May 2012 to May 2013 : A Ministry Look-Back

May 15, 2013 2 Comments

mayEvery May, at the beginning of my summer break, I try to stop and look back over the past year and reflect on the opportunities the Lord has opened for me to do what I love and was called to do.  This particular 12 months has been a little bit of everything.  Ministry opportunities have flowed from all sides.

From…

  • Traveling to Greece, Turkey, and Switzerland with the Apostles & Epistles Tour.  You can’t beat teaching Revelation 1 on the Island of Patmos overlooking John’s cave.  Indescribable.
  • Finishing one interim pastorate at Lancaster Bapt Church and beginning and finishing another at Living Grace Church.
  • Training young pastors for LifeWay’s CentriKid Camps and then being a camp pastor myself for a couple weeks.
  • Preaching in various pulpits around KY like Corinth BC in London, Immanuel, Pioneer, Hopewell and Bruner’s Chapel BC all in Harrodsburg, Simpsonville BC, and First Bapt Clarksville, TN.
  • Leading training workshops for Eubank BC, Beechland BC, Pioneer BC and First Bapt Clarksville.
  • Teaching breakout sessions at ministry conferences – the CU Transformational Church Summit, the KBC Seminary for a Day, and CU Louisville’s Contagious Churches & Leaders.
  • Serving alongside the tireless LifeWay VBSi & Preview Team as a speaker & breakout session leader in 4 cities: Ridgecrest, NC, Fort Worth, TX, Nashville, TN, and Kissimmee, FL.  This opportunity has been one I will never forget.
  • Great times of sharing with my students outside of class like doing the DNow Team training, teaching alongside Jennifer for BCM about relationships, pre-marriage counseling in our home with Chris Price and Anna Step, witnessing Jacob Howard, one of my guys, ordained to the Gospel ministry, and taking a group of 13 to LifeWay’s headquarters in Nashville for CU Day at LifeWay.
  • All the while completing two amazing semesters with my students in class after class.  Year 5 was my best in class teaching year so far.

It is simply amazing for me to see what God has done in my life, if I would make myself available to Him and His purposes.  As I reflect back, I am overwhelmed by God’s grace and kindness toward me and my family.  This is way more than I could have ever imagined back in 1996 when I surrendered to the call of ministry.  God has taken my 3 loaves and 2 fish and multiplied them time and time again.

Where will God lead from May 2013 to May 2014…who knows?  But wherever He leads, I will follow.

Filed under Family, Leadership, Life, Ministry, Preaching, Teaching, Travel

The Should-Be Motto of All Church Personnel Teams

May 9, 2013 Leave a comment

golden ruleMy thesis:  Luke 6:31 should be the motto, slogan, vision statement and/or basic foundational rule for every church personnel-related issue.  If we would follow Luke 6:31 in our church personnel matters, I believe we would have longer tenures in ministry, happier pastoral staff, and better church administrative relationships.

Luke 6:31 in 3 different translation:  And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them (ESV).  And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way (NAS).  Do to others as you would have them do to you (NIV).

Having served in a variety of positions on church staff, some part-time, some full-time, in nearly every position except music, I have been in many personnel committee and leadership meetings (with elders and deacons) where personnel matters arise.  I have seen it all.

If we would mandate Luke 6:31 in our dealing with our church staff members, I believe we would be far better off and far more functional in kingdom business.  Luke 6:31 applies to every aspect of personnel leadership.  Consider a few examples.

Compensate others as you would like to be compensated.  Staff need not be starved nor overly fed.  However, if you believe you and your work deserves a respectable salary, comparable with others in your peer group, based on job performance and expertise, then compensate your church staff likewise.  By low-balling them, you are not teaching them humility and contentment, you are telling them they are not worth that much in the big scheme of things.

Reward others as you would like to be rewarded.   I know, I know, our reward is in Christ and spending eternity with him in heaven.  I could not agree more.  However, if you like being rewarded for a job well done in your field, when you go the extra mile toward a successful project, why not reward your staff with something in kind.  A gift card.  An extra vacation day.  An expanded allowance for clothing, books, or conferences.  A little pat on the back can be a great motivator.

