Not too long ago, I wrote a post that asked the question "Should We Be Teaching Pastoral Students About Church Culture?". I had an interesting exchange with SEBTS professor Nathan Finn who stated the following:
"To clarify my view about the role of seminaries: we do not teach people to be pastors. (emphasis mine) You only really learn that in 'real life.' We do, however, provide tools that help to equip those who will become pastors."
Unfortunately, I agree with Dr. Finn that our seminaries are not trying to teach people to be pastors. I raised this very same issue in my post of May 30, 2008 entitled, A Call to SBC Seminaries to Teach Pastors How to Minister in a Small Church Environment. If you read that comment stream you will see many people agree with Dr. Finn's position on what seminaries should be teaching. As I have said elsewhere, I consider Dr. Finn to be a friend of mine and a person whom I greatly respect, however, on the issue of the philosophy of practical pastoral training it seems that we disagree.
Many people know me to be a small church advocate. That does not mean I am against large churches or I don't want small churches to grow. To me, the term "small church advocate" means one who encourages and helps to equip leaders in small churches, which are the vast majority of churches in the world. A part of encouraging and equipping small church leaders is to help them understand the culture in which they minister. Small churches are different from medium and large size churches. What works in a megachurch will not automatically work in a small church.
With these principles in mind, I am announcing the formation of a Christian institute which will have the goal of teaching the practical aspects of doing pastoral and complementary ministries. The mission and vision of the Christian Ministry Training Institute are as follows:
Mission
To teach men how to be pastors and men and women how to do complementary ministry.
Vision
To teach practical skills for ministry through affordable online coursework resulting in a certificate or a degree in pastoral or complementary ministry.
Here's how the institute is going to work:
1. Review the course list online.
2. Select courses of study.
3. Courses of study confirmed by email.
4. Go to the online course study site.
5. Enter the password to gain access to the teaching video.
6. Watch the videos and complete the assigned work.
7. Take the final exam.
8. Put your knowledge into practice.
The courses will include the following:
- Church Culture (required by every student)
- How to Handle Conflict
- The Beauty of the Small Church
- Administering the Ordinances: The Lord's Supper and Believer's Baptism
- Effective Personal Visitation
- Your First Year in a New Church
- Recruiting and Managing an All-Volunteer Staff
- How to Conduct a Home Bible Study
- What to Do for Special Occasions
- The Ministry of Conducting a Wedding
- The Ministry of the Funeral
- Effective Children's Church
- Theology of Worship
Hopefully, we can bring these courses online as soon as possible. I am actively soliciting help in developing these courses. If you're interested in developing a course, please email me at lespuryear@hotmail.com.These courses are just a start. I hope to expand upon our course list to the extent that associate degrees can be offered.
Many people have asked me where the "small church movement" is going. I don't know if there even is a "small church movement," much less where it's going. However, I do believe I can best serve existing, as well as future, small church pastors by providing practical teaching which seminaries apparently are not providing.
Please understand that I do not view this institute to be a replacement for seminary. A seminary education is necessary in my view for the pastor who wants to best equip himself for the Lord's service. My view of this institute is one that provides supplemental education, either before or after seminary education, with more practical applications of actually doing ministry.
As I move this along, I'll keep you informed how it's going. In the meantime, tell me what you think. If you wish to help develop a course, let me know.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
The Church that is Pleasing to Man VS the Church that is Pleasing to God
I find it interesting that man's idea of churches that are pleasing to God and what is taught is the Word of God about churches that are pleasing to God are so different.
According to Men...
According to the Leavell Center for Evangelism and Church Health, which is part of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, the church that is most pleasing to God (spiritually healthy) is a church that meets the following criterion:
1. Experience 10% total membership growth over five years.
2. Baptize at least one new convert each year.
3. Score a member-to-baptism ratio of 35 to 1.
4. Maintain a percentage of growth that is conversion growth that is 25%. (IOW, if you add 100 new members, at least 25 of them must be new converts)
The Leavell Center is by no means alone in their evaluation of what constitutes a healthy church. Most church growth/health experts have similar criterion for their views of healthy churches. As noble as these criterion are, they do not reflect what truly is pleasing to our Lord. Let's look at God's Word for His take on a church that pleases Him.
According to the Word of God...
