Category: Exploring Church Ministry Blog

"And"

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Exploring Church Ministry BlogLeave a comment

 

            Such a small word.  Such a big word.  So freely used, yet so little used.  It’s as common as dirt.  It’s as rare as a green diamond.  You can find it in every discussion, every conversation.  You can intently search for it because it’s hard to find.  Just a few short letters.  Three letters which can renew the church, even the world.
            “And…” It’s the word that changes everything.  To intentionally use this most important of words can reform not only the way you talk; it can transform the way you do ministry.
            “A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and barely touched his clothes. She had said to herself, ‘If I can just touch his clothes, I will get well.’ Jesus turned. He saw the woman and said, ‘Don’t worry! You are now well because of your faith.’ At that moment, she was healed.” (Matthew 9:20-22, CEV)
            “Jesus went to the [dead] girl’s bedside.  He took her by the hand andhelped her up.” (Matthew 9:25, CEV)
            “As he was going into a village, ten men with leprosy came toward him. They stood at a distance and shouted, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’ Jesus looked at them andsaid, ‘Go show yourselves to the priests.’ On their way, they were healed. When one of them discovered he was healed, he came back, shouting praises to God. He bowed down at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.” (Luke 17:12-16, CEV)
            A nifty biblical exercise would be to read the Scriptures, paying close attention to the little word “and.”  Think about what would be different without that one word.  What if the woman with the bleeding issue came up to Jesus, but never touched him?  What if Jesus saw the woman, but did not say anything to her?  What if the men with leprosy stood at a distance, but never shouted?  What if Jesus looked at them, yet said nothing?  What if the healed leper bowed down, but never gave thanks?
            Jesus is Lord of the word “and.”  Christ our Savior doesn’t just see – he acts.  He does not only meet a need – he sees the person he helps.  The Lord Jesus does not only take one by the hand – he uses that hand to heal.  Anyone desiring to see God act, heal, and forgive must not only observe from a distance – they must touch him, shout to him, and thank him.
            In this divided age of polarized speech, the church is not immune from the impetus to take sides and avoid the word “and.”  Instead, let’s take up our privilege to use the sacred “and:”
Me and you – hand in hand, and not separate.
Speak to you and come alongside and help you – words of encouragement and acts of compassion.
Men and women – using their gifts in the world and the church.
Straight and gay – sitting in the same pew and worshiping Jesus.
Pentecostals and Presbyterians – acknowledging one another and serving the entire Body of Christ.
Republicans and Democrats – working for the common good of conservatives and progressives.
Pro-life and Pro-choice – concerned for the rights of baby and mother.

 

In the Name of the Father, and the Son, andthe Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

4 Promises from God to You

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Exploring Church Ministry BlogLeave a comment

 

            When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it’s good to know you are not alone.  When you feel that no one really gets what you’re going through, its good to know that there is a powerful Protector and Provider who is present with you in the valleys of life.
            God has promised to be with his people.  I don’t think there is any better place to turn than Psalm 23 for some solid robust theology that can help you through every adversity, each trouble and time of need.
            Psalm 23, unfortunately, has been so closely associated with death and dying that it does not get the attention it deserves.  More than once, I’ve been told by grieving families to not use Psalm 23 in the funeral because it’s so tied in their minds to sadness.  We need a fresh reading of the psalm, in times that we aren’t in distress, to begin appreciating it and using it when we do face the unwanted and the unthinkable in our lives.
            One of my bedrock assumptions in ministry is that people need God.  They need to discover Him, get to know Him, grow in their understanding of Him, and learn to completely place their trust in Him.  I have that presupposition going into ministry because another foundational truth I believe is that God is good – there is never, and I mean never, a time when God is not always good, just, merciful, gracious, and kind.  God is pictured in the psalm as a Good Shepherd, the One who lovingly and pastorally leads us.  Psalm 23 is a great fortifier of faith, giving you and me the stout knowledge which we need to navigate the valleys, as well as the peaks of our lives.
            Take some time and carefully read the psalm several times, preferably in several different translations.  You will find characteristics of God which come shining through – attributes which we can internalize for our own connection and help, and externalize to others in their trials of life.  Here are four promises based in those attributes to bank-on through any circumstance:
1.      God is present with His people.
            God wants to be with you.  He really likes you.  He doesn’t begrudgingly put up with you.  God is not fickle.  He doesn’t promise to be somewhere with you, then not show up.  It does not matter whatsoever what valley you’re walking through – family discord, marriage problems, church strife, work issues, prison-time, or financial ruin – He is there.  God goes before you, with you, and after you, every place you go.
2.     God’s power is available to His people.
            God super-duper wants to empower you through your valley.  But we must understand this: God has never promised to overpower a situation and leave you unchanged.  Instead, God uses His good and benevolent power to buoy you through your trouble.  He’s more interested in developing your character and perseverance.  God wants your faith to be strong enough to serve you well throughout your life.  Faith can only grow if it is exercised and put under strain.
3.     God is in the protection-racket for His people.
            God, as the Good Shepherd, uses his shepherd’s rod to make us feel safe and secure in the middle of any hardship.  Whereas you and I tend to about the business of seeing God beat up our enemies and give ‘em a decent spanking they won’t forget, God turns the attention to us.  Judgment and wrath are God’s business, and He makes it clear it isn’t ours.  The wolves out there seeking to take advantage of us will be taken care of by God.  We can rest our heads on the pillow at night secure in the knowledge that God never sleeps and stands watch over us all the time.
4.    God surrounds His people with abundant provision.
            God more than meets our needs – He meets them lavishly.  Maybe we can survive on thin porridge and water, but God wants you to thrive, flourish, and be satisfied with a feast.  This is all done with people who don’t like us right there to watch.  God doesn’t just fill the cup, He causes it to overflow.

