I found this great article from Henry Blackaby on his website www.blackaby.org. Enjoy...
'Great Commission Resurgence' must be Fueled by Relationship
by Mark Kelly (Baptist Press)
If Southern Baptists want to see a "Great Commission Resurgence," Henry Blackaby believes they need to focus on the relationship between disciples and the living Lord Jesus, not launch a new emphasis on evangelism.
"I have felt for a long time that Southern Baptists have focused on evangelism and missed discipleship," Blackaby told Baptist Press May 11. "The most important part of the Great Commission is 'teach them to practice everything I have commanded you.' That's discipleship and that's the heart of the Great Commission. If we want to have a resurgence in the Great Commission, there's got to be a refocusing on the priorities of Christ for discipleship."
Blackaby, a longtime pastor, college president and coauthor of the "Experiencing God" series of Bible study materials, said declining baptism and membership statistics in the Southern Baptist Convention reflect not so much a lack of passion for Christ's command to make disciples as a lack of relationship with Jesus Christ.
"When you hear the Southern Baptist leadership being concerned about baptisms and all that, those are a byproduct of discipleship," Blackaby said. "When you lead a person ... into a relationship where Christ is Lord, everything else follows. You don't have to convince them they need to spend time in God's Word or prayer or in the fellowship or on mission. That's a spontaneous response to a relationship to the living Lord."
Issuing a call for a resurgence of commitment to the Great Commission triggers the wrong response in Christians who are focused on religious activity, rather than a relationship with Christ, Blackaby added.
"Southern Baptists are program-oriented. We are missing the relationship," Blackaby said. "When you make a statement like [that], the first thing most pastors look for is, 'What program's going to come down the pike to help me do that?' You don't need a program to help you do that. You just need the relationship to the living Lord. The reason we are not effective is because we have moved from the relationship to a program activity."
THE REASON FOR DECLINE
Substituting activities for relationship also is why many churches are in decline or on a plateau, Blackaby said.
"We are not leading people into that immediate relationship with the living Lord. If you listen to most sermons, that intimate personal relationship is missing," Blackaby said. "If you talk to many church members, they feel they are in the right relationship to God when they attend all the worship services, they tithe, they go on a mission trip. And many a pastor would evaluate a member, not from the intimate relationship with the Lord, but for how faithful he is in all the activities of the church. And does he tithe?
"It's activity. Many of God's people have moved from the relationship to religious activity," Blackaby added. "We are content to live without the manifest presence, power and activity of God."
The place many churches need to begin is not with a call to commitment and activity, but with a call to repentance, Blackaby explained.
"We don't talk about repentance," Blackaby said. "Repentance is the essence of what God says throughout the Bible: 'You have lost the relationship. Return to Me and then you will experience Me returning to you.' When that happens, the manifest presence and power and activity of God is very real."
Attempts at evangelism without relationship are artificial and yield artificial fruit, Blackaby noted.
"If you try to bypass [relationship] and give them a program, the Roman Road or another pattern for evangelism, you are creating an artificial approach to evangelism. And of course it has that same kind of fruit," Blackaby explained. "Those who have been led to the Lord on a program are very reluctant to respond to the lordship of Christ."
Witnessing to the lost is supposed to be a spontaneous response to a relationship with Christ, not an activity, Blackaby added.
"[The Bible] doesn't say, 'You are to do witnessing.' It says, 'You are witnesses unto Me,'" Blackaby said. "'Out of the relationship with Me, you will have an enormous witness unto Me.' If you're not doing it now just out of relationship to the Lord, don't look for a program that would help you do what you ought to be doing spontaneously."
'THE GREATEST SINGLE NEED'
What would most help Southern Baptists experience renewed passion for the Great Commission is solid biblical teaching about Christ as head of the church, Blackaby contended.
"The reaching of the lost is a spontaneous response to the lordship of Christ. If you bypass the lordship of Christ and you get God's people in a mode to take the Gospel to a lost world ... you're going to have a tough time," he said. "I have talked to many, many people in the churches. They have never had one message on the nature of the church. Not one. So they are practicing religious activity and looking for a program, but the headship of Christ, what that means and what it will look like and how we respond when Christ exercises His headship, that's just not being taught.
"I would say the greatest single need is to return to the absolute lordship of Jesus Christ and all of the implications that come from that," Blackaby said. "If a church is in a spiritual mess, the only thing that can get them out of that is a good, solid biblical exposition that leads them into the deepest and most profound relationship with the living Lord."
Ironically, calling on pastors to focus on evangelism ultimately results in less evangelism if it causes a loss in focus on the lordship of Christ, Blackaby noted.