Evaluate others as you would like to be evaluated.  No one likes to be evaluated, but everyone needs it…and should appreciate it if it is done well.  So how do you like to be evaluated in your job?  Consistently.  Fairly.  Accurately.  Sharing both areas of strengths and areas of needed improvement.  Then receiving amply time, resources, and encouragement to enhance those strengths and improve the weaknesses.  Sounds pretty fair right?  Why not extend the same grace to your church staff members.  They will be blessed by your investment in them and will be more effective in their service unto Christ.

Terminate others as you would like to be terminated.  Is there such a thing as a way you want to be terminated?  No job or position is permanently and perpetually safe forever.  The same goes for ministry positions.  Therefore as you would like to be let go, treat your exiting staff in the same fashion.   Whatever you would like to be given, extend those same graces to them such as severance, job placement assistance, moving expenses, or time on the clock to look elsewhere.  Honesty in explaining the situation to the church, not sweeping issues under the rug is also a very important step.  No one wins with deception and lies.

When Jesus gave us the golden rule, I don’t think he anticipated us forgetting it so easily.  Let’s put it back in, especially in our dealings with each other in ministry.

Filed under Leadership, Ministry

My Experience as a Campbellsvillian

May 2, 2013 5 Comments

Teaching in Druien Hall.

Rampant news has been swirling – some true, some false – about my alma mater and employer Campbellsville University with specific attention directed toward my area the CU School of Theology.

I have not had any desire to pour more fuel on this raging fire and have actually encouraged my students to stay out of the fray, however, I have been encouraged to speak about my experience at CU as a student back in the 90′s in the School of Theology.

I offer three truths about my alma mater and school.

1.  As a student, this place changed my life forever by exposing me to Christ, to his calling for my life, to the truthfulness of Scripture, to the ministry of serving others as unto the Lord, to the task of taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth, and to the role of loving people who are from every Christian tradition.  As I had the opportunity to serve Christ in closed countries, in major urban centers, and down dirt paths, I learned that you shouldn’t get too bothered about who is a Methodist and who is a Baptist.  You are just happy to serve alongside people who, like you, love Jesus and want to tell others about Him.

2.  As a student, I was trained by great men and women of God who loved Jesus, His Word, the Gospel and the mission of the church.  Faithful men like Dr. Ted Taylor who has served 40+ years in local church ministry and Dr. John Hurtgen whose passion for the New Testament and Christian fellowship are as evident today as they were back then.  Also outstanding Christian women and scholars like Dr. Paula Qualls who loved the Old Testament more than anyone I’ve ever met and showed me how to love it as well.

3.  As a student, I formed lifelong friendships with many brothers and sisters in Christ who are now serving around the world as missionaries and in our nation as pastors and ministers.  These friendships continue to model one of the School of Theology core values: partners in enduring fellowship.

Lastly, I want all to know that I came to faith in Jesus through the ministry of a KBC church in Lewisport, KY.  I was baptized, discipled and called to ministry in a KBC church.  I have served on two KBC church staffs.  I have been an interim pastor for three KBC churches.  I have four CP-supported theological degrees – one from CU, two from SWBTS and one from SBTS.  I am a Southern Baptist and KY Baptist through and through.

I believe the Bible is true.  I believe the Gospel is the only means of salvation.  I believe that my role as a man, husband, father, pastor, and professor is to offer and explain this glorious Gospel to every person I meet.   These biblical convictions have never been questioned or prevented while attending, or now while teaching, at CU.  They have only been encouraged and enhanced.  I have a platform that most pastors never have.  I get to teach unbelieving young men and women the Gospel in class every day and they have to come and listen.  This is a wonderful mission.

I am proud to be a small part of the CU story.  I love my alma mater and employer.

Filed under Family, Leadership, Life, Ministry, Teaching

An Open Letter to Living Grace Church : He Who Began

April 14, 2013 Leave a comment

The following is an open letter to the men and women, college students, teenagers, boys and girls of Living Grace Church, Campbellsville, KY, a church I dearly love and treasure.  This is my prayer for you.

Dear Living Grace Church,

Philippians 1:6  I am assured of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

I am assured of this, that He…  I am assured that He, God is with you.  I am assured that He, God dwells among you.  I am assured that He, God is near you.  I am assured that He, God is working in you to make you what He wants you to be.  Will you let He, God do more?

I am assured of this, that He who began a good work in you…  He who began this work is still at work.  He who began this work is not finished with this piece of art quite yet.  He who began this work of molding, shaping, chiseling, adding and removing wants to continue to mold, shape, chisel, add and remove until He approves.  Will you let Him work more?