 

            Sometimes we dream of having a miracle.  Those are great.  I’d like to see more of them.  But the greatest need we have is of God Himself – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – working to manifest His good presence among us with power, protection, and provision for each day.  This is what the church needs to hear, experience, and pass-on.

The Power of Metaphors

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Exploring Church Ministry BlogLeave a comment
 “But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
they walk and don’t lag behind.”
(Isaiah 40:31, The Message)
 
            Language is a beautiful thing.  It’s able to evoke powerful images within us, emboldening us and encouraging us.  This biblical verse from the prophet Isaiah demonstrates the enduring quality and strength of words to communicate wonderful truth and soothing grace to our hearts.
            Our choice of words and our selection of stringing those words together in metaphors is vital and important.  A metaphor is simply a figure of speech, an image of something that describes an object or action in a way that isn’t literally true, but helps explain an idea or make a comparison.  Isaiah used the eagle to picture what God can do for us when we are weak and weary and need fresh strength.  We can’t literally soar above everything, but metaphorically, we can transcend our earthly circumstances and wait on God to invigorate us.
            We can use metaphors in funny ways.  I’m a cartoon connoisseur.  One of my favorite characters, Foghorn Leghorn, is a master of metaphor: “That boy’s about as sharp as a bowling ball.” “Nice boy but he’s got more nerve than a bum tooth.” “That woman’s as cold as a nudist on an iceberg.” “His muscles are as soggy as a used tea bag.”
            We can use metaphors to impart wisdom and cause us to think about things from a different angle:  “The moon does not care if the dog barks at it” (Czech proverb). “However black a cow is, its milk is always white” (African proverb). “When the root is deep, there is no need to fear the wind” (unknown). “The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life” (Proverbs 13:14). “You are the salt of the earth” (Jesus, in Matthew 5:13).
            Metaphors take us on a journey toward an expected end or outcome.  It’s why we ought to be careful and not careless with our words.  Consider some of the common metaphors we use, and think about the trajectory of those words.
“She battles cancer.”  This is clearly a military metaphor.  It might be great if you “beat” the “invading” cancer cells and “win,” achieving a cancer free status.  But, is cancer really within your control to beat? Is it your choice to win or to lose?  What if you don’t win?  Is there something wrong with you?  This metaphor communicates that if you lose your battle, you’re a loser – and that’s neither comforting nor helpful.  Methinks we need a different metaphor for cancer.  John McCain, a person familiar with both war and cancer, interestingly said this about the two: “For me, cancer never felt like a war. Cancer wasn’t something I ‘had,’ but a process my body was going through.” In his metaphor, cancer is a journey that he needs to take, a “process” he must go through.
            What if we changed the metaphor (for any disease or condition) and, for example, said something like, “I did not invite fibromyalgia into my life; he is an unwanted guest, but I will sit with Fibro Fred (go ahead and name it an actual name) for awhile and listen to him.”  Now we aren’t attempting to conquer, but explore, and in discovery you might find new, fresh, or just mindful ways of coping with a reality you did not choose.
            Another example of metaphor is describing a difficult reality for many people: depression.  Oftentimes we image depression as “a thick fog” or “the invisible enemy” and, in many corners of society it is still just referred to as “sin,” or “the demon of depression.”  Again, think about the direction these metaphors take us.  The thick fog implies there is nothing we can do but sit and wait for it to lift.  The invisible enemy implies just the opposite, and brings us yet again to the military metaphor, as if we can simply choose to drive it out.  But depression is neither a condition which we can do nothing about, nor a sinful enemy which we can fight and exorcise out of our lives.
            Having been through a major depression myself, I would look back and describe it as having a dead car battery.  It doesn’t help to swear about it, do nothing about it, think you can magically will the car to start with the power of your mind, or quote Bible verses at it in the belief it will spring to life.  Nope.  When your car battery is dead, you immediately find a way to jump start it, head to a place that can help you replace it with a new battery, and move on down the road of life knowing that you have fresh power to keep going, not forever, but at least for few years.  It’s not sinful or evil to have a dead car battery.  It just is, and there are choices you can make when you’re in that unwanted and awkward situation.
            The church needs a solid toolbox of metaphors to use in all kinds of situations, so that she can encourage, comfort, help, support, build-up, and walk with hurting people, for whatever reasons, through their intensely personal experiences toward fresh hope and vital spiritual health.