"There's a huge gap in the teaching ministry of pastors. We have put on them a huge sense of the priority of evangelism. We had an evangelist in our church not long ago. He said the thing I thought he would say: that the No. 1 priority above everything else is to reach out to the lost," Blackaby said. "I would say that's not true. The priority of every congregation is the lordship of Christ and everything else will come out of that. Many a pastor would not know how in the world to guide their church under the lordship of Christ ... because His life doesn't function out of that mindset."
When church members begin living in a vital relationship with Christ under His lordship, baptisms and membership growth will take care of themselves, Blackaby said.
"Anybody coming under the lordship of Christ automatically has a God-given DNA to be on mission with their Lord to touch a lost world," Blackaby said. "It's not a matter of trying to get our churches back on the program of the Great Commission, but rather into the relationship with the living Lord who is on mission in our world.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
GOOD BYE
Well I'm leaving for South Africa today. This will be my second trip to Johannesburg and I can't wait. From here I can see the harvest fields are ripe and ready to be picked. We trust the Holy Spirit has prepared the way for us and we trust that hearts will be ready to hear and receive the good news of Jesus Christ. We trust that heaven will be populated with new souls because we went and because God used our team to share with them that they can be saved!
In a place where there is little hope and even less understanding of Jesus, it is amazing to see just how hungry the culture is to hear and receive.
As you may have noticed, my blog posts have slacked off a lot. I will continue to periodically post here when there's something heavy and pressing in my mind to blog about. You can follow me and about 75 of our other Pioneer Baptist friends on Facebook. We have established a really neat community and I encourage you to join. Check it out daily and you'll be amazed at how much you can get to know people and stay connected with them in this way.
I ask for your continued prayers as we leave and as we work in the squatter caps of Diepsloot! Thanks for your faithfulness!
Ron
In a place where there is little hope and even less understanding of Jesus, it is amazing to see just how hungry the culture is to hear and receive.
As you may have noticed, my blog posts have slacked off a lot. I will continue to periodically post here when there's something heavy and pressing in my mind to blog about. You can follow me and about 75 of our other Pioneer Baptist friends on Facebook. We have established a really neat community and I encourage you to join. Check it out daily and you'll be amazed at how much you can get to know people and stay connected with them in this way.
I ask for your continued prayers as we leave and as we work in the squatter caps of Diepsloot! Thanks for your faithfulness!
Ron
Monday, September 28, 2009
MOVING FORWARD
Well it's been exactly since I went back to work in Beckley on a part-time basis. Something just occurred to me as I was typing...I have 3 part-time jobs that are all really full-time if done properly...how funny!
Being back here in Beckley is a bit surreal. I had really written off this entire chapter of my life and never intended to come back here. I had joked in the past that I would go anywhere God would send me but please Lord don't send me back to my Egypt (Beckley). Well He has done that. I took on this job as a revelation from God that it was time for me to be a tent-maker again and like Paul use work in the secular world as a means to support Sarah's calling to be a full time mom.
So here I am. Back in the place that I wouldn't have necessarily chosen for myself but have been obedient to do what I believe He has asked me to do (in case you missed it, my FOUND MY TENT blog explains all of this...see posts from earlier in September).
As I writing this I'm thinking of many times in the Word that we may be asked to do something we don't necessarily want to do. Abraham was asked to take Isaac up to the mountain and offer him up as a sacrifice. I"m pretty sure that Abraham wasn't thrilled at the thought, but by faith he did it in belief that God would raise his son from the dead (as told in Hebrews). God honored his faith by providing the sacrifice and sparing Isaac.
I'm also thinking about this in a slightly different spiritual context. Egypt is symbolic of bondage in the Bible. The Hebrews were slaves and captives there and were treated terrible by their masters. They were freed and Moses led them from the land of bondage and on their way back to the Promised Land they whined and complained about how much better life was AS A SLAVE. They WANTED to go back to Egypt rather than make the sometimes challenging journey into what God had already prepared for them.
This journey to and in Beckley won't be easy, but it is what God has ordained. It may not even be fun, but it is He has asked me to do. I come here looking to set some captives free, not to become captive myself.
This blog is therapy for me today so let me thank you for allowing me to just flow with my stream of consciousness. As I sit here in my 3rd floor corner office looking at the rain pounding against the window I realize that I am blessed. I'm blessed to be asked to come back here so that God can use me here. Even in Egypt I will give Him praise because I know that He is bigger than me and gets it far better than I can or ever will. I have faith that I'm here for a purpose that is greater than building up this company's bottom line. God help me to find you here. Help me to see where you're at work while I'm at work and give me the courage and boldness to join you in it. Let me see beyond the circumstances and what I see with my eyes and trust your Sovereign ways.
Being back here in Beckley is a bit surreal. I had really written off this entire chapter of my life and never intended to come back here. I had joked in the past that I would go anywhere God would send me but please Lord don't send me back to my Egypt (Beckley). Well He has done that. I took on this job as a revelation from God that it was time for me to be a tent-maker again and like Paul use work in the secular world as a means to support Sarah's calling to be a full time mom.
