The words begin with every other letter of the words “vomit pan.” (My ninth grade teacher taught me that and I have never forgotten it.)

The object of a preposition can never be the subject of a sentence. “The result of the studies are now in” is wrong. The subject of the sentence is “result,” which is singular; therefore the sentence requires a singular verb. It should be: “The result of the studies is now in.” That might sound awkward, but it is nonetheless correct. This type of disagreement between subject and verb is among the most common.

At the end of the post I will list some of the other common grammatical errors people make.

Good leaders make every effort to communicate well. The smooth operation of the church or organization depends on it. When, “What we have here is the failure to communicate” becomes the watchword, trouble always looms on the horizon.

SAME OLD MESSAGE?

Pastors are trying so hard to be relevant. They dress worship services up like rock concerts, they change Bible studies into opinion sessions and self-psychoanalysis groups and they use visual aids that flash and flare like the movies. “If we aren’t relevant,” they say, “people won’t come.”

But you know what? Jesus did not call us to be relevant. He called us to be faithful to His message. He did not call us to fill our churches with “seekers,” but to come together to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. We should of course invite “seekers,” but our worship must not be directed toward them. It should be directed toward God in celebration of the resurrection of His Son.

That does not mean that any particular style of worship or music is wrong. “Contemporary” music, for instance, is just as valid as “Traditional” music, so long as its message is clear, its doctrine is correct and it can be sung by the congregation. The reverse is true, too. “Traditional” music is just as valid as “Contemporary” music so long as it meets the same criteria.

There is very poor, doctrinally incorrect “Traditional” music just as surely as there is poor, doctrinally incorrect “Contemporary” music. There is also some fine music in both. One to the exclusion of the other is short-sighted and very restrictive.

Relevancy in a Christian worship service comes not from keeping up with the times, but with keeping up with the message. For the Christian the message always has been, is now and always will be God’s love for His creation manifested in the birth, death and resurrection of Christ. If that message seems irrelevant to you, you need to reexamine your relationship to God through Christ.

As the old “Traditional” hymn says, “I love to tell the story, for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest. It satisfies my longing as nothing else can do. I love to tell the story. It will be my THEME in glory; to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.”

Can you think of a better way to express it?

More on Worship Music

I want to make it clear from the outset. Music styles come and go and the style of music is largely irrelevant. Music that honors God can be fast or slow. The strong beat can come on the first and third beat of the measure or the second and fourth. Or there can be no beat at all. None of that matters.

What does matter is the content of the music, specifically the lyrics. If a song is pleasant, inspiring and entertaining but the words are either unclear or do not point to God, the song is not suitable for worship. It also matters whether the words don’t fit the music. One would not sing “Be Still and Know” to a loud, raucous tune.

I am grateful to Steve Bricker at “What Accords with Sound Doctrine” for some examples of music with issues.

One Thing Remains
Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant through the trial and the change
One thing remains
One thing remains

Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me (3x)

On and one and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never ever have to be afraid
One thing remains

In death and in life I'm confident and
covered by the power of your great love
My debt is paid there's nothing that can
separate my heart from your great love

That’s a sweet song, isn’t it? Would I use it in worship? No, I would not. Why? It is not God directed. In fact, by the lyric you cannot tell who the song is being sung to or about. All you can tell is that it is about some ethereal feeling for someone or something.

The More I Seek You
The more I seek you, the more I find you.
The more I find you, the more I love you.

I wanna sit at your feet,
Drink from the cup in your hand,
Lay back against you and breath, here your heart beat.
This love is so deep, it’s more than I can stand.
I melt in your peace, it’s overwhelming.

This song’s lyrics are reminiscent of a secular love song called, “The More I Love You.” I suspect that is the song that “inspired” this one.

Both of these songs are doctrinally meaningless. They are spiritual pabulum at best and heretical at worst.

That does not mean that all “new” songs are bad. There are some really good hymns and praise songs that are contemporary (in its true meaning). Glenn E. Chatfield  provides us with this offering by Stuart Townend (“How Deep the Father's Love”, “In Christ Alone”, “The Power of the Cross” and others):

Behold the Lamb
Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away,
Slain for us - and we remember
The promise made that all who come in faith
Find forgiveness at the cross.
So we share in this bread of life,
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of peace
Around the table of the King.

The body of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
Torn for you - eat and remember
The wounds that heal, the death that brings us life
Paid the price to make us one.
So we share in this bread of life,
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of love
Around the table of the King.

The blood that cleanses every stain of sin,
Shed for you - drink and remember
He drained death's cup that all may enter in
To receive the life of God.
So we share in this bread of life,
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of grace
Around the table of the King.

And so with thankfulness and faith we rise
To respond, - and to remember
Our call to follow in the steps of Christ
As His body here on earth.
As we share in His suffering
We proclaim Christ will come again!
And we’ll join in the feast of heaven
Around the table of the King

Do you see the depth and richness of the lyrics of this song? It compares with some of the great hymns of doctrine and praise, like: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” and “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.”

The choice of music for worship does make a difference. Far too much “contemporary” music revolves around what God will do for me, what I think about God or even telling God what He is like (just in case He does not already know). Too much “contemporary” music is what has come to be called 7/11 music (7 words or phrases repeated 11 times). It’s almost as though we are unsure and must repeat it in order to convince ourselves of its truth (if it has any truth).

There is nothing particularly wrong with singing songs that are just “about” God, but there should also be a strong emphasis on songs that deal with great faith doctrines. Music is a good vehicle to learn from, and we certainly do need to be teaching good doctrine in our churches.

I would suggest that we no longer consider “traditional” services, “contemporary” services or “convergent” services, but that we seek BALANCED services. We need services that use music to express our love for God in Christ, His love for us and the great doctrines of the faith. I don’t think we need any more “love songs for Jesus.”

Remember that our purpose for music is to praise God and to celebrate Jesus. It is not to entertain, nor is it to attract lost people. If it does those things, that’s OK, but it is not its purpose.

I Timothy spends a whole book warning us about teachers of false doctrines. Music is certainly one of those vehicles through which false doctrines (or no doctrine) can be transmitted. Wouldn’t it be better to use it for real praise and real worship?

Random Musings

Friday the 13th falls on a Monday this month.

I have made a New Year's resolution to lose weight.

I'm going on three diets all at once: The Adkins Diet, Slinder Life and Weight Watchers.

"Why three at once?" I hear you ask.

Well, you can't get enough to eat on just one diet.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-You’re Worthy of My Praise-David Ruis

Studies in John Continued

Chapter 17 

Verse 1 – Jesus looked toward Heaven. Which way is Heaven? If you’re in Florida looking toward Heaven, are you looking the same direction you would be looking if you were in Australia? (If you dug a hole straight through the earth from Florida you would come out in the Indian Ocean just west of Australia.)
Jesus said the time was here to glorify the Father. That means that in His suffering and death He would powerfully and unmistakably reveal the Father. In Exodus 40:34-35 we have a description of God’s glory in a cloud that covered and filled the meeting tent. The Israelites could not move until it lifted.

