: Pastor's Corner
Keeping It Simple
It’s amazing how God never wastes any experience in life if we are open to learn from it. I grew up playing team sports and after college I enjoyed coaching at a private Christian school. Since then, serving as a senior pastor has brought unique demands on my time but I still managed to stay involved in coaching my children’s teams as they grew up. I look back with fond memories and no regrets. Not only was it a joy to participate in their lives but I also learned a great deal from coaching and have found many parallels for living the Christian life.
For example, one of the greatest lessons that I learned while playing and coaching is to keep things simple. A lot of coach’s think that the more plays their team can run, the better chance they have of winning. My experience has taught me differently. I learned early on under good coaching that teaching the fundamentals of the game and doing them well will bring a greater return for both the team and the individual player.
We can spend so much time trying to add layer upon layer of information in the hope that we will improve our life, or, we can really come to understand the basics and learn to do them extremely well.
I think it is easy for a church to get caught up in the ‘latest greatest’ and place emphasis on teaching more information when they have neglected the foundational things that never change and bring the greatest results.
At First Church of God, we are trying to stay focused on the foundational things in the Bible that God has called us to be and to do. We have added many new people to the fellowship in recent months and as your pastor, I would like to give you some examples of how we’re trying to keep the Christian life simple and effective. By doing so, I believe the church will be more successful and each individual member will be more fulfilled.
Let me bullet several areas where keeping it simple can bring the greatest return in your personal life, and as a congregation. Consider these fundamental truths and practice them.
- Understanding the importance of hearing God’s voice. I cannot think of a better example where Christians have skipped over a more vital and fundamental Christian practice than in this area. There are two things many Christians were never taught at the foundational level: First, waiting on God, and secondly, learning to recognize His voice.
Once we learn this simple, yet foundational truth from the Bible, our walk with God will increase dramatically.
We teach “Hearing God” twice a year to help people in this vial area of Christian discipleship.
- Learning who we are in Christ. I am amazed at how many people jump into ministry before they actually understand their new identity in Him. Understanding who we are from God’s view has a transforming impact on how we view ourselves, others and ministry. Before the Holy Spirit flows through us He first wants to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ. Learning who we are in Christ is foundational and it makes the Christian life simple again.
- Learning that every believer is called to be a minister. When we use the word minister, many people immediately think of the paid staff who received formal seminary training. In reality, ministry is simply pointing people to Jesus, and God has called every believer to this ministry. While some are called to an office of the church like, pastor teacher, every member of God’s family has been called to do the work of the ministry. The hang up is that people think they need formal training before they can ‘minister’ to others. In reality, ministry is not a concept that we learn, it is the way that we live. It is who we are called by God to be. We are all ministers.
Our pastors are seen as directors and trainers of people who minister in the areas
where God has gifted them. What a beautiful picture of God’s church – everyone
called, everyone equipped, everyone sent by God to serve!
We also have an Outreach Ministry Team that is coordinating opportunities for
the members of our church to go into the community and serve people who need
the love and concern of God. While our Thanksgiving Dinner is a cornerstone
event each year, on a regular monthly basis we want to coordinate and inform you
of opportunities to practice ‘pointing people to Jesus’.
- We believe that to be a Christian, is to be a witness for Christ. Jesus very simply stated that we would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us and we would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.
For some reason, we have relegated witnessing to certain extroverts who possess a gift of communication. Nothing could be further from the biblical model that God designed for His church. The Holy Spirit is given to every person, who by grace through faith, places their trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. One of the works of the Spirit in us is to empower us to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.
There are two behaviors that every Christian is to exhibit by the work of the Holy Spirit: 1. To be a minister. 2. To be a missionary.
God has called every believer to be a missionary. Stop thinking of a person sent to a foreign land as the only missionary. You are a missionary and your mission field begins in your home, your workplace, your marketplace and beyond.
We have a class starting soon that is designed to teach you how to be a witness for Jesus Christ. You will also be given opportunities to go with a team of people into the community and share the good news about Jesus Christ.
In 2 Corinthians 11:3, the Apostle Paul said, “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”
As we continue to teach and learn these very simple, yet profound foundational truths, we will become even more effective as a congregation and more fulfilled as individual believers.
Let’s keep it simple and let’s practice what we learn!
Blessings to you, church!
