OUTREACH
GOOD THINGS CAN COME FROM A SPEEDING TICKET!
02/07/11 11
This past September one of the young women in our church got a speeding ticket. This 25-year-old wife and mother of two felt the several hundred dollar fine was way too much so she went to court and had her penalty commuted to community service hours. But when she went shopping for those community service hours, she found only one option in all of Elk Grove--picking up trash at Elk Grove Community Park. So, this opportunistic woman came to our Discovery Church staff and asked if we would be willing to sign up as a community service option for Elk Grove.
One of our leaders jumped at the idea. She filled out the necessary paperwork for Discovery to be one of the places where non-violent traffic offenders could work out their service hours.
The first week the response was amazing. The phone didn’t stop ringing off the hook with traffic violators looking for a place to serve out their sentences. Since then we’ve had a steady stream of what we affectionately call “criminals” come to Discovery to work.
We’ve had to work out a few bugs like setting up supervision, finding tasks we felt safe for the community service people to do, filling out the proper paper work, and making sure we serve them with the love of Jesus as they serve the community.
But this has been a major win for our church in several ways:
1. It has been a great front door to folks in the community. Every Sunday we have up to a dozen captive newcomers just from this outreach alone.
2. The community service people now regularly sort the service programs, make copies, help with cleaning and making coffee. .. Mundane service jobs like these have become easier for our own volunteers--because they have help--and it is easier to see jobs as mission opportunities when unchurched community folks are directly involved.
3. We’ve been able to get some tasks done that we would tend to put on hold: deep cleaning, painting, major yard work and other special projects. It has opened our eyes to a number of potential projects because we know we will have workers available.
4. We’ve seen a good number of these folks stick at Discovery even after finishing their hours. When folks come back when they don’t have to it’s a major victory.
5. This ministry has forced some of our workers and leaders to move toward delegation. Those who like to do things all by themselves have found themselves with a number of workers who have to be given something to do.
6. The gospel is being shared. Each Sunday morning community service person is encouraged to sit through the service, or at least the message, as part of their hours.
7. Discovery has had positive goodwill with community leaders--we’re helping Elk Grove by allowing folks to have a place to serve.
Recently a woman came up to me after a service and thanked me for the message. “This church is the greatest and the messages are what I need as I get back on track--I haven’t been in church in ages. So thank you,” she said. As she walked away she turned and said, “Do you know how I found out about this church?” “How?” I asked. She smiled and quipped, “My daughter got a speeding ticket…”
Good things can come from a speeding ticket!
That’s good news for me, because on my way to the last GHC Network cluster I got pulled over by an Elk Grove police officer and was awarded my own speeding ticket…
One of our leaders jumped at the idea. She filled out the necessary paperwork for Discovery to be one of the places where non-violent traffic offenders could work out their service hours.
The first week the response was amazing. The phone didn’t stop ringing off the hook with traffic violators looking for a place to serve out their sentences. Since then we’ve had a steady stream of what we affectionately call “criminals” come to Discovery to work.
We’ve had to work out a few bugs like setting up supervision, finding tasks we felt safe for the community service people to do, filling out the proper paper work, and making sure we serve them with the love of Jesus as they serve the community.
But this has been a major win for our church in several ways:
1. It has been a great front door to folks in the community. Every Sunday we have up to a dozen captive newcomers just from this outreach alone.
2. The community service people now regularly sort the service programs, make copies, help with cleaning and making coffee. .. Mundane service jobs like these have become easier for our own volunteers--because they have help--and it is easier to see jobs as mission opportunities when unchurched community folks are directly involved.
3. We’ve been able to get some tasks done that we would tend to put on hold: deep cleaning, painting, major yard work and other special projects. It has opened our eyes to a number of potential projects because we know we will have workers available.
4. We’ve seen a good number of these folks stick at Discovery even after finishing their hours. When folks come back when they don’t have to it’s a major victory.
5. This ministry has forced some of our workers and leaders to move toward delegation. Those who like to do things all by themselves have found themselves with a number of workers who have to be given something to do.
6. The gospel is being shared. Each Sunday morning community service person is encouraged to sit through the service, or at least the message, as part of their hours.
