The DNA of a Disciple-Making Movement by Bob Harrington and Josh Patrick, from The Disciple-Maker's Handbook

Matthew 28:19
Imagine a day when Jesus-style disciple making is the norm for the local church. Everyday Christians are engaged in relationships with people (inside and outside the church) so that they can show the love of Jesus and help people to trust and follow Him. Churches are known as disciple-making places, where Jesus-like people are created. And pastors are evaluated by the people they raise up and the disciple makers they have made in the Spirit’s power. Jesus’ message and Jesus’ methods dominate.

What will it take? We believe that this day will come as God moves among us and as God’s people live out certain beliefs. If the following beliefs resonate with you and you can support them, then we hope you will join us.


These beliefs are the DNA of a disciple-making movement.

1. We believe the gospel and it is our message — this good news is focused on Jesus as our Messiah (King) and His death, burial, and resurrection. All who respond to salvation are freely saved and called to discipleship, no exceptions, no excuses (Mark 8:34-38; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8). The gospel we preach and believe dictates the kind of disciples we are and the kind of disciples we make. If we attempt to make a Christlike disciple from a non-discipleship gospel, we will fail. A non-discipleship gospel is one that does not include discipleship as a natural part of the message and expectation.

2. We are compelled to be and make disciples of Jesus. We believe Jesus Christ is supreme and worthy of all devotion, worship, and emulation, and disciple making is a natural and necessary life response to Jesus. With laser focus, it was Jesus Himself who made disciples who could make disciples... and Jesus commands us to do the same (Matthew 28:16-20; John 20:21). We prefer to use the expression “disciple making” over “discipleship” because the former is closer to the words of the Great Commission and the latter is often mischaracterized (Matthew 28:18-20).

3. We believe Jesus is the model (for life and ministry). Jesus showed us how to live life and how to make disciples. We seek to emulate His method and model. As the sinless second Adam, Jesus was man as God intended man to be. He then told us,

Do the works I have been doing. — John 14:12

John said those who “claim to live in Him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6). Paul understood this when he said, “Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT). Discipleship demands us to “follow” the resurrected Christ and “imitate” the priorities and patterns of the incarnate Christ. We like the expression “Jesus’ model and method of disciple making” as a summary of what we do.

4. We believe love is the driving motive. The Great Commandment precedes the Great Commission. Loving God and loving people is the passion behind the priority, the motive behind the mission, the heart behind the hands. Love is the signature card of true disciples... disciple making cannot happen apart from loving and caring relationships... both tough and a tender love (1 Thessalonians 2). Larger ministries require more relational disciple makers to keep growing. Disciple making is relational and, as ministries grow, more relational disciples are needed.

By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another. — John 13:35

5. We believe verifiable fruit is the measure. God’s agenda for each one of us is that we stay close to Him and bear “fruit,” “more fruit,” and then ultimately “much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8). God transforms our hearts as we “remain in [Him]” and He leads us into lives of love (John 15:4, John 15:17). Jesus modeled the focus of love as He came to seek, save, and disciple people (Luke 19:10; Luke 6:40). Jesus masterfully showed how love produces disciples... reaching and developing His men and helping them grow from non-believers all the way to disciple-makers reproducing disciple makers (Matthew 28:19-20). There is a natural process of moving people from those who do not know Jesus all the way to becoming mature disciple-makers... and Jesus showed the model to us. In short, we haven’t truly made mature disciples until they are following Jesus’ model of love and helping to make more disciples... this is fruitful multiplication.

6. We believe Holy Spirit power is the means. Disciples cannot be made through fleshly efforts. Jesus, in His humanity, fully acknowledged His dependence on the Spirit. Disciple making is not just a good strategy... it is a way of life, accomplished through the fruit of the Holy Spirit living through a person’s yielded and holy life (2 Corinthians 3:16-17). If Jesus fully depended on the Holy Spirit’s power, how can we do any less?

The Holy Spirit will lead us to be obedient people who live holy lives to God’s glory.

7. We believe the local church is the primary environment for disciple making. The church is for discipleship, and disciples manifest the kingdom of God to the world (Colossians 1:28-29). When the church reverses this process and attempts to get the world to go to church instead of the church going to the world, you get chaos. Pastoral and ministerial work should be evaluated and rewarded based on how many disciple makers are produced and the kind of people a church sends into the world. Jesus was a man for others; the church, likewise, is for others. Any plan that does not create disciples who live for others is a failure.

