I'm Tired of Church

“I’m tired of church… I’m tired of doing church.” My friends and I nodded, understanding the sentiment, but clarification was needed nonetheless. Mark has pastored his church in Newton, North Carolina for sixteen years and by most people’s definition it is a great church: people are coming to Christ regularly, marriages are being transformed, the building is expanding. We had just spent time discussing how he could add 200 more seats in the sanctuary. The church has prospered under Mark’s leadership. I was excited for what God was doing, and honestly, a little jealous. So when Mark said he was tired of church, I had to ask for clarification.

His response, “I want to move the needle.” Now it was becoming clearer, and he was voicing what so many pastors and me are feeling.

Creating efficient systems, starting new programs, developing leaders, drawing crowds, creative worship, and installing lights make the church more engaging for the ones who attend, but if we are honest, the church is making less of an impact today than ever in America. We have become irrelevant to our communities. Sure, we know how to entertain, inspire, and give great tips for daily life, but life transformation doesn’t make it outside the doors of the building.

As seven of us pastors rode in the car, we began to rehearse historical revivals and how they shaped and transformed whole towns. The presence of God was overwhelming, to the point where people would fall on their knees in repentance. Factories would shut down so “people could tend to their souls.” Today, our communities barely notice the church and secular voices dominate and dictate what morality is.

Days later, Mark sent us a message further clarifying the metaphor, a reference to the old analog vu meter used in audio recording. VU stood for Volume Units. When recording, some audio sources were not even loud enough to make the needle move off the bottom- in other words it was too faint to be of much use to record. So saying that something is moving the needle means that it is enough to register or make a difference to the user- enough for the user to take note of.

Mark was expressing what we each wanted: A spiritual awakening that moved the needle; meaning transformed lives which changes people, families, and cities.

The evangelical world has historically called this experience revival. Although the word “revival” is not found in the New Testament, it expresses a renewed emphasis on spiritual matters that change behavior. It is the extraordinary activity of the Holy Spirit that leads the people of God to extraordinary commitment to the work of God. It is a spiritual realignment of our hearts and lives to the will of God, and a deep longing to know God and to make Him known.

Many books have been written over the years on revival with incredible stories, and they all seem to come down to a few ingredients: corporate prayer, repentance, and a bold voice which is not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ because it is the power of God that leads to salvation.

The most prominent scriptures quoted in reference to revival comes from 2 Chronicles 7:13–16 and Revelation 2:4-5:

When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.

 And

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

It would be wise for those of us looking to “move the needle,” look into our own hearts first and allow the Holy Spirit to search and reveal the areas of our lives we need to address. We often want God to bring revival to our church, or country, and miss what God wants to do in us personally. Out of the inner longing of wanting to know Christ above all things, we turn our attention to wanting to make Him known to others.

My prayer is that the church of Jesus begins to move the needle. Lord, start the work in me.

EXPERIENCE SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN THE BODY OF CHRIST

Ephesians 4:11–14, “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.” (NLT)

Many sincere Christians spend their entire lives earnestly searching for an experience, a conference, a revival or a book that will transform their lives. Their search is futile. Although we have instant coffee, instant potatoes, and now even instant weight-loss methods, there is no such thing as instant spiritual maturity. The truth is this: Spiritual growth, just like physical maturity, is a process that takes time. There are no shortcuts to maturity.

Discipleship isn’t just one of the things the church does; it is what the church does. It’s not just part of the advancement of God’s kingdom; the existence of serious disciples is the most important evidence of God’s work on earth.

Bill Hull writes about five dimensions of discipleship, which can be used to evaluate our spiritual growth over time.

1. Transformed thinking: Someone who believes what Jesus believed. This changes our thought life as we begin to think about the world differently and change our desires.
2. Transformed character: Someone who lives as Jesus lived. This connects our beliefs to our behavior and changes who we are in regards to humility, honesty, integrity, etc. 
3. Transformed relationships: Someone who loves as Jesus loved. This breaks down the walls that separate us and brings healing to broken lives.
4. Transformed service: Someone who ministers as Jesus ministered, responding to the needs around him. 
5. Transformed influence: Someone who leads as Jesus leads, taking on the role of a servant. 

(“Five Dimensions of Discipleship,” Bill Hull, (Choose the Life)

Based on Bill Hull’s five dimensions of discipleship, how do you evaluate your present condition of spiritual growth?

Based on Bill Hull’s five dimensions of discipleship, is there one particular area that the Lord challenging you in at the present time?

Based on what you have read and what God is saying to you, what decision do you need to make?