Verses 2-5 – In the Great Commission (Matthew 28), Jesus proclaimed His absolute authority over His followers. Here he proclaims the purpose of that authority: to give eternal life, that is: a right relationship with God through Christ.

In verse 5, Jesus unequivocally reveals His oneness with God before the world began.

Verses 6-19 – The focus of Jesus’ prayer now turns to His disciples. He declares that His disciples belong to Him, since they had heard and accepted His word. Jesus asks the Father to protect His disciples. Although it is 2,000 + years later, God still protects us. From what does He protect us? Is it from trials, hardship, illness, persecution or death? No. God protects us from Satan. God holds us securely and Satan cannot get to us. He’ll try, but all we have to do is resist and flee and he cannot touch us.

Verse 20 – Here Jesus includes His future disciples in His prayer. That's us.

Verse 21-23 – As Jesus’ disciples we are to be one, that is: in unity. Unity is one of the major themes of the New Testament. With so many ideas, philosophies, theosophies, denominations and individual opinions, even within our own church, how can we be unified?

Unity has nothing to do with gathering together and hugging each other. It has nothing to do with everybody following the church leaders. Unity means that we die to self and focus only on Jesus. He is the author and finisher of our faith. He is to be the center of our thoughts and our discussions. Although we might differ on details, we can (and must) agree on Him. We will have differences of opinions, different outlooks on life and different activities and interests, but we who have come to know Christ must remember to keep our focus on Him and Him alone.

The apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 3:4-9 that we are not to follow one person or another person. We are not even to follow Paul. We are to follow Christ and Christ alone. In chapter 2:2 Paul wrote (referring to his calamity in Athens recorded in Acts 17, when he tried to engage the Greeks in philosophical discussion) “For I have resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
Jesus is to be our in all; by all and through all of everything we are or do.

PLANNING IS HARD WORK

Planning Is So Hard Most Choose Not to Do It

Easter is coming April 20, 2014. What are your plans? Have you made them yet? If not, it is almost too late.

Our choir just presented their Christmas cantata. We will need 15 rehearsals to prepare the Easter cantata, and will still have to provide music for the regular services as well. That means we need to begin Easter cantata/program rehearsals on January 9, at the latest. We rehearse one song from the cantata the first week of rehearsals, two on the second week, three on the next, and so on. Each song needs to be rehearsed a minimum of five times to be ready for the cantata/program. As the director, I need to have the cantata selected and need to know it by January 9th.

Since we will likely not be able to order a new cantata for this year, I don’t have to worry about ordering, but if I had to, I would have had to have done it before Christmas in order to receive it on time to begin rehearsals on time.

Many churches plan significant events a few weeks or a couple of months ahead of time. That is why leaders are always under much more pressure than they need to be. No one has trained them in the proper administration of their duties and only a few have the gift of administration.

There are three parts to ensuring an event is relatively easy to pull off: Planning; coordinating and evaluating. Planning is done ahead of time. Coordinating is making it all come together. Evaluating provides for reviewing what was done right, what needs improvement and what will be done differently next time. It is also the first step in planning next year’s event.

For recurring events planning the next one should begin as soon as this year’s event is over. As already noted, it begins with evaluation. Evaluation becomes is an important part of planning. It enables you to correct mistakes, repeat successes and to get a jump on next year. It should be done immediately after the present event is over.

Calendaring is the next stage of planning. For most major events, we know ahead of time when they will occur. The dates for Christmas, Easter, Independence Day, Veterans Day and Memorial Day of 2014 are already known. Any special events planned for those days should already be calendared.

Each week should include some thought and preparation for all events planned for the year (and sometimes for years to come). The closer the event, the more thought has to be put into it. As the event becomes imminent, it will consume a greater portion of your time spent planning for all events. For instance, in January your plans for Easter should be focused on fairly heavily, while next Christmas might take less of your planning time. By the time Easter is over, Christmas plans should be solidified and the steps to accomplish what needs to be accomplished for it should move up in importance.

To really grasp these concepts, and to avoid doing everything “small church,” takes the leadership of a person gifted and trained in administration. Planning, coordinating and evaluating are administrative functions.

Remember, what we offer to the Lord, whether it be weekly worship, monthly fellowships, special presentations, community events or whatever else, should be fit for the King of Kings. That does not happen by magic. The Holy Spirit is grieved when He is not allowed to lead far enough ahead of time for God’s people to offer to Him the very best.

How sad that so few Christian leaders take time to plan, coordinate and evaluate God’s events.

Wal-Mart Consumes People

Really, it does. I have the proof.

The other day I went to Wal-Mart to pick up some medicine at the pharmacy. I drove around and around the parking lot and found not one parking space. I also noticed, as I drove hopelessly around, that there were no cars with people loading them up with purchased goods.

For over five minutes I drove seeing the same thing: no parking spaces and nobody loading their cars. The only logical conclusion to draw was that Wal-Mart was consuming the customers.

This has led me to understand that it is flat-out dangerous to enter Wal-Mart. The evidence seems to indicate that if one enters, he might never be heard from again.

Therefore one of my New Year resolutions is to avoid Wal-Mart at all costs.

Yeah. From now on I’ll do all of my shopping at SAM’s Club.

The Truth about My View of Giving

Somebody lied about me. Can you imagine? They flat out lied.

Somebody said that I don't believe in tithing. They got that from a conversation we had that they did not really hear. Sometimes we hear what we want to hear or we anticipate what someone is going to say and decide that's what they said, even when they didn't.

Not believing in tithing is like not believing in lightening. They both exist, whether I believe in them or not. Turns out I believe in tithing in its proper context.

Let me make clear my position on giving for the Christian, just in case you care to know the truth.

Tithing was the Old Covenant requirement for giving to God. It predates the Law of Moses, and was first mentioned in Genesis 14:20. When God blessed him, Abram gave Him a tenth of everything. He declared his allegiance to God in front of the king and God immediately entered into covenant with Abram.

The Old Testament mentions the tithe (or a tenth) as a unit of giving over 60 times. It eventually became a part of the over-all Law of Moses. (Tithe comes from the Hebrew words: maases (a tenth part), issaron (a tenth part), asri (tenth), assar (to receive a tenth), and asor (a quantity of ten).

Under the Old Covenant, tithing was the requirement. But does the concept of giving a tenth carry over into the New Covenant? Let's take a look.

The New Testament mentions the tithe or a tenth (as a part of giving) 8 times.

In Matthew 23:23, Jesus is scolding the Pharisees for their using the tithe to show how good they are. He is clearly telling them that as Jewish leaders they should set the example by keeping all of the Law, not just the parts that make them look good.