To the church of Rome:
"I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world" Rom. 1:8
To the church in Corinth:
" I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ" 1 Cor. 1:4-8
"you also helping together in prayer for us" 2 Cor. 1:11
To the church in Ephesus:
"Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you" Eph. 1:15-16a
"I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary." Rev. 2:2-3
To the church in Philippi:
"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now" Phil. 1:3-5
To the church in Colosse:
"We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints" Colossian 1:3-4
To the church in Thessalonica:
"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father" 1 Thess. 2:-3
"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure" 2 Thess. 1:3-4
To the church in the house of Philemon:
" I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints" Philemon 4-5
To an unidentified church by the Apostle John:
" I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father." 2 John 4
To the church in Smyrna:
"I know your works, tribulation" Rev. 2:9a
To the church in Pergamos:
"I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells." Rev. 2:13
To the church in Thyatira:
"I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first." Rev. 2:19
To the church in Philadelphia:
"I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name...you have kept My command to persevere" Rev. 3:8, 10a
According to the Word of God, some of the characteristics of a church that is pleasing to God are:
1. faith in Christ
2. confirmation of the testimony of Christ
3. eagerly waiting for the revelation of Christ
4. helping in prayer
5. love for all the saints
6. not bearing with those who are evil
7. testing those who claim to be leaders
8. perseverance
9. laboring for the sake of Christ
10. not becoming weary
11. fellowship with the saints in the gospel
12. work of faith, labor of love, patience of hope in Christ without ceasing
13. growing faith
14. abounding in love towards each other
15. patience and faith while enduring persecutions and tribulation
16. walking in truth
17. holding fast to the name of Christ
18. not denying faith in Christ
19. service
20. kept the Word of God
Please notice that in the Word of God, there is no mention of a church being praised for great numbers or admonished for a lack of numbers. Surely, the Word of God says that we must "bear fruit." However, our fruit bearing will always be a normal by-product of a church that is pleasing to God. Bearing fruit is not the primary goal of a faithful church. Having faith in Christ and loving all the saints are mentioned more than any other characteristics of a church that is pleasing to God. God doesn't ask us to set and meet numerical goals to be pleasing to Him. He is much more interested in a church that is truly faithful, loving, enduring, and living in the truth of God's Word.
According to Men...
According to the Leavell Center for Evangelism and Church Health, which is part of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, the church that is most pleasing to God (spiritually healthy) is a church that meets the following criterion:
1. Experience 10% total membership growth over five years.
2. Baptize at least one new convert each year.
3. Score a member-to-baptism ratio of 35 to 1.
4. Maintain a percentage of growth that is conversion growth that is 25%. (IOW, if you add 100 new members, at least 25 of them must be new converts)
The Leavell Center is by no means alone in their evaluation of what constitutes a healthy church. Most church growth/health experts have similar criterion for their views of healthy churches. As noble as these criterion are, they do not reflect what truly is pleasing to our Lord. Let's look at God's Word for His take on a church that pleases Him.
According to the Word of God...
To the church of Rome:
"I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world" Rom. 1:8
To the church in Corinth:
" I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ" 1 Cor. 1:4-8
"you also helping together in prayer for us" 2 Cor. 1:11
To the church in Ephesus:
"Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you" Eph. 1:15-16a
"I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary." Rev. 2:2-3
To the church in Philippi:
"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now" Phil. 1:3-5
To the church in Colosse:
"We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints" Colossian 1:3-4
To the church in Thessalonica:
"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father" 1 Thess. 2:-3
"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure" 2 Thess. 1:3-4
To the church in the house of Philemon:
" I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints" Philemon 4-5
To an unidentified church by the Apostle John:
" I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father." 2 John 4
To the church in Smyrna:
"I know your works, tribulation" Rev. 2:9a
To the church in Pergamos:
"I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells." Rev. 2:13
To the church in Thyatira:
"I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first." Rev. 2:19
To the church in Philadelphia:
"I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name...you have kept My command to persevere" Rev. 3:8, 10a
According to the Word of God, some of the characteristics of a church that is pleasing to God are:
1. faith in Christ
2. confirmation of the testimony of Christ
3. eagerly waiting for the revelation of Christ
4. helping in prayer
5. love for all the saints
6. not bearing with those who are evil
7. testing those who claim to be leaders
8. perseverance
9. laboring for the sake of Christ
10. not becoming weary
11. fellowship with the saints in the gospel
12. work of faith, labor of love, patience of hope in Christ without ceasing
13. growing faith
14. abounding in love towards each other
15. patience and faith while enduring persecutions and tribulation
16. walking in truth
17. holding fast to the name of Christ
18. not denying faith in Christ
19. service
20. kept the Word of God
Please notice that in the Word of God, there is no mention of a church being praised for great numbers or admonished for a lack of numbers. Surely, the Word of God says that we must "bear fruit." However, our fruit bearing will always be a normal by-product of a church that is pleasing to God. Bearing fruit is not the primary goal of a faithful church. Having faith in Christ and loving all the saints are mentioned more than any other characteristics of a church that is pleasing to God. God doesn't ask us to set and meet numerical goals to be pleasing to Him. He is much more interested in a church that is truly faithful, loving, enduring, and living in the truth of God's Word.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Things I'm Praying For in 2010
Here a few things I'm praying for in 2010:
Lewisville Baptist Church
1. We sow seeds of a minimum of 2,000 personal invitations to church.
2. We show the love of Christ to our Jerusalem through servanthood ministries in nursing home, hospital, homebound, clothes closet, hospice, sports teams, prisons, and homeless shelters.
