For some people, church growth can be rather tedious. Parking problems, the new people to get to know, the reduction of political power due to the influx of new people that don’t know you, the extra wear on the carpet, the noise of young children, the overuse of bathroom facilities…you name it. So as we contemplate growth I thought I’d share a few ideas that could very well solve the spread of people throughout the foyer of your church’s worship center.

So, just for fun, may I submit to you 25 tried and true ideas for solving the annoying problem of church growth. Pick a couple and see what happens.

1. Begin your message with the phrase, “You know what’s wrong with you people…”
2. Place the Student Sunday school space near the “Ruth class” for ladies 70 and above.
3. Move Business Meetings to Sunday Morning and open up the floor by asking, “So does anybody have beefs?”
4. Begin that year-long sermon series on the 70 weeks of Daniel.
5. Place a Polygraph machine on the front pew to be used during the invitation time.
6. Place tire puncture strips in the parking lot for cars going the wrong way before Sunday School.
7. Pick a NASCAR driver as your favorite and complain about all the other drivers (this works best in Alabama).
8. Place the Roller Coaster “You must be this tall” sign at the entrance of the Worship Center. (And make it stand about 5’8 ½”)
9. Keep the Christmas Pageant livestock in the church choir room year round.
10. Announce that on high attendance Sunday, if the goal is met, everyone will kiss the pig!
11. If your auditorium slopes downward to the platform give every kid under 12 a handful of marble before the service.
12.  Give the deacons the ability to “gong” the special music.
13.  Place the outdoor welcome center tent a few feet from the septic tank.
14.  Replace the pictures of former pastors with pictures of Larry, Moe, and Curly.
15.  Start arranging marriages in the single department.
16.  Put a blank for weight on the membership forms.
17.  Invite the “Cops” crew along during hospital visits.
18. Demand madatory drug tests for all senior adult excursions.
19.  In order to feel relevant, say “Dude” 15 times from the pulpit each Sunday.
20.  Have organist play hockey cheers at pivotal moments of the sermon.
21. Place armed guards in front of the Sunday School Supply Closet.
22. Before the offertory hymn have the worship leader scream, “Show Me the Money”
23.  Charge tolls for use of restrooms.
24.  Illustrate all sermons or Sunday School lessons with scenes from “Walker Texas Ranger.”
25.  Use the “The Voice” format for staff hirings.

Before the first man had first breath

Before the mystery of death

Angels worshiped the Holy one

The majesty of God’s own Son

From infinite past he was and is and is to come

Holy

Holy above all living things

Before the glory of every king

Holy beyond man’s striving for power

Holy beyond man’s grandest hour

Holy

His fingers cast the stars in place

Holy

The fiery jewels in distant space

Separating land from sea

The master of eternity

His grand design, His perfect plan

To reconcile the fate of man.

Holy

He could not look on sin

Holy

And on a cruel hill

Among the vulgar accusation

The wreck of every wayward nation

He took the cruel condemnation

The dagger deep of dark damnation

The angels watched in disbelief

The sky was torn. a mother’s grief

This God who crafted night and day

This Son of God, had found a way

To take the burden of the sin

The holy one in human skin

No peace on Earth

No Kings would bow

Betrayed, alone

Our punishment- a tragedy

God, why have you forsaken me?

The grand moment of redemption and

The death sentence of hate

History’s darkest hour

The triumph of sins power

Or so it seemed

But in this act

Man’s deepest shame

Is now redeemed.

Saviors will ascend Mount Zion to rule over the hill country of Esau, but the kingdom will be the LORD’s.

Obadiah verse 21

We live among people longing for saviors. How great would it be if someone would ascend the hill and plant a flag of victory over the world’s conflict and injustice?

We cry out, “Give us prosperity. Give us equality. Give us revenge against the poorly measured scales of righteousness.” 

Ever since our feet have trod on the terra firma east of Eden, we have experienced conflict. Political and social saviors emmerge, ascend and fall. But Obadiah reminds us in the midst of a difficult time in our nation’s history that there is a greater Kingdom to defend than health care, homeland security and the scandalous backroom deals of politicians whose hands drip with the blight of corruption.

