Motivated to Serve

Let’s talk. Let’s discuss what it will take to get our churches into servant mode. I would like to hear from preachers and elders and other church leaders, but I would especially like to hear from the rest of you. What would or does motivate you personally to serve as God wants you to serve? How do we get our congregations serving as God wants them to serve?

Talking in Circles

I was thinking…which is dangerous, I know…and this time is no exception, as you are about to find out…I was thinking about how I am not a big fan of talking people into doing things.  Maybe there is some event coming up for which volunteers are needed but lacking, and I decide that I need to talk to people to get them to volunteer.  I formulate my arguments, mentally categorize all the motivational things I will say and all of the possible responses until I am ready to approach that unsuspecting potential volunteer.  Not too much or too little guilt; make sure and emphasize the benefits; make the victim…I mean potential volunteer…feel that they are needed. 

And then I strike.

Update

Well, at least I have good intentions.  I intend to keep this blog up-to-date with articles at least each week.  I intend to encourage and challenge readers from all kinds of backgrounds.  But, I haven’t been doing a very good job.  It is Vacation Bible School season, which also means it is church camp season.  Between camp, two VBSes that Sara and I have been wrapped up in, and two others that I am teaching one night each for, it has been busy.

But, camp came and went several weeks ago and VBS season is almost over.  I teach Wednesday night in Caney, KS, and then our VBS runs August 3rd-7th.  After that I am home free…except the regular demands of ministry, preaching, and teaching…oh, and the fact that we’re having a baby at the end of October (a girl).  So, hopefully I will have another wonderful article for you very soon.  Keep checking back!

Hospitality

Jesus was set up. This time it was in the house of a Pharisee named Simon. This religious leader invited Jesus to dine in his home, but he was only looking for a mistake, or an inconsistency, or anything that would allow him to rationalize his fear of Jesus and His teachings.

A “woman of the city” let herself in. Everyone knew she was a sinner. Perhaps her reputation preceded her. Maybe she just dressed the part. But, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that she was a sinner.

I’m Thinking of a Number…

A few days ago my wife and I were at the Little League ball fields getting ready to watch a couple kids from church play “blast ball.” In case you don’t know what that is (I didn’t until a couple weeks ago), it is a form of t-ball. The batter hits the ball off the tee (as well as a four-year-old can), and must reach first base, which is also the only base (and it honks when stepped on!), before someone from the opposing team, in a flury of little arms and legs, retrieves the ball, raises it high in the air, and shouts, “BLAST!”

Anyway, as Sara and I were walking toward the bleachers we were greeted by a baseball that landed harmlessly but uncomfortably near us.

An Unanswered Question

Did you know that infants recognize music? Not only do they recognize it, but they can become attached to it, even specific songs or styles of music. They “dance” to it. Many are captivated by an opportunity to punch a few keys on a piano. Are they just enthralled by noise? Are they simply responding to auditory stimuli?

Even unborn babies hear music. Some expectant mothers say that they feel kicks when music plays, or even when particular songs play. Some researchers have claimed that playing Mozart or Beethoven for your unborn baby can increase brain development. Are unborn babies merely responding to harmonically correspondent sound waves?

Isn’t it simply amazing that music can match our emotions and create moods?

Missing the Point

Have you ever read John’s account of when Jesus walked on water? [John 6:16-21] It goes something like this:

The disciples were trying to get across the lake when daylight faded and a storm hit. They rowed hard for three or four miles trying to reach the shore before the boat sank. Suddenly, they saw Jesus walking on the water, and they were afraid. Jesus said, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad, they let him in the boat, they immediately reached the shore, and they all lived happily ever after.

Lovingly Evangelize

So far, my most popular post has been Simply Evangelize. This is encouraging to me because it seems like Christians are genuinely interested in spreading the gospel. I hope the practical suggestions have been helpful.

The ideas in that post were from a variety of experienced evangelists. But, I thought it would be good to hear from Scripture…straight from Scripture…about evangelism. Below is a series of passages presented in paragraph form. I have done my best to do two things: to keep true to the context and original intent of each passage; and to clearly portray God’s ideas for evangelism. If we get all of the practicalities and methods right, but miss the intent behind Biblical evangelism, then we miss the point altogether. Spend some time with these Scriptures, and feel free to comment with your own ideas and passages.

The Lives We Live

I just want to take some time to make something very clear. One reason that men steer clear of the kitchen when the family is gathered for the holidays is because for every woman in the kitchen there are exactly that many ways of doing a simple task like opening a stubborn jar of pickles. Tap the edge of the lid on the counter. Run the lid under cold water. No, hot water. No, not just the lid but the whole jar. Try this rubber gripper thing. All a man wants to do is show his strength by wrestling with the jar until either the lid comes off or his hand comes off. What’s so wrong with doing it that way?

There are also about as many ways to live a life as there are people. Some are clean, some are messy. Some are punctual, some cannot be on time. Some are formal, some are informal. Some are rude, some are almost too nice. And with all of this variety we have developed two extreme views: either we view every one else as wrong if they do not live exactly like us, or we claim that the way you live does not matter as long as it works for you (whatever that means).

Books You Should Read

It is important for Christians to be challenged by differing views. As Solomon said, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” [Proverbs 27:17] If you think you and/or your church have got all of the right answers, then it is definitely time to let someone challenge you. If you are right, then you have nothing to fear by being challenged. If you are wrong, then you have nothing to fear by being corrected.

So, I recommend that every Christian make it a habit to read books on biblical topics on a regular basis. Some might say, “Well, all I need is the Bible,” and that’s very true. The problem is that no one has only the Bible. Everyone has their biases, assumptions, and presuppositions along with the Bible.

Paul said, “Test everything; hold fast to what is good.” [1Thessalonians 5:21] Do not hesitate to test your beliefs…from the basic to the controversial to the complex. Find out what others are saying. Do not write other views off before hearing the case, and do not accept any views before hearing the case.

Here is a list of books in no particular order that I recommend for a variety of reasons…but mostly because I believe they will help you question and grow.

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Mere Discipleship by Lee Camp
Faith and Reason by Ronald Nash
The Edge of Evolution by Michael Behe
The Christian View of Science and Scripture by Bernard Ramm
The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel
Surprising Insights from the Unchurched by Thom Rainer
Biblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch
I Sold My Soul on eBay by Hemant Mehta
Go Ye Means Go Me by Ivan Stewart

Take some time to challenge yourself. Pick up one of these books.