ShaneGarrison.org

In their book A Theology of Christian Education (B&H Publishers 2008), authors James Estep, Michael Anthony and Gregg Allison list 15 characteristics for Christian maturity.  A very good list to gauge progressive sanctification and Christian spiritual maturity.

1. Mature Christians have a thorough knowledge of Scripture.
2. Mature Christians comprehend essential Christian doctrines.
3. Mature Christians value Scripture and theology in their lives.
4. Mature Christians are able to study Scripture for themselves.
5. Mature Christians are able to think theologically about life decisions.
6. Mature Christians practice a regular pattern of devotion.
7. Mature Christians exhibit a loving relationship toward God, fellow Christians, and the community.
8. Mature Christians affirm their commitment to Christ.
9. Mature Christians exhibit high level of theologically informed moral reasoning.
10. Mature Christians maintain a consistent Christian witness.
11. Mature Christians commit themselves to a ministry in the church.
12. Mature Christians develop their talents for Christian service.
13. Mature Christians value ministry participation as a means of spiritual formation.
14. Mature Christians demonstrate a Christian motive and rationale for serving as the church.
15. Mature Christians participate in training and equipping for service provided by the congregation.

I see areas for much needed growth in my maturity in Christ.

Our boy’s bunk beds are up and in use.  Our two fellas who were previously in a toddler crib and a toddler bed are now each share a twin “big boy” bed.  They are sure growing up fast.

They love sleeping in the same room.  They love being able to talk and giggle after lights out.  They love not being alone in the dark.

Jennifer and I LOVE the spare room.  My home office and her project room.  Our 3 bedroom house just got bigger.

January 31, 2010 – Shane Garrison from Parkway Baptist Church on Vimeo.

A Three Fold Cord is Not Easily Broken – from Ecclesiastes 4:7-12.

Thank you Parkway for a great month of ministry together.  May God continue to bless you and your church.

From my Intro. to Children’s Ministry Class.  All passages are from the ESV translation.

Matthew 19:13-15
Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people,  (14)  but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”  (15)  And he laid his hands on them and went away.

Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  (2)  “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),  (3)  “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”  (4)  Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Mark 10:14-15
But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.  (15)  Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

John 6:9-11
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”  (10)  Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.  (11)  Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.

Matthew 21:14-16
And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.  (15)  But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant,  (16)  and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

2 Timothy 3:14-15
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it  (15)  and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 3:1-3
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,  (2)  for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.  (3)  Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.

1 Samuel 1:26-28
And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD.  (27)  For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him.  (28)  Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there.

1 Peter 5:5-7
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  (6)  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,  (7)  casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

2 Chronicles 34:1-2
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.  (2)  And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

Hebrews 2:12-13
saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”  (13)  And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-7
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  (5)  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  (6)  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  (7)  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Matthew 18:1-4
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  (2)  And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them  (3)  and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  (4)  Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Psalms 127:3-5
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.  (4)  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.  (5)  Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

January 24, 2010 – Shane Garrison from Parkway Baptist Church on Vimeo.

“Playing into the Post Season” from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

Druien Hall 2 - My Favorite Classroom

There is that old adage, “Those that can’t do, teach college.”  While I take offense to that sentiment, I do understand where it comes from.  The job of a college professor is quite nice.

For me, I teach in a small Christian college.  We are a “teaching institution” which means we are not required to pump out articles and books to keep our jobs.  While most of our faculty do write and publish, we are strongly encouraged to be great teachers and mentors to our students, not necessarily world-renown researchers and authors.

Every day I get to interact with students who, for the most part, WANT to learn.  Who have chosen to attend college to get an education.  They WANT to stay after class and talk diving into the topic more.  During the semester I teach two or three 1 hour classes per day which means I can focus on those topics with clarity and purpose.

I have a great office.  I have awesome colleagues and brothers in Christ who teach alongside of me in my department.  I have an outstanding boss, the Dean, who supports our team and encourages us in all our ministries outside of the university.

But most of all, I love my job as a professor because I get to teach students openly about Jesus.  During an age and time in their lives when some will leave their faith, my job is to keep them connected with the Lord.  And for those who have yet to trust in Jesus, who come to a Christian college that requires them to takes classes in Theology, I get the opportunity every Tuesday and Thursday to share the Gospel with them.

