This coming week is our annual “Open House” where our students do stuff like fill out their medical release form for the year, find out about ministry opportunities, sign up for small group and meet their small group leaders.

During the Open House, there’ll be an abbreviated small group time for leaders and their students.  I created the following tool for my small group leaders and figured “Hey, maybe somebody else in the world could use this somehow.”  If that’s you, great.

Jerry

Small Group Open House 2013 Script

Jesus said to anyone who would follow Him, “Take up your cross and follow Me.”

(That should have been our first clue.)

Nearly all of Jesus’ disciples died a martyr’s death.

(That should have tipped us off.)

There is an incredible book entitled “Fox’s Book of Martyrs” that tells of countless people and their willingness to pay for their faith in Christ with their very lives.

(Martyrdom becoming so prevalent should have been a huge red flag.)

I was reading this morning about a Christian Pakistani woman who is currently in prison for blaspheming the prophet Mohammed.  She maintains that she did no such thing, but the angry Muslim mob in her village insists that she did.  The two options given to her by the crowd were to a) convert to Islam or b) die.  Beaten to unconsciousness at the hands of this mob, her life was spared only by the police who arrived to violently throw her in their vehicle, take her to the police station, and continue the attack, including spitting repeatedly on this woman.  With no evidence but the mob’s accusations, she was thrown into prison.  And I’d be willing to bet my bottom dollar that she’s either going to be put to death for her alleged crime or she’ll die in that prison cell.  Either way, she’s going out as a martyr for her faith in Christ.

Is this shocking?  Unfair?  Reeking of injustice?  Is it maddening to us, especially in Western culture? Could it be that dying for one’s faith in Jesus will eventually be normalized worldwide?  I suppose one might think so, if one believes the Bible.

It seems that everywhere I look (looking at you, New Mexico!) the walls are closing in on what I as a follower of Jesus can and cannot do or say.  It stands to reason that should I live long enough to see it, we as Christians in America very well may find ourselves on the receiving end of not merely threats, but acting out on those threats.  Why?  Because we’re “bigoted” enough to believe that there is a supremely loving God who has provided for anyone a Way to salvation, and His name is Jesus.  (Acts 4:12)

Have we as followers of Christ lost sight of our calling and therefore our passion?  Have we forgotten that to follow Jesus IS to follow Him into death (Matthew 16:24)?  That to receive His invitation is to embrace death (Galatians 2:20)?  Or have we instead translated His call into “be nice and play well with others”?  Is the Church in America doing a better job at developing mild-mannered, well-adjusted citizens than it is at multiplying disciples of Jesus who would–if faced with it–embrace martyrdom based on their love for their Savior?

We’re a “seeing is believing” kind of people.  We’re a “oh yeah, prove it” kind of people.  We’re a “unless you’ve got solid evidence, then I’m not buying it” kind of people.  If its any consolation, people have been like us since the beginning of recorded history.  What’s worse, even after evidence has been shown and facts proven, we can still slip into being unconvinced and needing re-convincing.  Anybody remember the struggles God had with Moses and the Israelites?  Anybody remember OJ?

I’ve been thinking about what I believe.  And you know what?  It’s crazy.  It really is.  I believe some crazy stuff, I admit it.

• I believe in a God I can’t see.
• I believe that this God spoke every bit of the natural universe into existence.  Yep, I said spoke.
• I believe God made humans with his own two hands (I’m guessing he has hands) like a potter with clay, and then breathed his own breath of life into them.
• I believe God called a man well into his AARP years to build a gigantic boat which would house 2 of every animal and save him and his family from a worldwide flood.
• I believe God gave the people he created rules to follow just to show them they can’t follow rules and thus can’t save themselves and thus needed him to save them.
• I believe God sent His only Son Jesus to earth by way of a teenage virgin named Mary.  Yep, I believe God caused Mary to be pregnant.  How?  I don’t have the slightest clue.
• I believe the Son of God was born quietly, lived perfectly, and died sacrificially on a Roman cross to pay for the sins of the world–yours and mine.  Why? Because God has always longed for a love relationship with the people he created.
• I believe that man died on that tree, was buried in a tomb, and brought Himself back to life 3 days later…just like he said he would on multiple occasions prior to his crucifixion.
• I believe Jesus did all that living, dying, and living again for no other reason then to offer me and you a way to come back to God despite my sins.
• I believe that one day I will physically die and in that moment I will literally be with Jesus for eternity.