Jesus said to the Pharisees in Luke 11:42, "Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds..." while neglecting justice and the love of God.

Luke 18:12 finds a Pharisee bragging about how he fasts and gives a tenth of all he gets. It's the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Jesus said the tax collector was justified, the Pharisee was not.

In Hebrews 7:2-26 the writer, while discussing the New Covenant and Jesus' similarity to Melchizedek, reminds us of Abraham giving his tithe.The writer of Hebrews says that the Law requires a tenth but our new high priest is better than Melchizedek and is worthy of everything we are and have.

Consider Mark 12: 41-44 and Luke 21:2 & 3. Jesus watches a widow put two very small copper coins into the temple treasury. What was His response to her? Did He say, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all the others...she gave her 10% out of poverty?" No. He said "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury...out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on."

What about the rich young man who asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life? He bragged to Jesus that he had done everything a good Jew had to do. Did Jesus answer, "One thing you lack. Go and sell 10% of all you have and follow me?" No. He said, "One thing you lack. Go and sell all that you have and follow me."

After Pentecost, the believers were in one heart and mind. They shared 10% of what they had. Actually, Acts 4:32 tells us they shared all of what they had. That's 100%, not 10%. That means everything I own, my house, my car, my furniture, my dogs AND my salary all belong to God. We are to give all to Him. If the church has a need, and if I have the wherewithal to provide it, I am to do so. "Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe..." The New Covenant concept of giving is to give all you are and all you have.

Romans 12:8 says to give generously. II Corinthians 9: 5 is Paul's admonition to give generously to ministry. II Corinthians 9:7 says each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give.

So, do I believe in tithing for the Christian living under the New Covenant? No. I believe in giving 100%, not 10% to the Lord.

Having said that, in accordance with 2 Corinthians 9:7, if God tells you to drop your giving from 100% to just 10%, that's between you and Him. And under the New Covenant, how much of your 100% you give to the church is between you and Him, too.

Just remember, under the New Covenant you are not required to give anything, not even 10%. You are admonished to give your all to Him. Everything. All of it. 100% of it.

I, for one, do not intend to cut my giving back to 10%. As Dr. Adrian Rogers used to say, "Any Christian under grace who would let a Jew under the Law give more than he does under grace is a disgrace to grace."

Do you know what I think? I think that if the church had the courage to teach New Covenant giving, the bank would not be able to hold the offerings.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-I'll Put On a Crown"-Jessy Dixon

A Study in John, Chapters 15-16

Lessons from John 15 – 16

Jesus was identified as one with God in the beginning of John. He was introduced to the people by John the Baptist. He selected a group of men to follow Him. His first miracle was performed at Cana. He “endeared” Himself to the Pharisees by disrupting the Bazar of Annus and was immediately confronted by them. From that time on, every time He provided a miracle, He was reinforcing the idea of His one-ship with God. The Pharisees understood that, even when the people did not (as sometimes we don’t). The Pharisees got angrier with every passing day. When He raised Lazarus from the dead, He proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that He was God and the Pharisees saw that as the ultimate blasphemy. Then Jesus began preparing His disciples for what He knew was ahead, His death as a payment for mankind’s sin.

Chapter 15

Verses 1-8 – Jesus proclaims Himself to be the vine; the source of life. His disciples He called the branches; the result of His life giving powers. He impresses on them the necessity of remaining  one with the vine.

Verses 9-17 – Jesus encourages His disciples to do what He says because of their love for Him. He is not talking about obeying the Ten Commandments, He is talking about His New Covenant commands about God’s love. Jesus says that the greatest love one can show to another is to “…lay down his life for his friends.” This was a prelude to His laying down His life for them and the whole world.

Verses 18-27 – Jesus tells His disciples to stay faithful to Him. He tells them it will not be easy but that He would provide for them a Counselor (also called Advocate, Comforter and Helper), fufilling the prophecy of Isaiah 9:6 (Remember the oneness of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit).

Chapter 16

Verses 1-4 – Jesus enumerates some of the things that will happen to the Disciples: They will be evicted from the religious worship center (the synagogue), because of the angst of the Priests and Pharisees over Jesus whom they will be following. They will have their lives threatened by the Jewish leaders. Through it all, they will be sustained by the Holy Spirit, who will enable them to endure.

 They would not understand what Jesus meant until after Jesus’ death. At Pentacost (Acts 2 ff) they would understand and would receive the strength to withstand the attacks on them  We often misuse the statement “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” That was not general power, but the power to withstand the attacks that they will have to face. We have THAT power, not some magical abilities to do peculiar things.

Verses 17-18 – Jesus predicted His death, and His disciples didn't understand.

Verses 19-24 – Jesus explains the emotions the disciples will feel and tell them that His Father would see them through to the time of their understanding (Pentecost).

Verses 25-30 – The disciples think they understand. They recognize His knowledge and that He “…came from God.” They did not yet understand all that that meant, but they would.

Verses 31-33 – Jesus now warns the disciples tht they would be scattered and would leave Him to face His sacrificial death alone. But Jesus proclaims that He will not be alone, because His Father (God) is with Him
 He explains that He is telling them all of this so that they will face the future with peace. They would be troubled in this world, but would soon realize joyfully that Jesus has overcome the world!

As His disciples, we, too, will face trials and trouble for being followers of Christ. Like the disciples, we can be assured by the power of the Holy Spirit, that Jesus has not left us without the power of the Holy Spirit and we can face the troubles of this world with the assurance that Jesus will prevail against it.

Comfort vs. Speed

Are you on a “new” diet for the New Year? Is THAT your New Year's resolution?

Remember:

SOME PEOPLE ARE BUILT FOR SPEED; 

SOME ARE BUILT FOR COMFORT.

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY ON SUNDAY SCHOOL

Elmer L. Towns, from his book about Sunday School:

I love the Sunday School and appreciate its influence on my life. I was first introduced to Sunday School when Jimmy Breland, a Sunday School teacher, asked me if he could take me to Sunday School. As a small boy, I faithfully attended Eastern Heights Presbyterian Church in Savannah, Georgia, where I was grounded in Bible content and doctrine. I was taught to bring my offerings in a special envelope.

Because my values in life were taught to me by my mother and reinforced in Sunday School, when I heard the Gospel preached by a Baptist evangelist, I received Jesus Christ as my Savior.

Because our society is changing, some have suggested the age of the Sunday School is past. But the future of Sunday School is bright, and I believe God will continue to use the Sunday School as the evangelistic and educational arm of the church. Still, the Sunday School must adapt to continue its influence. In my seminars, I often challenge audiences, "The Sunday School that has been the steeple of the church must become its foundation." The Sunday School must not change its purpose but it must go "back to the basics," for the
old is again becoming new.

