But what I’ve found in observing the education programs in various churches is that there’s often a [...]]]> Since my company publishes materials that are designed to be used as church curriculum, you might expect me to take a rather direct approach.  What is the need?  Which of our materials will fulfill that need?

But what I’ve found in observing the education programs in various churches is that there’s often a problem much earlier in the process.  That problem is mission.  A church that is not clearly focused on mission will never be a well-equipped church, and very likely will not be a unified church.

I find, for example, that if I have a problem in my business or personal life, there’s a certain amount of time that I need to spend thinking about it and taking action to deal with the problem.  That amount of time varies, but it will always be just the amount of time that I can think profitably and act profitably.  When I carry on thinking about the problem after I’ve dealt with all facets of it, I’ll simply be worrying.  If I try to act after I’ve taken all the constructive steps to solve the problem I will just be wasting time, and I may even make the problem worse.

What I have to do after I’ve done the things that need to be done is to move forward on the mission, whether that’s the mission of my life or of my work.  Keeping the focus on getting where I’m going helps me to keep problems in proportion and to continue using my time effectively in continuing toward my goal.

So what does this have to do with curriculum?  The church that is not clear on its mission will spend time making trouble for itself, doing things such as debating the color of the carpet, gossiping about one another, and making mountains out of the molehills of non-essential doctrines.  I’m reminded of a conversation I had with a colleague just today.  He said of a certain person’s ministry that “when they get involved, they start tithing and go on mission trips and that can’t be all bad.”  Indeed it can’t!

This does not mean that there are no important doctrinal issues nor does it mean that the church shouldn’t be involved in teaching sound doctrine.  But a focus on the mission will tend to keep this in proportion.

I see this pattern in Ephesians 4:

¹¹ The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³ until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. ¹⁴ We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. — Ephesians 4:11-14 (NRSV)

Note that the purpose of the offices is given first as “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” and then as this follows through, and people “come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,” we get to a point where we are no longer “blown about by every wind of doctrine.”  Doctrine is not the focal point, but at the same time it is not left out.

I would suggest that we cannot come to maturity, to a full understanding of Jesus as the Son of God unless we are fully involved in ministry, in service to others.  The body of Christ cannot become unified and whole without a primary involvement in mission.  By “mission” I do not mean just overseas mission service or mission trips, as important as these things are.

The starting point must be the gospel commission, but each person and each congregation will have their particular part in carrying out the mission of the church.  If we keep our focus on that, I believe all else will fall into place.

(Tomorrow I’ll continue by discussing how the way in which we choose what curriculum we use, if any, relates to mission and impacts the way we carry that mission out.)

Buy Preserving Democracy as an audio book from Borders Books.

The Participatory Study Series is what it says. Bible study should include study with fellow Believers but also the sharing of testimonies and the sharing in the lives [...]]]> Get Ready for Fall $7 Sale!

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This new edition includes all material added to the expanded paperback edition, and is available for only $7.99. [...]]]>

The expanded Preserving Democracy is now available for the Amazon.com Kindle.

This new edition includes all material added to the expanded paperback edition, and is available for only $7.99.

I like what Hushbeck has written. He has done his homework. He has worked systematically and arrived at solid conclusions. He “gets it.” Anyone reading Preserving Democracy will learn something new, and pick up a little inspiration in the process.

Go read the [...]]]> Pastor Chris Clark has now reviewed Preserving Democracy.  His conclusion:

I like what Hushbeck has written. He has done his homework. He has worked systematically and arrived at solid conclusions. He “gets it.” Anyone reading Preserving Democracy will learn something new, and pick up a little inspiration in the process.

Go read the whole review.

In addition, Joel L. Watts has completed his extended review and response to the book.  Here are some links:

Thinking through Preserving Democracy, chapters 6-10

Thinking Through Preserving Democracy, Law and Justice

Thinking through Preserving Democracy: Rule of Law

Thinking through Preserving Democracy: Taxes and the Welfare State, Planning vs Competition

Republic verses Democracy – What do we have?

Joel’s comments should provoke discussion.  We encourage you to go there, read, comment, discuss, and increase your political IQ!