There is an everlasting kingdom that isn’t shaken in the least.

The church must carefully avoid foolish arguements over predestination, judging each other’s spiritual or theological leanings and remember that there is a world we have been called to die for. It’s possible for people to have correct theology inside their heads and yet no courage, connection or compassion in their hearts. Even the demons know theology.

There will be a day of reckoning. We must be scrupulous with our words. We must focus on the King, not the president. We must test our thoughts.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

I don’t know what the future will hold. We are all in unknown waters today.

Lord, test our hearts and teach us to trust you in all the uncertanties of this pricarious moments.

A worship experience around the cross. 

by Matt Tullos

This is a simple, yet powerful Good Friday experience which includes Communion, readings, visuals, music, and candle. It’s yours to use and adapt.

 Acoustic Instrumental Music

Reader 1: The greatest story ever told is grace.

Reader 2: The greatest man to ever walk the earth.

Reader 3: The greatest burden

Reader 1: laid on this one man.

Reader 2: The greatest injustice.

Reader 3: The greatest faith.

Reader 1: The greatest pain.

All: The greatest moment in history.

Reader 2: It is the reason guilty men go free.

Reader 3: It is the reason for all hope worth having.

Reader 1: Love worth giving,

Reader 3: And truth worth sharing.

Reader 2: Around a table God built a church.

Reader 3: This is My body.

Reader 1: Jesus said,

Jesus: “I have looked forward to this hour with deep longing, anxious to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat it again until it comes to fulfillment in the Kingdom of God.”

Reader 1: The Garden of Eden.

Reader 2: The flood.

Reader 3: The exodus.

Reader 2: The foreshadowing words of the prophets.

Reader 3: They all looked toward this meal.

Jesus: This bread is My body.

All: Broken for you.

Jesus: This is My heart.

All: Broken for you.

Jesus: This is My will.

All: Broken for you.

Jesus: This is My destiny.

All: Broken for you.

Reader 1: This is the Son of God.

Jesus: I am.

All: Broken for you.

Your Grace Still Amazes Me: Solo with video

Reader 1: In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying,

Jesus: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Reader 2: This cup is a promise that slips through the corridors of death.

Reader 1: It reflects surrender.

Reader 3: A cup of payment.

Reader 2: A cup of mercy.

Reader 1: A cup of grace.

Reader 3: Aware of the wrath to come.

Reader 2: Aware of betrayers.

Reader 1: Aware of the loneliness.

Reader 3: Jesus said,

Jesus: Take this cup.

Reader 2: Aware of the wars to come.

Reader 3: Aware of the wretched nature of man.

Reader 1: Jesus said,

Jesus: Take this cup.

Reader 2: Lonely wife.

Jesus: Take this cup.

Reader 3: Angry son.

Jesus: Take this cup.

Reader 2: Disillusioned daughter.

Jesus: Take this cup.

Reader 1: Helpless victim.

Jesus: Take this cup.

Reader 3: Anxious father.

Jesus: Take this cup.

Reader 2: Broken child.

Jesus: Take this cup.

Lord’s Supper—Serve at stations near the front of the auditorium.  “Instrumental: “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”

(after elements have been served)

Reader 1: See our Savior.

Reader 3: Praying in agony.

Reader 2: Alone.

Reader 1: See Him betrayed.

Reader 3: Deserted.

Reader 2: See Him innocent, yet arrested.

Reader 1: Almighty, yet submissive.

Reader 3: Dare to look at the face of grace offered to us.

Reader 2: Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged.

Reader 1: Completely naked with His hands tied against a pole. A centurion held a cat of nine tails.

Reader 2: A whip laced with bones.

Reader 3: Glass.

Reader 2: And metal.

Reader 3: The whip would gouge into His back.

Reader 1: The full torture would occur with the return of the whip with a firm jerk that would tear His flesh.

Reader 3: They continued this process.

