The church must UNITE in the focus of mission and the Gospel. This is an incredible priority of Jesus Himself (the Head of the Church) in His prayer found in John 17. I can’t get this prayer out of my mind – so I’m praying it with Him. And I’m praying more boldly and more loudly for this than ever before. And you should be, as well.
Why? Well, look around you. I don’t know where you live and worship, but as a church – none of us are the same as we were 10 years ago. We’re not the same leaders, we’re not the same church, we’re not in the same community. Truthfully, we’re not even in the same country. Everything has changed around us. Our culture is more divided, more racist, more hostile and more hate-filled than at any other time in recent memory. And the church? For the most part, we’re still fooling around. If we’re just as broken and fragmented as the world, do we really think anyone cares what our message is? Or that we can make a difference? So Jesus prays, “…that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that you sent Me, and loved them…” John 17:22-23 Stop. Read those words again! Read that prayer one more time. HE wants US to be as united as GOD is. As a friend of mine once said, “Is there any disagreement among the Godhead?” Jesus prays for us to be one in that same way. Rick Renner says that, “…unity comes when people are united in action and in passion for a common cause. Their shared goal is so strong that it removes hostilities, puts away disagreements, and gives previously divided people a reason to take their place alongside each other. When this occurs, different gifts, talents, and anointings become connected together, and the result is an amazing river of divine power that achieves the supernatural and accomplishes the impossible.” I agree. Pentecost is proof of this. So much diversity, so much lack of focus and confusion – all brought together by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Gospel. Those two things were happening at Pentecost. The Spirit and the Gospel. How does this happen today? 1) God’s people learn to walk in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. 2) We learn to focus on the Gospel. That’s it. Those two huge divine priorities will take over the rest of our little agendas, but it will require a deep level of prayer, discipline and sacrifice. I love the fact that I am called to pastor a church that is increasingly and incredibly diverse! I love looking around us and seeing people of every background, race, language (some 40 nationalities represented every week) at First Euless. It’s powerful to see how we put teams together for ministry, for the Gospel, for prayer – and they are as diverse as our community is. God is up to something huge. But it counts for nothing if we’re not filled with the Spirit and focused on the Gospel. And if we are filled and focused? That is the church united that Jesus is praying for. That is the church the world needs.
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I’ve ENJOYED working in 2014 to help our church learn to share their faith personally and practically. I LOVE that more than 500 people have come to gain a new confidence and boldness in this area, and I’m praying for about 1000 more to come through “Can We Talk?” in 2015 in our church alone.
But what’s the “end game” of “Can We Talk?” It’s this – that you share the Gospel in your everyday life. That you become a Gospel-centered person who thinks about the amazing message they’ve first experienced and then been equipped to share. It’s that you become a witness in the hands of the Holy Spirit, moved about by Sovereignty to step into a conversation that is so seldom had – a conversation about Christ. Witnessing is not just saying a good word about the Lord. It’s not just bringing Jesus’ Name up in conversation, although that can be be both difficult and powerful. It is not just saying, “well, I believe this stuff.” Witnessing is sharing a clear and complete picture of the Gospel – that Jesus died on the cross, rose again – and why He did that. So, you’re trained. Now what? What do you do with it? Three things: 1) Intercede like never before. Pray for your family, your friends and co-workers, and those “random” people who come through life daily. 2) Invest in them. Have a conversation with them about…well, them! Spend a little time getting to know them, or getting updated on their lives. 3) Invite them to a spiritual conversation. “Can we talk about spiritual things?” That’s a great question, and few turn me down when I ask it. And when they allow me, I make sure I never turn down the open door. I’m ready – and so are you. Do it! Invite them to your home. Invite them to church. Invite them into your LIFE – all all time remembering you’re trained to be an effective witness for Christ. When we do this – we are literally (literally!) obeying the first steps of the Great Commission. And when we do, the power of the Holy Spirit is upon us! This is an anonymous guest blog from a friend who has seen God provide in a great way for a mission trip. He’s Faithful!
