from the heart

Relevant? We'd better be!

Here's a video clip you just have to see. 

Now, this is not a scare tactic thing - it is just reality.  Non-relevant churches...that is churches who just keep doing the same thing in the same way over several generations are notorious for LOSING the future generations.  These churches may not have failed in WHAT the message was, but they sure did seem to fail in HOW they presented the message - if they did at all.  This video is not about content, it is about methodology.

Content is forever.  Methods are very temporary.

Pneuma

I can't wait for Sunday.  Truth is, the "Pneuma" series has the potential to change our lives.  Wait...the better way to put it is that this series WILL change our lives. 

I'm convinced that some of us will be forever transformed by taking some time to look at the way the Holy Spirit wants to affect us.  Transformation is inevitable!  My personal study on the Holy Spirit has been incredible.  I'm seeing Him show me things I really needed to know - and if I like this - you're bound to!

Pneuma is the answer when we ask, "Isn't there more to the Christian life?"
Pneuma is the answer when we ask, "Why is there such a disconnect between Sunday and the rest of the week?"
Pneuma is the answer to, "How do  I  actually live this life?"
Pneuma is the answer to, "How do I  know what to do with this situation?"

And Pneuma is the answer to,  "How can I make a difference in someone else's life?" 

When is the last time you spent a few weeks focusing on the role and ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life?  Chances are, you may never have!

Ah...think of the possibilities! 

NEWS FLASH: World's Greatest Church Tells Secret

In a surprising news release, the leaders of what many are saying is the most effective church in the history of Christianity, gave incredible insight into the success of the church. The report was actually written by a physician who was closely linked to the key leaders. 

The church, comprised of nearly 4000 active attenders, was actually quite new at the time of the report. Somehow the leaders, most of them young and none of them seminary-trained, learned early in their ministry the keys to effective church growth. Surprisingly, their methods do not include what many would consider necessary for building a successful church. And the leaders themselves do not fit the model of what most of us would say are leadership essentials.

The report stated that the leaders determined that three very clear priorities would be established from the inception of the new church. 

First, they would insure that the congregation would take of pressing physical and spiritual needs in a spirit of love - even designating a group of laypeople to see that this would take place.

Second, the leadership themselves decided to place an unusual amount of importance on the study of Scriptures so that they might be able to teach effectively.

Third, the leaders devoted themselves to large amounts of prayer. 

Apparently, this three-fold focus has produced overwhelming results, with thousands coming to faith and being baptized.  The congregation itself sees to it that the message of the church just keeps spreading from person to person and from neighborhood to neighborhood. 

This simple, but powerful formula has been overlooked by the many thousands of churches that aspire to see the kind of results that these leaders have experienced. 

The church really doesn't have a marketable name - they are simply called the church in their particular geographical location - Jerusalem. 

The physician is Luke. 

The report is found in Acts 6:1-7.

Exposition and Exclamation

“Boring.”

With this one word, many people describe their opinion of expositional preaching. Problem is, they’ve probably never heard expositional preaching delivered with passion! It may be they’ve heard preaching that ends with “zzzzzz,” instead of preaching that ends with “!”

Preaching through the Scriptures should never be boring, routine, or lackluster. These are the very words of God! The ideal for exegesis and exposition is not a monotone explanation of each word, but an outcome of observation, investigation and interpretation of the text in which the preacher makes exciting discoveries that simply must be proclaimed with an exclamation mark!

We don’t have to use topical preaching to capture the attention of people. Every book of the Bible has several series of powerful messages for the people we face on Sundays. When we have invested time in prayer and preparation, when we have gleaned feedback from a trusted creative team and when we are in touch with our people, we are able to frame these series and allow the Scriptures to captivate their hearts.

For example, in preaching through the book of Colossians verse by verse, I’ve identified several series to highlight over a six month period of time.  I’ve studied through the book itself, outlined the basic breakdowns and worked to understand the culture of that day – which was similar to our own culture today.

Colossians 1 is very much focused on the sufficiency of Christ.
It details for the Colossian believers that the answer for their lives is found completely in Christ – and in no other wisdom, knowledge or person. Taking that understanding, I’ve decided to approach this first series in Colossians by pointing out that Christ is what most people are missing in their lives. They are looking for that missing wisdom, knowledge, supernatural power and purpose – and Christ is all that and more. So, Colossians 1 will be a seven part series, entitled, “Missing!” Playing off the popular “Lost” TV series, I’m planning on introducing each message with the video testimony of a person who shares what was “missing” in their lives before Christ became their Lord. The element that was missing will correspond with the text for that day.  In my messages, I’ll simply honor the text, and share that Jesus is that missing element in their lives.