I believe that any church, anywhere, any time, can grow when it is revitalized. That’s because I believe in the power of God and the influence of the Word of God. Growing a church is like growing a garden. The ground must be prepared and the seed planted properly at the correct time. The seed must be watered and be exposed to sunshine. These are principles for growing a garden, and when properly applied, new life will spring forth. There are principles for growing a Sunday School. If you apply the principles, your Sunday School will grow.

This book is based on a seminar I conduct entitled 154 Steps to Revitalize Your Sunday School and Keep Your Church Growing. Notice I refer to 154 steps, not 154 ways. There is only one way to grow a church and that is to reach people for Jesus Christ. And there is only one way to revitalize your church, and that is through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. But there are many steps to get you there!

...

We are living in exciting days. Churches are still growing. I began keeping records of fast-growing churches 20 years ago; and some of the fastest growth is now taking place. (One church, for instance) grew from 5,300 to over 7,500 in one year. Many of the steps used by this church are emphasized in this book.

This book will reemphasize the traditional biblical principles of evangelism and perhaps express them with new emphasis. But you will also be exposed to new techniques. Open your mind and your heart. Perhaps you can't use every suggestion, but don't close your mind to ideas just because they are new. Let this book s-t-r-e-t-c-h you to trust God (Mark 11:22-23).

I still believe that the Sunday School has a bright future and that your Sunday School can grow.

Elmer L. Towns
Liberty University

ALL THE BEST GOD HAS TO OFFER!

More on Elders

The office of Elders is an Old Testament concept. The New Testament uses the term elder to refer to those who have experience with and are mature in their faith, usually referring to older men (Greek: presbuteros). Those are the ones Paul is speaking of in his letter to Timothy.

There are those who have decided that the office of Elder is proper for “running” the church. They are wrong. The office would have been properly used to run the synagogue, but not the church.

The church is to be run by priests. Every Christian is a priest; therefore the church is to be run by all of its Christians. We call this a congregational form of government.

Sure, such notables as John Piper, John MacArthur and some whole denominations disagree, but that’s OK. This is America. They have the right to be wrong.

Pastors have routinely been afraid of the congregational form of government. They have seen it as clumsy, which it is. They have seen it as cumbersome, which it is. They have seen it as opening the possibility for error, which it does (but no more than so-called Presbyterianism or ecclesiastical government). They have seen it as time consuming, which it is. They have seen it as requiring more planning, which it does.

The congregational form of government more closely follows the New Testament than any other form. It has the advantage of relieving the pastor of the decision making process, and therefore relieves him of the responsibility of the consequences of the decisions. It also has the advantage of many minds dealing with a particular issue, making its Godly solution more likely.

The pastor of the church is to be just that; a pastor. His job is not to run the church. His job is not to be responsible for the decision making process. His job is not to say, “Here’s the way we’re going to do it.” The pastor’s job is to pray, preach the gospel, edify the saints, minister to the saints and to assist the congregation with its job of decision making.

The largest non-Catholic denomination in the world was built on the principles of congregationalism. The principles have never changed and they will never change.  Sadly, some have chosen to depart from the principle of congregationalism. That will inevitably result in damage to the church.

In many churches, it already has.

Pastor Search

If I were a church looking for a pastor, here are the items that would be included in my search thinking:

We are looking for a pastor with a firm understanding of and commitment to the New Covenant, personified in Christ.

He must not live with one foot in the Old Covenant and one foot in the New Covenant.

He must have a strong belief that the Bible is God’s revelation of His character, His love of His creation and His plan for its redemption.

He must believe that the entire Old Testament points to Christ and the entire New Testament announces His arrival, His ministry, His mission and His return.

He must major on the Gospel and must understand that it is our only message.

He must understand that ministry is not about him, it is all about Christ.

He must know that his job is to pray, preach the gospel, minister to the people, edify the people and to assist them in moving toward their objective.

He must have an uproarious sense of humor and must thoroughly enjoy ministry. Sad Sacks need not apply.

I would require the following:

If you have these qualities, send a one page resume that contains a single statement about each of the following:

1.      Name

2.      DOB

3.      Contact Information

4.      Salvation Experience

5.      Family

6.      Education

7.      Experience

8.      An objective, Goals and How to reach those goals

9.      Basic vision of church organization and ministry

10.  Ability to work with and love people in Christ

If I were a church looking for a pastor, those would be the qualifications of a great one.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-More than Wonderful-Sandi Patty & Larnelle Harris

Luke Chapter 2 - An Outline for Study

 In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law [Gal.4:4]. It was the right time for Christ to come and die for the ungodly [Rom.5:6]. Then He, the Desire of all nations, came to fill His house with glory [Hab.2:7].


I. Characteristics of the birth of Jesus

A. In the fullness of time

1. The time of the birth of Jesus was not necessarily in the winter

a. Shepherds were watching their flocks – a spring-time activity
b. The Roman census took place in September or October
c. The early church did not celebrate His birth
d. The earliest mention of the observance on Dec. 25th is in the Philocalian Calendar, representing Roman practice of the year 336.
e. In Rome December 25 was made popular by Pope Liberius in 354 and became the rule in the West in 435 when the first "Christ mass" was officiated by Pope Sixtus III.

2. To fulfil His mission, Christ had to be born during Roman rule, and Rome was ready for Him
3. The languages used were Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin and Greek – the most precise language ever on the face of the earth
4. The nation of Israel was ready

a. They had established synagogues (about 586 BC)
b. The Pharisees [separated ones] arose in order to instruct the people to follow the Law of God more strictly (although they eventually corrupted the Law)
c. The Sadducees rejected the Pharasees’ strictness in exchange for wealth and power
d. The Essenes  believed that physical isolation from corrupted conditions would make them holy before God
e. The Zealots refused to pay taxes to Rome
f. The Samaritans (descendants of the marriage of a High priest to Sanballat, the enemy of the Jews
g. The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

B. At the right place

1. The little city of Bethlehem as prophesied in Scripture
2. Here, Micah clearly states that the future ruler of Israel would come from Bethlehem. By associating the Messiah with the birthplace and ancestral home of King David, the prophet recalls and reaffirms the earlier prophecies that the Messiah would come from David's line.
3. Yet the prophet cautions the nation not to expect a mere man, for the Messiah would be the One "whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."

a.  No mere man could be described as eternally preexistent.
b. Thus, the ruler who would "come forth unto me" must unquestionably be God Himself.

C. For the right reason

1. The Jews were looking for a king to displace Rome
2. God was looking for a King to displace SIN
3. The Jews were looking for a leader to take them into battle
4. God was looking for a King to bring His peace to the heart of mankind
5. The Jews were looking for a king to provide them with riches
6. God was looking for a King who owned the cattle on a thousand hills
7. The Jews were looking for a king to save God’s chosen people, Israel
8. God was looking for a King to save the entire world, Jew and Gentile
9. The Jews were looking for a man
10. God was looking for mankind, His creation

D. From the right “stock”

1. Jesus is the Second Person of the Trinity, and is God – the Son
2. Jesus is God incarnate; that is: in the flesh
3. Jesus came for one purpose: to pay the penalty for man’s sin
4. Jesus is the Savior of any who will come to Him in faith, believing

THE SON OF GOD BECAME THE SON OF MAN SO THAT THE SONS OF MEN COULD BECOME THE SONS OF GOD.