“I want to tell people what a great God we serve and how when He says He is going to provide He does. I only need $400 left to earn for my trip. The gifts of three people got me there. God gives bigger than we can ask or imagine. I want to tell people the struggle in my soul that I can’t be that cool person who is going on a mission trip and blogs about it. I can’t have the cool go fund me account and get to give God all the glory, but that I know it’s okay, because that is only affirmation of man. And He still gets all the glory when I get on my face and thank Him. I want to tell people how insanely overwhelmed I feel about this trip. How giddy I feel that God has called me to go to a place that I know will be hard in so many ways. I am giddy to be on the other side of the group that goes to the airport. Instead of writing the cards and praying over people, I am the one with the packed suitcase getting on the plane. It makes me want to jump for joy and cry all at the same time. Because this is so foreign to me that I just can’t understand it all. I want to tell people how God has insanely blessed me by putting some of my most favorite people in the world on the same team. That He keeps affirming me and speaking to me and telling me to trust Him when it doesn’t make any sense. I want to tell the people that keep freaking out about this trip to quit freaking out and just trust Him. That it’s really true that if God wants you to go He will provide every way. I trust that my visa will work out and that the money will come in because I know without a doubt the Lord has prompted me to go. There is my garble for today. God is good and I just can’t stand not talking about it.” And I say, “AMEN!” “Can We Talk?” is a great story. I knew in advance that I was about to live something out. I just wasn’t sure what it was.
In 2013, After being asked to preach the 2014 Convention Message of my denomination – a great and humbling honor, I began to pray about what I was to share. The Lord spoke to me in a powerful way. As Adrian Rogers used to say, “It wasn’t audible, it was LOUDER.” It was, “You will live this.” And then, you can preach it. Coupling a deep concern that our church wasn’t doing enough to impact our community with the Gospel, along with a glaring conviction that I was not obeying Paul’s admonition to Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist,” (2 Tim 4:5) I was led to plunge in. Taking what had become my “go-to” form of sharing the Gospel, I felt I should name it, print it and begin equipping our people in it. In September of 2013, we began to pray for five teams and launched “Can We Talk?” in a six-week gospel-equipping format at First Euless. Within 9 months, after hours of prayer, sharing and writing, we had a huge group of 90 teams that were weekly visiting homes in our community and sharing Christ. We saw 1600 people reached with the Gospel and approximately 300 people professed Christ. Pastors from other churches and denominational leaders began to see what God was doing at First Euless though “Can We Talk?”. The dedication and zeal from our people at First Euless was incredible. Our staff led the way – as great leaders do! We saw our church culture begin to change, and our already strong discipleship DNA began to be balanced with both evangelism and discipleship. By the time the convention message date arrived in June of 2014, I was ready to tell the story. The response has been overwhelming. Pastors began to ask how they could implement “Can We Talk?” in their church, and I began to pray further about what God would have me do. I soon requested that our church grant me the privilege of starting a non-profit ministry that could serve as a vehicle to “challenge and equip pastors to lead and equip people to share the Gospel in their everyday context.” Following our church guidelines, the committee overseeing this area granted unanimous agreement, and at a subsequent business meeting, the church affirmed unanimously for this to take place. What a great sense of affirmation and zeal! One Conversation, Inc. is the organization, and “Can We Talk?” is the resource used to train pastors. You can see more about what this looks like at First Euless (click here) and join us in sharing your faith, or learn more as a pastor through the “Can We Talk?” resource tab. So many of our church members came alongside me in setting up this new organization, and so much time and effort has been invested; it’s amazing. One of them said, “Pastor, we’re helping you set this up because we believe in what you’re doing and we want to help you do this AND continue pastoring our church!” It’s an incredible blessing! My prayer is that “Can We Talk?” will begin to launch in churches all over the state of Texas and beyond. The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention asked us to train 1000 pastors in 2015, 2016, and 2017. We’ve begun leading conferences to do just that. The goal is to reach 1 million households in Texas with the Gospel. See the conference schedule here: oneconversation.org. Additional conferences are being discussed in various states across America now. It’s time to mobilize the Gospel! For years, churches have worked hard to become great disciplers and teachers of believers – and that’s a great thing! However, most churches have absolutely no plan to equip their people to take the Gospel into the community, where people who need Christ actually live. We are increasingly ineffective and God-consciousness in America is at an all-time low. It’s time to get into the fields with the Gospel and with pastors leading the way, we can experience a revival of obedience. Pray for “One Conversation” and “Can We Talk?” Pray for God to raise up thousands of laborers for the Gospel and thousands of churches to become gospel-centered in that the entire church is both equipped and active in sharing Christ. That’s the vision of Christ Himself. You can reach “One Conversation, Inc.” through this website, or you may write us at: “One Conversation, Inc.” P.O. Box 157, Euless, TX 76039 E-mail: info@oneconversation.org “Better men” don’t just happen. We’re certainly not BORN better. No, the depravity of mankind is pretty deeply etched on the heart of every man.