Colossians 2 turns toward spiritual roots and growth.
Using the metaphor of the plant that Paul gives us in verse 7, I’ll preach several messages under a series entitled, “Like an Oak.” The church I pastor has a huge oak tree on the property that has weathered time and storms for many, many years. I’ll use pictures of that tree to hammer home the message of Colossians 2 and how spiritual roots keep you strong. When I finish the series, the image of the tree will continually remind them to sink their roots down deep in Christ in order to grow strong in the Christian life.

Colossians 3:1-17 highlights the “exchanged life.”
Since Paul clearly teaches that we are to lay aside the old and put on the new, I’m going to entitle that series, “LifeSwapping.” By Christ’s power, we are swapping our “old” life for His “new life” in us.  The text specifically shows us what attitudes and actions we are to swap out, and what those are to be replaced with.  Again, I’m using a title that is a play on words off a TV series, but you’ve got admit, it’s intriguing!

Colossians 3:18-4:1 give us a focus of family and work life.
I believe I’m going to title that series, “All in the Family.” Over several weeks, these verses will take us through an emphasis on wives, husbands, children and fathers. After that, Paul emphasizes the bondservants and masters, which has application to our workplace. So, we’ll be talking about the literal family as well as the corporate family.

Colossians 4:2-18 are words that involve ministry.
These verses detail the ministries of prayer, preaching, encouragement, maturing, and following through. The various names Paul lists emphasize various ministries through various people. It is a small picture of the church at work. Like so many sailors doing their jobs on the deck of a ship, we have a picture of teamwork. Let’s call this series, “Sailing Into the Future.” The words will challenge your people to fulfill the ministry they’ve been called to, and to “man the deck” for moving forward in the seas of our culture.

Over six months time, our people will come to understand the sufficiency in Christ, spiritual growth, how to be transformed in our attitudes and behaviors, family and work life, and then be encouraged in ministry. It’s a pretty good diet for building people’s lives, and it all comes out of one book. I can’t wait to preach it – with exclamation!

Saltillo, Mexico and a bunch of kids...

Just got back from a week at Mexico with about 40 students from our church.  Boy, did GOD impress me!  I was impressed by the courage and resilience of teenagers - and impressed about what Warren Samuels of NEXT International said: "Our biggest problem with teenagers in the church is that they are underchallenged."

Well, this week I found out that they rise to the occasion!  Most of our work was door-to-door in the congested neighborhoods of Saltillo.  I watched kids plunge in for the first time with sharing the gospel and I watched as God used every single one of them to lead someone to Jesus.

They prayed at different points for God to intervene, to open doors, and they saw the Lord answer those prayers every single time.  Several of our kids engaged Mormon missionaries while out witnessing and the report is that they handle the Mormon's questions and deceptions with wisdom and Scripture, pointing out that the Mormons themselves don't even know if they have eternal life.  Pretty strong.

I got to watch my own son lead an entire family to Christ.  Hard to beat that.

A great week - thanks for praying for us.

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

Dear Reader,

I'm not gone - not dead yet, and not giving up on the blog.  I have been overwhelmed with a whole lot of priority items in church, family and life - but I'm coming back!  Stay tuned.

10,000 Blessings,
John Meador

Domino Effect based on Proverbs 7

The domino effect of lust, based on Proverbs 7.

1. Purposelessness - v. 7
2. Willingness - v. 8
3. Secrecy of Privacy - v. 9
4. Anticipation of Excitement - v. 12-13
5. Appealing to the Eyes - v. 16
6. Appealing to the sense of Smell - v. 17
7. Appealing to the sense of Taste - v. 18
8. Appealing to the sense of Touch - v. 18b
9. Appealing to the sense of Pride - v. 21
10. An impulsive decision - v. 22-23
11. An increasing number of victims - v. 24-27

More Q/A from "Pure Sex Series"

The Pure Sex series I'm doing ignites some really interesting questions. (We're answering them two or three at a time - keep coming back to see them all!)  I want to remind you that a couple who practices biblical counseling is helping me with these - so what you're reading is a collaboration of several people.

How do I say to my future husband that I've messed up several times? Do I tell him at all? I have faith God will provide wisdom and peace at heart...but its hard to know whether to tell or not.

It is wiser to pay the price of telling the truth now than waiting for him to discover it.  It is always better to err on the side of honesty and trust God with your future husband. After all, it will be a test for him to learn of it – it will reveal much about his character. You cannot change your past, but you can change how you respond to your past. Secrets have a way of being a barrier to intimacy and oneness.  They also have a way of growing in their darkness and holding you in bondage.  You will need God’s wisdom to know when and how to share.  The scripture promises that if any lack wisdom on a matter, God will give that wisdom liberally. 

When you tell him about mistakes from the past, share with him that you see it as sin and that you have confessed the sin to God.  God has promised that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).  You can stand clean before God because of Christ’s work on the cross.  You don’t have to approach it as a dirty vessel – that is not how God sees you.  He sees you as clean.   Also, tell your future husband that have committed to abstaining from sex until marriage and that you have accountability structures in place to aid you in your commitment.  If you have not confessed the sin to God and committed to abstain from sex until marriage, you should do so now, and put accountability structures in place to aid you in your commitment.  God will honor these commitments and He will honor openness and honesty.

