as I prepare a sermon on John 2:13-25 for this weekend, the text is helping me to think about buildings, their role and importance for Churches today
From what Jesus does and teaches in John 2 (and in ch. 4) , it is abundantly clear that buildings don't hold any theological or spiritual significance. With the death and resurrection of Jesus we no longer require a physical building to meet with God. The Temple is no longer a place, but a person.
Having said that, while buildings don't hold any theological or spiritual significance, venues nonetheless matter. Our meeting place has implications for ministry and who will come and how many and from where.
God can grow a church from inside a dumpster if he wanted, by why make it a dumpster if we don’t need too? Why make it more difficult for people to come into church than we need. We want it to be as easy and welcoming as possible. Making the wrong choice from a human point of view may mean that it’s harder to do ministry, it decides the size of ministry, and it may even be the case that visitors are so repelled by the outdated 1960s pseudo-retro- never-to- be -in-fashion-again style of our venue, that they don’t want to come in at all.
Here are 4 tips for choosing a venue (and for redeveloping an existing venue):
1. What is the Church’s vision? What space do you need in order to fit the vision? Do you need a main meeting room with 50 seats or 300 seats? Do you require breakout rooms for kids programs and offices?
2. Location. You need to meet in the neighbourhood you are trying to reach. Some people are happy to travel, but you have to focus your ministry somewhere. Make it close to the people you are reaching.
3. Aesthetics. Despite all our claims about how appearances don't matter, the reality is they do. Perhaps because we're shallow but also because God has made us creative beings and visual beings. It is important to think not only about what kind of space suits your ministry needs, but what is the vibe we want to set. Every space has a vibe, make it one that reflects the ethos of your church
4. Cost. What is a realistic cost? Ministry is not about buildings, but buildings can facilitate ministry. So what is a respectable sum for you and your church?
Friday, March 16, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Pastors are like politicians
…in a few ways
1. it is a thankless job
2. You are expected to be perfect
3. any time you step outside the party-line you are criticized.
4. No matter what you say and do there are always people waiting to throw knives
5.There is an assumed view that Pastors and politicians have skin thicker than a crocodile and so it’s ok to say/do to them whatever you please.
6. We love the politician who agrees with us, and we vote out the politician who disagrees with us
7. straining for the ‘like’ button is natural but will ultimately destroy your usefulness to the people
some qualifiers:
1. The Bible does set a very high bar for Pastors (1 Tim 3, Titus 1, James 3:1 etc), but there are times when Churches set the bar even higher than the Bible and that leads to all kinds of problems for Churches.
2. The Bible encourages Pastors to be transparent – let them see you progress (1 Tim 5). Implied is, Pastors are not perfect and sometimes we makes mistakes and even sin, but we are making progress and we need to show that.
3. Pastors are there (in part) to hear people and to help carry others burdens. And it is Christ’s love and compassion that compels Pastors to absorb all kinds of troubles and pains, for the sake of the Church.
4. Politicians are finally answerable to the public, Pastors are finally answerable, not to the Church, but to God.
As a Pastor I now understand and appreciate our politicians more than I once did. Pray for them. Respect them. Disagree with them. Support them.
1. it is a thankless job
2. You are expected to be perfect
3. any time you step outside the party-line you are criticized.
4. No matter what you say and do there are always people waiting to throw knives
5.There is an assumed view that Pastors and politicians have skin thicker than a crocodile and so it’s ok to say/do to them whatever you please.
6. We love the politician who agrees with us, and we vote out the politician who disagrees with us
7. straining for the ‘like’ button is natural but will ultimately destroy your usefulness to the people
some qualifiers:
1. The Bible does set a very high bar for Pastors (1 Tim 3, Titus 1, James 3:1 etc), but there are times when Churches set the bar even higher than the Bible and that leads to all kinds of problems for Churches.
2. The Bible encourages Pastors to be transparent – let them see you progress (1 Tim 5). Implied is, Pastors are not perfect and sometimes we makes mistakes and even sin, but we are making progress and we need to show that.
