Since Easter we’ve been looking at the issues that most
trouble people about Christianity in our sermon series “Doubting Our Doubts.”
What was surprising is that the ones needing these messages most were not the
unchurched friends of our members, but those already in our church. Some are
intellectuals wrestling with doubts due to their natural skepticism. Others are
struggling to pursue God in the face of great suffering. Yet some who wouldn’t
yet call themselves Christians are just happy to learn from those they now
trust and consider more open than the other churches they’ve known. Please pray
that believers and doubters alike would be drawn to a deeper confidence in the
God of the Bible, and for wisdom for me as I attempt to graciously respond to
hard yet honest questions.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
"You're Gonna Get Nailed"
That’s what another church planter told me within seconds of
hearing that I was coming to Vegas to church plant. He was referring to the
spiritual warfare that we commonly experience here. We’ve definitely been
feeling it lately. The day I preached on “Suffering: The Problem of Evil,” the
pastoral prayer included reference to 3 cancer patients in our small
congregation. Two of them were just diagnosed in the last month, while the
other is terminal and has about a month to live. One family was gone while
making preparations for a funeral, while another was back with us after dealing
with a suicide in the family. Two more folks were missing because they had to
pack up after their apartment was auctioned off, one of which had just suffered
a mental breakdown. Meanwhile another was missing due to allegations from the
mother of his child that got him locked up for over 2 weeks without being able
to see a judge. That’s a lot for a church of fewer than 50 people to experience
in just one month.
In the midst of it all, God has had to stretch me as a
pastor. Seminary doesn’t prepare you for this. If pastoral care is where God
most wants to grow me, He’s sure given me ample opportunity. Please pray for protection
from the Evil One, for perseverance, and most of all for the hope of the Gospel
to be experienced by us all as we walk through these difficult times.
Life On Life
It may surprise people that Jesus’ “Master Plan of
Evangelism” was to spend 3 years of intense training with a small group of
disciples. Yet after His resurrection, that modest group was who God used to
turn the world upside down. We call this model of deep investment “Life on
Life” discipleship. Lately it’s been bearing fruit. Tonight (Monday) was an
absolute joy, which reminded me of why we committed to this approach to
discipleship. Personally I’m seeing our men’s hearts for their coworkers,
roommates and family members grow the past few weeks, as well as a rediscovery
of their love for God. Meanwhile I’ve been encouraged by the level of openness
with the men I meet with every week. Please pray for continued internal growth
(love for God and people) for our church, that it may translate into external
growth (more people coming into the church and into God’s kingdom).
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