CHANGES COMING TO JOE'S JOTTINGS IN 2014!

2014 will see a return to a wider variety of topics and opinions on Joe's Jottings. There will still be a Bible study lesson every Saturday/Sunday and most Wednesdays. The other days of the week will be devoted to stories, videos, my opinions about social topics, philosophy, and science, as well as other things that interest me.

There will not generally be politics on this blog. If you want politics, you need to go HERE.

The same comment rules will apply, and can be seen in the side bar to the right.

WAS IT SUMMER, FALL, WINTER, OR SPRING

I am indebted to Glenn E. Chatfield at The Watchman’sBagpipes for much of the information in this post.

Every year discussions pop up about why we celebrate Christmas in December. Some say the birth of Jesus had to have been in the summer. This is the time the liberals like to choose, because it is so opposite of when most Christians celebrate Christmas and liberals just love to find issues with Christians’ beliefs. They just swallow each other’s lines and spew them out whenever the subject comes up.

Others say the shepherds’ tending their sheep close to the walls of Bethlehem indicates a deep winter time frame.

I would not argue with either position, because, frankly, I don’t care when it was.

That said, there is considerable evidence that Jesus was born some time close to December 25^th.

Alfred Edersheim, in The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, wrote:

There is no adequate reason for questioning the historical accuracy of [December 25^th]. The objections generally made rest on grounds, which seem to me historically untenable. The subject has been fully discussed in an article by Cassel in Herzog’s Real. Ency. 17, pp. 588-594. But a curious piece of evidence comes to us from a Jewish source. In the addition to the Megillath Taanith (ed. Warsh. p.20a), the 9^th Tebheth is marked as a fast day, and it is added, that the reason for this is not stated. Now, Jewish chronologists have fixed on that day as that of Christ’s birth, and it is remarkable that, between the years 500 and 816 AD the 25^th of December fell no less than twelve times on the 9^th Tebheth. It the 9^th Tebheth, or 25^th December, was regarded as the birthday of Christ, we can understand the concealment about it.

In the Jews for Jesus Newsletter of December, 2000 we read:

Ancient Jewish tradition …  seems to recognize that date…. According to Alfred Edersheim, Jewish leaders established a special fast day on 9^th day of the Jewish month of Tevet. Initially, no specific reason was given for this fast day, but later Jewish writers identified the 9^th of Tevet with the birth date of Jesus. Edersheim further states that the 9^th of Tevet had fallen on the 25^th of December numerous times in the past.

There is also the possibility of a Hanukkah-Christmas connection. Hanukkah is celebrated on the 25^th of Kislev, the Jewish month that corresponds with December. Could it be that early Jewish believers in Yeshiva (jesus) wanted to connect Hanukkah and the birth of the Messiah, and eventually that desire was transposed into the 25^th of December? After all, Hanukah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, which Jesus applied to Himself when He said, “Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19).

A person with a degree in agriculture tells us:

“Certainly, the Lord Jesus was born at Christmas. The only time shepherds spend the night in the fields with their sheep is during the time when the lambs are born. The ewes become ‘attractive’ to the rams in the month after June 21, the longest day of the year. the normal gestation period is five months so the ewes start lambing about mid-December.”

Isn’t it natural that the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world would be born when all the other lambs are born?

A Montana sheep rancher reports:

“Oh, yes! None of the men who have flocks are in church for weeks at Christmas. They have to be in the fields day and night to clean up and care for the lambs as soon as they are born or many would perish in the cold.” Isn’t that neat? God’s Lamb, who was to die for the sins of the world, was born when all the other little lambs are born. Because He came and died the centuries old practice of sacrificing lambs for sin could end.

So which one was it? I can’t say for certain, and I would not bet any money on any of the above scenarios.

If you don’t mind, I will continue to celebrate Christmas on December 25^th.

Hope you had a great one!

HAVE A CHRIST FILLED CHRISTMAS!

CHRISTMAS SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Silent Night-Celtic Woman

CHRISTMAS SOUNDS OF PRAISE-O Little Town of Bethlehem-Kari Jobe

CHRISTMAS SOUNDS OF PRAISE-O Come, O Come Emmanuel-Justin Rizzo

Christmas in John

Lessons from John 1:1-5 & 14

In the beginning was the (Logos) and the (Logos) was with God and the (Logos) was God.

 ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it...

¹⁴ The (Logos) became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

A company's logo is a part of the company. When you see the logo, you immediately know what company it represents. For instance you instantly recognize the StarBucks logo. You know the Burger King logo. You probably know General Electric's logo and you know McDonald's as well.

The Greek word translated "Word" in John is Logos. It is the word we get our word logo from. Jesus is the Logo of God and He is part and parcel with God. He and God are one (so He made clear, Himself).

Jesus was there at the beginning of time and He is the instrument through whom all things were made.

John 14 then tells us that the (Logos) became flesh and dwelt amoung us. It is this becoming flesh that we celebrate at Christmas. There is another significant word used here. That word is "dwelt."

To understand this word we have to go back to Exodus 24:16. Yahweh gives instructions to make possible a more abiding dwelling place: "Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it." The word translated "tabernacle" is mishkan, which is simply the root sh-k-n with the letter mem prefixed. In Hebrew, a prefixed "m" often denotes the place where something happens. So, z-b-ch is "sacrifice," m-z-b-ch is an altar, a place where sacrifice takes place.

But what is the full meaning of this child's birth?

John 1:14 can be read: "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us as in a tent, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the unique One from the Father, full of grace and of truth!"

Focus on the single word translated "dwelt...as in a tent." It is the Greek word skenoo. Do you notice anything about that verb? What are its consonants? They are s-k-n, the equivalent (as Greek has no "sh") to the Hebrew word we discussed earlier, sh-k-n (dwell or abide). That word is in fact used often in the Old Testament, both in verbal and noun form, for both the Hebrew shakan and mishkan.

John is telling us that the passing picture of the Tabernacle has become eternal truth in Jesus Christ. In this baby, God Himself has tabernacled—permanently. He has come to be Immanuel, God with us.

That is the glorious meaning of Christ (Messiah) mass (celebration). We celebrate the birth of Christ not as just another baby, but as God taking on skin, as it were, and living among us.

From before the beginning of time, Jesus had purposed to come to earth as a baby, born in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes (the sign to the Magi), grow, lead His disciples and to die for our sins. He became a baby born to bear our sins at the cross of Calvary.

