Christ-follower, Husband, Dad, Pastor

partnership

September 10, 2014

A Church and a Christian School Can Work Together

Life-giving Christian schools do exist. I am a senior pastor of church with a twenty-seven year old Christian school and I have a strong conviction about the necessity and benefit of good Christian schools. I am personally invested in Valley Fellowship Christian Academy, including regularly teaching Bible classes and elementary chapels. With a God-given responsibility to train their children, many parents find an excellent partner with a quality Christian school.

Recently, I read a blog post (from a pastor I respect) that questioned whether or not Christian schools “work”. Unfortunately, I think past disappointments flavored his viewpoint. He advocated that Christian schools work for some but devastate other children, however his logic is flawed. Poor experience by some does not justify a broad attack against the Christian school movement. Parenting “works” for some children, but for some their parental experiences devastated their lives. Some kids have a good experience with parents; some do not have a good experience with parents. Do we discredit or disavow all parenting? Of course, not. And, Christian school cannot be so easily disavowed.

Under the guise of Christian liberty, he suggested the abandonment of Honor Codes because he thinks they are legalistic and without room for repentance. Honor Codes, like the Ten Commandments of old, are a standard for living that should not be discarded. Wise Christian educators do allow for repentance. Respect the distinctive of a particular school. Some Christian schools have an evangelistic mission (allow anyone); some Christian school have a discipleship mission (limit pre-Christians). Different points of view are studied and debated in a Christian school, but an effective teacher will communicate truth.

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Students attending a school that shares space with a local congregation DO NOT get TOO MUCH of church. A building isn’t the reason for the poor experience of some. Many own daughters love and serve God after spending their academic careers (until college) in a school that shared space with a church.  Positive experience of my own children and the constructive experience of many others testifies that a church and a school CAN work together. It can work for a school and a church to share property. Also, the financial reality is that many Christian schools would not exist without a local congregation willing to “share” space in order to see children trained and transformed through a real encounter with Christ.

Based upon more than thirty years of personal observation, students do not need Christian schools and public schools to fare better. If I could go back, I still would not send my daughters to a public school, but I would send them to life-giving Christian school. If a Christian school was not an option, then I would homeschool. Christ affirmed that a fully-trained student will be like the teacher. I want my kids to become more like Christ and a healthy partnership with good Christian school educators increases that potential.

February 3, 2014

We Need Each Other

I need you and you need me. That isn’t hard to type, but it is often hard to live out. Why do I struggle sometimes to admit that I really need people?

I need my wife and Patti needs me. We are interdependent upon one another. Without a flow of love and mutual ministry between us, there would be a tremendous hole in our emotions. God gave me His gift of marriage because I need it and Patti needs it. Patti and I need each other.

As the pastor of a local congregation, I need the people that make up Valley Fellowship. I’m not all by myself. I am not self-sufficient; I can’t do “church” on my own. Even the pastoral and preaching ministry I have received from the Lord couldn’t happen without believers standing with me, helping, praying, giving, loving. God put you and He put me into a body of which we are a part. I am not every member of the body. You are not every member of the body. WE need each other.

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We cannot do ministry or life alone. God’s work isn’t finished. I am asking God to deepen my appreciation for the partnership I share with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I am also praying that God will give you a deep understanding of what our partnership together is doing in the Tennessee Valley and in you. Thank you, Lord! My heart is filled with joy! I am made for connection and so are you.We need each other.

Hey, partner, are you ready to enjoy the journey together?

September 8, 2013

Together

Amazing things happen when Christ-followers pull together to accomplish God’s purposes in the world. “Christian brotherhood is not an ideal which we must realize; it is rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we may participate.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, 1978, p. 30)

Coming together is beginning.

Together we receive a sense that God is also with us (2 or 3 gathered Matthew 18:20). Coming together affirms us and fills us with hope. God is good! “God richly gives us everything to enjoy.” (1 Tim 6:17b) The best way to enjoy a good thing is to share it with others.