8. We believe that equipping leaders is the linchpin of the movement. All Christians are called to be disciples who grow to help make disciples, using the unique gifts God has given each of us. Leaders are also called to grow a movement of disciple-making. This is called the church (2 Timothy 2:2). How Jesus built a movement differs from how Jesus made a disciple. If we are going to create a disciple-making movement in North America, it is our conviction we must train leaders in how Jesus built a movement. This is harder and takes more time, but in the end this will bear fruit that will remain. Practically, this means we must develop a team of disciple-making leaders (pastors), with various disciple-making best practices (church models), who can continue to fan the flame of disciple making.

9. We believe definitions are vitally important. (1) Our definition of disciple making — helping people to trust and follow Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20), which includes the whole process from conversion through maturation and multiplication; and (2) our definition of a disciple — a person who is following Christ, being changed by Christ, and is committed to the mission of Christ (Matthew 4:19 ESV).

10. We believe Jesus and Scripture are the basis. We believe the sixty-six books of the Bible are the authoritative, reliable, and ultimate standard for disciple making and life (2 Timothy 3:16-4:2) and that Jesus, as presented in the Bible and appropriately described by the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed, rightfully deserves our focus and our commitment to a life of full discipleship.


We want to fan the flames, pour gasoline on the fires of this kind of disciple-making movement, and we hope that your heart resonates with ours.

Making disciples of Jesus is God’s strategy to heal and redeem the world.

It is our conviction that a life well lived is a life devoted to this revolution. Won’t you join us?

* * *

Excerpted with permission from The Disciple Maker's Handbook by Bobby Harrington and Josh Patrick, copyright Bobby Harrington and Josh Patrick.

CONTENTMENT; Myth or Reality?

It may be a cliché, but it’s true: We always want what we can’t (or just don’t) have. One person may look at your life and think, “Wow, you have a nice car or a stable job or a great house, you must be content.” But at the same time, you’re probably looking at their life thinking the very same thing about something they have that you don’t. We are each continually longing for the next thing, be it a spouse or putting down roots somewhere or a better job or the next vacation.

Contentment—whether with our living situation, salary, relationship status or whatever else—doesn’t come naturally. It’s something we have to actively cultivate. God has shown me over the past year what it looks like to fight to be content every day. I use the word “fight” because I believe that learning to be content is just that. I believe it to be one of the biggest struggles we face in life. We all have legitimate needs and desires given to us when we were created by God, but because of The Fall, we have begun looking to fulfil those desires outside of the only One who can satisfy them. The more we search to meet those needs outside of Christ, the more unsatisfied and discontent we become. So practically, what does it look like to strive to be content exactly where God has you today?

1. Be Patient With Yourself.

When we stop being thankful for what we have and focus on what we don’t have, discontentment creeps in and we start believing God is holding out on us. Here's What You Should Do If you struggle with contentment, you are not alone. I believe most people wrestle with it one way or the other. Some people may not even realise they are searching for contentment, but they are constantly seeking after the “next thing” they can do or obtain in life. In Philippians 4, Paul talks about contentment and that he learned to be content. The verb “learned” indicates that Paul had to grow in his understanding of how to be content in all circumstances and this didn’t happen overnight. Be patient with yourself if you battle with contentment.

2. Cultivate a Thankful Heart.

You may be single, longing to be married. You may be married and want a nicer house or another child. You may want to escape the painful season you are in. You may also be in an abundant and sweet season. No matter where you are, focus on cultivating a thankful heart. When we stop being thankful for what we have and focus on what we don’t have, discontentment creeps in and we start believing God is holding out on us. Psalm 116:17 says, “I will offer to you [God] the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.” This reveals that having a thankful heart doesn’t come naturally to us, but rather it is a sacrifice. Strive to thank God in all circumstances.

3. Focus on Today.

When we constantly look forward to the next season or next vacation or even the next meal, we completely miss the moment we’re in and the blessings found in it. Our time on earth is short—much shorter than most of us would like it to be. Keep your eyes focused on today. Soak up every moment of it. Another day like it will never exist again. Trust in God’s Provision. The Lord knows exactly what you need when you need it. In the book of Exodus, after the Israelites were miraculously rescued out of Egypt, they wandered in the wilderness for a while. They began complaining to Moses about not having enough food. God told Moses that He would send bread from heaven to feed them, but every person needed to collect only the exact amount required to fill their stomachs each day. God is in the business of providing for us. And He does provide for us everything we need each day. We need to open our eyes to the ways He is providing. Focus your eyes on all God has given you each day.