7. Discovery has had positive goodwill with community leaders--we’re helping Elk Grove by allowing folks to have a place to serve.
Recently a woman came up to me after a service and thanked me for the message. “This church is the greatest and the messages are what I need as I get back on track--I haven’t been in church in ages. So thank you,” she said. As she walked away she turned and said, “Do you know how I found out about this church?” “How?” I asked. She smiled and quipped, “My daughter got a speeding ticket…”
Good things can come from a speeding ticket!
That’s good news for me, because on my way to the last GHC Network cluster I got pulled over by an Elk Grove police officer and was awarded my own speeding ticket…
HOW TO STAY RELEVANT
08/05/10 10
You’ve heard the story of the new pastor who stood up on his first Sunday and declared, “It’s my goal to bring this church into the twentieth century!’ Someone interrupted, “Don’t you mean twenty-first century?” The pastor replied, “We’ll take it one century at a time.”
Churches can get stuck in a rut of irrelevance. The number one reason why Americans do not attend church in the 21st century is it is, according to the un-churched, irrelevant. The typical comments include, “It’s a waste of time.” “The church just isn’t pertinent to my life today.” “I have more important things to do.” “It doesn’t make any difference in my life.”
I grew up in an environment where the church valued tradition over relevance. We sang centuries-old songs, sat on centuries-old furniture with a strange name (pews) and used centuries-old languages (Old English and Latin). And I wondered if the issues we discussed were ever important. I had a desire for God, but the boredom tended to squelch it. When I finally turned to God in college (outside of my traditional church) I became passionate about spiritual relevance.
Clearly God is relevant. The Bible is relevant, and the Gospel is the most relevant news in the world. So here’s the question, how can we as churches (and followers) stay relevant?
Thom Rainer says one of the top questions churches need to ask is: Are you addressing the real issues of real lives?
How can we address real issues and remain relevant? Read More...
Churches can get stuck in a rut of irrelevance. The number one reason why Americans do not attend church in the 21st century is it is, according to the un-churched, irrelevant. The typical comments include, “It’s a waste of time.” “The church just isn’t pertinent to my life today.” “I have more important things to do.” “It doesn’t make any difference in my life.”
I grew up in an environment where the church valued tradition over relevance. We sang centuries-old songs, sat on centuries-old furniture with a strange name (pews) and used centuries-old languages (Old English and Latin). And I wondered if the issues we discussed were ever important. I had a desire for God, but the boredom tended to squelch it. When I finally turned to God in college (outside of my traditional church) I became passionate about spiritual relevance.
Clearly God is relevant. The Bible is relevant, and the Gospel is the most relevant news in the world. So here’s the question, how can we as churches (and followers) stay relevant?
Thom Rainer says one of the top questions churches need to ask is: Are you addressing the real issues of real lives?
How can we address real issues and remain relevant? Read More...
ARE WE HAVING FUN YET?
09/25/08 08
“Was it fun?’ That was the first question my wife, Lori and I were greeted with as we came through customs after ten days in China. Our son Tim met us and he wanted to know if we had fun. Immediately and simultaneously my wife Lori and I answered, “Actually, no.”
Lori and I looked at each other with surprise--it was the first time we thought about the fun factor. We had a good trip, it was an amazing experience. We’re glad we went, we’d go again, but China isn’t about fun.
We took a trip with our two youngest boys to visit our daughter, Tricia, who is living in China, teaching English and trying to influence college students for Christ. It was reassuring to see Tricia in her element, visit with her teammates (solid servants) and attend her house church. Watching Tricia speak a perplexing language, embrace a strange culture and enjoy life in one of the hardest places on earth was amazing and enlightening, but it wasn’t really fun.
We spent time in the most polluted city on the planet and took a gondola trip over the Yellow River, which isn’t so much yellow anymore as it is a brownish ugly. We also visited Beijing and it’s Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City and since we forgot everything we’d ever learned about Chinese history five minutes after that tenth grade world history class, the significance of those places was lost on us. We did spend a few hours climbing The Great Wall which was, well, it was great. It would have been fun if it wasn’t so much of an unexpected workout.