John tells us later that "...whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).

What a glorious time is Christmas time!

LUKE CHAPTER 2-A Study Outline

In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law [Gal.4:4]. It was the right time for Christ to come and die for the ungodly [Rom.5:6]. Then He, the Desire of all nations, came to fill His house with glory [Hab.2:7].

I. Characteristics of the birth of Jesus

A. In the fullness of time

1. The time of the birth of Jesus was not necessarily in the winter
a. Shepherds were watching their flocks – a spring-time activity
b. The Roman census took place in September or October
c. The early church did not celebrate His birth
d. The earliest mention of the observance on Dec. 25th is in the Philocalian Calendar, representing Roman practice of the year 336.    
e. In Rome December 25 was made popular by Pope Liberius in 354 and became the rule in the West in 435 when the first "Christ mass" was officiated by Pope Sixtus III.

2. To fulfill His mission, Christ had to be born during Roman rule, and Rome was ready for Him

3. The languages used were Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin and Greek – the most precise language ever on the face of the earth.

4. The nation of Israel was ready

a. They had established synagogues (about 586 BC)
b. The Pharisees [separated ones] arose in order to instruct the people to follow the Law of God more strictly (although they eventually corrupted the Law)
        
c. The Sadducees rejected the Pharasees’ strictness in exchange for wealth and power
d. The Essenes  believed that physical isolation from corrupted conditions would make them holy before God
e. The Zealots refused to pay taxes to Rome
f. The Samaritans (descendants of the marriage of a High priest to Sanballat, the enemy of the Jews
g. The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

B. At the right place

1. The little city of Bethlehem as prophesied in Scripture
2. Here, Micah clearly states that the future ruler of Israel would come from Bethlehem. By associating the Messiah with the birthplace and ancestral home of King David, the prophet recalls and reaffirms the               earlier prophecies that the Messiah would come from David's line.
  
3. Yet the prophet cautions the nation not to expect a mere man, for the Messiah would be the One "whose       goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."

a.  No mere man could be described as eternally existent.
b. Thus, the ruler who would "come forth unto me" must unquestionably be God Himself.

C. For the right reason

1. The Jews were looking for a king to displace Rome
2. God was looking for a King to displace SIN
3. The Jews were looking for a leader to take them into battle
4. God was looking for a King to bring His peace to the heart of mankind
5. The Jews were looking for a king to provide them with riches
6. God was looking for a King who owned the cattle on a thousand hills
7. The Jews were looking for a king to save God’s chosen people, Israel
8. God was looking for a King to save the entire world, Jew and Gentile
9. The Jews were looking for a man
10. God was looking for mankind, His creation

D. From the right “stock”

1. Jesus is the Second Person of the Trinity, and is God – the Son

2. Jesus is God incarnate; that is: in the flesh

3. Jesus came for one purpose: to pay the penalty for man’s sin

4. Jesus is the Savior of any who will come to Him in faith, believing

THE SON OF GOD BECAME THE SON OF MAN SO THAT THE SONS OF MEN COULD BECOME THE SONS OF GOD.

Bound to Mysticism

God is either all-sufficient or He is not. If He is not, nothing matters. If He is, nothing else matters.

So many, many people who think they are Christians are really Christian mystics. They ascribe subjective assumptions about God and justify them with a few dozen (or hundred) verses to support their claims. Dan Phillips calls these people “members of the subjective-revelation school, the pinprick-individual-semi-revealed-will-of-God school.”

Included in this bunch are Henry Blackaby, John Piper and almost all Charismatics. This camp allows that the Bible is God’s word, but they also allow for God’s special revelation to them apart from the Word of God. The result is often a form of chaos that results in issues within the church. They also hold that you can be doing everything right, from a Biblical, Spirit-breathed faith perspective and still be out of God’s will. That’s pure and simple mysticism.

The problems with this approach are many. Proof-texting is rampant among this group. If you can just collect enough verses on a subject, you can prove your understanding of it. Leaning on experience to “properly” interpret Scripture is also big with this camp. They also tend to engage in a misrepresentation of discipleship. They seem to think discipleship is cerebral, and can be imputed by talk, by the voices of angels or by some  mystical mumbo-jumbo. That’s pure and simple mysticism. True discipleship involves getting to and practicing the nitty-gritty, here’s how it’s done, details of followship.   

Let’s take an example. Suppose you wanted to have a Sunday School class grow by witnessing and/or serving in the community. During a class you break into groups and members of each group share where they are in the area of witnessing and serving. Then the class comes back together and a representative from each group shares some of the things they talked about in the group. They have grown in discipleship, right?

Wrong. That’s pure and simple mysticism.

Instead, there should be a specific time set aside, perhaps a series of classes in which the actual procedure of witnessing and/or serving is practiced before going out to inflict the community with amateurism, faulty doctrine and other pit-falls.

One area of great confusion with these folks is the leadership of the Holy Spirit. According to them, if God has led them on Monday to preach a sermon next Sunday, the Holy Spirit can “inspire” them on Saturday night to preach something else. Then they stand before the congregation stumbling and bumbling their way through in a random manner and proclaim that the message of the Holy Spirit. What a farce! That was not the leadership of the Holy Spirit. That was their imaginations becoming vain. They think, “I’m a Christian, my mind is suddenly focused on this sermon instead of the one God originally gave me so it must be the Holy Spirit’s leading.”

Nonsense. That’s pure and simple mysticism. The Holy Spirit has never, does not now and never will lead that way. That’s not even His job! His job is to point to, and only to, the Lord Jesus Christ and His unmerited favor that leads to salvation.

Preaching requires hours and hours of proper, careful preparation. If that is not your bag, then God has not called you to preach. God is not capricious and does not flop about in the wind like so many waving flags. He is purposeful. If He has something for you to preach, He will give you ample time to prepare. If He does not give you ample time, He has not told you to preach it.

Way too many preachers engage in stream-of-consciousness preaching where some word or phrase they’ve just said or read reminds them of something and they take off chasing it as though it makes sense. That is not Biblical preaching, regardless of how many verses of the Bible are quoted in the process. That’s pure and simple mysticism.

People fall for mysticism. It touches a part of them that is buried deep in the psyche. They yearn for the exciting. They crave the mysterious. That’s why so many love magicians (who really deal in illusion, not magic). They look for some outside “force” to guide them. They are not satisfied with the God of the Bible and His plan of salvation through Christ. They want more.  They want mysticism.

That’s too bad, because if God’s plan of salvation is not enough, nothing else will ever be.

Professionalism vs. “Good Enough”

There are so many church leaders who seem to think worship should just be “good enough.” They believe that since it’s only for the church, it really doesn’t matter how smooth and polished the worship experience is. Well, no matter how large the church, that kind of thinking is “small church.”

