northpoint notes

Relief – there really isn’t a new strategy for making disciples. We have spent the past two days reviewing the strategy of Jesus. In the midst of that trying to figure out how to apply that strategy in the context of the local church. Jesus didn’t have a discipleship class nor did He have a set curriculum.

Instead He invested himself in a chosen group of men. He shaped character by confronting stuff in their lives. He challenged conventional theology by saying, “You have heard it said, but I say to you…” He demonstrated ministry, sent them out to do ministry and then spent time debriefing their experience.

The question most are wrestling with is “how do I carve out the time to invest in a few people when I have sermons to prepare, board and committee meetings to lead, a family to care for and planning to do?”

The question we are being challenged with, “is making disciples really important?” We have been challenged to define disciple. Is a disciple of Jesus one who knows the Bible and attends church or is a disciple also one who makes disciples of others?

It appears that Jesus expected disciples to make other disciples. So what we are hearing is not new, it is just a reminder that we need to make multiplication a high priority. Is it possible in 21st century America to create a disciple-making movement?

Having been in Christian ministry for nearly 40 years (ouch – that seems like a long time) I have seen numerous “answers” for the church – programs, strategies, training events, leadership development – all assuring if we follow the instructions we can make the church more effective – which translates into “grow larger.”

This week I am attending another “sure to work” training event – a week of 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM lecture and discussion. Because of my years and some experience, I am to help with some coaching  of others.

The focus of this event is on discipleship. What is amazing is that for some reason, there is a sense of excitement about it. The discipleship strategy was introduced 2000 years ago. Jesus was the Master disciple-maker. He told his followers to go and do what He did and what He had taught them to do.

Through the centuries church leaders thought they could improve on His methodology – they could speed up the process – make disciples faster. I’m not sure there is a fast track to discipleship. Everyone grows in faith at a different pace.

So this week, I will sit and listen, interact and ask questions and at least be challenged afresh to stay the course of making disciples.

I just noticed the picture on the calendar on the wall in my office – it’s a running calendar which means that each month there is a picture of someone running – usually in a unique venue. There are running tips and reminders of road races from 5Ks to marathons around the country.

The January picture is a woman running through a field with a black and white dog (Border Collie perhaps) at her side. I actually noticed the dog and the setting first. They brought memories of a time when I was very young. I had an English Shepherd – she was mostly black. I loved running through the fields of our small farm with “Shep” at my side.

It was a time of freedom and a time when there seemed to be no pressures (I was only 5 or 6). We didn’t have much in the way of material possessions at that time but it was a good time.

I think one of the reasons I enjoy running today is that it takes me back to those days. I don’t have a dog now but there is a certain freedom I enjoy when I’m running. It is a time to reflect – get away from the demands of life and be refreshed.

I will likely get a run in later today (in spite of the cold) and I will revisit those days of running through the fields or down the lane and I will return refreshed.

Three times in Joshua 1, God tells him to “be strong and courageous. The first time He reminded Him, “you will lead these people.” The second time it was accompanied by the instructions to obey all the law. The last time it came with assurance of the Lord’s presence.

Those God calls to give leadership need to be strong and courageous because He has given us a people to lead – whether we are leading a small group or a large congregation, there are those looking for leadership with strong in faith who can point them to God in the midst of the battle.

There is also a need for leaders to stand strong on the Word of God. Leaders will always be challenged. The most solid footing is His word.

What really gives the Christian leader strength is the presence of the Lord. God’s word to Joshua was more than a pep talk like a coach challenging the team in the locker room. He was telling Joshua that He had given him all the tools he needed and that He would accompany him.

At the end of the chapter, those representing the tribes that would eventually settle east of the Jordan also told Joshua – we will follow but you must be strong and courageous. They needed someone to whom to look.

Leadership can be lonely – God knew that so He promises to be the needed companionship. It is the assurance of His presence that gives strength and courage.

I am the stereotypical male – I don’t like reading instructions. There are times when this has served me well (saved time and increased my confidence in not reading instructions). There have been other times when it was costly – much time was wasted and after several “do-overs” I still had to read the instructions. This of course fuels the argument of loved ones to read the instructions first.