The trip was something of a continuous workout. We walked and walked and then climbed a mountain for good measure. Tricia’s cure for our jet lag was to have us simply walk it off. So we walked. We took cars, buses and the subway, but mostly we walked. I think Tricia was getting us back for every parental decision she disagreed with by making us walk in hot, high-humidity China. Did I mention that we did a lot of walking? We mixed in some running--whenever we encountered vehicles of any kind. Pedestrians not only do not have the right of way, they are targets for bicycles and cars. I have a new appreciation for that old bumper sticker that says: “If you don’t like my driving, stay of the sidewalk.”
The Chinese food was good, quite spicy and a little boring--two choices: rice or noodles--and no fortune cookies--an American invention. My chopstick skills didn’t seem to improve, but I did discover a new way to lose weight--it’s called the “one-chopstick diet.” Tricia informed all of us upon arrival that we would get sick regardless of how meticulously we boiled our drinking water and practiced caution in eating. She was right. Genghis Kahn’s revenge arrived early on. Speaking of which “western toilets” are not popular in China. They just use holes in the ground referred to as “squatty potties” and be sure to BYOTP. Not a lot of fun.
The crowds were relentless. It seemed like one constant traffic jam similar to trying to get out of Dodger Stadium after a close game. Impatiently, people will push right past you whether it’s at the grocery store, on the bus or waiting for an elevator. There is no waiting in China, just aggression. I’m convinced that relentlessly pushing the “close doors” button on the elevator doesn’t help , but I think my friends in China thought wearing out that button was fun.
Our boys thought the shopping was fun. Lori and Tricia had some items to buy as well. But I have a twenty minute tolerance for shopping and since I don’t really need a “Mao watch” I did sneak off to a Starbucks (yes, they are everywhere) for a taste of Americano. Okay, that was fun.
Overall, though, China was good, some parts were great--seeing Tricia! But it wasn’t fun. The least fun part of the trip was seeing a culture that has ignored God. The official religion of China is atheism. God isn’t part of their culture and it isn’t actually legal to talk about Him. Lori likened the trip to one long game of “Taboo.” That’s a popular game where the object is to describe an object or issue without using typical words. So, the “M’s” (missionaries) have come up with code words to describe their Sunday club, book studies, “P.R.-ing” for folks, what “The Father” is doing and how someone had just become a “C.”
I stepped back and thought about how a entire country has basically disregarded God. I thought of how our country seems to be moving in that direction. And I thought about how we can get caught up in stuff--fun or not--and miss God.
Tricia says she likes living in China because every day is a clear reminder of what her purpose in life is. The trip reminded me of how important it is for us to work to reach people, here or abroad--whether we’re having fun or not.
Lori and I looked at each other with surprise--it was the first time we thought about the fun factor. We had a good trip, it was an amazing experience. We’re glad we went, we’d go again, but China isn’t about fun.
We took a trip with our two youngest boys to visit our daughter, Tricia, who is living in China, teaching English and trying to influence college students for Christ. It was reassuring to see Tricia in her element, visit with her teammates (solid servants) and attend her house church. Watching Tricia speak a perplexing language, embrace a strange culture and enjoy life in one of the hardest places on earth was amazing and enlightening, but it wasn’t really fun.
We spent time in the most polluted city on the planet and took a gondola trip over the Yellow River, which isn’t so much yellow anymore as it is a brownish ugly. We also visited Beijing and it’s Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City and since we forgot everything we’d ever learned about Chinese history five minutes after that tenth grade world history class, the significance of those places was lost on us. We did spend a few hours climbing The Great Wall which was, well, it was great. It would have been fun if it wasn’t so much of an unexpected workout.
The trip was something of a continuous workout. We walked and walked and then climbed a mountain for good measure. Tricia’s cure for our jet lag was to have us simply walk it off. So we walked. We took cars, buses and the subway, but mostly we walked. I think Tricia was getting us back for every parental decision she disagreed with by making us walk in hot, high-humidity China. Did I mention that we did a lot of walking? We mixed in some running--whenever we encountered vehicles of any kind. Pedestrians not only do not have the right of way, they are targets for bicycles and cars. I have a new appreciation for that old bumper sticker that says: “If you don’t like my driving, stay of the sidewalk.”