3. We grow in unity in faith and love for each other.
4. We give generously and cheerfully.
5. God bears fruit through us in baptisms, discipleship, maturing believers, faith in the Lord Jesus, and love for all the saints.
Missions
1. More SBC churches become active in missions.
2. God is glorified and accomplishes His purposes on our mission trip to Salire, Ecuador in July to minister to Christian women.
3. God is glorified and accomplishes His purposes on our mission trip to Litchfield, Connecticut in July to share Christ through sports camps.
4. God is glorified and accomplishes His purposes on our mission trip to Salire, Ecuador in October to share Christ through medical clinics.
5. God bears fruit in baptisms, discipleship, maturing believers, faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all the saints.
SBC
1. The IMB is financially able to send out as many missionaries as God raises up.
2. NAMB becomes an organization that is effective in reaching North America for Jesus Christ.
3. The respective search committees for IMB, NAMB, and the EC will identify and recommend the person whom God has called to lead those organizations, irregardless of politics, experience, or common sense.
4. The Great Commission Resurgence Task Force brings recommendations that come from God and not men, irregardless of politics, experience, or common sense.
5. All of the churches in the SBC that Christ is building will be equally valued and ministered to through SBC agencies.
6. God bears fruit in baptisms, discipleship, maturing believers, faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all the saints.
Secular
1. God changes the hearts of world leaders to follow Christ.
2. Abortions are reduced significantly and even eliminated.
3. Persecuted Christians will endure and persevere in Christ.
4. God will have mercy on whomever He will have mercy.
5. Many more hundreds and thousands of God's elect will come to Christ.
Lewisville Baptist Church
1. We sow seeds of a minimum of 2,000 personal invitations to church.
2. We show the love of Christ to our Jerusalem through servanthood ministries in nursing home, hospital, homebound, clothes closet, hospice, sports teams, prisons, and homeless shelters.
3. We grow in unity in faith and love for each other.
4. We give generously and cheerfully.
5. God bears fruit through us in baptisms, discipleship, maturing believers, faith in the Lord Jesus, and love for all the saints.
Missions
1. More SBC churches become active in missions.
2. God is glorified and accomplishes His purposes on our mission trip to Salire, Ecuador in July to minister to Christian women.
3. God is glorified and accomplishes His purposes on our mission trip to Litchfield, Connecticut in July to share Christ through sports camps.
4. God is glorified and accomplishes His purposes on our mission trip to Salire, Ecuador in October to share Christ through medical clinics.
5. God bears fruit in baptisms, discipleship, maturing believers, faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all the saints.
SBC
1. The IMB is financially able to send out as many missionaries as God raises up.
2. NAMB becomes an organization that is effective in reaching North America for Jesus Christ.
3. The respective search committees for IMB, NAMB, and the EC will identify and recommend the person whom God has called to lead those organizations, irregardless of politics, experience, or common sense.
4. The Great Commission Resurgence Task Force brings recommendations that come from God and not men, irregardless of politics, experience, or common sense.
5. All of the churches in the SBC that Christ is building will be equally valued and ministered to through SBC agencies.
6. God bears fruit in baptisms, discipleship, maturing believers, faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all the saints.
Secular
1. God changes the hearts of world leaders to follow Christ.
2. Abortions are reduced significantly and even eliminated.
3. Persecuted Christians will endure and persevere in Christ.
4. God will have mercy on whomever He will have mercy.
5. Many more hundreds and thousands of God's elect will come to Christ.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
How To Handle Opposition in the Church
"When there were strong questions from God's people, we never saw it as "opposition," but rather as a need for more guidance and help in walking by faith. When great faith is required, great patience is reqauired as well. People are more important than projects, so we often waited patiently for those who were weaker in faith; in time they always responded and were grateful for our having loved and cared for them."
Henry Blackaby, "What the Spirit is Saying to the Churches," p. 63.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Guyaquil House Churches 2009
Guy Muse has crafted an excellent video about house churches in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Enjoy the video and continue to pray for Guy and family as they seek to reach Ecuador for Christ.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Misperceptions of Success in the Small Church: #4: Successful Pastors Are Growth Agents
More misperceptions about success in the small church from Leading the Small Church.
Misperception 4: Successful Pastors Are Growth Agents
During the latter decades of the twentieth century, it was popular to say that successful pastors were those who were serving growing churches. Pastors were seen as responsible for the numerical growth of the church and for effectively leading the church through various stages of church growth. Pastors who effectively led their churches through substantial growth were lauded as successful leaders to be emulated and followed.
The reality, however, both biblically and practically, is that effective leadership does not always translate into numerical growth. Some of the greatest leaders in the Old Testament did not experience the joy of seeing substantial or even minimal growth. Elijah despaired in ministry because no one responded favorably to his victory on Mount Carmel. Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah were called to serve people who refused to listen to their prophecies. Even Jesus, at the end of His ministry, stood alone. What has been forgotten is that the growth of the church is not the pastor's responsiblity; it's God's (1 Cor. 3:7).
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