This gig is too good!

January 17, 2010 – Shane Garrison from Parkway Baptist Church on Vimeo.

“Working to Pay the Bills” taken from Ecclesiastes 2:18-26.

Memorial Pool

Reposted from 2008.

Our second Atlanta family stop was the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Museum. We visited the church where Dr. King served for 8 years as Associate Pastor, under his father Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr., the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.

I learned he received his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology. Wow!!! We saw pictures of the other churches he served as a Baptist pastor.

But more importantly, we saw the history of one of America’s greatest men. His legacy is more than inspirational; it’s revolutionary. His committment to Christ and to his fellow man led him to go farther than any other civil rights leader.

What it would have been like to live in those days of hatred and segregation? I am so thankful for men like Dr. King and so many others who fought hard to make America a better place for ALL PEOPLE.

Relativism is a worldview that says what’s right for me, doesn’t necessarily mean its right for you.  Or conversely, what I view as wrong, doesn’t have to be wrong for you.

Each person has the permission and the rights to choose their own personal rights and wrongs, or morals.  Progressive relativism leads to secular pluralism – the worldview that says all views (or the plurality of views) are okay, moral, and ethical.

But do people really want excessive relativism?  Do people really want to live in a world with absolutely no absolutes? No moral limitations? No ethical restrictions?  I dare say we do not.

Do we want relativistic courts?  Absolutely not.  We want judges who enforce the laws of the land.  Judges who give sentences based on guilty verdicts.  Judges who only sentence that which the government has approved as a reasonable punishment.  We do not want judges making their own personal decisions on sentencing based on how they feel about the person or the crime.

Do we want relativistic police officers?  Officers who can search your property without a warrant.  Officers who can declare you guilty without proof.  Or officers who can arrest you without a legitimate charge.  Absolutely not.  We want rules, order, and limits to our police force.

Do we want a relativistic military?  Do we want relativistic medical doctors?  Do we want relativistic garbage men who choose what to take and to leave?

We want our freedom as Americans.  We hesitate to say anyone is wrong or out of bounds.  But in reality, freedom and democracy only works when rules are enforced and stability is ensured.  The very presence of democratic restrictions imply relativism is not a ruling principle of the land.  There are still boundaries and limitations in moral judgments.

Postmodern Americans depend on want what conservative Christians call Absolute Truth.  They depend on it and they want it.

January 10, 2010 – Shane Garrison from Parkway Baptist Church on Vimeo.

“Capitalist Pig” taken from Ecclesiastes 2:1-11.

To watch the message from Sunday, just click on the first link.  I pray God will encourage you through this message.

So what do you believe about the end times?

(Author Disclaimer:  Be aware the author is not looking for a ministry position, only commenting on the overall process of ministry selection and placement.)

I have been hired/called by 4 different churches.  The process was different at each church.

As a ministry professor, I am constantly working with my graduating students on how to get their names out to searching churches, how to prepare ministry resumes and the benefits of denominational networking.

A church I am very familiar with has been looking for a pastor for over a year now and haven’t found any prospects.

As autonomous SBC churches, I am wondering if we connecting churches and leaders incorrectly.  I can say with assurance that our process is not efficient, but is our process biblical.  Are there biblical mandates in finding, selecting and affirming pastors to lead autonomous congregations?  Is this courtship process, with all the dancing, calling, and wooing back in forth pleasing to God?

The standard process for a SBC church to find a pastor is something like this:

1. A seeking church has a vacancy and begins advertising and looking.
2. A seeking minister begins floating his resume to seeking churches.
3. The seeking church receives a stack of resumes from the association, state convention, seminaries and from referrals.
4. Potential candidates are contacted by phone/email to check if they are still seeking a position.  The time lag is often a difficulty.
5. If a candidate is still looking, they may have an initial phone interview with the chairman of the search team.
6. If the phone conversation goes will, the church will send a follow-up packet with a theological questionnaire, maybe some general information about the church and a job description.
7. Once the seeking minister returns the questionnaire, the searching church will call them in for a face-to-face interview with the search team.
8. If that interview goes well, the church will bring them back to see the church to meet the staff and other key leaders.  The issue of financial package is finally discussed at this point.
9. If that goes well, the seeking minister will be asked to preach a “trial sermon” or give their testimony in front of the entire congregation.  They might have a Q & A time in a small setting.
10. If that goes well, then the church will vote to extend a “call” to the seeking minister and their family to come to the church.
11. The minister will then come and preach the first sermon and join the church.

