Category Archives: Church Life

Church Life should be governed by God’s design and purposes for the Body of Christ with Jesus as its Head and us as members united though diverse.

Encouragement Needed: Who

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Encourage One Another - 1 Thess. 5:11
In a previous post we considered why we need encouragement, concluding that we need help to maintain the qualities that enable us to live as lights in this dark world seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10. Verse eleven answers the question of “who?”

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Who Needs Encouragement

The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Thessalonian church which experienced hardships but nonetheless became a model to churches elsewhere (1 Thess. 1:6-7). He also wrote of his own suffering because of opposition against him. Throughout his epistle, Paul pointed the Thessalonians to the future hope of the coming of the Lord.

Though an evangelist and church leader, the Apostle Paul wrote of his own need for encouragement. No matter how we serve, or who we are, we all need encouragement. As Jesus reminded us, we will face trouble in this world. Notice His words of encouragement as He went on to say, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn. 16:33). Since we all live in in a world filled with trouble, we all benefit when encouraged by the hope we have in the One who overcomes.

In telling them to “encourage one another”, Paul reinforced the need everyone has for encouragement. The Greek word for “one another”, allelon, suggests a reciprocal effort. No one should have to face the hardships of life alone.

We Still Need to Encourage One Another Today

Though written to a specific church, these words still apply to us today because . . .

We still live in a dark and broken world filled with troubles that challenge us in our walk with God.

We continue to look forward to that day when the Lord will come and make everything right.

As followers of Jesus Christ, no matter who we are, where we live, or how we serve, we all need encouragement to brightly reflect the light of the Lord in our sphere of influence, in all we say and do, till Jesus comes again.

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Breaking Through the Walls

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People have built walls between them and the institutionalized church. We need to get beyond the idea that certain types of programs, technology, facilities, and other such efforts will break through the fears and disillusionment people have toward the church. Rather, we must break through those walls with the love of Christ.

Train Church Leaders

Click to enlarge image on Pinterest & repin.

Remember, “perfect love drives out fear” (1 Jn. 4:18).

What might it look like for churches to break through the walls with the love of Christ?

To break through with the love of Christ, we must reach people where they are. When we consider what people want and need, we’re then able to discern the best approach.

  1. restoring Jesus to His rightful place as Head of the church, our primary message and source of hope … people are spiritually-oriented, wanting to be in a relationship over religion
  2. retooling programs and worship services to get away from an “us” and “them” approach … people are socially-oriented, wanting to learn from each other not merely a leader, teacher or pastor
  3. relationally communicating so people can respond and not just listen … people are social media-oriented, wanting to collaborate
  4. recognizing the contribution each person has to make … people are significance-oriented, wanting to be a part of something bigger
  5. reaching out to our communities in tangible ways with the love of Christ … people are service-oriented, wanting to make a difference where they live

The Role of Church Leaders in Breaking Through

Church leaders have a critical role in guiding the church toward this objective. It will take more than telling people to do this. Leaders must model it in their own lives and align their leadership practices with it. Their own heart attitudes and motivations will significantly affect what the church does so “above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Prov. 4:23).

Their leadership must be …

  • about people, not merely the administration of programs.
  • to minister, not merely complete tasks.
  • to advance God’s purposes, not merely church as usual.
  • motivated by love, not merely to accomplish their goals.
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The Church’s Response to Evil Acts

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Government responds by proposing gun regulations. Schools, malls, workplaces, etc. tighten security. Caring citizens join in memorial efforts. And, we must address these issues. We must be vigilant in an increasingly violent world. We certainly should feel for and care about those directly affected by such evil.

Questions about Response to Evil
But, who is going to get us beyond the mere symptoms and need for physical security and comfort?  Who is going to confront the heart? Who is going to acknowledge and teach us to stand firm against the spiritual forces of evil also at work?

God’s Plan for the Church

God has an answer for who is to be addressing the real issues — the Church. Think about His description of the church in 1 Timothy 3:15:

      … God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

God did not give that task to the media or to politicians.  The Church is to be the pillar and foundation of the truth.  If we don’t speak up, people are only going to get a skewed view of reality. The truth, however, is that which is going to set people free (Jn. 8:32).

The Church’s Response to Evil Acts

1) Speak truth but do so in love (Eph. 4:15).  A Christ-like response is going to be full of both grace and truth (Jn. 1:14) about the …

  • consequences of forgetting God and leaving Him out of our lives
  • results of Christians not being the light and salt they are to be in this world
  • real source of hope, peace, and security
  • need for heart change which can only come through a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in people’s lives

2)  Be devoted to prayer (Acts 2:42; Col. 4:2).  God offers healing when we turn to Him but, here again, praying needs to be accompanied by truth. Token prayers or momentary pleas of desperation are not what God responds to by healing their land (2 Chron. 7:14). Our prayers need to be accompanied by:

  • acceptance of God’s sovereign role in this world (2 Chronicles 7:14 begins with the understanding that He is God. We are His people called by His name so it is about Him, not us.)
  • acknowledgement that we can’t make this world better on our own (2 Chronicles 7:14 says we must humble ourselves and pray.)
  • awareness of the need for His presence or very being to guide us in this world (2 Chronicles 7:14 adds that we are to pray and seek His face.)
  • admission of our failings in true repentance (2 Chronicles 7:14 shows that God not only looks at our words and attitudes as we pray but also our actions. We must turn from our wicked ways.)