I am assured of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion…  Take heart, you are not complete yet.  You are not perfected yet.  You are not polished and shined up yet, ready for display.  You are still in the completion process and will be for quite some time.  Please my dear friends don’t hinder the completion process, instead beg God to cut deeper, hammer harder, bolt tighter, paint brighter until He decides when you are ready.  Will you let Him complete more?

I am assured of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus.  Full completion ultimately awaits the coming of Jesus Christ.  Ultimately the incomplete bride desperately awaits the coming, glorious Groom.  The longer we wait, the more time that passes, the more our longings for Him increase.  But until then, will you let God do more?

To you my brothers and sisters in Christ, it has been my joy and honor to be your Transitional Pastor.  As we continue to live as neighbors in this little community called Campbellsville/Taylor County, let us look forward to the day when we will live as eternal neighbors in God’s holy presence forever.

Grace and peace,Shane

Filed under Leadership, Ministry, Preaching

Jesus and the Cross Verse 6

March 30, 2013 Leave a comment

Part 6 of 6 Jesus and the Cross Holy Week Reflections

Acts 4:12    And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

The last verse of the six Jesus and the Cross Holy Week Reflections tells us there is only ONE way to be saved.  “Saved from what” you might ask.

We must be saved from the very just, very holy wrath of God which will rightly judge sin.  We must be saved from the sin that “so easily entangles us” (Heb 12:1) and causes us to be in direct opposition with a holy God.

We must be saved from the place of torment, a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Jesus’ words), a place of eternal fire called Hell which has been prepared for those who reject Christ as Lord and Savior.

We must be saved from thinking that we can somehow save ourselves with our good deeds, our family connection, or our acts of charity in this world.  We can’t do anything to out weigh our sin debt.

We must be saved.  The Bible, God’s inspired Word, tells us there is only ONE way for sinners to be saved.  That one way is by placing our faith, trust, hope, heart and life into the loving arms of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and was risen again to life.

That is what Easter, or as I prefer to call it Resurrection Sunday, is all about.

Filed under Life, Ministry, Preaching

Resurrection Sunday Invitation

March 28, 2013 Leave a comment

Jesus and the Cross Invitation

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Jesus and the Cross Verse 4

March 28, 2013 Leave a comment

Part 4 of 6 Jesus and the Cross Holy Week Reflections

Mark 10:45   For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

The paying of a ransom creates an interesting picture in our minds. We think of a kidnapper leaving a ransom note or a plane being high-jacked and the assailants delivering their ransom demands.  Some form of payment must be made for the child or the passengers to be freed.

Sin has kidnapped us.  Sin has high-jacked our lives away from God.  Therefore a ransom had to be paid.  Something had to be exchanged to ultimately deal with our sin-filled soul.  Yet there is nothing we could ever payback for our wickedness.  Our lives are tainted with ongoing sin and our hearts are wildly corrupt.

So God paid the ransom.  He gave one life to be the ransom for all who believe.  The perfect given for the imperfect.  The sinless savior given for sinful humanity.  The death of God’s one and only Son was a ransom paid in full for those who trust Him by faith.

That happen on the cross.  But how?  You shall see in verse 5.

Filed under Life, Ministry, Preaching

Jesus and the Cross Verse 3

March 27, 2013 Leave a comment

Part 3 of 6 Jesus and the Cross Holy Week Reflections

John 1:14  And the Word [God the Son] became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

God had dealt with the sin of humankind time and time again throughout the Old Testament.  Making animal coverings for Adam and Eve in the garden.  Cleansing and remaking the world with Noah’s flood.  God gave the 10 commandments and the 613 laws to Moses to govern the people and when the people broke the laws (as God knew they would), He provided an annual Day of Atonement, or day of forgiveness, to cleanse their hearts.

But these dealings with sin were all shadows, or mere pictures, of the ultimate means by which sin would have to be dealt with.

God the Father choose to deal with sin personally.  He did so by sending God the Son to dwell among men in human form.  In sending His only Son Jesus, we not only witness God in the flesh, but we also see in him in his fullest glory.  Jesus said, “If you have known me, you have known my Father also.” (John 14:7)

Jesus was sent to deal with sin. The price to be paid for sin, however, would be costly.  But that is for verse 4.