So many steps.  So many hoops to go through.  So many levels of courtship where everyone is trying to put their best foot forward and no one ever tells the truth about themselves, their pasts, or their present situation.  It is all glossed over in the process of GETTING SOMEONE to come.  The longer the vacancy, the greater sense of urgency, the more likely a rash decision is going to be made.

I am just wondering if we have missed something somewhere.  Where did this courtship process come from and how can it be fixed?

To watch or listen to the message from Parkway Baptist Church, click on the link below.

January 3, 2010 – Dr. Shane Garrison from Parkway Baptist Church on Vimeo.

“Same Old Same Old” taken from Ecclesiastes 1:1-11.

Leadership Journal (Summer 2009) did several excellent articles stories on reaching Millennials in your church.  Here are the best quotes I read.

“As the Millennial generation replaced Gen X, the time-tested combination of relevant teaching and coll music no longer sufficed.  Media-savvy young adults could download all the great teaching and music they wanted for their iPods.  Nothing seemed to impress them.”

“Older models of evangelism aimed at leading humans to a reception of God’s grace in Christ by making them aware of their profound and utter sinfulness.  A different model might be in order to ‘reach” [Millennials].”

“…20-something ministry leadres say reaching the millennial generation will require mor than playing mainstream music, dimming the lights, and talking about sex. All see deep, genuine community as the crying need and key avenue for commincating and displaying the gospel.”

Parkway BC

I am really excited to be invited back to Parkway Bapt. Church in Bardstown for the next 5 Sunday’s to fill their pulpit.  We really love spending time with this congregation.

The series I will be preaching is brand new.  Something I have been working and praying through for about the last 2 months.  The 5-part message series is called Unconventional Wisdom all taken from Ecclesiastes.  This Old Testament book is filled with practical, meaningful applications to our real lives, even though it is coming from an old, grumpy rich man.

This week we will start with “Same Old Same Old” from Ecc. 1:1-11.  Is your 2010 going to be the same old same old?

I was standing in line in Walmart yesterday and the cashier asked each person ahead of me if they “survived Christmas.”  This expression caught me off guard.  I have heard many people use it to describe the Christmas frenzy.  Did you survive Christmas gift buying?  Did you survive Christmas meals?  Did you survive Christmas with all your family getting together?

But for some reason (maybe the Holy Spirit’s prompting) I felt like this expression was so anti-Christmas.

We survive Christmas because Jesus came to earth to die for sinners, of which I am sinner No. 1.  We survive Christmas because Jesus was willing to lay down his life, in obedience to the Father, come to earth in human flesh, and be the atoning sacrifice for my sins upon the cross.

We survive Christmas because Jesus did not survive the crucifixion.

During Christmas Break, my mind has been swirling on Family Ministry models.

Why?  Well, first, I’m preparing to teach a class in Children’s Ministry in a couple weeks.  Secondly, I am consulting with my home church in the children’s ministry area and have been thinking a lot about the suggestions I should make.  And third, Jennifer and I have been discussing our own personal views on family ministry models in light that we have two preschoolers living in our house.  How are we being equipped to disciple them? Are we thinking carefully about their spiritual standing before God?

There are really three major Family Ministry models floating around.

1.  The Family Integrated Model – which removes all age-graded ministry to preschoolers, children and teenagers.  This model encourages families to worship together, fathers to lead and disciple their families, and children to be involved in all aspects of the church alongside their family (e.g., missions, discipleship, worship, giving, prayer, etc).

2.  The Family Based Model – which keeps preschool, children and youth ministry segments in the church led by paid ministers and caring adult volunteers (which might be parents), but offers many intergenerational opportunities for families to engage together.  This model is probably the most prevalent in America being that most churches have youth ministries and more and more are forming established children’s ministries.

3.  The Family Equipping Model – keeps preschool, children and youth ministry segments in the church but encourages parents to lead the vast majority of these areas.  The paid staff and adult, non-parenting volunteers are there to minister to the “spiritual orphans” and to equip, coach, encourage, and guide the parents as they disciple their children.