(This is where it gets even crazier.) 

• I believe that one day (no one but God knows when) the sky will split open and the armies of heaven, led by Jesus Himself will return to earth.  Yep, I believe that this earth we are currently standing on will be ruled by Jesus in the peace that only Jesus can provide.  No more presidents, no more kings, no more dictators, no more ambassadors.  Just Lord Jesus.

 

Now, I think about those who know me, or knew me, or who I have yet to meet.  When they learn this stuff about me, they very well may think “that guy is crazy for believing that stuff”.  But I suppose that’s okay because I can’t bring myself to have the faith to believe otherwise….

• That there is no God and that we’re all results of some random cosmic collision billions of years ago or in any other way that we’re not an incredibly thought-out creation from an incredibly creative creator.
• That our species was once a single-celled something-or-other in some primordial ooze dripping from a crater somewhere on earth.
• That that cell became two, then 4, then a fish, then had legs, then grew hair, then walked upright, then became moral, then civilized, then built cars, planes, and the internet.
• That none of this life has meaning, or purpose, or impact.
• That there is no hope, peace, or reason in life because all those things can only come from design and a designer.  Since there’s no designer, there’s no such thing as hope, peace, or reason.
• That the highest goal in life on earth is to “do good” and “be nice”.
• That when my life is over I do nothing more than fertilize the ground I’m buried in.

 

So what crazy stuff do YOU believe?

This morning–just a little while ago in fact–God said something to me:

“Let’s go for a run.”

My gentle, submissive response was simply:

“What are you, crazy?!?  It’s like 9 a.m. and its already 90 degrees out there.  The humidity is topping 8 billion percent!  And don’t even get me started on the winter weight I vowed to shed before summer and here we are mid-July and I’ve just resolved that I need to keep it on in order to stay warm this coming winter.  A run?  Think again, God.”

But God persisted.  “Let’s go for a run.”

Since my first soliloquy didn’t do the trick, I figured I’d humor God.  I’d go for a run.  *Please keep in mind that I’m no runner. I don’t like running. I don’t get it. I find the notion of a “runner’s high” one of the most mind-boggling concepts in all of humanity.

But I went for a run because God said “Let’s go for a run.”

I took nothing with me but an ice cold water bottle from the fridge figuring that if God wanted me to run this was going to be some all-day affair and I’d need hydration while I lay in some faraway ditch somewhere waiting for medical assistance.  I left a note on our whiteboard that would surely catch the attention of anyone who knows me…

I stepped out of my front door into the morning sun ravaging any trace of coolness left on my face from my comfy air conditioned home.  I gave a deep sigh and breathed out a quick “Okay. Let’s go for a run.”

I hadn’t reached the end of the street before cardiac distress set in.  I thought for sure that “this is the big one, ‘Lizabeth!”  But in a moment it died down and I found a cadence I could live with.  Or at least avoid dying with.  No sooner did I decide that come what may I wasn’t going to turn back, did I hear God speak to me again.  But I think God knew my heart, knew what I was thinking, and wanted to teach me some truths about some stuff.  Hang with me, especially if you’re in ministry (but even if you’re not).  Here are a few things God said:

“Ignore the houses.”…You see when I started running my imagination had someone in each house I passed looking out from their air conditioned splendor at me and speaking one of two things: Either it was “Look at that moron running in zillion degree heat and humidity.” OR “Wow, look at that guy running despite the heat and humidity. What an inspiration!”  God reminded me that it doesn’t matter what onlookers think or say when it comes to me and my obedience to God.  Because you know what? There’ll always be both kinds of onlookers–those who are critical of you and those who are inspired by you.  For the sake of your obedience and sanity, give neither of them much attention.