4. Contentment is Found in Christ Alone.

Christ is the only one who can fill the insatiable desire in each of us for something more because God created us for all our desires to be met in Him alone. Many Christians have heard the popular verse found in Philippians 4 that says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” We often apply this to various activities we do such as a project at work or an obstacle we want to overcome, however, when reading this verse in context, Paul was talking about how to be content and endure any situation. He says, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things him who strengthens me.” 

At the end of the day, our circumstances will not make us happy. No matter how much money we have, what kind of house we own or what friends we surround ourselves with, nothing can fulfil us the way Christ can. Whether we eat an amazing meal or go without food, we will not be content based on anything material or circumstantial. Christ is the only one who can fill the insatiable desire in each of us for something more because God created us for all our desires to be met in Him alone. Christ will help us learn contentment as we rely on Him through everything we go through. He will show us that He can satisfy our deepest longings and needs as we seek Him and a relationship with Him above everything else. Christ loves us so much and wants to meet our needs. As we lean on Him, we too can say with Paul, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”

LIES SATAN TELLS AND SCRIPTURES TO OVERCOME THEM

John 8:44 tells us the devil is “a liar and the father of lies.” Often in our lives, the enemy will lie to us to hold us back from being all God has called us to be. That’s why identifying the voice of the enemy is crucial if we are to block him out.

Here are 5 lies that the devil will try to tell you to cancel out the plan God has for your life, along with scriptures to help you combat those lies with the truth of God’s word.

1. God has not called you. If you know that God has placed a dream in your heart, and has given you the talent and favor to carry it out, don’t let the words of the enemy make you second-guess yourself. 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) tells us to, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
2. You can’t do it. This is not true, for the Bible tells us through Christ all things are possible. Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)plainly teaches, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
3. You are not strong enough. Well, on your own, you are not, but you are not alone! You are armed with God’s strength. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Through His power, you can do anything.
4. You are not equipped. It may not look like it right now, but God has given you all you need to carry out your calling. Ephesians 2:10 NLT says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Because it was preplanned, you have been prepared.
5. You should be afraid. No, you should not! The word of the Lord says, “For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7 [KJV]).

For every lie the enemy tells, there is truth in the word of God to refute it. Be sure to heed the voice of the Lord by standing steadfastly upon His promises. Unlike Satan, the Bible says in Numbers 23:19 NLT, “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill it?

5 Things to Start Doing By the Time You’re 30

The truth is, everything on this list is worth doing in your twenties (or your teens, if you’re so inclined) but we talk about it like this because though nothing magical happens on your thirtieth birthday, 30 years is enough time to work out some of life's kinks and pick up on some good habits.

All that’s to say, there’s no reason you should have all this mastered by the time you’re 30. But, then again, there’s no reason not to try.

Waking Up Earlier Than You Have To

What do Twitter/Square founder Jack Dorsey, Richard Branson, Apple’s Tim Cook, legendary Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, Condoleezza Rice and dozens of other successful leaders all have in common? They get out of bed before 6 a.m. every morning. Even Aristotle advocated waking up early, famously quipping, “It is well to be up before daybreak, for such habits contribute to health, wealth, and wisdom.”

Through college and in our twenties, hitting the snooze button is a staple of Saturday mornings and workweek rushing around, but there’s a reason so many influential people get started early. Waking up before you have to lets you find time to pray, exercise or just spend a few minutes alone before the craziness of the day begins.

Actually Caring About What You Eat

Most people in their late twenties have come to the harsh realization that for reasons that are totally unfair, your metabolism has a tendency to slow down with age. Basically, we all will hit a certain age when we can no longer eat an entire pizza and drink four Dr. Peppers without feeling like garbage shortly afterwards. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying life—and some junk food every now and then—but your thirties are a time to create, and sustain, healthy patterns you’ll carry throughout adulthood.

Making Margin in Your Life

By the time you hit 30, there’s a good chance the routine of family, job, bills and adulthood limits the free time that was once a part of twentysomething life. Creating margin—to read, volunteer, pray, travel or just do the things you want to do—is easy to neglect with the stresses that come along with being a thirtysomething. Do yourself a favor: Make margin in your day-to-day life, and don’t try to fill every waking moment with more busyness.

Creating a Pattern of Giving in Your Finances

Life is expensive. Even if you’re settled into a good-paying career by the time you’re 30, paying down student loans, owning a home, buying a car, paying the bills and balancing a checkbook may not leave much left over. But along with your tithes, establishing a pattern of giving (to charities, ministries or even to friends and families in need), can serve as a constant reminder of who your money actually belongs to.