EXPERIENCE UNITY IN THE BODY OF CHRIST

1 Corinthians 1:10, “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

Paul desperately pleads with the Corinthian church to come together and agree. He asks them to eliminate divisions and to be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. The phrase from the Greek, "that you all agree" is translated literally, "that you all speak the same thing." What a fantastic statement.

When God saves people, He puts them into a community called the Body of Christ: the Church. It’s the primary place where He teaches us to love one another and live in unity. Along with love, unity in a church is one of the most potent witnessing tools to a community.

The early church was so united that the Book of Acts describes them as having everything in common. They saw themselves as one body of believers in Christ. It was not every man for himself, but rather, one for all and all for one. They had not joined an organization; they were joined together as an organism, a living, multi-membered body, of which Jesus was the head. They had genuine unity.

Unity can be found in three areas in the church: a unity of hope, a unity of heart, and a unity of mission. We are united in a common belief that Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. We listen to His voice, and we obey His commands. It is our hope in Him that brings us together until our every desire is to follow Jesus. We are also united in our hearts: the seat of our emotions. It is a feeling of togetherness and belonging.  Furthermore, we are united in mission: to bring others to Jesus where they can experience the abundant life he has for them.

When a church is working in harmony of hope, heart, and mission, it is a dominant force in the community because it is singularly focused and led by the Holy Spirit.

Do you think it is possible for a church today to live in the same kind of unity as the early church? Why or why not?

In what ways do you see unity in the local church being expressed?

In what ways do you see a lack of unity in the local church?  What can you do about it?

Experience Love in the Body of Christ

1 Peter 4:8, “Above all, love one another deeply”

John 13:34-35, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

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Ouch! I wonder if that is how the world sees the church? Listening to some of our rhetoric and reading some of our Facebook posts, I would not be surprised. Like “peace,” the word “love” is another word that is overused and under-experienced. It is effortless to talk about and sing about love. Years ago Pepsi capitalized on a song that says, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.” Perhaps the reason there is so little is that it costs so much.

Mother Teresa heard vows from 11 new members of her growing order, the Society of the Missionaries of Charity, and spoke briefly about this weekend to a crowd of about 700 people. "Love, to be real, must cost," said the frail and stooped Mother Teresa, 75, whose big voice belies her stature, "It must hurt. It must empty us of self."(From article written by Anne L. Meskey, “What’s the Big Deal About Love?,” Discipleship Journal 1994)

What does Mother Teresa mean when she says, “Love, to be real, must cost”?

Jesus told us to love one another “as I have loved you.”  Take a moment and think about the extent Jesus went through to demonstrate His love for us. How can we love others the same way?

When have you experienced sacrificial love?

Who around you needs to experience God’s love?
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EXPERIENCE THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Scriptures:

Romans 12:6–8, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

Thought: It takes all the people of God to do all the work of God.

I was awake at 3 am sitting in the recliner complaining to God about something I had no reason to. It was immature for sure, but it bothered me enough that I could no longer sleep. As I sat in my pity party, God was not pleased, and He let me know it. Like a Father disciplining His son, he said to me, “You can continue to sit there and sulk, but you are cursing and not a blessing. I have given you gifts that that can bless the situation, but you are choosing to curse.” I had a decision to make; I could use my gifts, or I could withhold them.

God has uniquely gifted each of us by the Holy Spirit to be a blessing to The Body of Christ, our community, and the world. Instead of withholding our gifts, we are to be good stewards of our gifts and use them for the sake of the Kingdom.

From our January 30^th devotional, we discovered the ways the Holy Spirit works in our lives to help us live transformed lives. However, our experience with The Holy Spirit does not stop there; He gives us gifts to work through us. All of the gifts are to bring glory to Jesus, build up the Body of Christ, and empower us to reach the world for Christ.

Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11-13; and 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 list the different spiritual gifts which are categorized in the following ways:

Leadership gifts: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, (These are called the five-fold ministry gifts).

Verbal gifts: preaching, teaching, prophesying, evangelizing, speaking in tongues, and interpreting tongues

Manifestation gifts: prophecy, faith, miracles, and healing 

Serving gifts: generosity, hospitality, and encouragement

Some gifts are more expressive and prominent, but none are more significant. Whatever gifts we have, we are to steward and strengthen. At Centerpointe, we encourage everyone to go through a group called Focus where you will discover your spiritual gifts and personality style in order to find your divine design.

You may also be interested in an online assessment. This free link can be taken before your Life Group meeting: https://spiritualgiftstest.com/spiritual-gifts-test-landing

Refection:

What are your spiritual gifts and how did you discover them?