The Chinese food was good, quite spicy and a little boring--two choices: rice or noodles--and no fortune cookies--an American invention. My chopstick skills didn’t seem to improve, but I did discover a new way to lose weight--it’s called the “one-chopstick diet.” Tricia informed all of us upon arrival that we would get sick regardless of how meticulously we boiled our drinking water and practiced caution in eating. She was right. Genghis Kahn’s revenge arrived early on. Speaking of which “western toilets” are not popular in China. They just use holes in the ground referred to as “squatty potties” and be sure to BYOTP. Not a lot of fun.
The crowds were relentless. It seemed like one constant traffic jam similar to trying to get out of Dodger Stadium after a close game. Impatiently, people will push right past you whether it’s at the grocery store, on the bus or waiting for an elevator. There is no waiting in China, just aggression. I’m convinced that relentlessly pushing the “close doors” button on the elevator doesn’t help , but I think my friends in China thought wearing out that button was fun.
Our boys thought the shopping was fun. Lori and Tricia had some items to buy as well. But I have a twenty minute tolerance for shopping and since I don’t really need a “Mao watch” I did sneak off to a Starbucks (yes, they are everywhere) for a taste of Americano. Okay, that was fun.
Overall, though, China was good, some parts were great--seeing Tricia! But it wasn’t fun. The least fun part of the trip was seeing a culture that has ignored God. The official religion of China is atheism. God isn’t part of their culture and it isn’t actually legal to talk about Him. Lori likened the trip to one long game of “Taboo.” That’s a popular game where the object is to describe an object or issue without using typical words. So, the “M’s” (missionaries) have come up with code words to describe their Sunday club, book studies, “P.R.-ing” for folks, what “The Father” is doing and how someone had just become a “C.”
I stepped back and thought about how a entire country has basically disregarded God. I thought of how our country seems to be moving in that direction. And I thought about how we can get caught up in stuff--fun or not--and miss God.
Tricia says she likes living in China because every day is a clear reminder of what her purpose in life is. The trip reminded me of how important it is for us to work to reach people, here or abroad--whether we’re having fun or not.
FOR ALL THE PEOPLE
12/25/07 07
“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.’”—Luke 2:10-11
Christmas is “for all the people.” Christmas reminds us that everyone is on a spiritual journey. And Christmas time gives all of us an excellent opportunity to take the next step on our spiritual journey. No matter who you are, where you’re from, what you’ve done, Christmas encourages you and me to move along our spiritual journey.
How? I’d like to walk us through some of the stages, the seasons, the phases along our spiritual journey. And I’d like us to look at how a character, an example from the Bible who was in that particular stage responded at Christmas.
The first stage along the spiritual journey is the Resisting Stage
Some people are not very interested in spiritual things. They either don’t believe in God or perhaps are mad at God and resist his working in their lives. At Christmas these folks may tend to be Scrooges or Grinches.
The Top Seven Atheist Holiday Songs
O Little Town of Birmingham
I Don't Fear What You Fear
Oh, Krispy Kreme
Angels I Have Heard While High
Grandma Got Run Over By a Train, Dear
Whose Kid is This?
Amway -- I'm a Manager
A Biblical example of someone in this stage is Herod
“King Herod was deeply disturbed…”—Matthew 2:3 (NLT)
“Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance.”—Matthew 2:16 (NLT)
Herod was so caught up in fighting God that he messed up not only his live, but thousands of loves.
If you’re in the resisting stage, take a lesson from Herod: Stop fighting God, it’s not a fight we can win.
A second stage along the spiritual journey is the Questioning Stage
This where we’ve moved past disinterest or resistance and are wondering, “There’s got to be more to life than this.”
The shepherds would be the Biblical example.
“The shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."—Luke 2:15
The shepherds opened their minds enough to check things out. If you’re at a questioning stage, I’d encourage you to make the effort at Christmas to look for the things God might be doing around you.