Becoming Friends With People Much Older Than You

For most people, up to your late twenties, most relationships with people much older than yourself are predicated on some sort of authority structure—your parents, your teachers, your bosses, your pastors. But by the time you’re 30, actually becoming friends with people you look up to not only adds new dynamics to mentorship, it also broadens your social circles.

Letting Go of Baggage from Bad Relationships

Don’t let baggage from bad breakups, arguments with old friends or hurtful comments from the past haunt you into your adult life. Even if reconciliation isn’t possible, forgiveness always is.

Reading the News Every Day

Before you can change the world, you have to be informed about the problems facing it. Reading headlines online, listening to NPR or just tuning into the evening news can be a gateway to knowing how to make a difference and instituting real change.

Learning to Unplug

It’s easy to get stuck in a pattern of working long hours, being tied to the phone or just binge watching shows on Netflix during every minute of free time. None of those things are necessarily bad in doses, but if you’re spending your whole life plugged into a device, you may be missing out on some pretty great experiences.

Finding Organizations or Causes to Support Long-Term

Partnering with organizations like WorldReach (who allows you to sponsor children) and Charity: Water (who lets you tell your friends to donate instead of getting you a birthday present every year) or finding a cause like ending human trafficking, supporting education or assisting the homeless can represent more than just one-time gifts or temporary passions. Your 30s are a great time to find causes, organizations and campaigns to be dedicated to throughout your life.

Making Exercise a Lifestyle

You don’t have to join an expensive gym or jump on the next fitness trend bandwagon to make exercise a part of your life. Ride your bike to work. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Join a community sports league with friends. Making exercise a regular part of your schedule helps it to become a lifestyle, not an afterthought or another chore you have to make time for.

Actively Combating Spiritual Complacency

At some point, most Christians will deal with spiritual complacency. We get into a routine, and it’s easy to allow actively trying to grow in your faith to become a side note to the day-to-day realities of adult life. Make it a point to stay challenged spiritually—read good books, stay involved in your church, seek ministry opportunities, get a mentor and a mentee. As other parts of your life grow, make sure your faith does too.

Being Intentional With Relationships

The older you get, the more time becomes a precious commodity. Unlike the college days, when you’d see your buddies between every class, once you get plugged into a job and family life, it can be hard to make time to see your friends. In your twenties and thirties, be intentional about getting together with friends and relatives (who are also probably pretty busy), and invest in relationships over obligations.

Buying Things That Last

For many people in their twenties, paying extra to purchase high-quality items—from clothes and accessories, to furniture and appliances—just isn’t practical as they are settling into new careers and finding their financial footing. But as you save more and become more established in your job, purchasing quality items (and fewer of them because they last so long) puts the emphasis on sustainability and craftsmanship instead of fast fashion disposability.
Source: Relevant Magazine

THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND OBSESSION

As I lead one of the groups at a rural part of Nigeria where idol worship is prevalent, part of the stories we learnt in the group was the Amnon and Tamar story from 2 Samuel 13: 1-22. We tried to visualize and draw out lessons from the story. While doing that, a part of the story caught my attention; Amnon first loved Tamar, then that love turned to obsession and after carrying out his evil plan as advised by Jonadab, he hated her more than he loved her. Yes, I know the difference between love and hatred, I kept wondering what the difference was between love and obsession. So I decided to check out my dictionary as well as sample opinions. I will like to share my findings and summations with you.

Love is defined in “1 Corinthians 13 has been patient, kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”

A friend defined obsession as “an intense desire for someone or something that is self-oriented” and I do agree with him because from context Amnon wanted to satisfy his longing and since he could not fulfill that he looked haggard and miserable and Jonadab noticed this and questioned him which lead to the advice. My intense feeling for someone or something can either be obsession or true love depending on my motive i.e. is it self-oriented or the object/person oriented. Most of us young folks today are caught up between this unconsciously. I can love something or someone, and before I know I become so preoccupied with it to the point that I can go to any length to fulfill that longing even if it means hurting others. We need to keep asking ourselves the question, am I preoccupied with thoughts of this? Is it self-oriented?