Reader 2: Thirty-nine lashes He would endure.

Reader 1: Thirty-nine lashes, tied to the whipping post.

Reader 3: Endure each blow in our place. Stand with us now in honor of this dark moment in history.

All: One.

Reader 2: For the times we proudly did what we wanted.

All: Two.

Reader 1: The weight of senseless violence.

All: Three.

Reader 3: The flattering tongue.

All: Four.

Reader 2: Gossiping lips.

All: Five.

Reader 1: Inhumanity.

All: Six.

Reader 3: Lust and perversion.

All: Seven.

Reader 3: Terrorist plots.

All: Eight.

Reader 1: Child abuse.

All: Nine.

Reader 3: Prejudice.

All: Ten.

Reader 2: War.

All: Eleven.

Reader 1: Blasphemy.

All: Twelve.

Reader 2: Stubborn disbelief in God.

All: Thirteen.

Reader 3: Thievery.

All: Fourteen.

Reader 1: Unforgiveness.

All: Fifteen.

Reader 2: Pornography.

All: Sixteen.

Reader 3: Lies.

All: Seventeen.

Reader 1: Abortion.

All: Eighteen.

Reader 2: Legalism.

All: Nineteen.

Reader 3: Greed.

All: Twenty.

Reader 1: Boastfulness.

All: Twenty-one.

Reader 3: Heretical teaching.

All: Twenty-two.

Reader 2: Pride.

All: Twenty-three.

Reader 3: Murder.

All: Twenty-four.

Reader 2: Contempt for holiness.

All: Twenty-five.

Reader 1: Apathy.

All: Twenty-six.

Reader 3: Betrayal.

All: Twenty-seven.

Reader 2: Gluttony.

All: Twenty-eight.

Reader 1: Drug abuse.

All: Twenty-nine.

Reader 3: Infidelity.

All: Thirty.

Reader 2: Cruelty.

All: Thirty-one.

Reader 1: Rape.

All: Thirty-two.

Reader 3: Jealousy.

All: Thirty-three.

Reader 2: Apathy.

All: Thirty-four.

Reader 1: Lynching.

All: Thirty-five.

Reader 3: Prostitution.

All: Thirty-six.

Reader 2: Witchcraft.

All: Thirty-seven.

Reader 1: Pride.

All: Thirty-eight.

Reader 3: Mocking.

All: Thirty-nine.

Reader 2: Sin.

Reader 1: Stand in silence as we remember that by His stripes we are healed.

Congregation stands for approximately 20 seconds, and then is motioned to be seated.

Amazing Love

Reader 1: He was despised.

Reader 2: “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?”

Reader 3: Pilate asked them.

Reader 1: And rejected.

All: “Crucify Him!” they shouted.

Reader 1: And forsaken by men,

Jesus: Peter, could you not pray with Me one hour?

Reader 1: A man of sorrows

Reader 3: When He saw the throngs, He was moved with pity and sympathy for them, because they were bewildered,

Reader 2: and harassed,

Reader 3: and distressed,

Reader 2: and dejected,

Reader 1: and helpless,

Reader 2: like sheep without a shepherd.

Reader 1: A man acquainted with pain,

Reader 3: The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head. They tore the robe from His back. The robe had already become adherent to the wounds from the scourging. Once again intense pain, bleeding.

Reader 1: And acquainted with grief

Jesus: Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killer of prophets, abuser of the messengers of God! How often I’ve longed to gather your children, gather your children like a hen, Her brood safe under her wings— but you refused and turned away!

Reader 1: and like One from whom men hide their faces. He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him.

All: Surely He has borne our grief.

Reader 2: Divorce, shame, rejection, disillusionment,

Reader 1: sicknesses,

Reader 3: leukemia, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, cancer,

Reader 1: weaknesses,

Reader 2: depression, anger, failure, ignorance.

Reader 1: Yet we ignorantly considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God

Reader 1: But He was wounded for our transgressions.

Reader 2: Sharp pain coursing through His body.