We have really come to love the Family Equipping Model.

As a former youth minister, I recognize the mistakes I made in the Family Based model.  No matter how much I wanted my parents to be spiritually involved with their students, they saw me as the primary discipler of their children.  For them, I was seminary-trained, younger, and more qualified to discuss spiritual matters.  Many of my believing parents did not see themselves qualified to teach or disciple themselves, much less their children.

I love the Family Equipping Model for two primary reasons.  First, it puts parents in their proper place as the primary spiritual leaders of their children.  Second, it allows the church and its ministries to build stronger families among Christian households and embrace spiritual orphans, as I was, when no believing prents are around.

Church ministries have no more than 100 hrs per year to disciple children. Parents have 3000+. Which is more effective?

One of my goals this holiday season was to invent, find, and create numerous ways to teach my boys (ages 4 & 2) the real Christmas story.  Here are some of the ideas we came up with.

1. We watched the Nativity Story movie together as a family and discuss the events.  I did not show the scenes of Herod and the infanticide after Jesus’ birth.
2. We read the Christmas story in their kids’ Bibles nearly every night of December.  So much so, our 4 year old began asking for David and Jonah stories.
3. We attended Christmas eve worship together as a family and talked about the songs, the candles, and the story.
4. We made “Happy Birthday Jesus” cupcakes and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.
5. We watched all our videos with a Christian Christmas message – Veggie Tales, Charlie Brown Christmas, Really Woolly, and Hermie & Friends.
6. We made chocolate chip cookies to give to our neighbors.  We taught the boys that giving gifts to others show we love them.
7. We played with our toy nativity scene and retold the story over and over.
8. Each night during our bed routine, we sang Away in the Manager and Silent Night.  (We sang it so much the boys knew the words at the Christmas eve service).
9. We listened exclusively to Christ-centered Christmas CD’s.  We like 2 particular CD’s: WOW Christmas and church Christmas carols.

These are just a few ideas we have began to set up as traditions in our home.

What about Santa?

We really don’t talk about Santa in our house.  Not that we are afraid of the tradition, but we are cautious of deceiving our children.  They both know about Santa from preschool and friends, but we do not emphasize him in our house. We do have a book telling the story of St. Nicholas, Bishop in Turkey, who gave presents to others in remembrance of the gift God gave in Jesus.

We firmly believe in our post-Christian, postmodern culture we have to be proactive in establishing Christian traditions and thinking in our children.  We can’t leave it to our church (which is a great one) or to anyone else.  It is our task and our responsibility to train up our children in the instruction and admonition of the Lord.

Merry Christmas!

I am looking forward to an active spring season of ministry around Kentucky.  Several churches have asked me to come and help with ministry development and participate in the preaching/teaching ministry of the church.

Here is my Spring 2010 ministry calendar:

Campbellsville Baptist Church Children’s Ministry (Jan. – March)
I am continuing to work with our home church in developing key strategies for their Children’s Ministry area (preschool through 6th grade).  This will continue through March.

Parkway Baptist Church Pulpit Supply (January 3-31)
I have been invited to return to Parkway Baptist Church in Bardstown to preach for 5 consecutive Sundays in January.  This is my second invitation to fill the pulpit during their pastor search process.  Great church.

Columbia Baptist Church Sunday School Development (Feb. 28 – April 11)
Columbia Baptist Church has invited me to consult with their leadership for the fourth time.  Maple Trail, our consulting firm, has done previous work in stewardship, personnel, constitution and by-laws.  Now we have been asked to work with their adult Sunday school division.  Work will be done to establish a new member class, start two new units, and teacher training.

Blackford/Breckinridge Baptist Association DiscipleNow Weekend (March 5-6)
I get to go back home to my old stompin’ grounds again in 2010.  I have been asked to preach the two-association youth DiscipleNow weekend again this year. I also will be training youth leaders from the two counties in 4 workshops.

CU Holy Land Tour (March 16-25)
While not specifically a ministry event, I get the awesome opportunity to travel to the Holy Land.  I will be joining 32 other travelers for a 10-day tour as part of the Campbellsville University School of Theology faculty.

I really appreciate all the churches and associations who have invited me to come.  Please pray God’s work will be done in these churches and through these events.