A third stage on the spiritual journey is the Seeking Stage
Those in the spiritual stage of seeking have come out of the clouds and have actually clarified their questions. They’ve progressed to taking their spiritual questions to the Bible to look for answers.
Some in this stage are assertively seeking and hopefully will make a personal commitment to Jesus. This is when we realize we need God. We are getting ready to make a faith commitment and become a Christ-follower.
The Wise Men are a great example.
“Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.’…After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.’”—Matthew 2:1-2& 9-11
The wise men were seekers.
I love the Dave Barry quote: “Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season, that very special time of year when we join with our loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions such as trying to find a parking space at the mall. We traditionally do this in my family by driving around the parking lot until we see a shopper emerge from the mall, then we follow her, in very much the same spirit as the Three Wise Men, who 2,000 years ago followed a star, week after week, until it led them to a parking space.”--Dave Barry
Seekers are looking for a spiritual place. If that is you, let me encourage you, like the wise men to give the gift of yourself to Jesus this year
Another stage on the journey is the Infancy Stage
This is when we are a beginning Christ-follower, a baby believer. We’re spiritual babies, and we’re struggling with adapting to our new world.
I think the neighbors are a good Biblical example.
“The neighbors were all filled with awe.”—Luke 1:65
When we first make that commitment to Jesus, giving our life to Him because He gave His life for us, a lot of things seem new. We see that God has been with us our entire lives even though we never realized it.
If you’re brand new in following Jesus, go ahead and enjoy Christmas like a little child this year.
Another stage--perhaps the most problematic stage--is the Adolescent Stage
This is the part along the journey where we start to feel like we’ve arrived. Adolescence is a know-it-all stage, a selfish stage and an awkward stage.
People who are spiritual adolescents can mess it up for everyone. Those who are resisting and questioning can look at an adolescent believer and think, “If that’s what Christianity is all about, count me out.” Adolescents tend to rise to leadership positions in the church (after all, they know everything!) and mess it up for those trying to follow Jesus too.
An example from the Christmas story is Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist.
“Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous…While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him… “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John…Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen?... Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”--Luke 1:6 & 11 & 18-20 (NLT)
Zechariah felt he knew it all, he actually questioned the angel. You’d expect this spiritual leader to believe God, but he didn’t. And he made a mess.
If you’re in the adolescent stage, simply recognize it. Take a lesson from Zechariah--stop pretending that you know everything!
Honestly, we live in an adolescent culture. Everything is all about “me”. So we all slip back into adolescence from time to time--probably more often than we’d like. Let’s realize though, that adolescence is a stage--a phase we need to grow out of--just like Zechariah did.
“Then Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, ‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he came and set his people free. He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives,”—Luke 1:67-68 (TMV)
Hopefully, like Zechariah we can progress through adolescence to the next stage: the Growing Stage:
Joseph is a great example.
“When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded.”—Matthew 1:24 (NLT)
Joseph consistently responded at Christmas by doing what God said to do.
The difference between spiritual adolescence and spiritual growth is simple: Obedience. Doing what God says to do.
Father: “Son, do you know the meaning of the word, obey?”
Son: “Sure, Dad, I sell things on it all the time, kind of like Craig’s list.”
Obedience is a lost art in our world, but Christmas calls us to it--to progress along our journey we need to follow what Jesus says.
Another stage is the Serving Stage.
Mary is the classic case.
“Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.”—Luke 1:38
Mary wasn’t caught up in herself, she was caught up in service. Christmas is a great time to take that next step and serve.
Jerry Seinfeld says, "That's the true spirit of Christmas; people being helped by people other than me."
Actually, the true spirit of Christmas is growing by serving.
Another stage is the Reproducing stage.
Many people never reach the reproducing stage. They are serving, but can get so attached that they think of it as “my ministry.”
But growing as a follower of Jesus is not about me, and it’s not about my ministry either. It is about serving others and helping others along their spiritual journey. It’s about reproduction.
The Christmas example in the Bible that comes to my mind is Elizabeth--because she had a baby! Mary had one too, so Christmas definitely is about reproduction!
Anyway, if you’re pretty far along your spiritual journey, make sure you keep going on toward reproduction. God wants to multiply His impact through you and me--let’s allow Him too!