Let me drive this down a little further. I can also relate this to my love for Christ. One of the verses that has stayed with me for a while is “John 14: 21 which says Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." My love for God can turn to obsession if I don’t watch it. Preoccupation with self can cause this; when my prayers are self-centered, my act of service is because I want to get something in return among others. This is pure obsession! If I claim to love God, then it must be all about God not me. I must seek to know and do what is on his heart and mind. I must seek to serve because it’s a priviledge. I must seek to fully know and obey God’s commands no matter how hard that is even if it costs me my life. “Luke 14:26-27 says If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

Hard teaching right??? This made the difference and shows that I truly love God. This what made the difference for Peter and Co in Acts 4. In verse 18 to 20 “Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." The only way our generation can feel the impact of who we are in Jesus, is by displaying our true love for him. 

kaybis Aug, 16

Long Distance Relationships : Proven Ways to Make it Work By Esther Adeniyi

Long distance relationships may seem to be a lot of work. It might be exciting at first,  but if you are not careful,  you may lose the romance and excitement as time passes. Truth is that love is not dependent on distance. In fact,  the stronger you are when you are apart,  the better it is for you. You have all the freedom to assess the relationship and value it more. couples in  long distance relationships are proof that you don't have to see your partner everyday to fall in love every single moment. Except the love you share is highly dependent on physical looks and sexual Intercourse,  long distance relationships help you know your partner better if you are both open to each other.

Long distance relationships are also superb for one thing: you don't have family and friends interfering for a while. Both of you have all the time to yourselves to love and learn how to love each other properly before third parties begin to come in gradually. In order to avoid a long distance relationship fail, I have outlined in this blog post six proven ways to make the sail a safe,  exciting and romantic one.


1. Talk About the Seemingly Unimportant Things

The little details of living can help to foster intimacy when you discuss them. Talk about the new curtains,  your plan to buy an electric cooker,  what you think about the new data subscription bundle for your network,  why you chose to cook rice instead of beans. Long distance relationships do not only have to have serious conversations to appear 'purposeful'.  In fact,  the more serious your conversations are,  the more boring you would turn out as partners.

2. Establish a better Communication Pattern

Try to experiment and work around different methods and channels. Text,  email, chat,  call, video chat etc. One will surely be comfortable for both of you. Not understanding what works well for both of you may cause a glitch and that's why it is important to be particular about this aspect of the relationship. For partners living in different time zones, agree on what time 'd be comfortable for both of you. Each one of you may have to compromise as needed so that you get to talk at least once in a day.

3. Do Things Together

Pick a common book,  TV series,  movie etc. and see it together. Share your lessons and thoughts.Have fun laughing over a funny scene or one that reminds you of an awkward moment. This helps to facilitate bonding. Long distance relationships can also foster intimacy,  it depends on how you run it.

4. Avoid Overcommunication

Now care has to be taken here. Remember that we said that you should establish a communication pattern. There is always a temptation to make up for distance by excessively communicating and being in touch. Communicating doesn't mean talking 12 hours a day and talking about every damn thing. This kills the spice and reduces the mysterious expectation of your partner. Regulating and keeping a little distance helps you to miss each other and long for the next time you'd communicate.

5. Make Visits as Often as You Can

As often as you can visit each other. Make sure that whenever have a chance to get toget her,  make use of the opportunity. Holidays and days off work are best for seeing each other. Make it fun by planning surprises,  initiate romance by visiting places you would like to together. Let there be a little bit of spontaneity.

6. Practice Honesty and Transparency

Don't play games with each other,  that discourages trust. It doesn't help either of you to be manipulative. Playing smart doesn't help any relationship - short or long distance. The more transparent and open you are,  the better it is for your future. Let your partner know about an ailment that disturbs you. Date only one person at a time. Don't use the long distance as an excuse to cheat,  it affects smoothness in the relationship.

Long distance relationships can work,  are you willing to let yours? It's all about investing in your relationship,  so, learn from these tips and have fun with your partner. Love!

Source: http://www.estheradeniyi.com/2016/08/long-distance-relationships-proven-ways.html

