I QUIT, HOW ABOUT YOU?

"That's it! I am done. I quit. I am tired of business as usual and just going through the motions. I want more. I need more. God wants to me have more."

That's been my focus for the last few months. As a Christian and as a pastor of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I am so hungry for another mighty move of God... not just in my life, not just in my family or my church family, but however big God wants to make it. And not for my glory or our church's glory... but all for God's glory. I really feel a strong passion to focus on two things: God's Word and prayer. That may sound very elementary to you or too obvious but think about it for a moment. Are we really hungry for God? Is our hunger for God being shown in our Bible study and in our prayer lives?

I used to play the keyboard for a quartet called Greater Desire and tonight, I am reminded of a phrase that Kendall Bush, our tenor singer, used to say quite often. The phrase was "living beneath your privileges". If I remember the context of that saying, Kendall was referring to those who didn't know Jesus and was explaining that they are missing out on so much that God has to offer because they have not committed their lives to Christ yet. Tonight, I am thinking about the phrase in the next context which is focusing on those of who are Christians but are satisfied where we are spiritually instead of hungering for more of Him. When we pray, are we really praying to God or just mumbling some memorable phrases that we have rehearsed? When we read God's Word, do we really meditate on it or do we just rush through it so that we can get on with our busy schedules?

So what about the "That's it! I am done. I quit. I am tired of business as usual and just going through the motions. I want more. I need more. God wants to me have more."? Instead of flying on auto-pilot, I want to stop and focus more on connecting with God through reading His Word and through praying to Him. Acts 6:4 (ESV) — 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Instead of thinking "I have to read this much today", I want to focus on "What am I doing with what I read today? Have I applied His Word to my life? Have I meditated on His Word and have I prayed His Word instead of just praying the same things that I usually prayed for?" I want to experience more of God's presence in my life so that those around me will know God. What did Jesus say in Matthew 5:16 (ESV) — 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Do you see it? By letting our light shine before others (living the life that God wants us to live), they will see our good works and give all of the glory to God. Don't you want that to happen in your life too?

Will you join me in seeking for more of God's presence in our lives, in our families and in our churches? Think about the impact that our lives could have if we lived every day for His glory and asked God to make us more faithful and more fruitful. Before I close this post, I want to share with you the passage that we read tonight in our Bible study and I would encourage you to read through it slowly and pray these words for yourself and also for whoever God puts on your heart...


Colossians 1:3–14 (ESV) — 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. 9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE?

Last night, our Bible study group looked at the middle part of our motto which is “BRINGING IN, LIFTING UP AND SENDING OUT TO IMPACT OUR WORLD THROUGH THE POWER OF JESUS CHRIST” so the attention was on the phrase “LIFTING UP”. The purpose of this study was to remind all of us that we must make sure that what is happening in the middle of that motto is driven by love… the kind of love that God tells us to have.

First notice some key words in Ephesians 4:1–3 (ESV) — 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [underlining added]

We are to humble towards each other which is the opposite of being arrogant. We are to have a spirit of gentleness towards each other as well. Adding to that, we are to be patient with each other and bear with one another in the spirit of love making sure that we are promoting unity and peace in the body of Christ.

Next notice some key words in Ephesians 4:4–6 (ESV) — 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. [underlining added]

One. One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God. One. We are to think in terms of one. Thinking about the oneness in verses 4-6 and the key words in verses 1-3, we then spent most of our time together looking at verses 11-16 and asking the following questions…

Ephesians 4:11 (ESV) — 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

• WHO IS “HE”? God. 1 Corinthians 12:18 (ESV) — 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
• WHO DID “HE” GIVE “the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers” TO? To the church, first the "universal church", which means all of those who are born again, and then more specifically to the "local church" which means each group of born-again believers that meet together to worship and become more like Christ. 
• WHY DID “HE” GIVE “the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers” TO THEM? " to equip the saints for the work of ministry" from verse 12

Ephesians 4:12 (ESV) — 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

• WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “equip”? To train and prepare someone for something.
• WHO IS TO BE EQUIPPED? The "saints" which means the born-again believers of Jesus Christ. "Saints" does not mean perfect people. If you are a true Christian, you are a saint.
• WHAT ARE THEY TO BE EQUIPPED FOR? "the work of ministry". Every Christian is to be busy serving God in addition to worshiping God. And yes, ministry is "work". It doesn't happen automatically. It takes prayer and hard work but what greater thing could we hear being said to us than "Well done, My good and faithful servant"?
• WHY ARE THEY TO BE EQUIPPED? "for building up the body of Christ"
• HOW ARE THEY TO BE EQUIPPED? VV.15-16 Through "love". By "speaking the truth in love" and by "build[ing] itself up in love"

Ephesians 4:13 (ESV) — 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

• WHO ARE “we all”? All believers. Regardless of title or position or lack of either, we are all to growing up in Christ.
• WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE SAINTS BEING EQUIPPED FOR MINISTRY? Unity, both in faith and in knowledge of Jesus. Spiritual maturity, "to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" 

