Of revival and grace killers or...

...growing in grace and truth (knowledge) of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Growing in knowledge may well be the easier part for those of us who are of the so called "Brethren Assemblies." Many in our likeminded fellowships are both justly and dangerously proud of the knowledge brought to this church age through the scholarship of JN Darby. However, the truth of the matter is we in the Brethren Movement are almost universally afflicted in some measure by the harsh spirit of Darby. That spirit that led to the great split is sadly one of Darby's most lasting legacies.

Growing in grace? Do I hafta? Isn't enough for me to be right?
Grow. In. Grace. (?) (!) ungggghhh

A young(er) missionary brother posted a (frustrated?) letter to us attempting to stimulate us and some churches across the country toward revival. His letter/blogpost had unintended/expected response of some readers feeling hurt or offended.

(begin long quote from dialogue that consumed much of the last coupla' days):

him to me: The elders back home and in many places we have visited have echoed the same problems.

my response: There's sin in the church? It's endemic? Shocked, I say. Shocked. I wonder why so little is said of it in the NT.
/heh

But of course it's ever before us, heavy on our hearts as Elders and dominates my prayer list for individuals in fellowship at Laurel and is at the top (2nd line actually) of my personal prayer list.

The question is what to do about it, how to effectively lead a flock, without dispersing the flock to the weeds and losing ability to shepherd individuals. The question for a shepherd is, "What works?" (hint: how did Jesus Christ speak to his own? In his sternest correction of Peter or the James/John?).

him to me:

They have seen the need to repent and follow Christ, but in general don't know how to proceed.

my response: Well we have a wee bit (and I don't say that to be self deprecating -- it is indeed a very very small bit) of understanding of that. We've been there ourselves. For years. Decades.

It's a work of the Holy Spirit, "Not by might or by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord."
It will happen in his time and by his power. It won't happen at any point in time when we're positioned so that we can get any credit for it.

God. Will. Not. Share. His glory.

In LBC's case revival started individually in the Elder's lives. Leadership does matter. Imagine that. /heh

pick a platitude. they fit:
The fish rots from the head down.
You will only be followed as far as you've traveled.

In my case it was incremental starting in '95 at a Promise Keepers event in LA Coliseum. The major point of revival began years later when I started praying for the Lord to help me name the strongholds (allusion to clearing out Canaanite pockets in lsrael) in my life and for him to breakdown those fortresses.

I knew they were there, He knew they were there. I had to name them.
Ooooohh, the pain....
Then came the hidden strongholds. And the hits keep coming and strongholds keep being revealed...

Further back and of greatest importance was with women during a dark, dry time at Laurel in the mid 80's who started praying by 2's and 3's. They continued for years and do still to this day. Revival didn't really come until 20 years later but much groundwork and foundation work was done in the intervening year.

A recurring theme from the elders in our pulpit has been the pattern of revival in Kings I, II.
Removal of sin
Return to the Word
Restoration of Worship

Again and again.

Him to me:

The Scripture is full of admonition, reproof, and speaking out against sin wherever it is apparent.

My response: What moves the flock along is not loud barking by an unfamiliar sheepdog or shepherd. Regardless of your intent that was the effect. (Selah)

That's the beauty of expository teaching front to back through a book of the Bible.

(editor note for the reader: they've been surprised/confused/intrigued/mystified? by the approach we take as an Elder/Pastor team in praying over, agreeing together planning out long in advance our weekly pulpit ministry. Also this is the first church of our ilk(aka "Brethren Assembly") that they've seen proceed front to back teaching through a book -- as opposed to asking a brother to take a week or series of weeks and "teach on whatever he's led to by the Spirit."

Those passages dealing with sin and purity naturally occur in context. The flock doesn't feel put upon but is much more receptive to it. In our experience the work of the Holy Spirit in prepping individual lives to coincide with the arrival at a particular passage in sequence on a given Sunday is nothing short of miraculous. That's not to diminish the value of topical speaking just to bear witness to the fruit we've seen and the openness to the the "tough stuff" when approached in sequential expository teaching of scripture.

