Church Planting with Bob Ross?

Recently, I was trying to help out my daughter Olathe with some math homework. I was taught a certain method of reaching the answer. She, on the other hand, is learning several methods of reaching the same answer. So naturally when she asked me for help it became frustrating for both of us. Let me explain…

For me it was frustrating because I knew what the answer should be and the method I was taught to get to that answer, but that wasn’t what the teacher wanted. If I persisted to teach her my way, she would not actually get a good grade because she needed to show her work through a different method.

On the other hand, it was frustrating for her because she needed help. Since I wasn’t there in class to hear the method she was supposed to use, I had to try to draw it out of her and then work with what she was telling me, which I was more than happy to try.

As a church planter I often find I don’t know how to accomplish everything the Lord requires of me. Many times I want to ask Bob Ross how to paint a “white, puffy cloud” when God really wants me to learn how to paint a storm in abstract. If all I ever do is paint by numbers, will I ever really learn how to paint? In the end, I might have a decent painting, but never a skill to paint an original masterpiece.

Maybe God is more interested in me learning to hear His voice rather than some easy answer to church growth.

When it comes to church planting, there is no shortage of advice, but there just might be a shortage of church planters that rely on the Spirit to show them the next step.

Glean all you can from other church planters, books and blogs but ultimately take “good notes” in the class of the Holy Spirit and learn how to get the methods and answers needed directly from Him. Then as you receive or hear advice from others, you will be able to sort out the methods that God might be calling you to attempt in your context. The rest... respectfully decline.

Swimming with the Sharks

They say a shark will only grow size proportionately to the aquarium it is put in. That means a mature shark in a small aquarium might never grow bigger than several inches.

For us, we might therefore consider aquariums a wonderful place to swim if it weren’t for the following small details…

1. We were made for bigger things: There is no way this 190lb man is going to fit in a little fish tank, but many times I find myself trying to live in the safe box I create. Why? Because that's where there is no danger…. no risk. The sharks are small and can’t really hurt me there. The problem is we were never made to live in little aquariums. We were made for a life of adventure and risk. When we don’t take risks, we can’t exercise our faith. Without faith, we can’t please God.

2. Aquariums are fake worlds: Treasure chests, plastic seaweed, even the way in which the water receives oxygen is contrived. When we submerge ourselves in a world of fake surroundings, we don’t face the realities of life, which essentially cause us to grow. It takes resistance to build muscle just as the hard realities of life in this world cause us to grow spiritually. Look at all the great men and women who became great through their struggle, not by pretending it didn't exist.

3. There’s no room for anyone else: When we live a life of safety, we are become concerned with ourselves as numero uno. We are always looking out for our own best interest. What do fish in an aquarium seem to look forward to most… food! Feed me, feed me! All the while, they are probably looking over at the fish stuck on the glass saying, “Thank you Lord, I don’t have to suck algae and stare out that glass!” In actuality, at least the algae sucker is looking out instead of in.

4. The outside world looks distorted from inside the aquarium: Just how sometimes we see fish distorted from certain angles, I imagine they look out and see some pretty intimidating things. I think of Joshua, Caleb and the other spies checking out the Promised Land. When the other spies came back, they said they saw giants and they felt like grasshoppers in comparison. Typical safe, selfish, aquarium living. Joshua and Caleb, on the other hand, saw the same thing, but they were living a life of risk. They had a different perspective and realized things aren't what they appear. They weren’t going to let their lives be ruled by what things looked like from inside the aquarium.

The deep calls.
Tony Morgan wraps it up in one powerful quote. Read it here.

Spiritual Balance and Foam Tubes

Yesterday, I had to balance on a foam tube. It was an interesting exercise which involved lying down with the tube extending along my spine. I was then told to stretch my hands out from my sides and rock back and forth on the tube, trying all the while to stay horizontally parallel with the ground. It was rather difficult. ☺

Balance is the key. Apparently, it’s what helps the core muscles flex and strengthen. The core is the body’s center of gravity, so as I stretched out to either side gravity would begin to pull me down. In order to stay parallel, I had to flex muscles only God knew I had (they sure aren’t visible). It wasn’t an easy exercise, but if I keep it up the end result will be a strong core and center of gravity.

Spiritually speaking, balance is also one of the keys to having a strong core and center of gravity in every Christian’s life. Ephesians 4:11-14 says,

“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”

As a pastor and teacher, I function much like a physical therapist. I have a responsibility to teach others how to strengthen themselves in Christ and to find balance in their walk with God.

There are many fads, teachings and exploited scriptures out there that tend to pressure a person in one direction or the other losing their center of gravity. A good example might be the prosperity gospel or unconditional submission to abusive authority. It’s easy to get pulled in to these teachings all the while losing the balance of scripture. Difficulty arises when nuggets of truth are selfishly twisted and appeal to the fleshy forces of gravity. It’s against such forces we resist and pull back to the scriptures holding fast and balancing our lives upon the truths therein.

Scripture serves as our center of gravity. Learning it in context gives us balance. Balance makes us strong. Strength keeps us from being “tossed back and forth and blown around” in our faith. This is a firm foundation in Christ, through grace, which then qualifies us to teach others.

Paul says it this way in 2 Timothy 2:1-2,

“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”

What are you known for?

I recently heard a friend of mine discussing how there is typically one dominant attribute that an individual is known for.

Some might be known by their trade…
“the coffee guy” or “the lumberjack.”

Others are known for their abilities or hobbies…
“the golfer” or “the chess wizard.”

Still some are just noted for their appearance…
“the bald guy” or “the girl with the beehive.”

If there were one attribute I would want to be known for it would simply be passionate follower of Jesus.

What do you think it would take for a person to live today in such a way that people identify them as an authentic, passionate follower of Christ?