Reader 3: Bludgeoned by the closed fists of hardened soldiers.

Presentation of the cross

From the back of the auditorium a large cross is carried in and erected on the platform.

Reader 1: He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities.

Reader 2: Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying,

Reader 3: “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?” And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.

Reader 1: They precisely placed the large eight-inch spike into the wrist of Jesus—a place where nerve and muscle would be intertwined to cause torture beyond what we could imagine.

(The sound on the hammer on nails: Six times)

Reader 2: Mocking.

Reader 1: Vulgarities.

Reader 3: Perversion.

Reader 2: Spittle.

Reader 1: Mud.

Reader 3: Harassment.

Reader 2: Religious condemnation.

Reader 1: Naked shame.

Reader 3: Blasphemy.

Reader 2: Loneliness.

Reader 1: Abandonment.

Reader 3: Thirst.

Reader 2: Shock.

Reader 3: Convulsion.

Reader 1: Blood.

Reader 2: Puncture wounds.

Reader 3: And a burning, bleeding back.

Reader 1: Their words spewed forth from all directions and all eras.

Reader 2: He saved others, but He cannot save Himself.

Jesus: Father, forgive them.

Reader 3: If You are the Son of God, save Yourself.

Jesus: Father, forgive them.

Reader 1: King of the Jews? You have no kingdom.

Jesus: Father, forgive them.

Reader 2: I’ll do what I want.

Jesus: Father, forgive them.

Reader 3: I don’t need You!

Jesus: Father, forgive them.

Reader 1: Leave us alone.

Jesus: Father, forgive them.

Reader 3: You are a liar. There is no God.

Jesus: Father, forgive them.

Reader 2: We have the right to choose life or death.

Jesus: Father, forgive them.

Reader 1: I’m the master of my own life.

Jesus: Father, forgive them.

Reader 3: Leave us alone. We don’t want Your love.

Jesus: Father, forgive them.

Reader 2: We’re doing fine without You.

Jesus: Father, forgive them.

Reader 1: You are not wanted here!

Jesus: Father, forgive them.

Reader 3: The crimes of all people.

Reader 2: The sins of all nations.

Reader 1: The climax of history.

Reader 3: The perilous chasm between heaven and hell.

Reader 2: Do you see Him?

Reader 1: Can you feel His isolation?

Reader 3: The shame of His death?

Reader 2: Naked.

Reader 1: Bleeding.

Reader 3: We dare you right now to look squarely and soberly at the cross of Christ.

Reader 1: We invite you to stand and remember.

Reader 3: Oh sacred hands now wounded

That loved this wretched throng

The tortured one discarded,

disfigured, and alone

How cruel the shame and terror

The sacrificial lamb.

Transgressions laid upon him

The dying Son of Man.

Song: How Can You say No to this Man

Congregation stands.

Reader 1: See, from His head, His hands, His feet,

Reader 2: With thorns Your only crown.

Reader 2: So pale are You in anguish.

Reader 1: Blessed Redeemer!

Reader 3: Seems I now see Him.

Reader 1: Blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins.

Reader 3: Precious Redeemer!

Reader 2: On Calvary’s tree

Reader 1: Sorrow and love flowed mingled down.

Reader 3: Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading.

Reader 1: With grief and shame weighed down.

Reader 2: He took my sins and my sorrows.

Reader 1: Did e’er such love and sorrow meet.

Reader 3: Now scornfully surrounded.

Reader 2: Blind and unheeding—dying for me!

Reader 1: Sinners plunged beneath that flood,

All: Lose all their guilty stains.

Reader 3: He suffered and died alone.

Reader 2: I stand amazed.

Reader 1: What wondrous love is this.

Reader 3: Amazing love.

All: Amazing . . . grace.

(Candles slowly extinguished)

Lead in Amazing Grace (Voices Only)

__________________________________

Reading is based on Scriptures quotations from the following: From the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright© 1996. used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton,

IL 60189. All rights reserved.

