Mar 13th 10
Posted by Adam in Church Planting, Leadership
I always knew that church planting was hard.
Leading up to our go-date in Boston, I have found myself in a new level of fight. Perhaps it’s because I’m the lead guy on this one. Perhaps it’s due to the hostile nature of our environment. Perhaps it’s the devil. Perhaps it’s what I ate for lunch…
In any case, I’m in a fight. I’m in a fight for God’s dream for Boston. I’m in a fight for people who don’t know Jesus. I’m in a fight for wandering, aimless Christians. I’m in a fight for the advance of God’s kingdom on the earth, even as it is in Heaven. I’m in a fight for the defense of the Gospel, once for all delivered to the saints.
So, just as Paul told Timothy, so the Scriptures tell me, Fight the good fight of faith. I will pray. I will fast. I will prepare. I will raise money. I will move. I will encourage myself in the words of Jesus, who went through a much tougher fight.
I will fight the good fight of faith for the future of that great city.
Who’s with me?
Jan 7th 10
Posted by Adam in Church Planting, Devotion, Leadership
There is a lot I don’t see right now…
…I don’t see the money I need to plant Aletheia Church Boston
…I don’t see a full team of people and staff
…I don’t yet see hundreds coming to Christ
…I don’t see the sound system, meeting space, small groups, or welcome signs
But…
I do see God. I see His promises, His character, and His love for Boston, which is greater than mine or anyone else. I see God, even though I don’t see anything else. I don’t see what I think I need. But I do see Him who gives to all beyond what we can ask or think. Do you see him?
See God, not your issues. In the absence of immediate provision, see him who will meet your needs and give him honor for future grace.
Dec 29th 09
Posted by Adam in Family, Leadership, Theology
I LOVE THE GOSPEL, and yet I’m amazed at the areas of my life that it has yet to truly touch.
For instance… parenting.
Hope and I try to teach our children to obey THE VERY FIRST TIME. We feel that, from Scripture, it is important that we teach them to obey us, as their parents because in it there is blessing, and we want them to develop a spirit of trust in their parents, that it might spill over to their walk with God. However, being smaller versions of us full-sized sinners, they don’t obey all the time.
So what do we do?
For the longest time, we have used the law of “obey your parents” to show them their sin, that they might repent and do better next time. Nothing wrong with that, except that we stopped there. I stopped there. I was, for the longest time, teaching them to obey, and when they didn’t they would receive correction. But God in his mercy reminded me that THE LAW WAS GIVEN THAT GRACE MIGHT INCREASE. I missed the opportunity to show them that Christ was given BECAUSE they can’t obey all the time. Let me illustrate what I mean…
Me: Nora, why did I discipline you?
Nora: Because I disobeyed (in a cute, Nora voice)
Me: Yes, you did. What does the Bible say?
Nora: Childwen, obey you-uh parwents.
Me: That’s right, please obey next time.
Did you catch it. It was okay, but missed a great gospel opportunity. Let’s try again…
Me: Nora, why did I discipline you?
Nora: Because I disobeyed (in a cute, Nora voice)
Me: Yes, you did. What does the Bible say?
Nora: Childwen, obey you-uh parwents.
Me: Right. You know, sometimes I disobey too, but you know what?
Nora: What?
Me: Jesus obeyed for me, even when I don’t. He obeyed for you too, even when you don’t. Isn’t Jesus great?
Nora: Yeah.
Me: Yeah, he is. Now, please obey Mommy and Daddy.
IN MY PARENTING AND IN MY LIFE, I WANT THEM TO KNOW GRACE WHEN THEY BREAK THE LAW, because they simply will, and so will I, and so will you. That’s why we need Jesus.
Sep 3rd 09
Posted by Adam in Leadership, Random Thoughts
As the illustrious Gabe Bouch told me, READERS ARE LEADERS AND TV WATCHERS ARE BOTTOM FEEDERS. Don’t get me wrong, I like some TV every now and again, though…
So, here’s what I’m reading this month:
The Future of Justification (John Piper) – In recent months I’ve become more interested in some of the debate surrounding the doctrine of Justification. So, I’m reading Johnny P’s take on the issue. Next I’ll pick up N.T. Wright’s side, and hopefully that’ll make for some good blogging. Very important doctrine, since it’s all about how our sin is dealt with, and that’s something that we sort of want to get right.
Planting Growing Churches for the 21st Century (Aubrey Malphurs) – Malphurs is one of the godfather of modern church planting in many respects, and since I’m planting a church soon, I thought it would be good to keep reading great books about planting great churches.
Ancient Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction (Julia Annas) – I picked this book up a while back, and it’s just a small book about ancient philosophy (you’d have never guessed that from the title, right?) Annas has written a handful of books like this, so I plan on reading my way through them. It’s good to know where all our good ideas came from (and the bad ones too.)
So, WHAT ARE YOU READING?