3. Pastors are there (in part) to hear people and to help carry others burdens. And it is Christ’s love and compassion that compels Pastors to absorb all kinds of troubles and pains, for the sake of the Church.
4. Politicians are finally answerable to the public, Pastors are finally answerable, not to the Church, but to God.
As a Pastor I now understand and appreciate our politicians more than I once did. Pray for them. Respect them. Disagree with them. Support them.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Warning: reformed theology may impact Melbourne!
the Devil has come to town...
One of the many things that I’m grateful to God for with my theological education from Moore College was that we were encouraged to read widely and deeply. The curriculum reflected this, both in reading lists and in the vaste number of subjects we were to take: countless theology subjects, NT, OT, 3 years of philosophy, 3 years of Church history, 2 years of Ethics, 15+ ministry subjects. The reading lists were not limited to ‘ Banner of Truth” (in fact there was very little from that publisher), and they weren’t restricted to pro-gay, Egalitarian, universalistic relativist Gandhi hugging feminists!
I don’t recall ever being told, ‘do not read this author or that book’. We were encouraged to read, but to read thoughtfully and Biblically. I have recently learnt that this valuing of a breadth of education isn’t always the case. A delegate at the recent Xpose Preaching Conference shared with me that at his College, students have been warned about such ‘conservative’ writers like John Piper and Mark Driscoll.
The reason given was, ‘it may influence the theology of future candidates’.
My first reaction was fantastic, our theology in Melbourne needs some positive influences. My second thought was, ‘there must be a surge of reformed persuasion talking place right now and these guys are worried. Thank you God.’ My third thought was this, ‘I am grateful to God for my theological education that encourage me to read widely and deeply.
Something I have come to learn is that liberals are more fearful of freedom and exploration than are conservatives. All you need to do to discover this is look through the reading lists for a liberal college, and then for a reformed college.
One of the many things that I’m grateful to God for with my theological education from Moore College was that we were encouraged to read widely and deeply. The curriculum reflected this, both in reading lists and in the vaste number of subjects we were to take: countless theology subjects, NT, OT, 3 years of philosophy, 3 years of Church history, 2 years of Ethics, 15+ ministry subjects. The reading lists were not limited to ‘ Banner of Truth” (in fact there was very little from that publisher), and they weren’t restricted to pro-gay, Egalitarian, universalistic relativist Gandhi hugging feminists!
I don’t recall ever being told, ‘do not read this author or that book’. We were encouraged to read, but to read thoughtfully and Biblically. I have recently learnt that this valuing of a breadth of education isn’t always the case. A delegate at the recent Xpose Preaching Conference shared with me that at his College, students have been warned about such ‘conservative’ writers like John Piper and Mark Driscoll.
The reason given was, ‘it may influence the theology of future candidates’.
My first reaction was fantastic, our theology in Melbourne needs some positive influences. My second thought was, ‘there must be a surge of reformed persuasion talking place right now and these guys are worried. Thank you God.’ My third thought was this, ‘I am grateful to God for my theological education that encourage me to read widely and deeply.
Something I have come to learn is that liberals are more fearful of freedom and exploration than are conservatives. All you need to do to discover this is look through the reading lists for a liberal college, and then for a reformed college.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
why come to Xpose Preaching Conference
1. because Melbourne needs BIblically faithful & Spirit empowered preachers
2. because preaching is exhausting and we all need to be re-energised
3. Because preachers never stop growing and learning
4. because preachers also need to be ministered too
5. because Xpose is going to be that good a conference
6. to help us think through what it means to be a preacher and whether God is tapping you on the shoulder
7. because there are so many misconceptions about what expository preaching is all about and they need correcting
8. Because Ed Stetzer (and Mikey Lynch) has flown from overseas to encourage preachers in Melbourne.
9. I have to mention the food, it will be better than good
2. because preaching is exhausting and we all need to be re-energised
3. Because preachers never stop growing and learning
4. because preachers also need to be ministered too
5. because Xpose is going to be that good a conference
6. to help us think through what it means to be a preacher and whether God is tapping you on the shoulder
7. because there are so many misconceptions about what expository preaching is all about and they need correcting
