ConvergeUSA Blog

Good Friday Thoughts by Steve Mizel

I recently read through Gary Thomas' Sacred Pathways and discovered that I experience God in ways I wouldn't have imagined. None of them fit me perfectly, but from what I can tell, I experience God as a sensate primarily. But I also approach him as an activist, and surprisingly, a traditionalist.

That last one is a shocker because I have always been distrustful of the "High Church" and all their rote mumbo jumbo. I am a low church guy with roots in the house church and Plymouth Brethren movements. Neither of these movements put much credence into tradition (well, at least tradition outside of their own cultural patterns). In fact, it was normal for us to completely ignore the Christian calendar - even preaching on 1 Corinthians 5 on Christmas because, well, that is where we were in the text.

So, this year, really for the first time, I have tried to attune myself to the traditional Christian seasons. I know this is on the far margin of what it means to be a traditionalist, but it is a good place to start exploring how to worship God in the way he has wired me.

I marked Ash Wednesday, though I did not attend a service. I participated in Lent (or should I say, am participating). I geared my reading and meditations to those portions of the gospels that would help me focus on Jesus' passion and the events surrounding it.

Not surprisingly, I have been tremendously challenged and refreshed.

So today - Good Friday - I am thinking about how sinfully broken I am. As we have come to say around the Journey - how jacked up I am. I am also thinking about how much pain and suffering that brought to my savior, Jesus. After a long night of painful anticipation, beatings, humiliation, betrayal, and physical pain beyond my understanding - Jesus died for me.

I am so broken - so sinful - Jesus had to die. There was no other solution because my problem was so big it required God himself to come down, take human form, and die in my place. I am Peter. I am Edmond and Eustace. I am Kafka's cockroach. And he died - had to and willingly chose to - in order to pardon me.  (HT)

Steve Mizel, pastor of The Journey-Metro East a new church with Converge MidAmerica

Cool Invite Video

Danny Parmelee the Lead Pastor of Epikos a new church in urban Milwaukee developed a great 1 minute invite video.

Five Tests Church Planters Will Face by Perry Noble

I love being able to chat with/dream with church planters…and one of the questions often asked by them is, “What is the one thing you would have wish you had known before you started?”

My answer is simple…I wish that someone had told me that the decision to launch the church was actually going to be the easiest decision in the process, that during the next year or so I would face five critical tests that I believe every church planter goes through…and failing these tests was NOT AN OPTION if I really wanted to see the church achieve its maximum potential.

Test #1 – The Financial Test

I believe that God tests every church planter when it comes to money within the first 12-18 months.  I cannot tell you the number of conversations I’ve had with people who have said, “Things were going great until the biggest giver in the church got upset…and now I don’t know what to do because what he wants isn’t the direction I feel that God is leading the church…but he gives a huge percentage of the budget.”

First of all–EVERY church planter/pastor needs to understand that GOD IS THE BIGGEST GIVER IN YOUR CHURCH!  If it’s God’s will then it is God’s bill…He knows how to take care of what belongs to Him.  AND…if you sell God out and put your trust in a dude with a HUGE checkbook (and usually an ego to match) then you are nothing more than a prostitute.  (Someone who is paid for a service in order to make another person feel good.)

We faced a financial test EARLY on when we started NewSpring Church.  The people who were literally giving 65% of the budget and who were fully on board at the beginning began to back off as the vision of what we were going to do as a church became more and more clear.  One night they asked me to come to their home, shared their feelings with me and let me know that they were no longer going to be a part of the church.  (BTW…they did this in the godliest way possible, there were no hard feelings and verbal jabs on either side…and I still highly respect them to this day!  AND…another btw…we hadn’t even had our first official church service yet!!!)

I would be lying if I said I didn’t have an “Oh crap” moment while hearing them share their hearts; however, I had made a decision early on that the vision of what God had placed in my heart was not for sale…it never has been and never will be.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen so many pastors fail this test because they depend on people way more than they depend on God.  When your biggest desire is to keep the biggest givers in your church happy you have ceased to lead and are actually being led!

Test #2 -  The Critics Test

One of the verses that has always amazed me is found in the book of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah is a guy who gets broken by God…who gets full of vision and passion…who risks everything to do a great work for God and provide help to a group of people who had all but given up.  He wanted nothing more than to see the “impossible” happen and people have their hope restored…and yet some people had a problem with it!  (See Nehemiah 2:10)

Dear church planter…you are foolish if you actually believe that everyone thinks that what you are doing is a good thing.  SO…you had better learn early to develop thick skin and not lead through reacting to everything but rather by being proactive and moving on with what God has said…no matter what “they” say.

Your dream will be criticized…early and often.  BUT…if God has set your heart on fire then DO NOT let those who have never actually done anything for Him define what they believe you can or can’t do in His name! (HT)

Read Part 2

• Test #3 - The Faith Test
• Test #4 - The Commitment Test
• Test #5 - The Focus Test

Perry Noble will be a featured speaker at Ignite 2010, one of the largest church planting gatherings in the history of ConvergeUSA. 

Ignite 2010 - Starts in 2 days!