As It Is In Heaven: Anxiety, Worry, Fear, Death and God

by Lance Hahn, from How to Live In Fear

Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths. — Unknown Know God Is Real From my many experiences, I believe some of our anxiety and fear comes from an improper view of reality. I’m not saying our threats — real or perceived — might not be legitimate; I am saying that our reactions to these threats are often faulty. Simply put, we think things we shouldn’t be thinking. Worry and fear ultimately result from a belief that God is not actually in charge or that He doesn’t care about us. We don’t believe He is in authority or we believe He is not active in our lives. Yet neither of those statements is true. If we truly believed that God is good and He is sovereign, then we would be able to rest in these beliefs as facts. But we don’t. I’d like to believe I am above such thinking, but I struggle just like you. Some of what is so terrifying to us links to one of our deepest fears: the fear of death. At the core of many panic attacks is the idea that we (or someone we love) will die. Why? What’s wrong with dying? I’m sure it’s uncomfortable, but if we believe the Bible, then it’s merely a transition from glory to greater glory. For the Christian, it’s a step up. Why all the fuss then? Because the unknown is scary — especially events that, once done, cannot be undone. I’ve read the Bible countless times, I’ve studied death ad nauseum, and I’m still not okay with the concept. I want to be like some of the folks in my congregation who have the attitude of, “Bring it on!” I desire to be a “walking dead man” like the apostle Paul, who couldn’t wait to move on to be with Jesus. But I’m not. Part of what’s standing in my way is this darn anxiety disorder. When I’m thinking clearly and not under its influence, I’m at peace with my mortality. When a panic attack is in full bloom, however, I’m absolutely terrified of death. On good days, my reasoning and theology tell me my life is in God’s hands and nothing can happen to me without His approval. But when I’m in a bad season, every little thing seems up for grabs and comes into question. Did you know the Bible calls death an enemy? Right there in 1 Corinthians15:26 — The last enemy to be destroyed is death. Adam and Eve were told not to eat of the tree lest they “would surely die.” God made them to live forever, but sin wrecked that plan, and death was the result. Paul says Satan has used the threat of death as a bullying technique for millennia. Part of what Jesus Christ came to do was defeat death, by rising from the dead and making a way so those who follow Him — His children — might never truly die. They will physically die, but their afterlife with God is already secured. Death’s only purpose then is to free us from this world so we might be placed safely in God’s arms, delivered and whole. The bottom line is this: Jesus has done the extraordinary and has defeated death. He took the sting — the permanence — out of it. We no longer have to fear the ramifications of the end of life. When that truth travels the short distance from our brains to our hearts, our peace will grow. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about the Hebrew boys Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:1–18). They were commanded by a pagan king to bow down before his gold idol in honor of a false god. They refused to do so, so he ordered them thrown into a blazing hot furnace to be burned alive. Their response was brilliant. They said, and I paraphrase, “Our God can save us from this fire, but even if He doesn’t, we still won’t bow down to your false god.” I love that perspective. Maybe it’s one we can adopt in our hearts, one that says, “God can rescue us from all our dangers and fears. But even if He doesn’t, we refuse to bow down before the bullying enemy of fear, because we know all that’s truly important is already secured by God and that this life can’t do anything to us.” Wow! How powerful would it be if we lived that way? This story is also proof that not all fears are irrational. It was not irrational for... Daniel to worry about the lions’ den, because being eaten by large predators isn’t awesome. Jonah to be freaking out inside a giant fish in the middle of the ocean, because usually that doesn’t end well either. Jesus to be overwhelmed facing the cross in the Garden of Gethsemane, because what was in front of Him was unimaginable torment. But those are the types of fears God tells us to set aside in light of who He is and what He can do. One of the greatest and most popular commands in the Bible is, “Do not be afraid.” Every