8. Because Ed Stetzer (and Mikey Lynch) has flown from overseas to encourage preachers in Melbourne.
9. I have to mention the food, it will be better than good
Thursday, February 2, 2012
placebo preaching
1. remind people how great they are
2. remind people how good they are
3. don't let Jesus be crucified or raised from the dead; limit him to healer or teacher or social worker
4. ignore sin, certainly never tell people they are sinners
5. don't ever demand anything of anyone
6. make unsubstantiated promises about how successful and prosperous they will be
7. never tell them that Jesus said to take up your cross and follow him
8. tell them that heart rendering story...again...that has no relevance to the Bible passage but will sure bring a tear to the eye
9. get them in the mood to respond to the altar call for a third time this year by trying out your latest stand up act
10. make the sermon about them and not Jesus
11. get your sermon points from the newspaper, not the Bible
12. make God has ambiguous as you can so that people feel comfortable to believe of God as they want
2. remind people how good they are
3. don't let Jesus be crucified or raised from the dead; limit him to healer or teacher or social worker
4. ignore sin, certainly never tell people they are sinners
5. don't ever demand anything of anyone
6. make unsubstantiated promises about how successful and prosperous they will be
7. never tell them that Jesus said to take up your cross and follow him
8. tell them that heart rendering story...again...that has no relevance to the Bible passage but will sure bring a tear to the eye
9. get them in the mood to respond to the altar call for a third time this year by trying out your latest stand up act
10. make the sermon about them and not Jesus
11. get your sermon points from the newspaper, not the Bible
12. make God has ambiguous as you can so that people feel comfortable to believe of God as they want
a Pastor's reminder
I was reminded this morning of 1 Timothy 4:16, 'Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.'
We mustn't ignore the conjunction, 'and'. It is life and doctrine, and persevering in them both.
The Pastor who chooses between pursuing godliness and theology will not only truncate his usefulness, Paul tell us that it has salvific proportions.
We mustn't ignore the conjunction, 'and'. It is life and doctrine, and persevering in them both.
The Pastor who chooses between pursuing godliness and theology will not only truncate his usefulness, Paul tell us that it has salvific proportions.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
6 possible reasons why people don’t like preaching
(in no particular order)
1. we’re accustomed to the 30 minute sitcom that contains 7 and a half minutes of advertisements. Sitting for an extended time and engaging with a humourless monologue is hard work (against this, uni students sit through hour long lectures every day and everyone enjoys 2 hours at the cinema).
2. We have talked up the singing time in Church to the point that we have relegated preaching to a secondary and uninspiring place.
3. We’ve accepted the lie that theology is unimportant
4. We are a culture of doers not thinkers.
5. We have sat under years of boring and irrelevant preaching
6. We have hard-hearts, not wanting to hear what God has to say
1. we’re accustomed to the 30 minute sitcom that contains 7 and a half minutes of advertisements. Sitting for an extended time and engaging with a humourless monologue is hard work (against this, uni students sit through hour long lectures every day and everyone enjoys 2 hours at the cinema).
2. We have talked up the singing time in Church to the point that we have relegated preaching to a secondary and uninspiring place.
3. We’ve accepted the lie that theology is unimportant
4. We are a culture of doers not thinkers.
5. We have sat under years of boring and irrelevant preaching
6. We have hard-hearts, not wanting to hear what God has to say
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
more on preachers
here's another way to look at the question of Melbourne needing more preachers -
Do you think churches should prioritize other ministries over preaching (except of course prayer)?
Do you think there should be less preaching in church and more of other things?
Do you believe our churches will grow up into Christ without preaching?
If your answer to any of these questions is 'yes', then may I suggest that you are out of sinc with the NT, with Jesus and the Apostles.
Do you think churches should prioritize other ministries over preaching (except of course prayer)?
Do you think there should be less preaching in church and more of other things?
Do you believe our churches will grow up into Christ without preaching?
If your answer to any of these questions is 'yes', then may I suggest that you are out of sinc with the NT, with Jesus and the Apostles.
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