How do you recover when your marriage starts out with impurity? How do you tell your kids?

I take this to mean that you and your spouse had premarital sex together.  You can stand clean before God by confession and repentance.  See the prior question about “walking through sexual redemption after failing.” The Scriptures promise that if we confess our sin to God, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).  You don’t stand before God as dirty vessels. 

There is one further thing you should do.  Once you have confessed to God, you should ask each other’s forgiveness.  The husband should ask the wife’s forgiveness for taking something from her that was not his to take.  The wife should ask her husband’s forgiveness for not resisting him and telling him no.  This can be a very tender and special time in your marriage that will bring healing in your relationship.  It also puts you in the position that this sin will no longer be master over you.

As for telling the children, you will have to ask God to give you wisdom – he will give it liberally (James 1:5).  You should not feel required to tell the children, but if they ask, you can share it as a sin that you have sought and received forgiveness for.  You can also share the consequences that you have experienced so that they know there are consequences.  Long before sharing with the children, be sure to teach in other areas of their lives that they can experience cleansing from sin.  Also, teach them the principle from Romans 6:13 that they should not go presenting the members of their body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present themselves to God as those alive from the dead, and their bodies as instruments of righteousness to God.  Is there any way to participate in sexual sin and not “present the members of your body as instruments of unrighteousness”?  There is not.  Teach them to not let sin rule their bodies and that, as a Christian, they no longer have to sin – they are empowered by God to decline to sin (Romans 6:6).  The life of Christ who lives in them provides the very power they need to refuse sin.  As temptation to sin is presented, God will provide them with a way of escape and they can say with confidence: that is not who I am in Christ.

Q/A from "Pure Sex Series"

The Pure Sex series I'm doing ignites some really interesting questions. (We're answering them two or three at a time - keep coming back to see them all!)  I want to remind you that a couple who practices biblical counseling is helping me with these - so what you're reading is a collaboration of several people.

My wife and I have been married for some time and have not had sex one time. She is terrified of sex. I love her and desire to be faithful. How do I continue that?

There is a book for you to read together that would help. It is Intended for Pleasure by Drs. Ed and Gaye Wheat. Very often, the fear is rooted in unresolved conflict from the past, which can be resolved through counseling. These conflicts are likely to manifest in other ways besides sexual dysfuntion. You should really seek professional counseling as a couple.

How will you know if you are sexually compatible if you don't "test drive" before marriage?

The issue is one of how to become one and whether or not you are compatible. The Scriptures speak of man as being made up of body, soul, and spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Think of your soul as your mind(thinker), will (decider), and emotions (feeler). Our culture pushes the idea that we should become one physically (body) in order to "test drive" the marriage. However, as you can see, this is just a very small portion of your makeup. What about your soul and your spirit?

This is the progression pushed at us by our culture:  To become on...

Body (physical) - have sex

Soul - Feel right about things, decide things together, think about things together

Spirit - perphaps this gets considered somwhere down the road.

Rather, the emphasis of Scripture points toward an opposite progression: To become one...

Spirit - We are brother and sister in the Lord before we are husband and wife (Ephesians 5). We are not to be married to unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14). We can attend church together, pray together, and attend Bible studies together, witness for Christ together, fellowship with mutual friends together. In doing this, we can determine whether or not we are on the same page spiritually.

Soul - Think about things together, decide things together, and share your feelings

Body - Wait for physical oneness until the context of marriage.

This way we are "test driving" our relationship without violating God's way of waiting for sex until the context of marriage. When we do it God's way, the physical fulfillment and pleasure in the context of marriage is greatly heightened - because we are one in more ways than just physically. As John said in his message, "the right kind of passion in the right context is greater than anything the world can fathom because they know nothing of spiritual oneness."

David vs. Joseph

A look at Joseph and David will give us a great lesson on dealing with temptation.  Follow it below:

The Story of DAVID                              The Story of JOSEPH

      (2 Samuel 11)                                     (Genesis 39)

Looked at an unclad woman                Would not consider looking

      (v. 2)                                                   (v. 8-9)

Heart was inclined to self & sin            Heart was inclined to God  

Had wives and concubines                   Had no one else

Considered how to get his way           Considered how to get away

      (v. 3)                                                    (v. 9, 10)

Initiated contact                                  Refused contact

      (v. 4)                                                    (v. 11-12)

Committed immorality                         Abstained from immorality

      (v. 4)                                                    (v. 12)

Lied, murdered and manipulated         Remained innocent

to hide sin

God's judgment                                   God's favor

      (12:7-11)                                             (v. 21)

Who are you most like?