From the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

Courage is a high virtue. But fear can be our friend. Fear is actually a lifesaver. I agree with writer Elizabeth Gilbert who says,

Don’t leave home without a good healthy fear reflex, or you may find yourself wandering drunk through dangerous neighborhoods at 3am, or riding your bike through city traffic with earbuds in. In these situations, your fear may indeed save your life.

Indeed, fear can save us a lot of pain and heartache. Jesus warned us:

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

Matthew 7:15

Here are five types of people we should love but also, may I propose, fear.

• Jekyll and Hyde People

These are the emotionally unhealthy, unpredictable, and combative people who swing from one emotion to another. We all have Jekyll and Hyde people in our lives. They can be devastating, causing you to walk on egg shells and doubt your standing with them. Love them because you are called to love them, but limit your exposure to them because they can knock you off your mission.

They will deliberately say something to harm you while acting like they didn’t know it would bother you.

They waver in their support of you based on your performance. And if you don’t live up to their expectations, they will pout and alienate you.

Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.

James 1:6

They will enthusiastically agree to do something but then act moody and irritated while performing the task.

• Werewolves People

 The werewolf is the person in your life who supports you until they have a “full-moon” moment. Their “full moon” moment may be instigated by a crisis or it may just occur without any measurable cause. They are secretive and love the darkness of anonymity. 

Henri Neowen offers some questions for us to ask ourselves as we consider the werewolf:

Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.

• Frankenstein People

Frankenstein people have a head transplant when they really need a heart transplant. These are the people who have correct doctrine and know all the right answers, but they have no compassion for the strugglers. They are not swift in their walk because they are constantly running into people with whom they disagree on an intellectual level. Their heart is not engaged and compassionated because they are too busy judging people. Therefore they are the original walking dead.

• Blob People

Blob people take up space and have no arms or legs for service and mission. These are the people that focus on feeding themselves, satisfying themselves and justifying themselves but never do any good for the people around them. Everything is focused on how it affects their standing and not the overall health of the church or organization. Blob people are analysts and taste testers. They attend but rarely volunteer. 

• Godzilla People

These folks are bigger than life, ego-driven, and often destructive. Godzilla people display many talents and lead many organizations, but their success, while initially undeniable, is often short-lived because they leave so many people in their wake. They are excellent at tearing down and shaking up– a necessary task from time to time, but they don’t have the desire or acumen to build. 

St. Paul encourages us to use our words to build up:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

So what’s the silver bullet for these villains?  

Community!

Chances are, you’ve been the monster from time to time. I certain have!  We tame the beast through community. We must work on each other. Monsters have allies but few deep friendships. To overcome monstrous episodes we must find communities that nurture authenticity and truth-telling. 

And if you find yourself in relationship with a monster, speak the truth but also avoid feeding the beast. Their curse is infectious.

 

 

A Baby born—outcast and obscure

You are still Jesus

Master Craftsman of the universe

born a carpenter’s Son.

You are still Jesus

Walking in the wilderness 40 days without.

You are still Jesus

In a borrowed tomb, the casualty of my sin.

You are still Jesus in the middle of my struggles,

In the center of my life.

In my dreams, tears, brokenness and fears

You are still Jesus.

Comforting, guiding, loving, filling

You are still Jesus.

When an upside-down world quakes and trembles

You are still Jesus.

In the silent nights and fragile days

You are still Jesus.

~

Maybe it was the the election of 2016, or the shootings of police officers and unarmed black men, or maybe it’s the peril of social media where people make blanket statements about race, or party or policy. No one can doubt that we are more divided and in need of a revolution. Not a national revolution but a soul revolution. This revolution will occur when we are weary of people who claim to be Christians and yet support, for their own culture, people who act contrary to the teachings of Jesus for the sake of their own good causes. We are in need of a revolution.