 

            What are some metaphors that have served you well?  What are some which have been hurtful to you?  Can you think of different metaphors to describe your condition, or the condition of your friend or family member?

Do One Thing Well

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Exploring Church Ministry BlogLeave a comment
 
 
            I was watching the BBC series Planet Earth II last night.  There’s nothing quite like the soothing British tone of David Attenborough talking to you about the wonders of our planet.  In the first episode, the sloth… was on… and he… moved… really… slow.  That’s what sloths do.  They move slow.  But that’s okay.  They just move up and down mango trees… at a really sloooow pace… and eat mango leaves.  Turns out they put their giddy-up on a bit when its mating time, but, other than that, they just focus on their mango tree existence.
 
            What struck me about watching Slow Poke Sloth was the fact that he didn’t care he was slow (he did want to get to that lady sloth quicker, but, hey, there’s joy in the anticipation).  He wasn’t wishing he were a jaguar racing across the savannah.  He did one thing.  He did that one thing really well.
 
            It sometimes amazes me how we humans, in contrast to the sloth, keep trying to be all things to all people.  We hurry and scurry and fret and worry and strive and connive and go as fast as we can to get where we’re going, sometimes not even knowing where it is we’re headed.
 
            When it comes to church ministry, even our own individual Christian lives, it also amazes me how much we try to do everything under the sun – as if we were meant to be every creature on the planet.  I have often heard small churches lament that they’re not bigger.  The implication is that if they had more people in the pews, then they could really do a lot of things, offer more ministries.  Yet, even the megachurch doesn’t do everything well.  Truth be told, the trend for big churches is finding ways to be smaller – which is why the multi-site movement is prevalent today.  The big guy has found that doing pastoral and spiritual care is difficult with such size.
 
            I think we need to take a lesson from Mr. Sloth.  He moves slow, but with single-minded purpose.  If you look at Jesus in the Gospels, he was never in a hurry to get anything done.  He moved at his own pace, not deterred or influenced by others trying to get him to go faster or do something he didn’t want or need to do.  When our Lord looked at the state of people concerned about what was going to happen, he told them to do… one… thing… well. 
 
“Don’t worry and ask yourselves, ‘Will we have anything to drink?  Will we have anything to drink?  Will we have any clothes to wear?’ Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things.  Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these….  
 
“But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants.  Then the other things will be yours as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33)
 
            The singular question for each Christian, every church, and all denominations and ministry groups is: “What does God want?”  The question is not: “What is that other church doing?” “What will make this group of people happy?” “What is everyone else doing?”  Nope.  What… does… God… want?  What does it mean to put God and his work first?  Now we’re talking – that’s the kind of discussion to have in an elders’ meeting.  It’s the kind of inner dialogue that needs to happen in your heart.
 

 

            Mango leaves are not you’re thing.  But going hard after the kingdom of God and his righteousness is to be your one passionate pursuit.  If you will do this one thing, then all the other stuff will fall into place.  That’s not David Attenborough talking – its Jesus.