There is nothing wrong with “small church,” unless the church intends to grow by fulfilling the Great Commission. Then “small church” just won’t cut it.

As a church grows in number, it should also grow in “professionalism.” After all, aren’t its leaders professionals? They are if they are paid for their leadership. Perhaps a volunteer pastor, song leader, education director or administrator might not be considered to be a professional. Each should none the less strive for excellence in all they do. They must remember who they serve.

Pastors and staff do not serve each other. They do not serve the congregation (although the congregation certainly is served when the leaders are serving who they are supposed to be serving). They serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

There is a principle put forth in Malachi that requires our offering to God to be perfect. When God asked Israel why they offered poor sacrifices, they asked when they had done so. God told them that when they bring a blemished lamb for sacrifice they are guilty. He said that if they would not offer that sacrifice to their governor, they should not offer it to Him. Are churches not also guilty of offering blemished worship services?

Somehow the idea of professionalism in church has become associated with snobbery or “high falutin” boredom. That should not be the case. Churches ought to shine high above the best professionals in their county, whether those professionals are doctors, lawyers or merchants. The church should be the best at what they do; better than anyone else.

Sadly, many churches are permeated with things that mar the image of Christ. They are inundated with feedback from the audio system, song leaders who sing off pitch, choirs that are lifeless, poorly planned services, poorly executed worship services, stumbling speakers, speakers whose focus is on themselves, despite their assertion that it’s all about Christ. When someone is to give a testimony, instead of having them up on the platform ready to speak, the congregation gets to watch them amble up the aisle while nothing else is happening. They are rarely trained as to how to give a public testimony (which should be much better than just rambling on). They say inappropriate things and take much too long to get their point across.

All of this is avoidable through careful planning, coordinating and evaluating each element of worship. Of the three, evaluating is the most important. Through honest evaluation, leaders can determine what worked, what didn’t work, where weaknesses are and how to best plan for the future.

So often churches take the attitude that members are not professionals and thus can be excused if they do a poor job. That sells them so short! With proper training, every lay leader in the church can excel at what he does. Every testimony can be an inspiration. Every song can be a heart-toucher. It all comes from high expectations and intensive training. The less rehearsed the church wants an event to look the more rehearsed it must be.

There is no excuse for offering the Lord a poor worship service. There are great rewards for offering Him the very best every time. It takes time and hard work, but it is worth it.

The Leader

She stepped to the platform, facing the congregation. She stood for a moment, as though something really significant was about to take place. Then, with halting voice, she began to relate a story about an event that had happened in her life. Her eyes filled with tears and her voice cracked noticeably. It was clear that this event was of great importance to her.

The story was much like the stories of many people who have “shared testimonies” with congregations in times past. As she spoke, a few people in the congregation said, “Amen,” but the “amens” sounded a bit forced, like the people were just being polite.

The story went on and on until finally she used it as an introduction to the new song she had heard that seemed to relate to the story and to have touched her heart. The song was unfamiliar to the congregation; nevertheless, during the instrumental interlude she urged the congregation to sing. They did not respond, mostly because they did not know the words, and the words and music did not flow in such a way as to be picked up easily.

As she led the song, she swayed back and forth, leaned her head back and then dropped it forward, demonstrating an emotion that the congregation clearly was not feeling. A few of them swayed with the music, some attempted to sing, but most just stood there.

When the song was over, there was some enthusiastic applause, but most of the congregation clapped politely and looked as though they were glad the song was over.

What happened? Why did the leader get so little response?

The first issue was the story itself. While it seemed significant to her, many, perhaps most of the congregation had heard the story in various forms many times before, so it was not so significant to them. It was not that they did not appreciate how God had worked in the leader’s life; it was that the story was far too drawn out and made the standing congregation restless. No one had trained the leader to be clear and concise when introducing a song. After all, they didn’t want to stifle her “testimony.”

The next issue was the song itself. She was trying to involve the congregation, but they could not involve themselves because they had never heard the song before. No one had trained the leader to introduce new songs over time by using them as specials, as offertories or as accompaniments to other worship elements.

There was another issue as well. The person running the computer program that projected the words of the song had not been familiarized with the song and its awkward rhythmic patterns and did not know when to change the slide from one musical phrase to the next. The result was that the congregation could not sing the first few words of the next phrase because they did not know where they were coming. No one had trained her for that song.

You have to feel for people who are asked to lead, but are never trained in the details of leadership. Often they think they are doing well, and perhaps they're doing "well enough for church." However, Leaders need to be aware that they are serving the King of Kings. They should make their leadership offering the best it can be.

Leadership is more than just knowledge (although that is important), it is also organization and communication. Those are two skills that can be learned through proper training.

CHRISTMAS SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Carol of the Bells-Celtic Woman

All to Him I Owe

The refrain of a well-known hymn goes:

Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

I want to look at the phrase, “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.”

At the cross, Jesus paid the entire debt of all of the sin in my life, past, present and future. On my eternal balance sheet, so to speak, there is a “0” balance. I owe nothing. So, why the “…all to Him I owe” phrase? One can think of this phrase in several ways.

Since it was Jesus who paid my sin-debt, I owe my eternal life to Him. Without Him I there would have been no cancellation of the debt. I would still owe God absolute perfection, something I am unable to offer. Jesus has become my perfection and God sees me as perfect through the eyes of Jesus.

Nevertheless, there is something I owe Jesus. It has nothing to do with my eternal life; it has to do with my eternal gratitude. Under the New Covenant, I have only two things I can offer God: 1) my sacrifice of praise and 2) 100% myself. The sacrifice of praise must come from the depth of my being and must flow forth from my heart and mouth. The “100% of myself” must include everything I am and everything I have.

I have been bought with a price so high that it is beyond the imagination of man. When Jesus cried out from the cross, “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?” He was experiencing the eternal punishment for my sinful nature, as well as that of all who believe in Him. That’s a lot of punishment.

The price Jesus paid for my sin-debt cannot be repaid. He paid it willingly. He paid it for joy! His joy! He paid it so that he and I could enjoy mutual fellowship forever! I would not have done that for myself, let alone for anybody else. Yet He did it for me and for you. What a Savior!

Because of His willingness to take my punishment for me, I will praise Him, serve Him, love Him and give myself to Him. Whatever I might hold back I ask Him to prod me by the Holy Spirit to let go of and to release it to Him.

After all, I owe it all to Him.

Here’s the whole song:

1. I hear the Savior say,
   “Thy strength indeed is small;
   Child of weakness, watch and pray,
   Find in Me thine all in all.”
• Refrain:
  Jesus paid it all,
  All to Him I owe;
  Sin had left a crimson stain,
  He washed it white as snow.
2. For nothing good have I
   Whereby Thy grace to claim;
   I’ll wash my garments white
   In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
3. And now complete in Him,
   My robe, His righteousness,
   Close sheltered ’neath His side,
   I am divinely blest.
4. Lord, now indeed I find
   Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,
   Can change the leper’s spots
   And melt the heart of stone.
5. When from my dying bed
   My ransomed soul shall rise,
   “Jesus died my soul to save,”
   Shall rend the vaulted skies.
6. And when before the throne
   I stand in Him complete,
   I’ll lay my trophies down,
   All down at Jesus’ feet.