Check the World Prayr organization and [...]]]> Pastor Patrick Badstibner is founder of World Prayr (on Twitter).  Pat has been providing us with a monthly blog post, but I’m pleased to be able to present this blog post, the second in a series of four weekly posts by Pat, to our Energion Publications family.

Check the World Prayr organization and the World Prayr devotional blog as well.  You’ll find a dynamic and growing group of Christians who are practicing the second great command, to love their neighbors as themselves, and thereby practicing the first command as well.

In the first part of this series we mentioned that we would be looking at three different sayings pastors today seem to be making. We also mentioned we would be visiting with my friends Dave and Paula. In the second part we talked about how to go deeper without making clones. The third part was Unmilitary people are not asking what methods you are using in basic training.

First let’s visit with my friends Dave and Paula one last time. This time though let’s skip ahead a few years and see how the advice and leadership encouragement, that Dave gave to his management team, of not worrying so much about losing repeat customers and keeping on concentrating on adding numbers has worked out.

Today Dave and Paula’s head of operations is bringing him a report on the current state of affairs for the business. Let’s listen in as Robert, Dave’s operation manager, brings him the report.

“Hi Robert, I am excited about getting that report today.”

“Well Dave, as you know we had to close one of our stores at the end of last year.”

“Yes, Robert but that was so we can streamline operations as our competition has really been increasing on us with their aggressive training programs”

“You’re right Dave, however our competition’s training programs and their well trained sales force are really hurting us. Our numbers are down Dave, and our sales force is without a lot of answers, and they don’t have the ability to really share why our company is the right way to go. Dave, are you still sure that concentrating on being radical on getting new numbers, while not being as radical training our sales people how to build and concentrate on developing and maintaining relationships with our existing customers is the way to go?”

As Dave ponders this question and wonders if what he has been concentrating on has been effective in producing results. Let us walk away and look at we have learned and discovered along the way in this series by looking at some challenges and asking ourselves some questions.

“Unchurched” and Discipleship

In the last post we looked at what “unchurched” people are not asking. They are not asking what disciple program you are using. So how do you feel now? Is this the right question? Should we be worrying about what unchurched are not asking???

After all one would not expect or even give thought to what someone who has never served in the military had to say about what basic training is like. Why should those who are to be leading, guiding, protecting, and bringing the flock God has placed under them home be giving thought, credence, or consideration to how ones who do not even understand the purpose of that meeting on Sunday and how it should be conducted, much less what questions they should be asking about that church? That is not to say we should not be taking radical steps to reach those who are not part of the church, but to say we should not be lending an ear to what they think it should be doing and how they feel it should be conducted. That is unless on Sunday morning you are actually not going to church but rather instead going to an evangelistic meeting.

Remember the Word of God is not written to those who do not know him but rather it is the love letter to believers from God. Shoot, they cannot even walk in the door, get on their knees and expect God to hear their prayers unless they first come asking for forgiveness and acknowledging a need to do it his way.

In fact if you are a church leader reading this and you are catering your service to the “unchurched,” let me plead with you please begin your service by giving the gospel so that those who accept will receive something from the rest of your message. Otherwise you will have lost the purpose of your service when you consider all things.

If one does know Christ and one is still asking those type of questions, you’re calling oneself “unchurhed” because you’re anti-establishment or you have not found that perfect church. Perhaps it would be more appropriate for the Pastor now to be asking “what type of discipleship program are you involved in? If none, why don’t you come try our church?” That would be better than than worrying about what they are not asking.

I am going to make some more bold and radical statements specifically directed at pastors, ministry leaders and anyone else God has led to a place of leadership in his kingdom.

Radical Statements

Ninety percent of Christians today fall into two categories for going or choosing the church they choose. First category, they are going for entertainment, to feel good. These are usually those who are choosing the mega church, the church that has set itself up for entertainment with loud contemporary music and the mega superstar leader. The second category is those who are still going to the same style church their parents went to or those where they feel they have a grown up daddy.

Here is a tip, the music; video usage, lack of media or too much media has no bearing on the discipleship program of the church. In fact one of the common issues of churches today, whether they use traditional hymns and no video media, or they use contemporary style worship and lots of media, is a lack of a discipleship program that is taking believers in Christ, as the writer of Hebrews said, past the point of needing to be taught, to the point of being able to teach.