So here I am. Back in the place that I wouldn't have necessarily chosen for myself but have been obedient to do what I believe He has asked me to do (in case you missed it, my FOUND MY TENT blog explains all of this...see posts from earlier in September).
As I writing this I'm thinking of many times in the Word that we may be asked to do something we don't necessarily want to do. Abraham was asked to take Isaac up to the mountain and offer him up as a sacrifice. I"m pretty sure that Abraham wasn't thrilled at the thought, but by faith he did it in belief that God would raise his son from the dead (as told in Hebrews). God honored his faith by providing the sacrifice and sparing Isaac.
I'm also thinking about this in a slightly different spiritual context. Egypt is symbolic of bondage in the Bible. The Hebrews were slaves and captives there and were treated terrible by their masters. They were freed and Moses led them from the land of bondage and on their way back to the Promised Land they whined and complained about how much better life was AS A SLAVE. They WANTED to go back to Egypt rather than make the sometimes challenging journey into what God had already prepared for them.
This journey to and in Beckley won't be easy, but it is what God has ordained. It may not even be fun, but it is He has asked me to do. I come here looking to set some captives free, not to become captive myself.
This blog is therapy for me today so let me thank you for allowing me to just flow with my stream of consciousness. As I sit here in my 3rd floor corner office looking at the rain pounding against the window I realize that I am blessed. I'm blessed to be asked to come back here so that God can use me here. Even in Egypt I will give Him praise because I know that He is bigger than me and gets it far better than I can or ever will. I have faith that I'm here for a purpose that is greater than building up this company's bottom line. God help me to find you here. Help me to see where you're at work while I'm at work and give me the courage and boldness to join you in it. Let me see beyond the circumstances and what I see with my eyes and trust your Sovereign ways.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
LETTING OUR GUARD DOWN
I just read that our President shelved the missle defense system that was slated to be built in Poland to protect NATO nations against the growing Iranian threat from short-range missles.
Why are Presidents from the democratic party so anti-foreign policy that would do anything that would protect nations and people groups. Carter gave away the Panama Canal. Clinton avoided the writing on the wall with Osama Bin Laden and did nothing to stop his coming madness. Now Obama makes an attempt to appease the Russians because the Russians were unhappy with us sticking our missles in somewhere to protect these small, unarmed nations. I guess we're more concerned with hugging our trees and loving on our polar bears instead of worrying about the millions that could be affected by an armed Iran or a powerful Russian army...so yes...let's make our Russian friends happy...way to go Obama! You did it again...impressed us with your smart and wise choices about what's needed and good for American and what isn't it!
There is a spiriting aspect to this that I want to bring up. The US is letting our guard down when it comes to these impending threats. VP Biden said there's nothing to worry about now with Iran so why do it. Who is to say that in 3 years there wont' be a threat. We are naive to believe that there aren't any threats out there.
SO often in our own lives we let our guard down. We have these lapses in judgement that eventually lead to troubles and problems when we don't do things to try to prevent what we know is or eventually will come at us. We are reminded in the Word that sin lurks and is waiting. "Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master." GEN 4:7. Our flesh is weak...looking for outlets at every opportunity to lead you astrayj. Sin has crouched down and waits for the right time to strike.
We say "Iran is not an immediate threat" so we don't do anything to prepare for the other terror that is currently couching down behind the mask of religion and waiting to attack and destroy us. The same thing happens in our individual lives. We feel like we're doing everything right and everything seems to be going right so we get lazy in our prayer life, in our study time in the Word and then BOOM sin pounces on us and we cave to temptation, whatever form it may take.
We too often take off our spiritual armor that God has clothed His believers with and leave this amazing armor lying around in our spiritual closet. Before you know it, the fiery darts of satan have been shot in our direction and we didn't even know it was coming until it hit us square between the eyes.
It's time to man up. Be battle ready at all times and whether you see sin crouching behind your door or not, be prepared. Go on the offensive and pray first.
Why are Presidents from the democratic party so anti-foreign policy that would do anything that would protect nations and people groups. Carter gave away the Panama Canal. Clinton avoided the writing on the wall with Osama Bin Laden and did nothing to stop his coming madness. Now Obama makes an attempt to appease the Russians because the Russians were unhappy with us sticking our missles in somewhere to protect these small, unarmed nations. I guess we're more concerned with hugging our trees and loving on our polar bears instead of worrying about the millions that could be affected by an armed Iran or a powerful Russian army...so yes...let's make our Russian friends happy...way to go Obama! You did it again...impressed us with your smart and wise choices about what's needed and good for American and what isn't it!
There is a spiriting aspect to this that I want to bring up. The US is letting our guard down when it comes to these impending threats. VP Biden said there's nothing to worry about now with Iran so why do it. Who is to say that in 3 years there wont' be a threat. We are naive to believe that there aren't any threats out there.