CHRISTMAS SOUNDS OF PRAISE-God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen-Amy Moses Band

SOME REALLY GOOD POINTS

Christian Behaviorism

When I was a minister of youth (something for which I am much too long of tooth today), I was frequently asked questions about certain activities being “sin.” They usually centered on such things as drinking, smoking, dancing and “making out.” The questions would be formulated something like this, “Is dancing a sin?”

Do you realize that the major sins have changed over the years? In the middle 1950s, the major sins touched on by mainline evangelical churches were drinking, smoking and dancing. During the 1960s drugs were added to the list. Today the major sins are abortion and homosexuality.

It was supposed, I suppose, that these major sins would keep you out of heaven more completely than the more benign sins like arrogance, pride, etc.

The truth is, that any speech, thought or action that is not directly in the center of God’s will is sin sufficient to keep you from heaven. It is not the behavior that keeps you out of heaven; it is the sin nature of man. It is the very existence of sin in each person’s life.

One of the saddest characteristics of much of what passes for evangelical preaching today revolves around a neo-psychological concept called “behaviorism.” Christian behaviorism frequently takes the form of quoting verses of scripture here or there to prove a certain behavior is right or wrong. Often the speaker seems to more intent on manipulating the hearers than on getting to a truth about the gospel.

Behavioristic preaching is very much an attempt to exert some form of power over people through speech. It plays on the insecurities of the listener. It works by focusing the listener’s attention on the speaker instead of on the Biblical message of God. Often the speaker tries to disguise his intent by distraction or displacement, but he is really trying to elicit or prevent some behavior that he likes or dislikes. Sometimes it is an attempt to cover his failings as a leader.

Shakespeare wrote, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” (Hamlet, act III, scene II). Sometimes that applies to the behavioristic preacher. Quite frequently, the thing he preaches most against is one of the very issues he has in his own life. How many “failed” church leaders have you heard of who preached against infidelity and then fell into its ugly clutches? That is an awful thing to happen and even a worse witness for the Lord. It is not, however, the most devastating thing about behaviorism in preaching.

The constant use of scripture verses to reveal and control people’s behavior is the most corrupt characteristic about this kind of preaching. It belies the truth of the gospel. It overshadows the work of Christ at the cross of Calvary. It negates the saving power of the gospel. And it does that dishonestly; by sidestepping the actual message of scripture.

Treating scripture as a set of proof-texts is spiritually dangerous. It leads to false doctrine. It leads to incorrect interpretation and application. It very well could prevent the hearer from understanding the gospel message.

It really is time for preachers to stop this abhorrent practice of behaviorism. They need to get it through their heads that even the very best behavior falls short of the perfection required by God. That perfection is found in, and only in, the shed blood of Christ at the cross of Calvary. He has become our perfection for us. Although that excuses no sin, it does cover it…to perfection.

The Creative Frog

Once upon a time there was a frog-like species happily hopping around in a South American rain forest.  The little frogs had few cares in the world, but one they did have was that they kept getting eaten by larger predators.

As the eons went by, some of the frogs in the species got a little tired of their kind being eaten all the time, so they decided to develop a poison that would make their predators ill or dead. So they did.

Only as fast as they could evolve to make the poison, they killed themselves off, without any predators involved at all. They were not immune to their own poison!

So, they quit making themselves poisonous and embarked on making themselves immune to the poison they would one day start producing.

There arose a problem, though. There was no “evolutionary” reason to create immunity to a poison that did not exist. So they could not evolve the necessary immunity.

Looking ahead a few million years, the South American forest was full of the descendants of this species hopping around poisoning predators and not killing themselves in the process.

It can’t help but be wondered how this strange circumstance came to be. Evolution certainly does not explain it. Somebody must have already thought of the problem.

God just smiled.

CHRISTMAS SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Angels We Have Heard on High

Christian Behaviorism

When I was a minister of youth (something for which I am much too long of tooth today), I was frequently asked questions about certain activities being “sin.” They usually centered on such things as drinking, smoking, dancing and “making out.” The questions would be formulated something like this, “Is dancing a sin?”

Do you realize that the major sins have changed over the years? In the middle 1950s, the major sins touched on by mainline evangelical churches were drinking, smoking and dancing. During the 1960s drugs were added to the list. Today the major sins are abortion and homosexuality.

It was supposed, I suppose, that these major sins would keep you out of heaven more completely that the more benign sins like arrogance, pride, etc.

The truth is, that any speech, thought or action that is not directly in the center of God’s will is sin sufficient to keep you from heaven. It is not the behavior that keeps you out of heaven; it is the sin nature of man. It is the very existence of sin in each person’s life.

One of the saddest characteristics of much of what passes for evangelical preaching today revolves around a neo-psychological concept called “behaviorism.” Behaviorism frequently takes the form of quoting verses of scripture here or there to prove a certain behavior is right or wrong. Often the speaker seems to more intent on manipulating the hearers than on getting to a truth about the gospel.

Behavioristic preaching is very much an attempt to exert some form of power over people through speech. It plays on the insecurities of the listener. It works by focusing the listener’s attention on the speaker instead of on the Biblical message of God. Often the speaker tries to disguise his intent by distraction or displacement, but he is really trying to elicit or prevent some behavior that he likes or dislikes. Sometimes it is an attempt to cover his failings as a leader.

Shakespeare wrote, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” (Hamlet, act III, scene II). Sometimes that applies to the behavioristic preacher. Quite frequently, the thing he preaches most against is one of the very issues he has in his own life. How many “failed” church leaders have you heard of who preached against infidelity and then fell into its ugly clutches? That is an awful thing to happen and even a worse witness for the Lord. It is not, however, the most devastating thing about behaviorism in preaching.

The constant use of scripture verses to reveal and control people’s behavior is the most corrupt characteristic about this kind of preaching. It belies the truth of the gospel. It overshadows the work of Christ at the cross of Calvary. It negates the saving power of the gospel. And it does that dishonestly; by sidestepping the actual message of scripture.

Treating scripture as a set of proof-texts is spiritually dangerous. It leads to false doctrine. It leads to incorrect interpretation and application. It very well could prevent the hearer from understanding the gospel message.

It really is time for preachers to stop this abhorrent practice of behaviorism. They need to get it through their heads that even the very best behavior falls short of the perfection required by God. That perfection is found in, and only in, the shed blood of Christ at the cross of Calvary. He has become our perfection for us. Although that excuses no sin, it does cover it…to perfection.