Becoming a better man is process that finds its power in a transforming relationship with Jesus Christ, and its application in where we spend our time. Paul would say it like this, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, for the days are evil.” What does it mean for us as men? 1. It means we should be CAREFUL with our time. As in “be sure you spend your time in the right way.” That means we ask, “what should I do with my time?” This is the Bible’s command to not waste your time on things that don’t matter. It’s not an attempt to squelch your fun, but it’s a warning that you are writing your checks (your time) on a diminishing account. One day, it’ll be all spent. Are you spending it well? 2. It means we need to consider what we’re LIVING for. If I’m going to be “wise” and not “unwise,” I need to figure out what’s important. One survey says that men spend more than 34 hours a week entertaining themselves by TV, internet and gaming devices. Really? Nearly as much time as some work? So what do we do at the end of life when we’ve discovered – at the age of 65, we’ve spent 3,412 days of our lives (nearly 10 years!) watching television and getting nothing done. That’s not living – that’s wasting! 3. It means we need to MAXIMIZE our lives by planning our time. Instead of wasting 3000 days of our life, we should plan to use our time in a way that matters. In the fourth quarter of a football game, clock management becomes critical. Why? Because you’ve only got a few minutes left! For illustration purposes, one author placed the years of a man’s life next to a day calendar lasting from 7 am to 11 pm. It looks like this. If you’re 15 years old, it’s 10:25 am in your life/day. If you’re 2o years old, it’s 11:34 am in your life/day. If you’re 30, it’s 1:51 pm. If you’re 40, it’s 4:05 pm. If you’re 50, it’s 6:25 pm. If you’re 60, it’s 8:45 pm. If you’re 65, it’s 9:51 pm. It’s a sobering question. What do you want to do with the rest of your day? Have you looked around you lately? This nation is falling apart. Literally. We’re experiencing massive upheaval in our culture. The plates are shifting. Morals are under deliberate and steadfast attack and the enemy of the grace of Jesus Christ is emboldened.
And, for the most part, churches stand idly by and watch. Christians sit back in their chairs and think of something else to dwell on. Our forefathers in the faith would cringe at our inaction. Three things must happen immediately: 1. We must pray for revival and spiritual awakening. We must corporately and personally cry out to God for victory. He alone can change things. 2. We must unashamedly and intentionally share the Gospel with our communities – on the porches and doorsteps of our cities. We must do this by equipping people to share it – mobilizing the largest under-utilized missionary force in the world. The Gospel alone can change lives. 3. We must stop making Christianity about our comfort, our desires, our traditions. It’s like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. The church alone is given the mission – let’s stop diluting it . Get under the umbrella of prayer for spiritual awakening and sharing the Gospel. Do these two things well. It is these two things that were present when Paul reached all of Asia Minor in two years. (Acts 19:10) It’ll be these things we do that change our world. How Do We Act Like Men in our Conversation? Paul tells us to “act like men” in 1 Corinthians. Eventually, our “talk” is affected by the power of the Holy Spirit within us. How do you talk? How should a “better man” talk? Russ Gregory finds these four keys in the book of James to help us.
1. Act like men by learning to LISTEN. “…. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.” James 1:19 I was always told that we have two ears and one mouth – and that this fact reminds us to listen twice as much as we speak! Teachable men, better men learn to listen! 2. Act like men by learning to keep our MOUTHS CLOSED“ For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man…” James 3:2 James tells us there are simply times we need to exercise self-discipline and “shut up.” If I could recall the many times I’ve said what I shouldn’t have, I could save a LOT of collateral damage. Only the Spirit’s power can help us here, so learn to die to self and lean on His power! 3. Act like men by learning to understand the DAMAGE we can do. “And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body ……” James 3:6 Can you remember when someone around you BUILT YOU UP with their words? Powerful, isn’t it? Can you remember when someone TORE YOU DOWN by their words? Painful, isn’t it? Build up, don’t tear down. 4. Act like men by learning not to CURSE. “With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing….” James 3:9-10 Real men don’t waste words – and they don’t pervert language. Cursing says nothing good about you, your intelligence or your attitude. It shows what’s lacking. Men, our words can bring life and blessing to those around us – and they can bring destruction and cursing. So, BUILD one another up with your talk. The Bible says for men to “stand firm in the faith.” What does that mean? Have you ever heard the phrase, “If you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything?” Men are falling for anything and everything and standing for almost nothing – and the collateral damage around us is sickening. It’s hard to believe that we can make a mess for so many just because we don’t stand firm, but it’s true.