Another stage along the journey is the Maximizing Stage:
This is the sweet-spot stage. This is where everything we’ve experienced, all of our gifts and strengths come to a place where God is using us in amazing ways--to do the very things he created us for.
Theologian Bobby Clinton calls this “convergence.” This is where everything comes together. Life may not be easy, but ministry is natural.
Few people ever get here. One who did in the Christmas story is Anna.
“There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”—Luke 2:36-38
Anna got to the point in her life where she had a giant impact because she was simply doing what God created her to do--speaking about Jesus.
I’d love to see all of us get to that convergence place, where we’re doing exactly what God made us to do.
One last stage is the Celebrating Stage.
This is where we can truly celebrate all that God has done in and through us. I think of Simeon as a Christmas example.
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’"—Luke 2:25-32
“I have seen the Savior you have given to all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations.”—Luke 2:30-32 (NLT)
Very few people get here--to where they can simply celebrate at the end of their lives--like Simeon--and live in peace. Very few people get there, but we can all move closer.
Christmas is for all of us. So, let me wish you a merry Christmas and also encourage all of us to respond this Christmas by taking the next step along our spiritual journey.
Christmas is “for all the people.” Christmas reminds us that everyone is on a spiritual journey. And Christmas time gives all of us an excellent opportunity to take the next step on our spiritual journey. No matter who you are, where you’re from, what you’ve done, Christmas encourages you and me to move along our spiritual journey.
How? I’d like to walk us through some of the stages, the seasons, the phases along our spiritual journey. And I’d like us to look at how a character, an example from the Bible who was in that particular stage responded at Christmas.
The first stage along the spiritual journey is the Resisting Stage
Some people are not very interested in spiritual things. They either don’t believe in God or perhaps are mad at God and resist his working in their lives. At Christmas these folks may tend to be Scrooges or Grinches.
The Top Seven Atheist Holiday Songs
O Little Town of Birmingham
I Don't Fear What You Fear
Oh, Krispy Kreme
Angels I Have Heard While High
Grandma Got Run Over By a Train, Dear
Whose Kid is This?
Amway -- I'm a Manager
A Biblical example of someone in this stage is Herod
“King Herod was deeply disturbed…”—Matthew 2:3 (NLT)
“Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance.”—Matthew 2:16 (NLT)
Herod was so caught up in fighting God that he messed up not only his live, but thousands of loves.
If you’re in the resisting stage, take a lesson from Herod: Stop fighting God, it’s not a fight we can win.
A second stage along the spiritual journey is the Questioning Stage
This where we’ve moved past disinterest or resistance and are wondering, “There’s got to be more to life than this.”
The shepherds would be the Biblical example.
“The shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."—Luke 2:15
The shepherds opened their minds enough to check things out. If you’re at a questioning stage, I’d encourage you to make the effort at Christmas to look for the things God might be doing around you.
A third stage on the spiritual journey is the Seeking Stage
Those in the spiritual stage of seeking have come out of the clouds and have actually clarified their questions. They’ve progressed to taking their spiritual questions to the Bible to look for answers.
Some in this stage are assertively seeking and hopefully will make a personal commitment to Jesus. This is when we realize we need God. We are getting ready to make a faith commitment and become a Christ-follower.
The Wise Men are a great example.
“Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.’…After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.’”—Matthew 2:1-2& 9-11
The wise men were seekers.
I love the Dave Barry quote: “Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season, that very special time of year when we join with our loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions such as trying to find a parking space at the mall. We traditionally do this in my family by driving around the parking lot until we see a shopper emerge from the mall, then we follow her, in very much the same spirit as the Three Wise Men, who 2,000 years ago followed a star, week after week, until it led them to a parking space.”--Dave Barry
Seekers are looking for a spiritual place. If that is you, let me encourage you, like the wise men to give the gift of yourself to Jesus this year
Another stage on the journey is the Infancy Stage
This is when we are a beginning Christ-follower, a baby believer. We’re spiritual babies, and we’re struggling with adapting to our new world.
I think the neighbors are a good Biblical example.