Careful about a strident voice (I can testify to that). It moves sheep along. Along to other churches or out of church entirely.

Paul to Timothy, "teach, exhort, reprove" and to do it with patience. It's absolutely a shepherds responsibility. No dodging it. However, the progression there is worth keeping in mind: teach, then exhort, finally reprove.

Reproof is a last resort following much prayer, and patience in personal engagemegnt.

(end quote)

...comes to mind Titus 2:6 often with these situations where a younger brother is really earnestly "feeling it" and wanting help effect change but unwittingly miscommunicates or is misunderstood by some in the church.
"older men teach the younger men to be sober (temperate)..." Titus 2:6

Temperance. Grace.
That's the tougher part for "Assembly" folks like us.

May we "Brethren" be equally known for the grace of Jesus Christ shown in the life of Robert Chapman as we are for the teachings and translations of JN Darby.
May we like Robert Chapmen be remembered for having been Agape Leaders.

Ephesians 2:11-22

"Part 5" available online now. Link

I thought this would be the easy half of Chapter 2. Hah.

It was a tough week to prep and a surprisingly difficult passage to get the "word for today to Laurel" application from.



may God bless the reading of His Word...

Fun with Solas

The five solas that is...

Speaking on Eph 2:1-10 tomorrow. So many excellent rabbit trails to follow (like the 5 Solas). Gotta follow Curly's word of wisdom to preachers though,find the "One thing."

I must admit Ephesians freaks me as a speaker. This one had me locked in the headlights for a bit. Throw Romans or Hebrews at me and "no problemo."

Guess I don't feel like I can do Ephesians justice -- like I'm messing with Paul's Magnum Opus.

Yeah well, (says I to myself) this isn't about me as a speaker.
(reminds myself)

When we're weak, He is strong.
The power is in the living word.
Ergo, less of me, more of the Word.

Then it dawned on me that most folks probably feel overwhelmed by the richness of the book (not to mention the run on sentences).

Their eyes glass over like mine do when reading Ephesians first few chapters due to Paul's writing style. It's just crazy how richly layered these first chapters are.

I can almost hear Gamaliel to Paul, "You get an A+ for content but I''m taking off 5 pts for sentence structure and run-on sentences."

So, I backed off and am working on KISS. Know your audience, no? In attendance we have all ages, recent refugees from at least 10 countries and tribes in Africa, and new believers from a wide range of church backgrounds (from Catholic and Anglican to Pentecostal).

I'm just going to preach a simple outline of Eph 2:1-10:

What we were v1-3
What God did about it v4-6
Why He did it v7 (and how He did it vs 8,9)
What His will is for believers v10

Then get to application:

v 8,9 the gospel message (The Bridge Illustration) for unbelievers
v10 Christian living for believers.

Speaking of preachin'

That's where I've been and why I've been light on posting this weekend.

Had a doozy to put together on The Lord's Supper and Worship. Needed to address some traditions in our church practice that have become dogma. It's been a long time coming. Lot's of fuss and fun leading up to this the past several weeks, including an unfortunate e-mail sent my way that cc'd select church members.

Looked like a coup in the making by an older man who felt like the palladium of the old ways -- guardian of our precious PB distinctives. Maybe was a bit of that division brewing, but, after meeting with the brother we understand there was some serious fear and misunderstanding on his part. Pointed out a pretty good plank in my eye too. /ouch

Actually worked for the good since it out'ed the issue and gave us a chance to deal with the man for restoration (mindful of Paul's instruction to Timothy "don't sharply rebuke an older man but appeal to him as a father."). Also, set up this morning's preaching which topic had already been planned -- put the simmering problem front, center and current. Enemy mean't it for evil but God used it for good.