SO often in our own lives we let our guard down. We have these lapses in judgement that eventually lead to troubles and problems when we don't do things to try to prevent what we know is or eventually will come at us. We are reminded in the Word that sin lurks and is waiting. "Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master." GEN 4:7. Our flesh is weak...looking for outlets at every opportunity to lead you astrayj. Sin has crouched down and waits for the right time to strike.
We say "Iran is not an immediate threat" so we don't do anything to prepare for the other terror that is currently couching down behind the mask of religion and waiting to attack and destroy us. The same thing happens in our individual lives. We feel like we're doing everything right and everything seems to be going right so we get lazy in our prayer life, in our study time in the Word and then BOOM sin pounces on us and we cave to temptation, whatever form it may take.
We too often take off our spiritual armor that God has clothed His believers with and leave this amazing armor lying around in our spiritual closet. Before you know it, the fiery darts of satan have been shot in our direction and we didn't even know it was coming until it hit us square between the eyes.
It's time to man up. Be battle ready at all times and whether you see sin crouching behind your door or not, be prepared. Go on the offensive and pray first.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
GUEST BLOGGER - MISSIONARIES
Hello everyone...this is a special Sunday morning blog post from our two trailblazers serving on the mission field in East Asia. THere have been many extreme challenges that have faced them over the past week and they have asked me to share with you some of their thoughts. Most of my updates on their circumstances have been posted on Facebook because of the immediate need to dispense the info. Here is their posting in full....please continue to lift them up to the Lord. Ron
From Trailblazers..."Many of you know about my emergency appendectomy and have been thinking (praying) for my healing, for our family and for our baby. I am so thankful for that! Your prayers have surrounded us with love and He has given us the strength to continue on. I was writing down some of my experiences and how He has spoken to me in this time when I decided to look back at some of my previous entries. The Father spoke to me mightily and my hope in sharing it is that He will speak to you also.
A couple of months ago I was reading John 11, the story of Lazarus’s resurrection. The differences between Martha’s and Mary’s reactions struck me. Martha express that she is upset that He wasn’t there because if He had been her brother would still be alive, but then she says that she knows even now the Lord will do what they ask. Martha puts on a brave face, gives a glimpse of how she is feeling and then follows it with a stoic intellectual response. Mary just pours out her heart to Him. It’s after Mary speaks that He is moved, after this He weeps, after this He goes to the tomb, thanks the Father and Lazarus is raised from the dead.
It just struck me afresh that the Father just wants me to pour out my heart and share my pain with Him. He wants me to be real with Him and share my true feelings with Him. He’s the one who will move and encourage me with His promises. He will bring comfort to me. Hope that this encourages you to really open your heart up to the Father and let Him do the work of comfort and restoration that you need!" END
Ron speaking...The song "Pour My Love On YOu" comes to mind as I read this. I want to encourage everyone out there to pour out your best to the Lord. Give Him your heart above all intellectual reasons and let Him be the Sovereign God that He is. He loves you and wants the best for His children. Worship HIm in the pain and sickness and trust Him to work and move, to heal and restore. Have a blessed Sunday!
Ron and Sarah
From Trailblazers..."Many of you know about my emergency appendectomy and have been thinking (praying) for my healing, for our family and for our baby. I am so thankful for that! Your prayers have surrounded us with love and He has given us the strength to continue on. I was writing down some of my experiences and how He has spoken to me in this time when I decided to look back at some of my previous entries. The Father spoke to me mightily and my hope in sharing it is that He will speak to you also.
A couple of months ago I was reading John 11, the story of Lazarus’s resurrection. The differences between Martha’s and Mary’s reactions struck me. Martha express that she is upset that He wasn’t there because if He had been her brother would still be alive, but then she says that she knows even now the Lord will do what they ask. Martha puts on a brave face, gives a glimpse of how she is feeling and then follows it with a stoic intellectual response. Mary just pours out her heart to Him. It’s after Mary speaks that He is moved, after this He weeps, after this He goes to the tomb, thanks the Father and Lazarus is raised from the dead.
It just struck me afresh that the Father just wants me to pour out my heart and share my pain with Him. He wants me to be real with Him and share my true feelings with Him. He’s the one who will move and encourage me with His promises. He will bring comfort to me. Hope that this encourages you to really open your heart up to the Father and let Him do the work of comfort and restoration that you need!" END
Ron speaking...The song "Pour My Love On YOu" comes to mind as I read this. I want to encourage everyone out there to pour out your best to the Lord. Give Him your heart above all intellectual reasons and let Him be the Sovereign God that He is. He loves you and wants the best for His children. Worship HIm in the pain and sickness and trust Him to work and move, to heal and restore. Have a blessed Sunday!
Ron and Sarah
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