Filed under Ministry, Preaching, Teaching

Jesus and the Cross Verse 2

March 26, 2013 Leave a comment

Part 2 of 6 Jesus and the Cross Holy Week Reflections

Romans 3:10-12 As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

In a world where we constantly prop each other up with our words and admiration, making mini-celebrities out of everyone. In a day and age when we constantly quote mantas from self-esteem gurus and self-help books relying on our own self-sufficiency and pride to make us feel better about our choices. It is quite counter-cultural to think that each and every human being on the face of the earth is a desperate, wicked, corrupt sinner.

I don’t have to call you a sinner for it to be true. But you can call me one any time you like, because I know it is true. It is what the Bible says I am; it is what I know I am. There is none righteous, no, not one.

We often say, “nobody’s perfect” to dismiss our sinful nature and feel better about our shortcomings. But perfection is the standard of Heaven. Remember God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. There can’t be any darkness in His Heaven.

In order for heaven to be reached, sin must be dealt with by a righteous, holy, just God. And sin will be dealt with, just not by you or me.

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Jesus and the Cross Verse 1

March 26, 2013 Leave a comment

Part 1 of 6 Jesus and the Cross Holy Week Reflections

1 John 1:5  This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

God is not like us. We are nothing like Him. He is altogether, entirely different from anything we see, know or experience. While we are made in His image, we only vaguely reflect the attributes of God such as love and forgiveness.

God is holy. God is completely just and fair. God is righteous being completely without sin or fault. God is infinite having no beginning or ending. God is creator and sustainer of all things. God is all glorious, all good, all perfect, there is no darkness in Him at all.

The complete story of the Cross and Resurrection begins with God creating the world, including us, for perfect fellowship with him, but that changed because of sin.

Filed under Ministry, Preaching, Teaching

Ending Interim No. 4

March 23, 2013 1 Comment

IMG_3814

Children’s Sermon @ LGC

On April 14 (4 weeks away), I will be concluding interim pastorate no. 4 at Living Grace Church here in Campbellsville.  I served Living Grace Church as interim pastor back in 2008-09 during a previous pastor search process and again this time around for the past 9 months.

The people of Living Grace Church are wonderful.  They have been so kind and gracious to let me learn alongside of them what it means to be a church that is intergenerational, inter-denominational, multiracial and from every socioeconomic level in our community.

I have been stretched in my understanding of the primary Christian doctrines, built up in my belief in the sufficiency of God’s Word, and saw how stabilizing church administration is essential for a 10-year old church plant.

I give thanks to the previous pastors of Living Grace Church: Pastor Phillip Kelley and Pastor Jason Fox.  The time between my first interim and my second showed how much leadership, blood, sweat, and tears these men invested in LGC.  Thank you my dear brothers for giving your hearts (and probably lots of nights of sleep) to this people.

I also give thanks for my worship leader for the first 6 months Mr. Benson Sexton and his dear wife Kristin, our church media guru.  These two leaders have been invaluable friends to me and my family and diligent co-laborers in the Gospel ministry.

I give thanks to our youth minister Mr. Mike Humphress who has a tender heart before the Lord and a true passion to develop leaders who love students.  I am also thankful for Mrs. Anne Sanders who leads the children’s ministry.  I have been impressed time and time again with her organization and vision for our GraceKids.  Ms. Debbie Ruggles, the church secretary, has been my helper, encourager, and faithful supporter through thick and thin.  She has been a peace-giving force in my life.

I will miss seeing the smiling faces on Sunday mornings.  I will miss the warm hugs from those ladies (and a few fellas) who gave me a hug every week no matter what was going on.  I will miss watching the children of LGC run all over the place after worship.  I will miss being called “pastor” which is a term of endearment and devotion, which blessed me every time.  And “step-pastor” by one dear friend which always made me smile and laugh.

But unlike other interim pastorates which have been in other towns, when this one concludes I will still get the chance to see the people of LGC out and about in our little community, which will always be a treat.

Filed under Family, Leadership, Life, Ministry, Preaching

What Will You Be Wearing This Easter? 2.0

March 19, 2013 1 Comment

Back in 2011 I wrote this post about fashion on Easter Sunday.  This year I will be wearing my SHOW HOPE t-shirt on Resurrection Sunday in support of orphan around the world as part of the “Forget the Frock” movement.  Not that I would be wearing a frock, but supporting orphans by wearing a t-shirt sounds likes a good thing to me.