Ephesians 4:14 (ESV) — 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

• WHY SHOULD WE SEEK “the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”? "so that we may no longer be children" We are to be growing in our spiritual walk so that we don't chase after every fad that comes along. For example, some churches are always changing their identity to copy somebody else whether it be Rick Warren's "purpose-driven church", Bill Hybels' "seeker-sensitive church", etc. We are to pattern our church after God's Word and how He shapes us.
• WHAT CAN CAUSE US TO BE “tossed to and fro”? "by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes" Again, what does God's Word say? Anything we consider to be "doctrine" must be based upon the Bible and nothing else. We must not follow people's "cunning", "craftiness" or "deceitful schemes".
• HOW CAN WE KEEP OURSELVES FROM BEING “tossed to and fro”? By being grounded in God's Word so that we are seeking to "attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ"

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV) — 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

• WHAT IS THE “truth” THAT WE ARE TO SPEAK? God's Word
• HOW ARE WE TO SPEAK THAT “truth”? "in love" Love that shows that we care for each other and not just for ourselves.
• WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN IF WE SPEAK THAT TRUTH IN LOVE? We will be able to "grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ". [Underlining added]

Look at the key words in Ephesians 4:16 (ESV) — 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. [underlining added]

The whole body, not just part of it, being joined and held together. Each part being equipped and working properly. The body growing up and building itself up in love. That is what is supposed to be happening in every church.

WHAT COULD KEEP THIS PASSAGE FROM HAPPENING IN OUR CHURCH?

• WHAT IF THE PREACHERS/TEACHERS WERE NOT EQUIPPING THE SAINTS FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY? Then the whole ministry load would be saved for or fall upon the preachers and teachers. That would keep the church from growing and it would keep the saints from being able to serve and develop their spiritual gifts.
• WHY WOULD THE PREACHERS/TEACHERS NOT WANT TO EQUIP THE SAINTS FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY? Pride (not wanting to share the ministry with anyone), not having confidence in the saints to be able to learn it or do it, not willing to take the time to train someone to minister, being burned too many times from training someone and then that person turned on you or left you, etc.
• WHAT IF THE SAINTS DIDN’T WANT TO BE EQUIPPED FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY? Then they would be disobedient and rebellious towards God and the church. They would act like "consumers" who only come to church to get what they want and then leave, etc.
• WHY WOULDN’T THE SAINTS WANT TO BE EQUIPPED FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY? They don't want the responsibility, they are too focused on themselves, they don't feel like they are qualified to minister, they think somebody else will do it, etc.
• WHAT IF THE CHURCH WASN’T SEEKING “the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”? It would be full of divisions and conflicts. It would have no appetite for God's Word and no desire to see any growth.
• WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS THAT A CHURCH IS NOT SEEKING “the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”? Not reading your Bible, not attending Sunday School, the worship services and the Bible studies.  Arrogance instead of humility. Being focused on self instead of the whole body. 
• WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS THAT A CHURCH IS ACTING LIKE “children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes”? Always chasing after the latest celebrity preacher or author. Not being serious about your commitment to God and to His church. Not being consistent with what you believe and why you believe it. Fighting for position, power and recognition.
• WHAT CAUSES A CHURCH TO ACT LIKE “children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes”? Not seeking "the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ"
• WHY WOULD WE NOT WANT TO SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE? This quote is very powerful. “Truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is hypocrisy.” Warren W. Wiersbe Some people don't want to speak the truth in love because they feel better about themselves by pointing out the faults of others. Some people are more concerned about what they say than how it will affect whoever they are talking to.
• WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON’T “speaking the truth in love”? We will cause more divisions and more folks to leave the church.
• WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON’T WANT TO GROW UP? Disobedience to God. We are to be making disciples, not making divisions. We cannot please God if we refuse to grow up.
• WHAT HAPPENS IF WE THINK WE ARE GROWING UP BUT REALLY WE AREN’T? Then our talk won't match our walk. We will say that we are Christians but our lifestyles will scream the opposite. Jesus said in several places that we will be known by our fruit. If our fruit is not matching what we are saying, we are only deceiving ourselves.
• WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT THE WHOLE BODY BE “joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped” AND “each part is working properly”? Simple, if we are not joined together, we are falling apart and that will happen if each part is not working properly.
• ACCORDING TO VERSE 16, WHY MIGHT BE ONE REASON THAT THE BODY ISN’T “joined and held together” AND “working properly”? If there is no true love for each other.

Let me close this post with verses from the King James and the New American Standard Bibles (because of the beautiful word "edify" which we should be doing...)
Romans 14:19 (KJV) — 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
1 Corinthians 8:1 (NASB95) — 1 …Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.
1 Corinthians 14:12 (KJV) — 12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
Ephesians 4:29 (KJV) — 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (KJV) — 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

THE VINE AND THE TRELLIS: A VERY HELPFUL BOOK

"THE TRELLIS AND THE VINE" by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne 

The concept of the book is discipleship as explained by the book's description: "All Christian ministry is a mixture of trellis and vine.