“The neighbors were all filled with awe.”—Luke 1:65
When we first make that commitment to Jesus, giving our life to Him because He gave His life for us, a lot of things seem new. We see that God has been with us our entire lives even though we never realized it.
If you’re brand new in following Jesus, go ahead and enjoy Christmas like a little child this year.
Another stage--perhaps the most problematic stage--is the Adolescent Stage
This is the part along the journey where we start to feel like we’ve arrived. Adolescence is a know-it-all stage, a selfish stage and an awkward stage.
People who are spiritual adolescents can mess it up for everyone. Those who are resisting and questioning can look at an adolescent believer and think, “If that’s what Christianity is all about, count me out.” Adolescents tend to rise to leadership positions in the church (after all, they know everything!) and mess it up for those trying to follow Jesus too.
An example from the Christmas story is Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist.
“Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous…While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him… “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John…Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen?... Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”--Luke 1:6 & 11 & 18-20 (NLT)
Zechariah felt he knew it all, he actually questioned the angel. You’d expect this spiritual leader to believe God, but he didn’t. And he made a mess.
If you’re in the adolescent stage, simply recognize it. Take a lesson from Zechariah--stop pretending that you know everything!
Honestly, we live in an adolescent culture. Everything is all about “me”. So we all slip back into adolescence from time to time--probably more often than we’d like. Let’s realize though, that adolescence is a stage--a phase we need to grow out of--just like Zechariah did.
“Then Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, ‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he came and set his people free. He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives,”—Luke 1:67-68 (TMV)
Hopefully, like Zechariah we can progress through adolescence to the next stage: the Growing Stage:
Joseph is a great example.
“When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded.”—Matthew 1:24 (NLT)
Joseph consistently responded at Christmas by doing what God said to do.
The difference between spiritual adolescence and spiritual growth is simple: Obedience. Doing what God says to do.
Father: “Son, do you know the meaning of the word, obey?”
Son: “Sure, Dad, I sell things on it all the time, kind of like Craig’s list.”
Obedience is a lost art in our world, but Christmas calls us to it--to progress along our journey we need to follow what Jesus says.
Another stage is the Serving Stage.
Mary is the classic case.
“Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.”—Luke 1:38
Mary wasn’t caught up in herself, she was caught up in service. Christmas is a great time to take that next step and serve.
Jerry Seinfeld says, "That's the true spirit of Christmas; people being helped by people other than me."
Actually, the true spirit of Christmas is growing by serving.
Another stage is the Reproducing stage.
Many people never reach the reproducing stage. They are serving, but can get so attached that they think of it as “my ministry.”
But growing as a follower of Jesus is not about me, and it’s not about my ministry either. It is about serving others and helping others along their spiritual journey. It’s about reproduction.
The Christmas example in the Bible that comes to my mind is Elizabeth--because she had a baby! Mary had one too, so Christmas definitely is about reproduction!
Anyway, if you’re pretty far along your spiritual journey, make sure you keep going on toward reproduction. God wants to multiply His impact through you and me--let’s allow Him too!
Another stage along the journey is the Maximizing Stage:
This is the sweet-spot stage. This is where everything we’ve experienced, all of our gifts and strengths come to a place where God is using us in amazing ways--to do the very things he created us for.
Theologian Bobby Clinton calls this “convergence.” This is where everything comes together. Life may not be easy, but ministry is natural.
Few people ever get here. One who did in the Christmas story is Anna.
“There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”—Luke 2:36-38
Anna got to the point in her life where she had a giant impact because she was simply doing what God created her to do--speaking about Jesus.
I’d love to see all of us get to that convergence place, where we’re doing exactly what God made us to do.
One last stage is the Celebrating Stage.
This is where we can truly celebrate all that God has done in and through us. I think of Simeon as a Christmas example.
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’"—Luke 2:25-32
“I have seen the Savior you have given to all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations.”—Luke 2:30-32 (NLT)
Very few people get here--to where they can simply celebrate at the end of their lives--like Simeon--and live in peace. Very few people get there, but we can all move closer.
Christmas is for all of us. So, let me wish you a merry Christmas and also encourage all of us to respond this Christmas by taking the next step along our spiritual journey.