_________________

Lilac Easter Dress

The clothing people wear to church, especially on Resurrection Sunday, says something about what they believe about church and the worship of the Risen Lord. Dressing up for church (or wearing your Sunday Best) is done to show respect, honor and reverence to God. Most folks who wear a creme-colored suit or a lilac dress and sweater set believe their clothing helps them focus on God who is holy, almighty, divine, and awesome. They want their exterior appearance to match their interior gratitude.

Jesus Sandals

There are others who differ in their views on clothing at church. People in the more casual church community ask the question, “What did Jesus wear to church?” Their answer: “He wore the clothes he had been wearing all week. Jesus didn’t have church clothes because there was no church.” Therefore sandals, shorts, street clothes and shoes are reasonable and appropriate. They hold firmly to the “come-just-as-you-are” mentality. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in. If you want to dress up, okay. If you want to dress down, that is okay as well. They believe their exterior appearance has no relevance on their interior affection for Christ.

But even for the casual-lovin’ church member put away the Jesus sandals and Hawaiian shirts on Resurrection Sunday. They are exchanged for something more fitting for the solemn occasion of the Holy Week and the joyful celebration on Resurrection Sunday.

So here’s my question: What will you be wearing Resurrection Sunday? Jesus Sandals or Sunday Best?

Filed under Leadership, Ministry, Teaching

Spring Tour of KBC Churches

March 19, 2013 Leave a comment

rural-church-on-cape-breton-islandFor the past few weeks (and the next few months ahead), I’ve been on a little tour of KY Baptist churches teaching and preaching on youth and children’s ministries and VBS.

A couple Sunday’s ago I had the great honor of being at Hopewell Baptist Church in Harrodsburg with pastor Doug Wesley, a CU alum and now a CU dad, talking about raising up the next generation for Christ.  They had kids running everywhere.  God is working to help them reach children and families in their rural community.

Then onto Eubank Baptist Church in Pulaski Co this past Saturday to spend the morning with pastor Shelby Reynolds, youth pastor James Griffith (CU alum), family pastor Jeremy Johnson and a great group of parents discussing how to disciple our children in Christ.  We had parents from EBC, Beacon Hill BC and Polly Ann BC join us.  Great time together.

Looking ahead a few weeks to April, I get the privilege to spend an evening with the fine people of Hillcrest Baptist Church in downtown Lexington with pastor Tony Hancock and his sweet wife Mrs. Rhonda, the children’s director, sharing about VBS and helping them train their leaders for the upcoming summer.

Then back to Mercer Co. and to Bruner’s Chapel Baptist Church for their spring revival April 21-24.  I will be joined by my dear brothers and fellow CU alums Brandon Carrier, Jason Dunbar, Tim Hervey and Zach Rice of Sola Grace leading the revival.

Finally at the end of April, my wife Jennifer and I doing a family conference for Beechland Baptist Church in Louisville for youth pastor Corey Young, one of my former CU students.  Corey and his wife Jessica are approaching their first year at Beechland and are doing a tremendous job with the students and families.

With all this, I have to mention Seminary for a Day April 13 at Greenwood Baptist Church hosted by the KY Baptist Convention and Campbellsville Univ.  I will be leading a morning session on preaching, which I am really excited about.  It is always a pleasure to be with bi-vocational and part-time pastors encouraging them in their service to the body of Christ.

Ministry opportunity abounds.  God is gracious and kind.

Filed under Leadership, Life, Ministry, Preaching, Teaching, Travel

Why Kids Ministry is the New Youth Ministry

March 8, 2013 Leave a comment

puppetsTwenty years ago (think vintage 1990′s), churches begged, borrowed, and pleaded with their people to find the funds to hire a youth minister.  They were willing to do whatever it took to get someone, anyone to work with the teenagers.  Whatever it required, a youth minister had to be found.  The mindset was clear: someone has to work with our teens because “they are the church of tomorrow.”

Youth ministry in evangelical churches was thriving.  Youth ministers were seen as fun, trendy, responsive to the culture, able to relate big truths to young minds.  They were creative, loved praise and worship music, and knew how to put together a rockin’ mission trip on a tight budget.  Youth camp attendance was pushing all-time highs.  Youth conferences were abounding.  Youth ministry publications were everywhere.  It was a great time to be a teenager and an even better time to be in youth ministry.