We must open our hearts and lives to come together beyond social-economic backgrounds, racial stereotypes, political opinions, even favorite teams. Hey, I live in Alabama and understand a little of the grace needed for an Alabama Roll-Tide-r to reach across in love to an Auburn War-Eagle-r.

  • “I speak to you as I would speak to my own children. Please make room in your hearts for us.”  (2 Corinthians 6:13 CEV)
  • “Make room for us in your hearts.” (2 Corinthians 7:2a NIV)
  •  “May the Lord make your love grow. May it be like a rising flood. May your love for one another increase. May it also increase for everyone else. May it be just like our love for you.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12 NIRV)

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Staying together is growth.

Small group settings are a great place for growth. Within the context of a group, we get to know each other on a deeper level and do life together. “We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.” (1 Thessalonians 3:8 HCSB) Authentic, healthy relationships not only provide connection into church life, they are a source of strength, encouragement, and joy throughout life’s seasons.

Paul praised the household of Onesiphorus for showing “kindness and ministered to my needs, comforting and reviving and bracing me like fresh air”. (2 Timothy 1:16 AMP) We need to cultivate a life in common with other believers. “I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus, our Master. I’ll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common.”  (1 Corinthians 1:10 MSG)

Together we allow spiritual gifts to be released. “Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.” (1 Corinthians 14:26 NLT)

“Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.” (Hebrews 13:1 NLT)

Laboring together is advancement.

Service and community small groups provide a place to serve, a place to shoulder Kingdom responsibilities, a place to see lives changed. Great things happen when people have “a heart and mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6 AMP).

  •  “I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.” (Philippians 4:14 MSG)
  • You need to know, friends, that thanking God over and over for you is not only a pleasure; it’s a must. We have to do it. Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for each other is developing wonderfully. Why, it’s only right that we give thanks. We’re so proud of you; you’re so steady and determined in your faith despite all the hard times that have come down on you. We tell everyone we meet in the churches all about you. (2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 MSG)

Worshipping together is success.

Several times, Scripture calls us to worship. The Psalmist cried out, “Praise the Lord’s greatness with me. Let us highly honor his name together.” (Psalm 34:3 GW) I would say that getting to heaven is the ultimate mark of success. Have you consider what the Book of Revelation reveals about the activity going on in heaven? Worship is a huge part of heaven. When we live such good lives before men and women, that they are inspired to glorify our Father in heaven – we are sharing in a measure of success. We release heaven’s worship on earth.

“We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ. What does this mean? It means, first, that a Christians needs others because of Jesus Christ. It means second, that a Christian comes to others only through Jesus Christ. It means, third, that in Jesus Christ we have been chosen from eternity, accepted in time, and united for eternity.” (Bonhoeffer, Life Together, p. 21)

January 18, 2013

7 Points to Ponder (seven word summary of Acts)

A precise perusal of the Book of Acts portrays people participating with the Holy Spirit. I’ve put pen to paper and pigeonholed seven particulars from their personal pursuits:

#1 PRAYER:  Disciples pray – packed in one place, privately on roof tops, during imprisonment, with fasting, for boldness and guidance – and God answers!

#2 POWER:  Christ-exalting phenomena are publicized – lame pace, phony liars die, prison doors open, tongues speak, demons flee, dead rise.

#3 PARTNERSHIP:  Property, cooperation, and community are politely portioned and shared together in love.

#4 PRAISE:  Worship proceeds in the upper room, despite threats, after salvation, after Spirit Baptism, after healing, after miracle deliverance, after torture, and even for the privilege of suffering for Christ.

#5 PERSECUTION:  Persecution is both a path for Holy Spirit ministry and a product of Holy Spirit engagement.

#6 PREACHING:  The Spirit-inspired public proclamations of Peter and Paul are published.

#7 PROSELYTISM:  For pattern’s sake, I employed a posh word for the prolific addition of people into God’s family. Holy Spirit ministry prompted thousands and thousands into the kingdom.

Praise the Lord who provides, protects, preserves, and promotes! I propose a painstaking probe of my provocative phrases. I promise – pondering and picking up on these points propels positive progress.

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