Having said that, I needed to replace the headlight on my car – a simple operation – until I looked under the hood to gain access. From my first observations, it appeared I would have to remove the battery and perhaps another unknown obstruction (I’m not a mechanic) in order to reach the old bulb. There had to be a better way (besides it was bitterly cold outside). So I did the unthinkable. I open the owners manual to look for instructions. There they were – I was relieved. the battery didn’t have to come out. Remove two screws, pull the headlamp housing out, unplug the electrical supply, replace the bulb and reassemble. Great! I can do this.

The screws came out easily but the headlamp housing did not want to leave its position. It would wriggle but it appeared there was not enough clearance for it to be removed. After several attempts, I put the screws back in and drove to the dealership to ask for further instructions (this is out of character) and hoping they would offer to replace the bulb for me (I wasn’t about to ask). They didn’t offer and the instructions included removing a series of screws to loosen the front grill and another piece of framing around the front of the engine. The technician gave me assurance (not help) that I could do the job.

Back in my driveway I opened the hood again. Now I have two sets of instructions – the one in the manual and the ones from the experienced technician. I removed the two screws per the owners manual and removed the next screw as advised by the technician. As soon as I removed it, I could see that even if I removed all the screws on the grill, it would not free the headlamp. I replaced that screw.

I went back to the original instructions – remove to screws and pull headlamp out. With the screws out, I took a firm grip on the headlamp and yanked – it came out! The instructions worked! The technician was wrong and I got it right. I was battling a bit of pride.

I replaced the bulb, put the headlamp in place, reset the screws, turned the lights on and they didn’t work (that fixed the pride issue). At least now I knew how to remove the headlamp. I took it out again and found that I had failed to reconnect the electrical supply. I took care of that, put everthing back together and turned the lights on. They didn’t work. I had actually replaced the wrong bulb. I repeated the process – this time checking to see if the lights worked before replacing the headlamp. Everything worked!!!

There are several things I have thought about through this experience. It is O.K. to follow instructions. When the instructions seem difficult to follow or do not seem to working, the problem may not be with the instructions but with the one trying to follow them. Successfully following instructions is not a cause for great pride.

There are lessens to be learned – God’s instructions are not always easy and sometimes may actually seem not to work. The problem is not with the instructions. When I follow His plans and find they do work, it is not an occasion for personal pride but for thanksgiving for His help and seeking Him for next steps.

I have done a few questionable things while driving – like studying Hebrew vocabulary with miniature flash cards in hand – flipping through them above the steering wheel. Seminary demands will cause you to do things like that. I remember that I had a lot of people praying for me but I am not sure I thought about the risk involved as I focused more on the cards than on the highway.

I saw something today that prompted me to think about things I have done while driving and things I have seen others do.

Reading

Working a crossword

Talking on the phone

Disciplining children in the backseat

Shaving

Applying make-up (this was definitely not me)

Brushing teeth – I saw this one today

Eating/drinking

Text messaging

Arguing or at least animated conversation

Reading a map

Dozing

I’m sure we don’t think of driving as an act of faith. We just do it – like most things in life. Perhaps our multi-tasking while driving is a reflection of our sense of invincibility. I know there are those who want to ban cell phones and other potential distractions to drivers but perhaps the problem is not the phone or the toothbrush or flash cards but our attitude about life – about its value and even about our own value to those around us.

Joshua gives us a lot to think about when it comes to leadership. Perhaps the most significant element of Joshua’s leadership was his awareness of God’s call on his life.

Joshua was asking an entire nation to pick up and move. I understand that they were going to the promised land but as I have watched people through the years most people would rather stay with what is familiar even if the promised future is better. I would expect a significant amount of unrest among the people as they prepared to move.

Then there was the assurance from the leadership that they would follow Joshua as they had followed Moses (1:16-18). I started thinking about that and there was not a good history of following Moses. There had been whining and complaining in the early days. They had determined not to enter the promised land 40 years earlier. I’m not sure this was a great comfort to Joshua.

In order to lead these people, Joshua had to know in the deepest part of his being that this is what God wanted him and them to do. That call can give courage to move ahead when the crowds begin to doubt and become discouraged.

It gives courage to ask big things of people – not because you have great things you want to accomplish but because God is asking big things. God was asking big things because He was offering something big and inviting these people to step up and accept what he had to offer.