So I ask you, where is all that energy and inertia today?  Well, it is not in youth ministry.  Things have shifted younger in the past 20 years.

children-ministry

Today (think vintage 201o’s), all that energy and inertia has shifted to kids ministry.  A children’s pastor or family minister is the most sought after position, outside of senior pastor, in American evangelical churches.

Churches are desperate to find and hire qualified, trained, responsible people to lead the nursery, pre-school and K-5 areas, otherwise no sensible parent will come.  The consumer parenting culture of Gen X, which is having more babies than their Boomer parents, demand churches to upgrade every corner of the children ministry. 

The facility has to look like a McDonald’s PlayPlace, only better.  Equipped with better security, better lighting, pristine cleanliness, background checks on volunteers, slick lanyards identifying workers in matching t-shirts.  The shiny polish of youth ministry has been expanded and multiplied for young ones.  These kids ministries are well oil machines with programs and contingency plans that surpass all other ministry areas (if they are successful), including the worship ministry which used to command the show.

I was told by a high level denominational leader recently that an experienced, qualified, theologically trained, former professional educator (aka ex-teacher) who felt a call to kids ministry could name their price.  They could pick any church, any city, any denomination and just determine what they wanted to make and someone would offer it to them.  They are the rarest breed of minister in the ministry marketplace.

This trend is not dying away anytime soon.  It will be here for a while.  At least until all these kids become teens.

Filed under Leadership, Ministry

When Pastors Were Songwriters

February 23, 2013 Leave a comment

john newton

John Newton by Jonathan Aitken

I have recently finished the outstanding biography of Pastor John Newton in the book John Newton – From Disgrace to Amazing Grace by Jonathan Aitken.  The life of John Newton is extremely fascinating as the former slave ship captain is saved by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and becomes a beloved pastor and national Evangelical figure in the late 1700′s.

Newton’s pastorates at Olney Church and then at St. Mary Woolnoth of London are well documented by his involvement with the famous English poet William Cowper, William Wilberforce, and the movement to abolish the slave trade.  Of course, everyone knows of his beloved hymn, Amazing Grace, which started out as a sermon illustration for his New Year’s Day message on January 1, 1773.

But more than anything else I have been inspired by the concept of Newton as a pastor/songwriter.  He wrote and published hundreds of hymns that were used in his churches and all over the English-speaking world.  He understood the long-standing power of music, more than the preached Word, to teach, inspire, and transform people into faithful disciples of Jesus.

In today’s world, we normally do not think of the teaching/preaching pastor as a creative, musical type.  Most often he is stereotyped as the lone man in the sanctuary who can’t sing, can’t play an instrument, and will never spend any time penning a song to be used for his congregation.  He is the verbal teacher, not the musical artist.

But isn’t this stereotype a rather new idea of the pastorate?  For the greater part of Christian history, especially post-Reformation, the songs and hymns of the faith were written primarily by pastors and preachers as sermon illustrations and teaching tools.  If you wanted to instill doctrine, you wrote in a song not a sermon.  If you wanted to teach affection and devotion to Christ, you crafted a hymn not a Bible study.

So my question is:  Where have the Pastor/Songwriters gone?  We have Pastor/CEO’s, Pastor/Theologians, Pastor/Authors, and Pastor/Counselors, but rarely any Pastor/Songwriters.

In many ways, the concept of the sacred desk has been re-inspired by the new reformers resulting in young pastors taking seriously preaching and teaching as his primary function.  But I wonder how long will it be until songwriting will return to it’s prominent place in the pastor’s life.

We could use some great music inspired by great study of the Word.  There is no question great music is being written by fabulous songwriters and musicians, only not many of them are pastors.  I think John Newton would be disappointed.

Filed under Leadership, Ministry, Preaching

The Changing Shape of Sunday School Literature

February 9, 2013 Leave a comment

sunday schoolAs a former Minister of Education, I knew that every quarter I had to make a purchase from LifeWay Christian Resources for our church’s Sunday School literature.

From youngest of ones through the senior adult classes (or as I liked to called it, from womb to the tomb), I had to purchase the “quarterlies” along with the various teacher’s guides.  This was a sizable part of our annual discipleship budget.  Thousands of dollars every year was spent to buy literature.

The material would arrive in a large shipment from Lebanon, TN and then I would organize all the material in the appropriate classrooms or give the quarterlies to the teachers.  This process went on like clock work year after year.