In fact here are the bold statements: If you are going to a church because you’re comfortable, but you are still at the same point years later where you still need to be taught, it may just be time to move onward and stretch you.

Church leaders, pastors, ministry leaders: If any of the above can be said of your leadership perhaps it is time to stop and ask ourselves if we are really doing what God called or led us to do.

You have great programs, entertaining uplifting music, radical media and you have no programs that are helping those underneath your leadership become craftsmen of the Word of God or have answers in order to defend their faith.

You are still using the same ole, same ole methods you used, or have been using for the last fifty years.

One can walk into what you are leading and as a friend of mine said today, they can immediately tell who is leading it.

Important Note Here:

Our job is to lead in such a way that what you are leading comes to the point it no longer needs you. If those you are leading are still coming to you looking for answers or still directing others to you for answers (Example: I am not sure let me ask my pastor?), you may be missing something here.

You want to really lead, develop an intensive discipling, training program that enables those who are sitting under it to have answers as to why they believe what they believe. Be as radical in your discipleship as you are in your outreach programs.

Some Direct Challenges

Pastor, let me challenge you to remember the purpose of gathering together.

Church member, let me encourage you by asking you to pray that you will grow in understanding and spiritual insight.

Pastors, don’t try to make your church the happening place. Teach less on leadership and more on the basic doctrinal tenets of the faith and along the way you may just discover you have built and developed some leaders.

Church attendees, stop looking for the happening place, the place that charges your emotional batteries, the place you leave feeling good, and start looking for a body of believers who are supporting, loving, pushing, encouraging, changing, and motivating each other to greater works and love.

Perhaps ask of that church “what type of discipleship programs are you using?”

Here’s another question right now. If a Jehovah’s Witness asked you “why do you believe in the trinity?” could you provide an answer? Is your church teaching you how to answer? If not, what are they teaching you if they are not teaching you how to defend your faith?

Church ministry leader, if the majority of those God has given you cannot answer the above question, stop patting yourself on the back as though you’re doing a good job because you’re counting your conversions. Stop justifying your lack of doing your job with the same excuses that have been given in this series. If you are in leadership in God’s kingdom and you are not mentoring, discipling and encouraging those you are leading to the point they are able to teach, you are failing.

Pastors please consider using not only radical steps in reaching the “unchurched”; trust me, the same ole, same ole is not getting it done, but also using the same radical efforts in building and developing systems to push, pull, challenge, motivate, and encourage those God has put in your charge.

World Prayr family member, World Prayr leadership believes so strongly in that part of World Prayr’s mission it is aggressively doing and taking steps to be in the business of making true disciples; not counting conversions . That not only have we created a page for discipleship resources here:

http://worldprayr.org/page/resources

We are also building a pastoral team for that purpose and we will be working with other ministries toward that purpose. Let me also challenge you to take this series of posts to your pastor or whoever you turn to for leadership and to remember these lessons yourself.

I pray this series has challenged you to understand the need for responsible grace, discipleship, personal responsibility and the role of a church in the growth of the believers life.

Thanks for taking the time to read, and reflect on a message that is and has always been very deep to my heart.

Check the World Prayr organization and [...]]]> Pastor Patrick Badstibner is founder of World Prayr (on Twitter).  Pat has been providing us with a monthly blog post, but I’m pleased to be able to present this blog post, the second in a series of four weekly posts by Pat, to our Energion Publications family.

Check the World Prayr organization and the World Prayr devotional blog as well.  You’ll find a dynamic and growing group of Christians who are practicing the second great command, to love their neighbors as themselves, and thereby practicing the first command as well.

In the first part of this series we mentioned that we would be looking at three different sayings pastors today seem to be making. We also mentioned we would be visiting with my friends Dave and Paula. (Here is part one of this series again in case you missed it.)  In the second part we talked about how to go deeper without making clones.

This is part three in this four part series. In part one we looked at “multiplication or addition which do you prefer?” In part two we looked at “can you really go deeper without making clones” In this post we look at and prayerfully bring some clarity to this series if you have not caught on yet.

Let us first take time to visit and see what is happening with my friends Dave and Paula one last time.

This time we look on as Dave and Paula are getting ready to install kitchen cabinets as part of kitchen remodeling.

Paula says “Dave we need new cabinets.”