That call to lead is a strange thing. I tried to explain my own call to Christian ministry to a scholarship committee when I was a senior in high school. They wanted to know why I was choosing ministry as a vocation. I found it difficult to articulate the inner struggle I had faced – I had other plans for my life (teach high school English). But there was this inner nagging that would not go away – something deep inside that I had resisted for two years. It only went away when I finally decided to change the plans and prepare for Christian ministry.

Through the years I have thought of doing something else and as soon as I do, that nagging inside begins again. It is the call that keeps Christian leaders going during the toughest times.

I intended to be out the door for my morning run before 6:00 today. At 6:03 my hand was on the door knob and I heard my phone beep. I decided to check it. There was a text message from my son, “If you are up, sign on to Skype.” I followed the instructions and sure enough he was on the other end.

He left Saturday for Auckland, New Zealand for 40 days to teach a class on the priorities of Jesus for a group of college students from Indiana. It was 12:03 Tuesday morning in Auckland – 6:03 Monday morning in Indiana. Since he has a camera connected to his computer I could actually see him as well.

Times have changed. I spent the summer of 1968 in Brazil, SA. I was gone 10 weeks and the only contact from home was an occasional letter. I am thankful for the technology that allows this kind of communication from a time zone that is 18 hours ahead of us.

Keeping in touch has always been important to our family. Technology helps us keep in touch even when we can’t be together. The call delayed my run, the start to my day – but the I am thankful I heard the beep of the cell phone. It made for an even better start to the day.

The Bible is a fascinating book. The longer I linger over it the more I realize there is to see. It is easy to forget that the book is not accounts of great men but accounts of a great God working through obedient men. If we treat it as a book about great men and what they accomplished we soon begin to believe we are greater than we are.

That is not to minimize the gifts and talents of men. It is just a reminder that we are recipients of God’s blessings and equipping.

As I look further at Joshua, I see 4 key ingredients to his success. The first one I mentioned in an earlier post.

1. Call – His call is clarified in chapter, verse 6 – you are going to lead these people. That is huge – knowing that one is called to a particular ministry gives staying power. Even when things are discouraging the awareness of God’s call will not let a leader quit.

2. Commitment/heart – The Septuagint (Greek version of the O.T) translates “be strong and of good courage” as “be strong therefore, and play the man to the uttermost.” It reminds me of the coach in the locker room before the big game. Joshua, give yourself completely to this. To lead requires heart/commitment.

3. Character – God tells Joshua to know the law, meditate on the law, be able to speak the law and to obey it. It was the law that would shape his character. Military strategies were important and God gave him some unique plans but what God was really concerned for was character. If a leader is to lead well, he must have character.

4. God’s presence – God promised His presence but it appears to be tied to His character, commitment and faithfulness to the call. God promises His presence in the context of talking about fear and discouragement. God’s presence is the anecdote for both.

We have all heard the stories – a pastor has an affair, abuses a child, is caught with pornography or mishandles money. Removed from ministry, they experience shame, guilt, anger, hurt. What is termed discipline is usually punishment. Few are restored to ministry (some should not be) and most are forgotten. They and their families are then isolated from the church community. They are often left to mend on their own.

Their “fall from leadership” was due to choices they made and there are and should be consequences to those actions.

Today I talked with three men who have been removed from ministry. There has been no moral failure; no lack of performance and not character flaw that would merit dismissal. In two cases, the issue was primarily that they were a threat to someone in power over them. The third had to do with a difference in philosophy of ministry.

I have seen dismisals in the secular world handled better. These men have been wounded deeply.

The first group fell because of their own decisions. The second group are down because of “friendly fire.” It was the church or another leader in the church that wounded them.

As a child I loved to watch the old westerns – the “oaters” – or horse operas as some called them. Battles between cowboys and Indians, marshalls and bandits were exciting. The Indians were always trying to get general and the cavalry tried to get the chief. Knock out the leadership and the battle is won.

I believe there is an enemy fighting against the church. He is going after the leaders. Some he tempts to moral failure. Others he wounds through the church. For some the wounds are so deep they have no desire to be in the church again – they still want to serve God but not in the church.

I pray the church will be a place of healing for fallen leaders and that even those who have been wounded will find a church that is safe.