Fast forward to 2013.  In the past couple weeks, I’ve had several interesting discussions with key leaders in various Christian publishing companies about the future of Sunday School literature. They are telling me that the old system is simply not the case any longer.

With free curricula and teaching materials proliferating the internet and discipleship groups happening in homes, at work, at church on all days of the week including Sunday, Christian publishers are looking at a whole new way of thinking about literature.

One prominent leader said, “What happened to the music industry 10 years ago with iTunes and downloading mp3s is now happening in Christian publishing and literature.”

As a professor of Educational Ministries training 18-22 year olds in the methods and principles of classical Christian Education for youth, children, adults, small groups and other types of teaching ministries, the new world of Christian publishing is opening all kinds of avenues of ministry for them.

Such as:

  • Writing and posting your own Bible study materials on your blog or website without being accepted or sponsored by a Christian publishing house.
  • Blessing people and churches in far-reaching locations, who have access to the internet, but not the finances to purchase material.
  • Writing Bible study material for your church and then distributing it to them so the whole body can be studying the same thing at the same time.
  • Customizing the teaching ministry of your church with your people in mind, not buying materials that are made for the masses.

Last conclusion.  Outside of leading people to Jesus, worshipping the Lord in Spirit and truth, and teaching and preaching the Word, there are no ministry strategies that will remain in place forever.  Methods constantly change.  Paradigms of doing things always change.  People, culture, churches are always changing.  Even the Christian publishing world is changing.

I believe that is a good thing.

Filed under Ministry, Teaching

Walk On – New Series @ LGC

February 8, 2013 Leave a comment

walkon2I am so excited about our next message series at Living Grace Church.  For the next few weeks leading up to Easter Sunday, March 31, I will be sharing a series of messages called Walk ON from the book of Exodus.  We will start after the plagues upon Egypt and follow the path of Moses and the Hebrew people took through the desert all the way to Mt. Nebo in Deuteronomy 34.

The Exodus is the pinnacle event of the entire Old Testament, which leads us perfectly to the pinnacle event of all human history, the cross and resurrection of Jesus.  Every Christian, every believer in God, every person in a committed relationship with Jesus need to move away from some things.  We all have “Egypts” in our lives that we need to get away from, but keep drawing us back.

I am praying this series will bring freedom to your life in Christ and for our church, bring us into a clearer vision of what lies ahead, not forever destined to look back at what we left behind.

Feb 10:  Walking Out of Your Egypt
Feb 17:  Walking In-between the Lord
Feb 24:  Walking Through on Dry Land
Mar 10:  Walking in the Midst of God’s Grace
Mar 17:  Around the Mountain of God
Mar 24: Walking Faithfully Until the End

I do hope you will come every Sunday @ 10:30 AM.  And bring your Bible!

Filed under Leadership, Ministry, Preaching

LifeWay VBS Preview & Institutes

January 25, 2013 3 Comments

It has been a great joy over the past two weekends, and again in the coming two weekends, to be part of the LifeWay VBS Preview team.

As many of you know, I came to faith in Jesus Christ through the ministry of VBS (Vacation Bible School) back in the summer of 1987 in my home church, Lewisport Baptist Church.  Since that time, I have been passionate about this ministry to unbelieving children and families through the Gospel bridge of VBS.

So being invited to speak and teach at these 4 events has been an absolute joy and treasure.  I am praying that my story will inspired thousands of VBS leaders, volunteers and teachers to share the Gospel with unbelieving children this summer.  My hope and prayer is that they will make an extra effort to build a bridge to unbelieving children so that they might have a chance to hear about God’s love for them in Jesus Christ.  My desire is to encourage them to go the next mile and make sure we are not hosting another event for our church-kids, but to truly dig deep and think about the spiritual orphans in their neighborhoods and communities that have no access to the Gospel in their homes.

I am asking God to make this VBS summer a banner year in which more children, teens and families hear the Gospel, possibly for the very first time time.  Say Yes to VBS.

Special thanks to Austin Adamec , our worship leader for the events, for the photo.  From Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX.

Travis Ave

Filed under Ministry, Preaching, Teaching, Travel

4 Things I am Most Happy About for Living Grace Church

October 17, 2012 Leave a comment

To my Living Grace friends and family…

I am bursting with joy today and I just had to tell you why. We sang 10,000 Reasons last Sunday which encouraged us to remember all the ways God has blessed us in the past, present and will in the future. Well, I would like to share 4 of 10,000 things I see God doing in our midst at LGC.