 Jesus was the greatest revolutionary figure in history. Jesus shattered the religious systems of the world with a new commandment, “Love.” He overthrew the greatest empire with one weapon: “Love.” He served the greatest meal ever eaten and the primary ingredient is the recipe was (you guessed it) “Love.” It was a different kind of love than the world had ever truly experienced. God’s love is revolutionary because it is redemptive, unearned and holistic. While others were involved in a debate about who was holier, who was more righteous, Jesus was uprooting hatred and dispatched violence through love. It’s practical, astounding, freeing and, yes, revolutionary.

 

A Revolution of Love

But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke 6:27-28

Where does your mind go when it’s in idle? Our natural tendency is to go to places that we have experienced hurt, worry and uncertainty. We all have rehearsed future exchanges with enemies and rivals. We think, what could I have said that would straight this person out?
What could I do to get the upper hand in that relationship? How could I prove my own righteousness and legitimize my place in this situation or that predicament.” In short we have a taste of revenge. We can too quickly be drawn into greed, defensiveness and self-pity.  When we go into those shadowy places of self-preservation we are on a collision course with something that goes against our natural bent. It’s the unconditional love of Jesus. This is the very essence of grace that draws us out of the path of destruction and draws us into the life Christ offers. We must ask ourselves, “Does my living, walking, doing and reacting square up with this teaching?”

 

A Revolution Against Hypocrisy

“Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but don’t notice the log in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the log in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck in your brother’s eye.
Luke 6:41-42

 

Have you ever known someone who was constantly on a witch hunt? There are people who gain a sick gratification through the process of analyzing, condemning and judging even their closest of friend. Many times this judgment never reaches the ears of the person being judged. In these two verses we see Jesus commending believers not to sit in judgment of other people. Jesus is saying, work on yourself, first and foremost. We can’t go into relationships say, “I bet I can fix this person.” And can I say this just between me and you? Nobody really wants to be your project. The first person in your life that God wants you to fix is you. This is so true when it comes to marriage. So many times couples come to me, asking how they can fix their spouse and I have to say, “Perhaps God is using the faults of your spouse to fix YOU! Maybe He wants to teach you about patience, meaningful dialogue, prayer, and unconditional love.” College is a great place to work on yourself so that you are ready to enter into a lifelong relationship. You’ll also find that once the two by four is out of your eye, you are able to watch God change the people whom you love because you are emotionally free and healthy.

 

A Revolution of Action

“Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say? 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to Me, hears My words, and acts on them: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it, because it was well-built.
Luke 6:46-48

In this ancient sermon, it becomes clear that Jesus is not looking for people just to tip their hats to Him. He’s doesn’t want people to simply affirm Him as a good teacher or as some sort of life coach that can tweak their lives. He wants to be Lord, not just hear the word “Lord.” Jesus posts a warning sign and the very end of this message. He says “Danger! Religion ahead!”  Jesus didn’t come to establish another religion. He came to make dead people live. If you build too close to a sandy beach you will one day face a spiritual tsunami. So what is the sand you need to back away from? Is it self-reliance? An addiction you lean on more than God? Is it your physical appearance? Is it your popularity? We all have some beachfront property and it’s tempting to want to build on it.  Please don’t.

 

Jesus wants the best for you, but often it doesn’t feel like it. Revolutionary living requires us to have a spiritual coup a regime change. Jesus desires more than anything for you to trust him. How do we trust Him? We say, “Lord,” but we don’t stop with that word. We treat Him as Lord. We live by this new life principle of love. We invite God to change our hearts and we stop trying to change other people. We make our core value to be the teachings of Jesus and we listen patiently to get direction from Him and not our baser instincts.

I’ve seen and have been a part of so many different types of churches– relevant churches, traditional churches, hip churches, formal churches, house churches, city churches and country churches. But I am so thankful that I’ve had the opportunity as a visitor and as a member to experience a few churches that welcomed, fostered, and created atmospheres of reckless abandon to God.

We see this kind of church in a small home in Bethany. Jesus was there as well as the religious, the healed and the curious.

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. (Cost of a slave) She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume?

 

The question posed by the indignant onlookers is still asked today. Should a Christian be wasteful?

Absolutely.