How are they helpful in your life?

How are you using your spiritual gifts to serve the Body of Christ and your local community?

Prayer:

For a list of spiritual gifts, also read Ephesians 4:11–13 and 1 Corinthians 12:7–11, 

EXPERIENCE THE WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Thought:

Life is full of challenges. We can count on that. The good news is that we can rely on someone who can help us, and sometimes carry us through life’s ups and downs: the Holy Spirit, which resides in every follower of Jesus. It is empowering to occasionally review just precisely what the Holy Spirit does so we can boldly face life. Scripture gives us clear job descriptions of The Holy Spirit. Below is a list with scriptural references.

As you read through this list, reflect on the times in which the Holy Spirit worked in each area. For example, as a pastor, one of my daily prayers is for wisdom. Many things come up that I am ill-equipped to handle on my own. Some decisions impact people’s lives, and I want to make sure I am not operating in my strength and understanding. I know that many times, the Holy Spirit gave me insight into a situation when I was stuck.

Writing this devotional is another example. I thought I would be able to whip these out without a problem. I had collected my notes all year, but when I started writing, I found myself overwhelmed with the task. I had no idea of the time it took to write three paragraphs for each day.  If it had not been for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, you would not be reading this today. 

The Works of the Holy Spirit with Scripture Reference:

1.           The Spirit raised Jesus from the dead. 1 Peter 3:18

2.          The Spirit calls us to God. Revelation 22:17

3.          The Spirit convicts us of sin. John 16:8-11

4.          The Spirit sanctifies us. 1 Corinthians 6:11

5.          The Spirit testifies to Jesus. 1 John 4:13; Hebrews 10:15

6.          The Spirit gives us new life. Ephesians 2:1-5

7.           The Spirit leads us into a deeper relationship with God. Titus 3:5

8.          The Spirit leads us away from worldly desires. Romans 8:5

9.          The Spirit resides within us. 1 Corinthians 6:19

10.      The Spirit seals our salvation.  Ephesians 1:13,14; 4:30

11.       The Spirit guides us. Acts 13:2; 16:6

12.      The Spirit prompts us in worship. Luke 10:21

13.      The Spirit empowers us to witness. Acts 1:8

14.      The Spirit helps us pray. Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; Ephesians 6:17,18

15.      The Spirit teaches us. John 14:26.

16.      The Spirit leads us into truth. John 15:26; 1 John 4:6

17.       The Spirit comforts us. John 16:7

18.      The Spirit transforms us. 1 Corinthians 6:11

19.      The Spirit helps us remember God’s word. John 14:26

20.     The Spirit helps us lead a godly life. Galatians 5:22-23

21.      The Spirit gives us spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

22.     The Spirit speaks to The Church. Revelation 2

23.     The Spirit works to unite believers. Philippians 2:1-2; Ephesians 4:3

24.     The Spirit gives us strength. Ephesians 3:16

25.     The Spirit gives wisdom and revelation. Ephesians 1:17

26.     The Spirit gives us a new prayer language. 1 Corinthians 14:2, 14-16

27.      The Spirit gives us spiritual gifts for the Church. 1 Corinthians 12

28.     The Spirit produces fruit in us. Galatians 5:22

Experience the Presence of The Holy Spirit

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 3:16, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”

Romans 8:15, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

Thought:

Some quasi-Christian groups describe the Holy Spirit as a force, like in a Star Wars movie: impersonal, external, and able to be harnessed. However, the Holy Spirit is not an external force to be called up by some experience; He is a person that resides within us, confirming our relationship with Jesus and the Father. If we only think of Him as a force, we will be tempted to try and use him for our purposes, when the opposite should be true: he wants to use us for His purposes, as we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. 

Daniel Henderson writes in his book, Transforming Presence:

If we think of the Holy Spirit, as so many do, as merely a power or influence, our constant thought will be, ‘How can I get more of the Holy Spirit,’ but if we think of him in a biblical way as a Divine Person, our thought will rather be, “How can the Holy Spirit have more of me?’ The conception of the Holy Spirit as a divine influence or power that we are somehow to get a hold of and use leads to self-exaltation and self-sufficiency. One who so thinks of the Holy Spirit and who at the same time imagines that he has received the Holy Spirit will almost inevitably be full of spiritual pride and strut about as if he belonged to some superior order of Christians. —R.A. TORREY  (pg 85)

The Apostle Paul reminds us that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, where he has permanent residence and is the constant reminder that we belong to God.