1. Our youth ministry on Wednesday nights – Last Wednesday there were over 50 students and leaders attending our ReFuel service. This is tremendous and I am so proud of Mike Humphress and his team for their leadership in reaching students. Reaching teenagers with the Gospel must continue to be a primary ministry of this church.

2. Our Sunday morning worship attendance in Sept & Oct – We are up on average nearly 30 in attendance from the summer. Many of these are college students from our Awaken Ministry, which I am so thankful for. Reaching young adult/college-aged students must continue to be a strong avenue of ministry for Living Grace. They bring so much energy and talent.

3. Our missions focus this fall – So far we have given to the UNITED clothing drive, Change for a Change which digs wells in Africa is happening right now, and starting Nov. 18 – Jan.15 we are going to be collecting can goods for local food pantries. We are making a difference in our community and around the world in the name of Jesus. So proud!

4. Finally, our unity as a body of believers – There is a great sense of togetherness and unity in the house. We come from a lot of different backgrounds, paths, histories and ways of “doing” church, but there is a consistent unity in putting Jesus first in everything we do. I am thankful and inspired by this.

What are you most happy about for Living Grace? Maybe we can share 10,000 reasons together.

Filed under Leadership, Ministry, Preaching

The First 60 Days

September 10, 2012 Leave a comment

You are always welcome to join us Sunday @ 10:30 AM.

I have been serving as Transitional Pastor at Living Grace Church here in Campbellsville for just over 60 days.  Just 2 months in and I am really enjoying ministering together with these fine brothers and sisters in Christ.  With the return of the CU & LWC college students, we have seen many more faces come and engage with our faith family just in the last two weeks.

On the occasion of the first 60 days complete, I thought I would share a few reflections and observations I am experiencing so far.

  1. Words will never truly express how thankful I am to Pastor Jason Fox and Pastor Phillip Kelley, the previous two pastors of LGC.  Their leadership from 2009 (when Pastor Phil came) till June of this year (when Pastor Jay left) is quite remarkable.  There hasn’t been a week gone by yet where I haven’t noticed something new and improved that wasn’t present back in 2008-09 when I served before.  The congregation is more mature, more balanced, more healthy, more faithful, more committed to missions, more generous, and more focused on the needs of youth and children than ever before.  I am indebted to these my brothers, friends, and fellow pastors.  Phil and Jay, thank you for laboring so well in this harvest field.
  2. The expanded and ever-improving worship team have been very encouraging to me.  Under the leadership of our Worship Leader Benson Sexton, I am thoroughly impressed each week at this group’s commitment to worship that engages the congregation and lifts high the name of Jesus.  From those on stage to the servants behinds the scenes in the sound and media booth, I love that they are open to trying new forms of worship.  In my very short time, we had reflective and celebrative, somber and serious, passionate and powerful worship times and each week gets better than the week before.  Variety is the key.  Variety builds anticipation.  Variety meets different people preferences.  Variety doesn’t allow the church to get stuck in a “style.”  Great work so far.
  3. The children’s, student and college ministries are thumping.  When was I at LGC before, the children’s ministry was just getting going and the student ministry was slowly gaining momentum.  There wasn’t much of anything for college-age young adults.  But with the church only being 6 years old, those ministries were still in their infancy.  Now in year 10, these three avenues of ministry are growing every week.  Our leadership and volunteer teams for these ministries continue to grow and get better at ministering to these vital groups.  What a change 4 years has made!
  4. Finally, I am thrilled at a renewed passion for missions and outreach.  Every week I see and hear a desire to send people out with the Gospel around the corner and around the world.  From helping widows  and orphans, to mission work in Haiti and Ghana, in supporting local missions through The Blessing at the Well and outreach to our lakefront friends with Green River Lake dock ministry or downtown with the Family Fun Zone.  This heartbeat to go and be the church in the world has really challenge me in my personal walk with Christ.  A huge thank you to Mrs. Emily Fox for her tireless work to promote and lead mission endeavors for LGC.  You too are one of my heroes.

I am so excited about what is happening.  I believe this faith family is maturing to be what God intended her to be – a place that is committed to producing fully devoted followers of Christ.  Thank you for letting me come along for the ride.

Grace, SG

Filed under Leadership, Life, Ministry, Preaching

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