time God repeats this phrase, the person He is speaking to has every right to be afraid. The danger is legitimate, but God’s presence overshadows all the facts. Faith is hanging on to the truth in the face of overwhelming emotional demands. The fact is God is big — super big. He’s bigger than our problems, fears, worries, and anxieties. He’s actually more real than our chemically induced, warped views of life, our dysfunctional childhood patterns of thought, and our culturally derived, overblown views of who we are. There is nothing outside of His scope of authority. There is no problem too small that He would miss it or too big that He cannot solve it. Consider the following examples: God was the One who spoke the universe into existence. Nothing was preexisting. He made it all — from nothing. Lack of materials and resources has never been a concern for Him. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was barren, with no form of life; it was under a roaring ocean covered with darkness. But the Spirit of God was moving over the water. — Genesis 1:1–2 CEV When the world fell into sin, the Almighty didn’t sit back and ponder options with the angels. He merely put into place the plan of redemption that was prepared before the foundation of the world. God is always ahead of the curve. Nothing catches Him by surprise. No limitations sway Him. For those of us who fear, this is great news. In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. — John 1:1–2 CEV When God decided to flood the earth and start over with His one true follower, Noah, and his family, He initiated a plan in advance for Noah to build a boat and fill it with all species of animals (Genesis 6). Who else would have thought of that? When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace to be burned alive, Jesus showed up in the fire to rescue them (Daniel 3). Who else would have thought of that option, much less actually done it? When 185,000 Assyrians surrounded Jerusalem to destroy it, one angel wiped them out while they were sleeping (Isaiah 37). When Haman was going to slaughter the Jews, God used a beauty queen on the inside to turn the tables and free His people (Esther 5). And how could God have possibly transported the reluctant prophet Jonah to Nineveh? Boat — storm — giant fish — barfed up on the beach (Jonah 2). Really? Yes, really. God is not fazed by our problems. But we are. In fact, we freak out. So many of our anxieties aren’t based in reality, but they feel real to us. What’s the solution? We must work on getting our heads back into the game of reality — God’s reality — the One who came up with and pulled off every scenario I listed above. As I was going through one particularly bad season of life, my counselor shared a few thoughts that had an impact on me. She said, “The promise of a secure, positive final outcome allows peace in the present.” The promise of a future deliverance allows us to dwell in what she called “impending safety.” We are all familiar with “impending doom,” but what if the very presence of God and our relationship with Him demanded that we view things in light of impending safety? What if knowing the end of the story helped us to embrace true life in the midst of the story? What if we really believed the truth that the Enemy is not stronger than our Comforter? * * * If God says we are ultimately safe, then we are, regardless of how we feel about it. Whether our challenges and threats are fact or fabricated, our response must be to keep our eyes on Jesus and off the waves, exactly what Peter did when he walked on water to Jesus. We choose that perspective — the miraculous, not the mundane. The Enemy might be able to lure or tempt us to fixate on our problems, but it’s our choice to refocus on our only solution: the Lord. We must ground ourselves with a solid view of who God is. A lot of my battle with fear and anxiety is waged in my mind, in my thoughts. I am fighting a war that no one else even sees. Where my mind goes is where my body tends to follow. If I think anxious thoughts, then my body tenses up and restricts my breathing. If I can shift over to thinking about the freedom, victory, and rescue that God provides, I might get a shot at finding peace. God gave us the ability to rally our thoughts back to reality. God tells us to keep our minds fixed on Him. He tells us that instead of looking at our troubles, we should stare unwaveringly at His face. And when God gives a command, it’s a sure sign He has given us the ability to take action. Praise the Lord — we have a fighting chance! I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. — John 16:33 NIV