We should encourage each other to waste our lives, our resources and our destinies at the feet of Jesus just like this woman did. The economy of heaven is much different from the economy of earth.

It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you,and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.
Mark 13:5-6

The choice:

1. Waste your life on Earth for Christ and save your soul for eternity
2. Save your life on earth and waste your soul for eternity.

Your alabaster box is exquisitely built over time. It is beautifully plated in the things you have treasured. It is sealed in your talents. It sits on the altar of the life you’ve built for yourself.

Break it or worship it. It’s your choice. 

 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Matthew 6:19-21

 

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
Revelation 3:17

We want to acquire so that we can feel we don’t need anything.God wants us to waste our lives on him so that we are in a constant state of need and faith.

TREASURE: For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
Mark 8:36

TIME:  “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
Luke 12:20

TALENT: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:1

Broken people connected through Jesus produces a beautifully broken church.

Here are 6 basic characteristics og the opposite– an unbroken church.

1. The unbroken church is passive during worship services
2. The unbroken church is rarely daring in finances
3. The unbroken church is concerned more about itself than those far from God.
4. The unbroken church longs for structure over substance
5. The unbroken church is sheds no tears, vies for power, and worries about its reputation
6. The unbroken church refuses to change

 

• Is Jesus worth it?
• Is Jesus enough for my circumstances?
• Is Jesus enough to trust with everything?

What do you think about more than anything else? What do you fear more than anything. Look and your thoughts and your fears and chances are you will discover the alabaster box in your story that must be crushed.

• Your life is your alabaster box.
• Our church is an alabaster box.
• If we refuse to be broken the alabaster box becomes an idol.

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done. The things You planned for us no one can recount to You. 

Psalm 40:5

God has plans. (and He won’t tell.)

His nature is so unpredictable. We never know what is just ahead. But God has plans. (And He won’t tell.) His hand is not seen but His activities are witnessed by those who feel His strong hands on the clay of our lives.

He doesn’t do what we think He should. I’ve been getting rid of a whole lot of pretty bows that once used to hold my life together.  Life is best lived untied. Because that’s life- A holy unloosing like the graveclothes of Lazarus. It remains a fantastic surprise that some will know darkly, yet face to face. But none will see crystal clear until the great unvieling of grace that will happen on a different continuam. It will surprise us all. Even theologians. The prescribed answers to life’s mysteries including escatology, the book of Daniel and blackberry cobbler will all be revealed in perfection and all of us will gaze in wonder that we got it all so wrong.

I see blind Samson

Goliath headless

Martha in the kitchen

and Mary in worship.

That’s life.

 

The beloved beside him,

The betrayer behind him,

the Baptist before him

and I say,

That’s life.

 

I see Jabez successful

and Jeremiah broken

Elijah hungry

and King David feasting

and I say that’s life.

 

let me see what’s today.

let me trust for tomorrow.

let me laugh, let me weep in the same precious moment.

and if I do I will bow down before Him

because He is our Daddy and we are His children.

I don’t understand it, but I’ll trust in the growing

and squeeze every drop from the fruit of the not-knowing.

that’s life.

So your pastor preaches on giving? Thank him!

He’s giving you some important news about one of life’s greatest secrets. A pastor who invites members to tithe invites them into a life-changing, soul-transforming experience that affects every area of their lives. In truth, it’s unfair to you if he’s not teaching you about this principle that’s changed history in ways we’ll never completely know until we get to heaven!

So here’s the short list of reasons you should be giving a tithe (10% of your income) to your local church.

