Some more thoughts

Discipleship is probably the most misunderstood word in the church today. Here's a simple definition: discipleship is 'people leading each other to maturity in Christ'.

Today's evangelical church has dicarded the discipleship model in favour of an academic model. Instead of discipling people, we teach them. We put people in classrooms and present them with Bible knowledge. We offer them a weekly lecture(sermon) from an educated person...that is why a man who has sat in church for 30 years without much life change will be suddenly transformed after going on a mission trip. men are changed by what they experience, not necessarily by what they are told.

At the conclusion of Matthew's gospel, Jesus gave his followers 3 responsibilities:

1. make disciples
2. baptize them
3. teach them

we have reversed this process. We teach a lot of people, baptize some, but produce very few genuine disciples.

page 33-35 Why men hate going to Church

Adjusting the thermostat

Chapter 5 of 'Why men hate going to Church' page 29

Every Church has a spiritual thermostat. Where it is set will determine whether that church attracts or repels men. Here are 6 common settings found in today's congregations:

Confrontation
Challenge
Comfort
Conformity
Control
Ceremony

The 3 settings atop the thermostat represent the methods of Jesus. Christ confronted the religious, and He comforted the needy. But he challenged everyone else...Jesus hated the bottom 3 settings - and so do men!

What you think?

Tithing

We are trying to resist getting Sky +, even thought it sounds so good and easy. It would probably work out at an extra £40 a month. But not only for financial reasons are we resisting, we also want to make a statement.

Romans 12 talksabout not conforming to the standards of this world, and it got me thinking about what are the standards of this world and what ways do we conform?

This might come across as judgemental but hopefully it will get some response!

So the early church was characterised by having everything in common(Acts 2v44) and the children of Israel were told that their should be no poor among them (Deuteronomy 15v4). What does this mean for us today? How does this challenge us in how we live our lives? Most people are concerned with church attendance and daily devotions but what really matters?

If I look at my life it looks like this:

Mortgage
Car payments
Mobile phone monthly contract
Gym membership
Season ticket for Norn Iron

I wanted to determine what I need and what I want. I would also like to have an Iphone a Mac laptop and have Sky Plus, but how much more would that cost me a month?

And looking at most of my mates(and lets hope they stay friends with me!) they have most of this list as well. I wonder how many of us tithe? And should all our tithe go directly to our local Church? How much money should go to helping the poor? Is this extra than our 10%?

I was always told to put aside money for the Church and for the poor first - before all my monthly bills, as if I leave it to the end I'll probably have no money left!

So now I sit and think should I get Sky Plus or should I sponsor a child? If I do sponsor a child am I just doing this to easy my conscience? Are my motives right?

Romania Team

Back row from l to r: Richard, Ryan, Richard, William and me
Middle row: Katie, Una, Danielle
Sitting down: Danielle, Katrina, Mary

So this is the full team heading away with HABITAT to Romania at the end of June. We need to raise £1000 each and decided last night, apparently, that we will be doing abseils and even the fun run in May. I hate running, unless I have a football at my feet!

Toilet reading

So I have been meaning to blog about this book for ages. This is my toilet book at the minute, not because its cra or anything, just like to have a book sitting on the toilet so I have something to do...

Anyway its one of those books that you disagree with a lot, it has so many generalisations but it has some fair comments as well.

One thing it talks about is comparing attendance at the sunday service to the type of movie you like to go to watch. Women, in general like romantic, happy ending movies. Men, in general like action movies. Apparently the sunday service has become like a chick flick movie - which I thought was hilarious! But thinking about it, theres all this talk about intimacy and relationship, we expect people to behave and listen and know when to stand and when to sit. No wonder, the writer continues, no men what to go to sunday service!

On one hand, yes the Christian faith is all about relationships (loving God and loving others) but even the word 'love' and the term 'personal relationship' aint a manly concept!

Looking at the life of Jesus, was He more about adventure and risk? Denying yourself, picking up your cross and following Him. And will there be a nice ending, where everyone lives happily ever after.....

First Aid

Having to give CPR to little Anne wasn't the best way to spend an afternoon, but then I thought..."imagine having to do this for real"

You never know how you're going to respond until you are actually in the situation, but I just pray that if I ever am, I'll be able to help.

From l to r back row: James "loveboat" McAlister, Kim Cousins, Alan "scousescum"Cowan, Robyn, The Stitler, Jonny
From l to r front row: Laura Magee, Jamie Plant, Miriam "on the piste" McAlister, and me

Stories of Jesus

So we can take good things out of Christmas, and last week at the Ballysillan Board meeting Carrie asked us to think of stories of Jesus that we love.

The first one that came to my mind was when Jesus turned the tables upside down in the temple! Awesome!



You can find the story in Mark 11 v15-19

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written:
" 'My house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"

The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

When evening came, they went out of the city.

Its not about turning the tables over that I love, just the fact that Jesus said "You got it all wrong!" We get so comfortable in our traditions and routines, that worshipping God becomes a ritual, even a business, and its wrong. If anything gets in the place of others meeting with God should wedisgard it, turn it upside down? Jesus might have woken some of the people up, when he turned the tables. Did Jesus disturbed the peace and tranquility of the temple? Again in Church, is there any life or emotion?

Christmas

I used to be of the opinion that if you take CHRIST out of CHRISTMAS you are left with M-A-S, Minus A Saviour.

I used to say Jesus is the reason for the season!

I have seen a couple of groups started wanting to save Christmas as a Christian festival.

I have also come across people who want to take Christ out of Christmas.

I say let them! Let people change the name and call it winterfest or whatever they come out with.

I say its about time we Jesus followers take a stand and speak out about this pagan commercialised holiday. What is Christian about it? Some good morals or sharing, giving and receiving but thats about it.

Not to be a scrooge but there are so many people who get into debt during this time of year. Kids have become like spoilt little brats who want more, more, more!

And Jesus was probably born in spring, when the shepherds were out in the field so lets celebrate it then and let the heathens do what they want in december! I said this to someone whose response was "But then we cant celebrate Easter if Christmas is in the spring as well!".....DOh!