The largest church planting gathering in the history of ConvergeUSA (formerly TeAmerica) and Converge Worldwide (Baptist General Conference) starts March 24 in Phoenix, AZ.  Close to 350 people are coming representing almost 100 churches seeking God for their Antioch Moment (Acts 13:1-3).  It is a courageous call to multiplication and expansion of the kingdom through a five year church planting campaign called Ignite a Church.

All systems are in ready position...the energy is going to be explosive!

• All the hotel rooms are booked!
• The speakers have been prayed for by a small band of leaders who have been fasting for the last 30 days!
• The muscians are ready!
• The workshop leaders are ready!
• The volunteers are primed to served!
• The hearts of everyone must come prepared to receive a multiplication dream.

For more information go to www.convergeignite.org

Don't Be a Jerk! Read Spiritual Conversations!

The Spiritual Journey Guide has sold over 1.2 million and after years of requests I finally wrote a book on my view of evangelism and how to use The Spiritual Journey Guide.

Spiritual Conversations: Creating and Sustianing them Without Being a Jerk! is a quick read and a practical resource that will challenge and give you a fresh perspective for eternal conversations.

You will learn:

• Shifting face of evangelism
• Put confidence in God and not a method
• How to create thirst in your conversations
• How build and sustain relationships
• Jesus' tool for finding highly receptive people
• How lorship and rapport work in our conversations

"The great Apostle asked, "How are they going to hear without someone preaching?" The reality is that the eternal gospel goes forth to people from people. And, by experience, most people "hear" the gospel through a spiritual conversation not a sermon. This book empowers normal people to share the gospel through intentional conversations."

 

Darrin Patrick

Lead Pastor of the Journey Church, St. Louis, Mo

Vice President of the Acts 29 Network

 

More Information

Spiritual Warfare: An Unforgiving Spirit

This week we continue to answer the following question: How does God’s enemy come after His people and His leaders for the sole purpose of distracting, disrupting and derailing them from being involved in God's great mission?

As we survey Pauline literature we will discover fourteen tactical strategies that the enemy will use to come after God's people along with specific antidotes in addressing that problem.  See the introduction to this series to receive an overview of this subject.

4.  An Unforgiving Spirit

"Forgiveness and restoration are two difference acts.  Forgiveness can lead to restoration but restoration is not hinged to forgiveness." – Gary Rohrmayer

Text: II Corinthians 2:7-11 - Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

Problem: “Satan can use lack of forgiveness and, failure to receive one who repents, to control a church situation." J.Robert Clinton

Antidote:  “Accept those back who God has forgiven and who have shown genuine repentance.”  J.Robert Clinton

Reflective Questions:

• What is the difference between forgiveness and restoration?
• How can an unforgiving spirit harm the life a follower of Jesus? (Ephesians 4:25-32)
• How can an unforgiving spirit harm the mission of the local church?
• How can a forgiving spirit help the life of a follower of Jesus?
• How can a forgiving spirit aid the advancement of the mission of local church?

Prayer: Father in Heaven, protect my soul and your church from an unforgiving spirit; teach us to forgive as you have forgiven us with compassion and completeness. Through the power of the Holy Spirit enable us to put away unwholesome talk concerning the offender.  Teach us to use language that will build up the church, promote peace and exemplify the gospel.  Teach how to remove the roots of bitterness, explosive rage, unchecked anger, abusive and malicious words.  Teach us how to put on kindness and compassion towards those who have offended us so the world will see your forgiveness in action and believe that You sent Your Son into the world as a ransom for sin.  I offer this prayer in the name of my God and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Next: Deceptive Leaders with Slick Teaching

To view the entire series of posts on Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare: Unmet Sexual Needs in a Marriage Relationship

This week we continue to answer the following question: How does God’s enemy come after His people and His leaders for the sole purpose of distracting, disrupting and derailing them from being involved in God's great mission?

As we survey Pauline literature we will discover fourteen tactical strategies that the enemy will use to come after God's people along with specific antidotes in addressing that problem.  See the introduction to this series to receive an overview of this subject.

3.  Unmet Sexual Needs in a Marriage Relationship

"A successful marriage is built on spiritual, emotional and sexual intimacy.  To neglect any one of these could make your marriage vulnerable.” – Gary Rohrmayer

Text: I Corinthians 7:3-5 – “The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

Problem: “Satan can gain inroads into the life of a married person when sexual needs are not being met.”   J.Robert Clinton

Antidote:  “Keep lines of communication open in a marriage relationship, concerning sexual needs.”   J.Robert Clinton

Reflective Questions:

• On a scale of 1 (extremely frustrated) to 10 (extremely satisfied) how would you rate your sexual relationship with your spouse?
• Could you share that number openly with your spouse?
• How could the enemy manipulate the frustration you are experiencing?
• What area of your sexual life would he specifically attack you with temptation?
• Is there someone in your life that you can share these frustrations?

Prayer: Holy Father, You are the creator of the marriage union. May Your desire for oneness be fulfilled in our emotional, spiritual and physical relationship.  Merciful Father, help me to be open and receptive in my conversations with my spouse. Protect me from being rigid and defensive.  Righteous Father, grant me the courage to speak truth in love to my spouse concerning our relationship at every level: emotionally, spiritually and sexually.  Loving Father, let the higher values of love drive my life and not the base values of gratification control me. I come to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Next: An Unforgiving Spirit

To view the entire series of posts on Spiritual Warfare