Change Doesn't Just Happen

On occasion, God, by his miraculous power, will suddenly change us. When that happens it is awe inspiring. The thing is, that is the exception not the rule. We see over and over again in Scripture the stories of people who changed over time.

It is through God's power that we are changed, but it often takes time. Habits and personality traits that have been ingrained for years, are difficult to change. We are urged in the Bible to be "transformed by the renewing of our mind". That happens by focusing on Christ, studying and knowing his Word, and applying it to our lives.

It also means strategic focus on key areas we are seeking to change. For most of my Christian life I have desired to bear the spiritual fruit of gentleness. I am often like a bull in a china shop (I know that comes as a surprise to those who know me), yet I know the trait exists within me because I have seen it many times. For whatever reason, God has chosen not to suddenly make me a gentle person. A couple of months ago, I decided to make a concerted effort in the coming year to focus on this area of my life. I have even done some counseling to begin the journey. I have purchased some books to work through and am studying Scripture on the topic. It will take time, and prayer.

Why would God use someone who isn't gentle in ministry? I often ask that question myself. Then God shows me the countless "idiots" in the Bible that he used to do significant work for his kingdom.

In what area of your life do you wish to change? Are you working on it, just wishing God would suddenly change you? If you have prayed for him to change you, and you haven't changed, he is telling you that you need to struggle through it. When we struggle with things, our faith grows, our perseverance grows, and we are better able to help others with the struggle. As Greg says, "Our greatest area of weakness is potentially our greatest area of ministry."

Thank God every day that he is still willing to use you. I do!

Always Learning from God's Word

I am studying 1 Peter in my devotions right now. God is really speaking to me through this passage right now:

21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.
22 You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. (1Peter 1:21-22 NLT)

Notice the relationship between our relationship with Christ and love for one another. It doesn't say, "Since you chose Christ, focus on living for Him." Sure, the Bible talks about that elsewhere, but here, in Peter's letter to the churches in Asia Minor, who were facing significant trials, he tells them that because they have been forgiven, they need to "show sincere love for each other." Not just superficial love, but sincere love, deep love.

Sometimes that's really hard. Sometimes people are really frustrating and it's easier to give up on them. Recently I made a comment that I have made numerous times before, but the Holy Spirit is confronting me with it. Jokingly, I have said that, "If it weren't for the people, ministry would be great." Of course, without people, there would be no ministry! The saying comes from frustrations with people who are selfish and short sighted. More importantly, God is showing me, that the saying comes from sin in my heart!

I have vowed to God that I won't say that again, and have asked Him to cleanse it from my mind. I repeat it here so that I will be held accountable. I am just as selfish, and just as short sighted, as those I become frustrated with. Jesus talked about the sliver and the plank in the eye, for me it is the whole tree!

I want to have the kind of love for people that Peter is writing about. It is sincere, and deep. It will require vulnerability, trust, and selflessness. I know that the Holy Spirit has the power to make this change in my heart. I know that these characteristics can be manifested in my life. It must be a priority every day to ask God to continue to mold me. When I encounter frustrating situations, I need to process them better, more gently, more godly. I need to obey the truth!

Why Ministry to New Believers is Different

Ministry to new believers is different than "normal" discipleship in the church. Here are some things that I have learned about the differing needs:

1. New Believers are just beginning to discover what it means to have a relationship with God. They aren't likely to be anxious to sing "Holy, Holy, Holy" at the beginning of Bible study, because they are still trying to grasp on a very basic level the holiness of God!

2. They need clarification as to what decision they have made in choosing to follow Jesus. What are they signing up for?

3. They need help understanding what it means to be saved, and to know that they won't lose their salvation the next time they sin. They need assurance!

4. They need to gain a foundational understanding of the Bible. They need to understand what it is, why they can trust it, which one do they need, how to find things in it, and how to study it. This is one of two huge intimidation factors for new believers! They are reluctant to join a small group because they don't know anything about the Bible. They are afraid that they will go and the group will be studying Isaiah and they don't what know what, or who, Isaiah is, let alone where to find it.

5. They need to learn how to talk with God. This is the second huge intimidation factor for new believers. People pray outloud at small group! The horror! The leader is eloquent and others have just the right words to say. They are afraid of being embarrassed by saying the wrong thing.

6. They need to understand worship. Worship is more than music, it's a lifestyle, and the church is often guilty of messing that up! We need to help new believers understand that worship involves giving acknowledging with our whole being the glory and honor God already has and celebrating that glory because we are His children!

7. They need to learn to grow spiritually and take responsibility for thier growth. They need to be taught early that it isn't the church's or anyone elses job to make them grow to be like Christ! The church certainly must create opportunity and have an atmosphere that will facilitate growth, but they need to learn to feed themselves!

8. They need to learn to share their story! New believers by nature have the most connections to unsaved people. As we grow toward maturity, we naturally gravitate to other believers. New believers typically have unsaved friends and family with whom they can share their story.

9. They need to learn to become stewards of what God has given them. This includes time, talent, and treasure. This goes back to a lifestyle of worship. Living as a sacrifice to God should produce a desire to serve Him with the gifts and resources He gives us.

10. They need to know that they are loved and that people genuinely care for and about them! They aren't concerned about "fellowship" they are concerned about "friendship."

The funny thing about this list, is that it should also apply to those who have been believers for years, but often bad habits and selfish desires creep in. If we help people develop good habits from the beginning, they are less likely to fall away, and less likely to become consumer Christians. To that end, we have and continue to focus on ministering to new believers and developing resources so that others can too. If you are interested in what we have available, please don't hesitate to ask! If you have resources that would help us, please share them!

What if...

In Greg's message this week kicking off the "PureSex" series, he talked about some of the things that would be eliminated in the world if everyone did sex God's way. It was a great message and you can check it out at www.palmvalley.org

It got me thinking a step further. If everyone kept just two of the commandments (not even the God focused ones), how many of the worlds problems would be eliminated.

First, don't covet. This command focuses on selfishness. If people (me included) stopped wanting what they didn't have, and stopped wanting what doesn't belong to them, think of what would be eliminated.

Second, honor your parents. What this means is to make your parents' name great. It means to make it honored and valued in the community. This isn't just an obedience issue. This is about integrity. How many more of the worlds problems would be eliminated if we all did this?

You don't even have to believe in God to fulfill these two commands on most levels. Of course it makes a huge difference if you do, and of course all the worlds problems would be eliminated if we all kept just one command. That is to love the Lord God with all of our heart, mind, sould, and strength.

But, think about it, from a worldly perspective, if we all stopped being selfish and brought honor and value to our parents' name what a difference there would be!

God Is So Good - Part 2

God is so good! We have a home team just for new believers. We currently have 19 people signed up for the next class starting this week (not including leaders). This is only the second time we have offered the class. The class focuses on giving new believers tools so that they can grow in Christ and grow in relationship with Him and other believers. After looking at tons of material we finally wrote our own. By late summer our goal is to re-create the material as a video based curriculum.