“Run in the shade.”…As leaders we can sometimes get this martyrdom complex like we carry the weight of the world on our shoulders and somehow we find some kind of validation in taking the position of the pack mule.  Like Eeyore in the hundred acre wood, we give off this, “Oooh, I’ll be fine. Go on without me” vibe.  As if the disciple who needlessly carries the most weight wins.  NO!  God said to me, “You see that shade? Its cooler over there, Einstein. Run in the shade while shade is there.”  We all need constant refreshment in our spirit.  Not one of us can run and run and run and give and give and give without getting replenished.  Where is your shade?  Where is it you can go each day to find refreshment for your spirit?  On a spiritual level? On a personal level? On a professional level? On a marital level? On a parental level? On an emotional level?  By all means keep running, but run in the shade whenever you see it!  I foolishly thought my run would be more hardcore, more honorable, and somehow better if I did all I could to shrug off any comfort along the way.  What an idiotic thought.

“Ask me where to go.”…Okay, now don’t get weirded out by this one but when I left my house I didn’t have an idea of my route. When I reached the first stop sign I had to go left or right.  I quickly asked God “Which way?”  God said “Left.” I ran left.  I don’t think we can overstate how important it is to be in step with God and where he’s leading you.  It doesn’t matter if you’ve been where you are for 20 years or 20 minutes.  If you’re following Jesus you’re more than likely in danger of assuming you know the way He’s going.  Paul taught us to “walk by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16).  Its always a good idea to be in contact with God, making sure you’re going where He’s leading.

“Keep home in mind.”…Long before I ever saw my house, I saw my house.  What I mean is I kept my home in mind as I ran.  If you’re following Jesus here on earth, you are NOT home yet. Keep going all while keeping home in mind.  It’ll serve as fuel to run, to run well, to ignore the things that would drag you down, to lean on His direction and power, and to run home without stopping.

I was recently in a department store in the women’s swimsuit area with two of my favorite women in my life: my wife and oldest daughter.  I was doing my best to be helpful in the search for a new swimsuit for my 16-year-old.  She and my wife were not immediately next to me when in my peripheral vision I noticed a nearby female shopper begin to move closer to me.  As I awkwardly flipped through hanger after hanger of potentially suitable swimsuits, this nearby shopper handed me a small, thin booklet and mumbled something I couldn’t quite understand.  Something about heaven, maybe?  I think so.  I think she was wanting to tell me something about heaven.  Sort of.

And just like that…I had been Jesused.  Or something.

I looked at the cover of the small booklet just long enough to know exactly what it was.  It was an evangelism tool this woman had gotten from her church (the name of the church was printed on the front) to give to unsuspecting, ladies’-swimsuit-shopping men like me.  Such tools are commonly referred to as “tracts”.  They’re used in places like restaurants, shopping malls, street corners, and even toll booths.

But why was she handing me this little booklet?  And why was she mumbling?  And why didn’t I feel happy to receive it?  Perhaps she was giving it to me because clearly I needed Jesus.  I mean why else would a full grown man be rifling through women’s swimsuits, seemingly on his own?  I suppose I could chalk this up to her throwing a lifeline to a creeper.  I suppose.  Or is this her habit on any given night? At any store whatsoever? To anyone with a functioning hand that will take her little booklet from her?  I may never know.

What I do know is that I’m not a huge fan of the tract.  Here’s why:

1.  They’re like grenades and the only people who like grenades are the ones throwing them.  “Here, I don’t really want to get close enough to your life to talk on my own, but I am willing to toss some literature your way.  You do know how to read, don’t you sinner?”