Sermon should be posted online later this week. I think I went 7-8 minutes overtime (arrggh). It was a struggle right up to last night to pare it down as far as I did. Was cutting and slashing down to core points til almost midnight. As usual my storytelling and compounding of analogies (my strength) became a weakness. Seemed to be well received though among all demographics we were concerned with reaching.

Patience and Faith

These 2 sermons from Galations 5:22 on the fruit of the Spirit were a bit of a stretch for me. I'm naturally more of a storyteller so expository teaching on larger passage is an more natural fit.

Esp, prepping to speak on "Faith" near kicked my tail. I cringe at spots when critquing on the playback.

No do-overs allowed. Ah well, when we are weak He is strong.

... "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." II Corinthians 12:9

Lite blogging

Finishing up a sermon on Patience for this Sunday -- coming together slower than I'd like. Having a bit of difficulty putting a point on this one. Short and sweet is probably the watchword for a warm morning with inadequate A/C in an old Church building.

On top of that we're heading into 4th of July weekend with all it's family activities and extra time committments (including our tradition of attending the parade in Coronado).

Our Sunday morning series this summer is on the Fruits of the Spirit.
This week "Patience" is on deck. Longsuffering.
Good thing too. My wife will likely need it with me in extra measure the next coupla' days. ;-)

Seriously though, preparing to speak on something like this (rightly) leads to an extra measure of introspection and self-examination. Hard to be effective from the pulpit beyond that which you have lived it personally.

Tempted to title it, "Patience. Now!"

The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending, and to have the two as close together as possible.
-- George Burns

Wise man or Wise guy?

Humble Wisdom: James 3:13-18 audio is up. link

Brain Flush

Confident in my total absence of hipness and techno-savvy, I boldly launch this first post on my first blog.

There are no lofty goals associated with this blog. It is nothing more than a lark, a brain flush, a pause to refresh. Maybe something profitable will come along in posts, comments or discussion as a result.

The same goes for this first post. This post is a brain flush, a pause to refresh during final prep for tomorrow's sermon from James 3:1-12, "Tests of Faith. Say ahhh..."

Next week's sermon will be on last verses of chapter 3 "Wisdom from Above".

A brain flush is in order because, frankly, I'm probably in a bit deep. Not on the teaching or preaching of the passage so much. This isn't a controversial passage. The challenge is in the the change I've been making in my methods of preparation and presentation.

In my professional life I prepare for public speaking by storyboarding and outlining visually in Powerpoint. Then I go back through and flesh out the presentation and speaking notes.

My method of preparing a sermon is different. It is more like the traditional approach to writing a paper. Thesis, outline, conclusion. Then fill it in. The difference is that, unlike some preachers, I don't actually write out the whole sermon in advance. I've found that note cards with outline, key points, verses and quotations has worked best for me.

I'm a bit of a story teller and an ad libber -- it's a natural tendency that works with my spiritual gift. The challenge for me is to not "under prepare" and thus rely too much on my ability to improvise and speak extemporaneously. On the other hand I have learned that if I over prepare and put to much in my notes, my delivery gets stiff and I don't engage the audience.

That brings me back to my point about a change in prep methods. I've recogized the need to prepare more visuals for my sermons. This generation requires it. Also our congregation has many recent immigrants and refugees who struggle with English. Not to mention the language challenge our Canadian ex-pats face!

So here I sit. Needing a brainflush; in the final throws of preparing a sermon using my workaday Powerpoint methodology. The visual content came easily for this passage -- almost too easily. The visual challenge was in the choosing -- not the finding. The bigger challenge is in integrating the teaching and preaching with the visuals.

The problem right now is that I may be getting too "prepared" and fenced in by content on the slides. The nice things about note cards is you can drop them on the floor or rearrange them on the fly. These slides may make my delivery stiff. The sermon may lose benefit of my ability to ad lib or ability to properly time delivery of a key point or turn of phrase.

Well back to the grindstone for now. Maybe my first blog post will be my last. Time will tell if I can remember this blog exists let alone the login info.