A helpful illustration for me, when thinking about the Holy Spirit, is one of water and a glass. Before we come to Christ, the Spirit is around us, drawing us to Jesus and convicting us of sin. When we accept Jesus as Savior, He fills us the Holy Spirit, and no one gets less of the Holy Spirit than another person. He dwells within us and works in many ways, including the supernatural.

What does it mean to you to know the Holy Spirit is not an outside force, but one that resides within you?

Take a moment to celebrate and thank God for the Holy Spirit that resides in our hearts.

How do you maintain an awareness of the Holy Spirit within you?

Experience Jesus' Commission

Day 26: Experience Jesus' Commission

Matthew 28:16–20, “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”

Thought:
The Great Commission is the end of Matthew’s gospel but it is the beginning of faith in action for all Christians. Jesus did not tell us to build extravagant buildings, gather large crowds, or sing contemporary songs. Jesus gave us one goal: make disciples. Furthermore, he did not say that it is only the job for pastors and missionaries; it is for all who are followers of Jesus.

Just like the commandments were not the “ten suggestions,” the great commission is not just a good idea. J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) was an English missionary to China who founded the China Inland Mission, which at his death included 205 mission stations with over 800 missionaries and 125,000 Chinese Christians. He said, "The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed."

Our assignment is to carry out God’s mission, which includes two primary objectives: 1) to spread the gospel to all nations, and 2) to nurture those who receive the gospel so that they grow into spiritual maturity. It is about evangelism and discipleship.

I love being part of a great fellowship called the Assemblies of God. We are committed to the work of missions. In 2000, a vision statement was written that included this passage:

We commit ourselves with an unrelenting passion to the great cause of worldwide missions. The Lord of the harvest clearly spoke to the hearts of our founding fathers that our church shall, without reservation, be of one mind in the task of world missions. We pledge the greatest of all investments—men and women who will take their places in the vast, unreached fields of end-time harvest.

Jesus said that all authority in heaven and earth had been given to him. It is this authority that sends us and empowers us to carry out God’s mission to the nations, both at home and abroad.

Reflection:
When you leave our times of corporate worship and teaching, how are you investing in others?

Is the Great Commission a part of how you conduct your life?  If not, how can you incorporate the commissioning of Jesus into your lifestyle?

Experience God's Blessing

Day 16: Experience God's Blessing

Scripture:
Deuteronomy 28:1–8, “If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.”

Thought:
Wow! I want to live in this kind of blessing. I want my children and grandchildren to experience the same. Furthermore, I desire our church to experience this kind of blessing. The good news for us is that God is a God waiting to pour out His benefits upon His people.

Almost all religions work to gain their gods’ favor and blessing through rules, idols, and beautiful architectural structures. Throughout the Buddhist and Hindu dominated world, people offer sacrifices to please their gods and obtain favor. While in India, I noticed that almost every home had some kind of altar on the lawn. When I enquired about them, I was told that fruit, vegetables, and gifts were left on the altar to please whatever god might be passing by, hoping that the god would leave behind a blessing. The foundation of their faith is based on their ability to satisfy.

God’s requirements are different and found in the first verse: “fully obey,” and “carefully follow.” At first glance, it sounds similar to other religions, but there is a distinct difference, just like healthy parents who want to bless their children. Children don’t try and make the parents want them; they know they are loved. However, the children’s obedience makes it a joy for the parents to be generous.

If we want to experience the blessings of God, we must follow Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is not a case for works-based theology; it is merely a statement of relational surrender.

People who understand blessing have a different outlook on life than those who do not. They are more grateful because they believe God is viewing them with pleasure. Their view of God’s view is a joyful thought. A.W. Tozer once noted, “the most important thing about a person is what comes to mind when they think about God.“ (The Knowledge of the Holy (New York: HarperCollins, 1961).

The God of the Bible does not wish to withhold from us; in fact, he takes joy in blessing us. When we look into his nature and character, we see someone who loves us and is passionate for us.

Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Reflection:
In what ways have you experienced God’s blessing?
What is meant by "relational surrender?"
Why is it so difficult to believe that your Heavenly Father has wonderful things in store for your life?
In your opinion, how is obedience linked to blessing?

Decision:
Based on what you read, and what God is saying to you, what decisions do you need to make?

Prayer:
Lord, give us a different perspective when it comes to blessing. Help us to grasp how much you love to bless us, and help us recognize your blessings in the smallest of ways as well as the more obvious ones. 


For further study, read the rest of Deuteronomy 28. What insight can we gain concerning obedience and blessing?


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