1. It’s worship
   Whether you’re in a church with electric guitars or pipe organs, everybody should have an opportunity to give because from Genesis to Revelation, giving is true worship. Think about what you are doing when you illogically say goodbye to a large slice of your income that you could be using somewhere else, doing something else. You are saying, “Lord, above everything, I believe in You. It all belongs to You! This is a symbol of my complete belief, trust, and dependence on You to be my everything.”
2. It’s a promise.
   Here’s the deal, the Lord says. “If you’ll be faithful in this area of obedience, I promise you that I’ll take care of everything you’re going to need. Trust me in this. You cannot out-give me.”
3. It’s a teacher
   If you want to teach your kids the best way to handle money and to be financially responsible, teach them about the tithe. Tithing has taught me how to avoid the virus of materialism and learn the bliss of generosity.
4. It’s a blessing
   A young adult tried to convince his 86 year old grandfather that he really didn’t need to worry about tithing because he wasn’t really making any money and was living on very little. The grandfather replied, “Why would I want to give up doing the one thing that makes my life have meaning and purpose?” He knew that the once you begin the journey of generosity and tithing Go will carry you through and enrich your life far beyond any money that you hold on to.
5. It’s a provision
   When you tithe, you’re taking care of the facilities of your church, the minster(s) and their families. If your church gives through the Cooperative Program you are a solution to ministries and missions all over the world.
6. It’s a test
   Throughout scripture, God is continually testing those who follow him. Across the pages, we see men and women struggling with a God who dares them to trust Him a little more every day. But there is one area of our lives where God invites us to test Him. It is in this thing called the tithe. He says, “Test me! I dare you! I will come through.”It’s also a test for you as a follower. God knows that money is a strong and effective indicator of the condition of your heart.
7. It’s an investment
   So much of the resources we spend are slippery. They’re spent on things that will be broken, consumed, experienced, expired, and cast aside. The investment of the tithe is sure.
8. It’s eternal
   And the reason it is sure is that it is eternal. None of us will bring our cars, our homes, our 401ks, our boats, our jewels or our food into Heaven, but our tithe is a different story all together. We are investing in a kingdom that is built to last. And last FOREVER. The calculations of compounding interest over 30 years are quite impressive to most people. Can you get your brain around compounded interest over 30,000 years? The lives that are saved, the movements that are started, the resources that are provided are used to do eternal things. There is no greater investment than the investment in eternity!
9. It’s a miracle
   When you open yourself up to giving through the tithe you get a glimpse into the supernatural. Ask the tither if supernatural provision has ever happened in their years of giving, and inevitable the answer is, “Yes.” For some reason, God rewards the tither with a glimpse of the supernatural.
10. It’s tax-deductible
    Sorry, but the accountant in me had to point out this minor little benefit!
11. It’s a faith builder
    It’s true, tithing is an illogical risk, but it strengthens your faith muscles. The more you tithe, the more God shows up, the more you trust, and the more you are willing to do things that are beautifully unsafe. Once you begin to trust your money to God, you’ll find it easier to trust him with everything else in your life.
12. It’s a joy
    The givers are the happiest people on the face of the earth. There’s a certain deep feeling of bliss that comes from giving with no regard for receiving. We realize that it wasn’t ours in the first place and so money takes on a transcendent meaning that can’t be found in wealth accumulation.
13. It’s unifying
    Tithing can unify believers in a church. Tithing believers are believers that say to God and their church family, “I’m all in.” Tithing husbands and wives are saying to each other, “There’s something a whole lot bigger going on in our marriage than just us.”
14. It’s contagious
    Once tithers experience God in giving, we want to share with others about the grace and provision God has provided us. We share the joy of giving and God’s graciousness to us and others are inspired to give.
15. It’s a greed-slayer
    One of the most debilitating characteristics of unhappy people is greed. Like generosity, greed can go viral. And when we feed the greed, it spills over into every area of our lives.
16. It’s biblical
    Last, but not least, we give because it’s a biblical principle and promise. Here are a few excerpts from the tithing narrative that God threaded throughout his Word. Here are just of few of the promises God gives in His Word regarding tithes and offerings.

Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way,” says the Lord of Hosts. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.”
Malachi 3:10

The Lord also said to Moses, “Tell the Levites to give to the Lord a tenth of the tithes they receive—a tithe of the tithe, to be presented to the Lord.”
Numbers 18:25 (ESV)

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (ESV)

Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord.
Leviticus 27:30 (ESV)

Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you.
Deuteronomy 16:17 (ESV)