So how do we stand firm? Here’s a start: 1. Stand firm by taking God’s Word SERIOUSLY and learning the responsibilities of following Christ. “…for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.” 1 Thess. 3:8 Does “the Book” mean anything to you of relevance? The NFL rookie has to SLEEP with his playbook, because if he doesn’t recognize the play, he’s cut from the team. The builder always has the set of blueprints on his person – he builds a weird house without it. What makes us different? Men, get serious about God’s Word. Read it. Study it. Remember it. 2. Stand firm by listening to the spiritual JOURNEY of older men and learning from them. “…stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught…” 2 Thess. 2:15 There’s a great cry today for mentors. Older men, who are you mentoring? Younger men, who are you asking questions of? Here’s what I don’t get – why would we not want to learn those lessons? Have lunch, or breakfast – with someone older than you. Learn. Get up some courage and ask a guy to talk to you. 3. Stand firm by having your own CONVICTIONS about Scriptural issues. “To his own master he will stand or fall; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:4 Do you know what you believe about stuff? While, “I believe what my preacher believes” is appreciated, it doesn’t do you much good on the battleground of the mind in spiritual conflict. YOU find out what YOU believe – and stand there. 4. Stand firm by having mature CONDUCT. “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…” Phil. 1:27 My greatest moment of spiritual growth as a young man was the day I saw myself in the “fool” of the book of Proverbs. I grew up a little that day, because the Bible convicted me of immature behavior. I stood a little taller after that – and gained a little more respect. You’re not a child. Act like a man. We need to stand firm. The next generation is watching – and the present generation is looking for leaders. Stand firm! I was in two rooms one night this past week. I went from one to the other. Both were amazing. Both were powerful. Both went hand-in-hand.
The “big room” I was in had many dozens of trainers and trainees heading out to share the Gospel with whomever God opened the door to. Each had areas of our community they were focusing on and each teams had prepared to go – depending on the Lord to give them grace and opportunity. We call this sending initiative, “Can We Talk?” The “little room” I went to when we released those teams was set up with 20 chairs, all facing the same direction, and a TV screen. In this room, were the people who’d gathered to pray for those going out into the community. They were able to read real time “tweets” and texts of those who were in the neighborhood sharing Christ. It was incredible. And powerful. And it went hand in hand. As one team got out of their car to visit, they asked (by tweeting) for prayer for the family whose porch they were about to walk onto – and the prayer team (who saw this information live on the TV screen) lifted the entire visit up at that moment and for that incredible reason. And we watched God work. I loved hearing people pray. Loved that each team knew prayer support was immediate and strong. Loved that the Lord was surely pleased that this group didn’t neglect a weighty and blessed part of it all. I don’t know everything about prayer. In fact, I don’t know much about prayer. But I know this: God calls us to pray – and especially that we would pray for all men “to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” That doesn’t happen unless we GO. And it doesn’t happen unless we PRAY. Want to join us? You can see our prayer “tweets” from anywhere when we visit, but it’ll be more amazing if you can do it with us in the “little room.” See the prayer feed or get more information here: firsteuless.com/prayerpartners We could be better men, but we’re not alert to what’s going on around us! We’re distracted, daydreaming, chasing after immature fantasies, or we are SLEEPING. In 1 Corinthians 16, Paul told men to “Be on the alert.” Be watchful. Be awake!
So what are we not alert to? What are we sleeping through, besides SportsCenter? 1. We’re not alert to what GOD IS DOING around us. Because we don’t pray, we’re pretty much unaware of the movement of the Spirit – and we miss much. 2. We’re not alert to the danger of PRIDE and TEMPTATION. The Bible says, “Let he who thinks he stands, take heed, lest he fall…” That’s a really good line. It points out the weak spot of most men – we’re PRIDEFUL. We think we’re invincible. We can handle stuff. Except when we don’t. Then it’s someone else’s fault, right? Truth is, we’re OVERCONFIDENT in our own strength. That’s a bad deal because it’s a lie. Get away from self-confidence, guys. The very next verse, which is 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “For there is no temptation that has overtaken you, but such as is common to man…” Temptation overcomes most of us when we are OVERWHELMED. We’re tired, disappointed, disillusioned, and bored. We’re overwhelmed with things like that and it can lead us to a place of compromise. 3. We’re not alert to Satan’s strategy to make us afraid to do the right thing. So we do the safe thing. We don’t take the risk to LOVE others. We don’t swallow pride and CONFESS our sin. We don’t step into LEADERSHIP because we might fail. Only a weak lion roars..and he’s hoping it’ll scare you. That’s the roar of our adversary. 4. We’re not alert to PROTECT ourselves and our family from spiritual attack. We’re gatekeepers, guys, so keep the bad stuff out of your life, and you’re halfway there to protecting your family. The enemy will attack your weakest link…whoever that is in your family, protect and pray for them! There’s a battle and we’re often asleep. Paul says, “Wake up! Be on the alert!” |
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