2.  They’re offensive.  Now, I know that Jesus and the message of the cross is inherently offensive, so I’m not trying to side-step offense.  It’s just that handing someone a tract always seems a little like…I don’t know…condescension.  “Here. This book has stuff I know and you don’t. If you’ll read it, you’ll know what I do. And if you’re lucky, you’ll be like me.”

3.  They often skip the most important part of evangelism, which is relationships.  Obviously that old lady who cornered me with Jesus in that store didn’t have the time to get to know me or who I am or what I think and believe.  And maybe I should lay off and just be thankful she did something, but isn’t sharing your faith more effective when you meet people where they are? Isn’t that how Jesus did it?

 

What do YOU think?  Am I being too hard on a sweet old lady?  Am I being too hard on tracts?

This morning I attended the life celebration of an incredible man of God, Rev. Charles Thompson.  “Reverend T” as he was affectionately referred to was used powerfully by God in the very church I am currently blessed to serve in.  He served as pastor of Southside Church for many many years before becoming the District Superintendent.   I never had the chance to meet him personally, but after today’s service I feel I know him immeasurably more than I did just a few hours ago.  To say the service was moving would be an understatement.  I attended as an honor to his life, to his family, and to the untold legacy he has left behind.  In fact, the facility we celebrated his life in was a part of the vision God had given him for Richmond and its surrounding counties.  I listened to person after person, story after story, memory after memory, testimony after testimony to the sacrifices of this man; a man marked more than anything else, by humility.  A man enjoying his reward while I type these words.

And as I sat there in the black suit I don’t often put on, I felt something in the inside pocket of my suit jacket.  I reached in and pulled a card out just enough to read its heading, “In Loving Memory of Markelle M. Dumm”.  I was immediately taken 5 months into the past to where I was privileged to join in the life celebration of my wife’s sister, Markelle. (You can read about that if you’d like.)  Apparently I had left that memorial card in my jacket pocket ever since that day.

While it may be awkward and a tad embarrassing to admit it, my mind wandered for a few minutes.  Not merely on Markelle and her life, but on some truths that to you and I are inescapable.  We’d do well to stop and recalibrate on these truths…

What we see is not all there is.  You and I exist currently in time and space.  You’re no doubt reading this on a screen that has probably dedicated a corner of its space to the time of day.  You won’t have to wait long at all before you see another minute pass.  There.  You’re a minute closer to death.  Before you label me Debbie Downer, hear me out.  I (and perhaps you too) need to snap out of the haze that living temporal lives creates around us.  The ever-present temptation is to believe that what we see, taste, touch, smell, and hear is what constitutes reality.  But 2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “…what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  

Your life makes a difference.  This is not nearly as poetic as some might think.  This is simply a fact.  No matter who you are, what you do, where you go, or how you live, your life DOES make a difference.  The question then becomes: “What kind of difference does it make?”  Embrace your responsibility as a created human to allow your Creator to use your life to make a difference for good and for God in the lives of others and when its all said and done, people will gather to celebrate your life as well.  Colossians 3:17 encourages us that “…whatever you do in word or deed, do it all for the glory of God.”

In the end, its all about Jesus.  I know that some reading these words were tracking just fine with the first two, but bristle at this one.  That’s okay.  I don’t have to fight, argue, or prove anything.  What I do want to do is to right now urge you if you have not done so to turn everything, EVERYTHING over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It is in HIS presence we all will stand, it is through HIS will that you read these words now, and it is by HIS grace that we may come to Him at all.  Philippians 2:10 foretells “…that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”   If you’d rather not be all about Jesus right now, that’s okay.  Like I said I don’t have to fight, argue, or prove anything.  Let me simply say that every person in all of history will one day proclaim Him as Lord of all.  I simply choose to start early.

 

You’ll be glad to know that I soon got my focus back on the celebration I was sitting in, but in those moments I was struck by these powerful truths that I’m confident God was nudging my heart toward.