Here are three new videos. The first is “Why Study Church History?”
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The second is “What is Christian Theology?”
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Third is “How to Study the Bible?”
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Listening to Scripture
Scripture is meant to be read. It tells a most wonderful Story; the Story of God at work in Christ making a people for himself from all nations.
In a day when everyone wants to do a Bible study what Christian communities really need is more Bible reading.
What’s the difference?
Bible study asks, “What does the text mean?”
Bible reading asks, “What does the text say?” Reading the Bible is listening to the Story. Were I to receive a note from my wife, I would not begin by parsing the language or questioning the context within which it was written. I would not ask, “What was in the mind of the author?” I would simply read. Read to enjoy the self-communication that is writing. I would not study the letter, I would read it.
There is a place for Bible study; a very important place. But study follows reading. Start at the beginning of the Book and read it simply to hear. No studying. No parsing. No cross-referencing. Just reading.
Do you have a plan for reading (not studying) the Bible? If so, what is it?
Growing Naturally
Why make Christian growth artificial and contrived? Christians grow naturally when nourished within the proper context. Rehearsing the Gospel regularly in community will, by the Spirit’s working, produce mature believers.
We complicate matters when righteous deeds replace righteousness as our objective. We can do righteous deeds; only the Spirit can produce righteousness.
Spiritual formation results when, as Christians, we listen to the Gospel through Scripture within authentic Christian community.
Authentic Christian Community
Church as Authentic: there is no pretense or self-righteousness allowed
Church as Christian: the church’s only Story is the Story of God’s work in the crucified and risen Lord
Church as Community: a shared life of participation in the redeeming work of God in Christ to make a people for himself for all nations.
My Mantra
A mantra is a three- to four-word statement of purpose. For a long time organizations were encouraged to devise “mission statements” that were often convoluted, lengthy, and ultimately useless statements that really only communicated to the handful of insiders who crafted them. At one point, there was a Dilbert Mission Statement generator that worked as well as any brainstorming session. Forward thinking, active, and effective organizations rarely use mission statements any longer.
Guru Guy Kawasaki gives some examples of mantras:
Wendy’s: Good Fast Food
Mary Kay: Enriching Women’s Lives
For our church, New Covenant Fellowship, our mantra is “Authentic Christian Community.” This is what we want to be (and become) as a church.
I have used tried a number of mantas in my 13 years as a professor. But what I think really communicates what I am about is “Training Disciple-Making Leaders.” I also think this is what we do at the seminary (we have a long mission statement that everyone memorizes, but this mantra is more hard-hitting for me).
Quite simply, people who come to Southeastern are about “Making Disciple-Making Disciples.” When they graduate, this is what I want them to spend the rest of their lives doing. I don’t care if they grow churches, build churches, plant churches, or close churches; I believe their SINGLE mission is to Make Disciple-Making Disciples. That is the essence of the Great Commission.
My mantra is “Training Disciple-Making Leaders.” If there are things I do at Southeastern that do not contribute to this end, they’ll be gone. If my students aren’t better equipped to lead in the mission of disciple-making, then I’ll have failed.
What is your mantra as it relates to the Mission of God? How would you characterize in three or four words why you are here?
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