3)  Exercise wisdom (Col. 4:5-6). Not sure what to say or do in these kinds of situations? God offers His wisdom to anyone who will ask it of Him (James 1:5). He will give us wisdom for how …

  • we act in these kinds of situations toward those who don’t know the Lord (Col. 4:5)
  • make the most of these opportunities to stand as pillars of truth (Col. 4:5)
  • answer people’s questions and how to direct their hearts and minds to that which is truly important in life (Col. 4:6)

4)  Provide resources based on truth, not mere worldly solutions . . .

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist … (Eph. 6:14)

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Staffing & Body Life

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In a previous post we considered the big picture in staffing and determined that it demands the exercise of Body Life principles because people are important. Otherwise, it can be too easy to manipulate people into doing our bidding. Staffing can become about controlling or managing people rather than serving them. Taken to its extreme, it is possible to abuse people in the process.

How Body Life Helps Us in Staffing

Body Life moves us to value people, not neglect or abuse them. (1 Cor. 12:21-27; Rom. 12:10; 14:19; 15:7; Eph. 4:2)

And so, appreciation and affirmation become important in staffing.

Body Life moves us to love people, not use or misuse them. (Matt. 22:36-40; 1 Cor. 13)

And so, extending encouragement and support to people becomes important in staffing.

Body Life moves us to maintain integrity with people. (Matt. 22:39; Rom. 12:5; Eph. 5:21)

And so, proper motives, sincere concern, and honest communication become important in staffing.

Church leaders, think about your part in this. You’ll find additional thoughts about each of the above points in the Steering the Church Toward Body Life Leadership Guide.

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Effective and Powerful Prayer

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Powerful Prayer
Would you describe your prayers as effective? What is powerful prayer?

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

Examples of Effective Prayer

The context of James 5:16 gives examples of powerful prayer.

  1. “the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well” (James 5:15) — physical healing
  1. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (James 5:16) — spiritual healing
  1. “prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain … Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain” (James 5:17-18) — phenomenal change in nature
  1. “Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” (James 5:20) — transformation of the heart

Powerful Prayer Doesn’t Always Fit Our Definition of Spectacular

How easy it is to pull on the example of Elijah praying for God to do the miraculous in the natural realm … obviously what could be considered powerful prayer. Praying for physical healing? — Again, certainly an answer to that request would cause us to say “powerful prayer.”

Notice, however, the other examples in the context of James 5:16 — spiritual healing. Let’s not minimize these results. Both moving a mountain or moving a heart require God’s power.

Remember that the same Elijah whose powerful prayer resulted in a phenomenal change in the course of nature also had this experience:

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. (1 Kings 19:11-12)

God’s answer came in the “gentle whisper.”

Let’s not get discouraged when we don’t see obvious or spectacular results. That doesn’t mean praying isn’t effective. Prayer is just as powerful when God is working behind the scenes, out of view to the human eye. To be used by God through our prayers in a person being saved from spiritual (eternal) death or to become spiritually healthy is powerful!!

For more on praying, go to: Prayer Resources

Church leaders, read more about the power of prayer looking at James 5:16 from a different angle and its implications for leadership: God’s Power for the Church – Prayer

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Organization Needed But For What Purpose?

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Living Organisms Need OrganizationIn a previous post I mentioned having heard that you can have organization without being an organism but you can’t be an organism without organization. When you look at the human body, a living organism, you find much organization that keeps it properly functioning. And, that’s the point.

The purpose of organization within living organisms is to enable them to function in ways that best facilitate what they are intended to be and do.

Purpose of Organization in the Body of Christ

So in the Church, the Body of Christ, organization should be for the purpose of helping us be people who best reflect Jesus to the world around us and meet the needs of fellow members. A living organism is interactive and responsive.

Organization must be seen as a means or a tool to facilitate or enhance life, not stifle it. For that to happen we must …

Tenaciously hold to relationships over programming.

Focus on functioning as a Body over established forms or structures.

When we do that, we will still have programs and will continue to establish forms or structures to accomplish what we have to do but that will not be our top priority. Rather, it will lead to a greater good.

Church Leaders, examine your role in providing the right kind of organization for the right reasons. You’ll find help with that in the Steering the Church Toward Body Life Leadership Guide.

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