David says “Hey! Saw a handyman’s truck the other day stating he installed the cheapest cabinets in town.”

Paula replies “Sounds good to me David. After all we are not cabinet people and our friends are not cabinet people; in fact we are a bunch of ‘uncabinet’ people. So none of our ‘uncabinet’ friends who come to visit are going to be asking what type of ‘raining program’ did your cabinet guy use.”

David replies back “Yes, just think of how much money we will save.”

“Some people never learn”

Funny Thing

Yes, go ahead and say it. We know, Pat, some pastors are:

Yep heard a pastor go “things ‘unchurched’ people are not asking: “What type of discipleship program or training program is your church or your pastor using.”

UMMMM!!!!! WOW!!! That seems a very similar statement to what we just saw Paula say to David doesn’t it?

Amen! This is a very true statement though; “unchurched” people are not asking this.

Just as the same could be said to be true:

Unmilitary people are not asking; “What type of methods, and systems are you using in basic training.”

The question though should not be if “unchurched” people should be asking this question. Since it pertains to Church I would expect “unchurched” people to ask very little about church. The real question is should Church people be asking “what discipleship program are you using?”

Couple of points on this quote

First I am going to make some radical statement of my own

“Church is not for the ‘unchurched’.” It really isn’t. I did not say that again. God did when Christ said in Matthew 18:20 “Where two or three come together I will be there”

Let’s put that another way. If you had a whole bunch of people who did not know Christ as their Savior and the only one who did was the one speaking, you might have a great evangelistic meeting but you would not have church.

This point can be followed up with what the writer of Hebrews describes as the purpose of us meeting together as brothers and sisters in Christ in Hebrews 10:24,25: To encourage, push, and pull our brothers and sisters in Christ towards good deeds and love. In fact wherever you look in the New Testament where “Church” is described it is a gathering point for believers in Christ.

One could go as far as to say Church is the training ground of believers.

Let me state this: If you are calling yourself “unchurched,” and you have accepted Christ as your personal savior. If you feel you are “unchurched” because you are anti–establishment or you have not found a church you want to be part of, you may just have a spiritual problem and not a church problem.

Hey, that sounds like a good post: 10 reasons why you may have a spiritual problem and not a church problem.

Hold on to your hats, shirts, skirts or whatever else may fly off as I make this next statement.

Be prepared it is going to be radical and heretical.

God is not interested in a whole bunch of people just getting saved.

What did you say “God is not interested in people getting saved?”

Nope not what I said. The key word in that statement is “just” or “just getting saved.”

Again I did not say it God did in Revelation 3:15:16.

God does not want a whole bunch of people hopping on the gravy train and going “Whoo! Hoo! Free ticket to ride!” He would choose that if you are not going to be on fire for him, please choose ticket B for “highway to hell.”

Having said that God desires that all would become children of his and true disciples as defined out of the Greek word for disciple, mathetes, which means not only to be a pupil but an adherent. They are spoken of as imitators of their teacher.

Today Jehovah’s Witnesses spend hours learning and going deep in their creeds. The same can be said for Mormons as they spend hours with evangelizing,

I can assure you the average Christian would respond to the average Mormon or Jehovah witness in one of three way’s in areas of scriptural differences.

1. We should not argue the word of God
2. You believe that; this is what I believe,
3. Let me ask my pastor

That is where average Christians who has not been in a church where they are teaching their members as instructed by Peter to have an answer for every man that asks him why he believes what he believes find themselves or as the writer of Hebrews said needing to be taught again the very basic tenets of faith.

So yes while this statement, referring to the fact that “unchurched” people are not asking what discipleship program you have, may be very true, perhaps a better statement might be “questions church people are not asking but should be are: ‘what type of discipleship program do you have?’”

What do you think? Which question should be on the minds of pastors, ministry leaders, and those God has placed into leadership positions for his kingdom?

Do you feel churches should use as radical methods to help those God has placed under their charge come to maturity, develop, and to motivate deeper insight and understanding of God’s Word, as they use for those they would refer to as “unchurched?”

Thanks for viewing this part of this four part series.

One last final look in on my friends Dave and Paula in the final part of this series as I issue some much needed challenges. In the next section titled:

Does it really matter?????????