There is vine work: the prayerful preaching and teaching of the word of God to see people converted and grow to maturity as disciples of Christ. Vine work is the Great Commission.

And there is trellis work: creating and maintaining the physical and organizational structures and programs that support vine work and its growth.

What’s the state of the trellis and the vine in your part of the world? Has trellis work taken over, as it has a habit of doing? Is the vine work being done by very few (perhaps only the pastor and only on Sundays)? And is the vine starting to wilt as a result?

The image of the trellis and the vine raises all the fundamental questions of Christian ministry:

* What is the vine for?
* How does the vine grow?
* How does the vine relate to my church?
* What is vine work and what is trellis work, and how can we tell the difference?
* What part do different people play in growing the vine?
* How can we get more people involved in vine work? 


In The Trellis and the Vine, Colin Marshall and Tony Payne answer these urgent questions afresh. They dig back into the Bible’s view of Christian ministry, and argue that a major mind-shift is required if we are to fulfill the Great Commission of Christ, and see the vine flourish again."

What does this book teach? "Ministry mind-shifts
1. From running programs to building people
2. From running events to training people
3. From using people to growing people
4. From filling gaps to training new workers
5. From solving problems to helping people make progress
6. From clinging to ordained ministry to developing team leadership
7. From focusing on church polity to forging ministry partnerships
8. From relying on training institutions to establishing local training
9. From focusing on immediate pressures to aiming for long-term expansion
10. From engaging in management to engaging in ministry
11. From seeking church growth to desiring gospel growth"

This book is a great help for pastors and other church leaders who wish to improve the level of discipleship in their churches.

WHAT'S NEW IN 2015? "BRANCH SHAPERS"

Here is one of the passages from John 15 that we reference quite frequently at Rolling Fork Baptist Church: John 15:1 (ESV)  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2  Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3  Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6  If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11  These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 

There is so much in that text but for now, focus on the phrase "every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit". Even the branches that are being fruitful are being pruned so that they will be more fruitful. As the branches being connected to Jesus (the Vine), how are we pruned or shaped? By God's Word.

One book that has really impacted me is "The Trellis And The Vine" by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne. Here is Colin and Tony describe this book: 

"All Christian ministry is a mixture of trellis and vine. 
There is vine work: the prayerful preaching and teaching of the word of God to see people converted and grow to maturity as disciples of Christ. Vine work is the Great Commission. 
And there is trellis work: creating and maintaining the physical and organizational structures and programs that support vine work and its growth.

What’s the state of the trellis and the vine in your part of the world? Has trellis work taken over, as it has a habit of doing? Is the vine work being done by very few (perhaps only the pastor and only on Sundays)? And is the vine starting to wilt as a result?

The image of the trellis and the vine raises all the fundamental questions of Christian ministry:
What is the vine for?
How does the vine grow?
How does the vine relate to my church?
What is vine work and what is trellis work, and how can we tell the difference?
What part do different people play in growing the vine?
How can we get more people involved in vine work?"

The essence of the book teaches the importance of true discipleship, something that hasn't been happening in most churches if we are honest about it. Here is a short video describing this book. 
Pastor Mark Dever of Capital Hill Baptist Church in Washington and 9Marks which focuses on building healthy churches

I am also working through two other books: Real-Life Discipleship: Building Churches That Make Disciples and Real-Life Discipleship Training Manual: Equipping Disciples Who Make Disciples by Jim Putman and others.

So what does those books have to do with 'Branch Shapers'? One of the many things that I am truly convinced of right now is that we need to do a better job of discipling one another. Too many Christians are not familiar with the Bible and so they are not certain what it means to be a Christian. We need to become better equipped as disciple-makers.

Branch Shapers is a new tool for us to use in discipling others. Remember what you just read in John 15:2 "...every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit"? This new format of notes can be used in many different ways and will be easy to keep up with. Each issue will be a half sheet of paper, printed on both sides, that will be based on one of our sermons at Rolling Fork Baptist Church. Instead of just having an outline in the bulletin, Branch Shapers will put much more information in your hands dealing with that message and you can save your notes without having to save the whole bulletin. 

Why would you want to save your 'Branch Shapers'?

• for discussion with members of your church family 
• for future reference when studying your Bible
• for sharing with others in order to help them mature as believers in Christ
• for starting a Bible study with a group of your friends once a week 

What is another purpose for 'Branch Shapers'? Give to any churches, especially rural churches with limited resources, who wish to use it for some free Sunday School literature or for their small groups. This year Rolling Fork Baptist Church will be reaching out to churches in areas like Eastern Kentucky with the desire to encourage them and help them grow as Biblically-healthy churches. This will give us more resources to help them.

Please pray for us as we seek God's guidance in all that we do. Let us bear much fruit!