Vocation: Glorifying God by Serving Others

by Tim Challies and Josh Byers from Visual Theology

There are times when the Bible is sublimely practical. In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul offers this instruction: Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. — 1 Corinthians 7:17 This instruction implies that God has made each of us uniquely and assigned to our unique lives with unique roles. Our responsibility before God is to understand the gifts, the skills, and the passions He has given us and to use those in fitting ways — in ways that do good to others and, in turn, bring glory to God. This is exactly why God has put us into this world: to bring glory to Him by doing good to others. He says as much in Matthew 5:16: Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven. Jesus’ good friend Peter wrote, Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. — 1 Peter 2:12 There is a clear flow here: God gives us gifts; we use our gifts to do good to others; and through it all, God gets the glory. When you evaluate your gifts, skills, and passions, you are close to discovering what you might call your vocation or calling, the particular ways in which God means for you to glorify Him by doing good to others. Perhaps no contemporary Christian has done more to rediscover and celebrate the waning concept of the vocation than Gene Edward Veith. Through his books and a host of articles, he has told Christians what their forebears already knew: The doctrine of vocation tells Christians how to live in this world. But it goes farther than that, to explain how God is at work in this world. He is at work through the people He has created. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we ask God to give us this day our daily bread. And He does. The way he gives us our daily bread is through the vocations of farmers, millers, and bakers. We might add truck drivers, factory workers, bankers, warehouse attendants, and the lady at the checkout counter. Virtually every step of our whole economic system contributes to that piece of toast you had for breakfast. And when you thanked God for the food that He provided, you were right to do so.1 When you thank God for a piece of toast, you are not only thanking Him for the food you are about to eat, but for the people, the skills, and the processes that got it from the field to the plate. You are acknowledging that God has provided through these remarkable means. God chooses to bring about extraordinary provision through ordinary people and ordinary means. And this is exactly what God does in the world. God could have created all of the humanity by drawing them out of the dust as he did Adam and Eve. Instead, He chose to work through the vocation of family, the ordinary means of mothers and fathers and sexual union. God protects us through His provision of government. God heals us through doctors and nurses. God teaches us His Word through preachers and teaches us facts through schoolteachers. “It is essential in grasping the magnitude of this teaching,” writes Veith, “to understand first the sense in which vocation is God’s work.”2 It is God’s work completed through human beings. We can advance one more step to see that God “is hidden in vocation.” Our eyes show us the farmer as the provider of food, the doctor as the provider of health care, the pastor as the provider of spiritual nurture, and the driver as the provider of transport. But if we look at them through the lens of vocation, we will see that “God is genuinely present and active in what they do for us.”3 And you will see that God is genuinely present and active in what you do for them. You need to look at and live your own life through the lens of vocation. I want to point to three important applications that provide essential guidance as you live for Christ in this world. You Have Many Vocations You do not have just one vocation, but many. A great misunderstanding about vocation is that each of us has just one: I am a pastor or I am a mechanic or I am a homemaker. But a thorough understanding of vocation teaches us that we all have many areas for which we are responsible before the Lord. I am a citizen of Canada and have the vocation of the citizen. I live in the town of Oakville, where I have the vocation of neighbour. I am married to Aileen and have the vocation of the husband. Together we have three children, which assigns to me the vocation of the father. And then I hold the vocation of pastor at Grace Fellowship Church and the vocation of the writer. My vocation is each of these and the sum of these. Individually and all together, they are a platform from God that allows me to extend to others the goodness and kindness of God on behalf of God. And whenever I do this, however, I do this, God receives the glory. You, too, have many vocations. You are a citizen, a son or daughter, a neighbour, a church member. You may also be a mother or father, a husband or wife, a worker or manager. Some of these vocations are more important than others. Some demand great swaths of your time while some demand much less. But right there in the mix of them is your calling before God — who you should be and how you should live out the days God has given you. No matter what your vocations are, they all carry the same great purpose: to do good to others and bring glory to God. Vocation Brings Dignity The doctrine of vocation brings the utmost significance and dignity to your work. When we understand that vocation is extending the goodness and grace of God to others, to serve as the “mask of God,”4 we understand that in a sense all vocations are equal. All of them have the highest dignity. The dignity of work does not come from the amount of skill necessary to do the job. It does not come from the importance of that work for the functioning of a nation or society. The dignity of work comes from the source of that work, which is always God Himself. The doctor who operates within the deepest recesses of the human brain is in the same line of work as the person who hauls away the trash from the end of the doctor’s driveway. They are both working on behalf of God. They are both in the business of extending God’s care to other people. My wife and I have often spoken about her frustrations with her vocation of caring for our home and family. It is not that she has ever wanted to do anything else or that she feels trapped in a life she did not choose. It is simply that her work is difficult and repetitive and, in many ways, unrewarding. What brings help and hope is this doctrine of vocation — the fact that she is serving as a kind of conduit for the goodness and grace of God. When she fulfills her vocation, she is doing God’s work on God’s behalf. God wants us to bring order to a chaotic world, and Aileen brings godly orderliness when she keeps the home. God wants to care for those who are hurting, and Aileen brings his care and tenderness when she bandages a child’s knee. God wants to extend help to men who are overwhelmed by life’s circumstances, and he extends this help through her. She is the means of God’s providential care. And so are you in your vocation. If God has gifted you with a logical, orderly, mathematical mind, then you extend an aspect of God’s concern for this world when you design buildings or bridges or software. If God has gifted you with an eye for colour and an instinct for design, then you extend an aspect of God’s concern for this world when you create beautiful art or design a slick new product branding. God could have arranged the world in such a way that He would do all of these good things Himself. Instead, He assigned them to human beings, so you do this work on His behalf. Your vocation is your day-by-day opportunity to glorify God by serving others and, in that way, serve as a faithful representative of the God who glorifies Himself by serving others. There is one more thing we should say about vocation, and it is this: Vocation leads to worship. It is meant to lead to worship. We worship God through vocation when we do the things God made us do and when we observe other people doing what God made them do. Have you ever watched a mother carefully nurturing her child and caught just a glimpse, a reflection, of the love and care of God? Haven’t you seen at least a glimpse of the mind of God in a beautiful design or a glimpse of the artistry of God in a great work of music or art? These glimpses are meant to draw you beyond themselves to worship and praise God Himself. And these glimpses are meant to motivate you to joyfully carry out your vocation, to do God’s work on God’s behalf. You bring worship and glory to God when you serve others with the skills, gifts, and passions that God has given you. And you give opportunities for others to glorify God as they observe you working on His behalf. Vocation also leads to worship when you praise God for the way He cares for you through others. You have no reason to look down on the man who picks up your trash each week. On the contrary, you have every reason to praise God for His care for you that is extended through that individual. When I am going through a particularly difficult time and my wife brings me comfort, it is really God bringing me comfort through this beautiful means He has provided. I ought to thank my wife, but ultimately, I ought to praise my God. The love and care and comfort I receive from her flows from the source of all-perfect love, care, and comfort. After all, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. — James 1:17 She is the means, but He is the source. Conclusion Who has God made you be? What gifts, skills, and passions have God given you? What roles and responsibilities has he assigned to you? Your vocations are found right there. Each one of them is to be done out of love for God and for the good of people He has created in His image.