Nooma - Rob Bell

We just started using the Nooma videos in our Sunday night small groups. They have been a refreshing change, and our small group participants seem to really like them. Rob Bell is the speaker on each video, and he brings relevant messages using everyday stories to display God's love and affection toward us. You can check out these video clips on www.nooma.com. They even come with small group discussion questions that allow for good discussion and sharing. If you are looking for an example of postmodern preaching or if you are looking for material that will reach today's postmodern generation then check out Nooma.

Self Reliance

When we try to get things done on our own, we really make a mess don’t we?

Sometimes three year old daughter says to me, “daddy, your so strong.” She is so sweet, however she too has those just get it done kind of moments. Trying to unscrew the lid off a jar of peanut butter, she can get so frustrated, but she wont ask for help, as if I her big strong dad isn’t there or capable of opening it. She says, “I can do this all by myself.” Her face distorts, she starts to make loud squeals and pouts, her frustration is about to get the best of her. Would you like to know what I said? “Let me help you.”

Here I am just sitting in awe while I watch my frustrated daughter; I want to fix the problem for her, but more importantly I want her to know her father is right here. I want her to understand that she doesn’t have to do this by herself. Doesn’t she know I love her, that I would do anything for her? Of course I want to help her open that jar, but more importantly I want her to learn to trust me, to allow me to be there for her, to help her, to give her my strength and direction. I wanted her to learn to hand it over to me.

Have you ever had a “just get it done” kind of day? The day that just seems to go nowhere unless, you make it happen through pure will power and personal strength. The task can be brutal, staying up with a baby all night, because he just can’t go to sleep. It’s never fun having to put up with an uncooperative coworker. That ministry area, “no one wants to help me, I can’t get any volunteers.” In those moments we feel all alone and frustrated, we begin to think, “How can I get out of this? No, I said I would do it; I can do this all by myself.” We act as if God doesn’t notice, as if he doesn’t care. It’s as if He too is a non-volunteer in our ministry, not a team player at work, or possibly another detached member of the family. Does our pain escape His notice? No, in reality, God is saying, “let me help you; hand it to me.”

61 pounds and counting!!!

I now weigh 175 lbs. That means I have lost 61 lbs since mid August. Wow! It hasn't been a hard road either, it just required discipline and some accountability. My wife was the accountability, and the discipline was through a online Weight Watchers plan. I will let you know when I hit my goal of 170 lbs. If you need help or a plan, talk to me I'll be glad to get you going in the right direction.

The X-odus Files

"The X-odus Files: Following God in an Alien Land" by Reg Cox & Rick Brown has been such an enjoyable read. However I must admit it was not always easy to accept its message. I was challenged over and over again by its ideals and over all message. Even though it can be humbling, I love to be given a fresh view of God's word. Too often my ministry is wandering though maintenance church agenda, when in reality we are called to be warriors with a ministry that has purpose and an already secured victory. You can find the book at http://www.leafwoodpublishers.com/ .

Your Best Life Now

I love the idea of this book! I am so into motivational power of positive thinking type of books. Especially ones that focus on the power of God. In Joel Olsteen's "Your Best Life Now" I really bought into the first few chapters. In them there are some very positive things we all can learn or at least be reminded of. However, I got lost in this book. Not the good kind of lost, but kind of lost that said, "Where is He going, is this it?" The whole idea of if your a child of the KING therefore expect to be treated like a king message kind of seems weak & worldly. To be fair Joel Olsteen never used the above statement, that's just the idea I got out of the book. It is ashame too, I really wanted to like this book. Use the book, non-christians are reading it. It could be a way to connect with someone who is searching. There are positive things to learn from it. But if you are looking for depth, you may want to avoid its shallow message.

Church Bible Class: Teaching the facts Vs. Meeting Needs

The title does sounds kind of funny doesn't it? I have always wondered about the purpose of church Bible class, since it is a man made thing. Basically there is no Bible verse that requires or asks for it. Yet it seems obvious that it is a good thing to do based on Bible understanding.
So how is your program doing? Do you have a good Bible class attendance? Is it 80 % of your worship number? Probably not, it more than likely hangs in the 60% to 40% number. I'm a people pleaser by nature, therefore I want to give people what they want. So when I create a new program or class I am often tempted to give people what they want rather than what they need. Some people want Bible class to be like a college lecture course that gives out only exegeted information with little or no application or even speculation. These "just the facts" Christians seem to have a hard time relating to non-christians or anyone that isn't just like them. So the temptation is to please this group of church people by giving them that option; here is your "just the fact class". In these classes we learn how to Biblically evangelize, pray, and worship; yet it is common that no one would apply evangelism or prayer to their everyday life. I fear that many of us who study diligently in Bible class are learning about a life that we are not willing to live.
On the otherhand there some who wont even come to Bible class unless there is a special class that meets a very targeted need in their life: marriage, finance, Parenting, etc. They want classes heavy on application with the hope of a quick fix. These are my "buffet (pick and choose at my convenience)" christians. The "buffet" christians typically never get too involved nor ever become leaders within the church, but they relate very well with non-christians and usually are the ones who bring the bulk of our vistitors. While they are good at bringing people to church they often don't know how to bring them to Jesus. So when I am creating a program it is easy to allow these extremes to dictate what we do. In order to keep convenient peace the temptation is to keep these groups separated, but as you can see, they really need each other.

Here is the problem. If your classes are catering directly to certain groups by giving them want they want, it's possible the message of Christ will be completely missed by all. Too many times the "just the facts" classes discect the Bible or just make it so dry that they miss the message of Jesus and His love all together. The "buffet" Christians are so focused on their special need that they forget that it is Jesus who will help them overcome the very thing that burdens them.
So what is a Bible class teacher to do? Got any answers? First, I try to make sure my class whether it's studying the book of Joshua or the finer points of parenting will never forget that all good answers and Bible classes point to the Christ who loves us. Second, I try to encourage "just the facts" & "buffet" christians to have some connection in both small groups and interactive classes. Extreme groups in a church cannot be united through a brilliant Bible class program but they can be through Christ who is the peace that unites us all together. It's time our Bible classes focus on the Christ who gives us the power and conviction to apply His message to our lives. When we collectively focus on Christ, we'll begin to take on the very character of Christ. Then we can say, "that is a meaningful Bible class."