His Government

“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.”
ISAIAH 9:7

He MUST increase. Isaiah tells us that there will be no end of the increase of His government and peace. In the beginning was the Word, and we can see how God has worked steadily from the beginning to increase Christ. From types and shadows in the Old Testament we see Christ coming into view. Then the Word is made flesh and dwells among us, and Christ is increased yet again. Next He comes to dwell within us, and this is a major increase. Finally, He begins to conform us to His own image through His indwelling Life.
If we are growing up into Him then He is increasing daily. Eventually every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Beyond this, we are told that God will continue to reveal His Son in the ages to come, bringing us into depths and dimensions of Christ that we cannot fathom.
Source: The Irresistible Kingdom by Chip Brogden

Conflict is normal; how we handle it is the key.

When Dream Teams Become Nightmares

By Mark Alan Williams When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. ~ Proverbs 16:7 (ESV)
READING: Philippians 2:3-13
Serving Jesus with believers is usually a wonderful blessing. But not always. When conflict disrupts a ministry team, it can be discouraging. We expect more. Dream teams can become nightmares.
Jack Walker, a seasoned Christian leader, counseled me about conflict in the ministry workplace. “Keep your expectations low and your hopes high,” he said. Part of the problem is that we have the unrealistic expectation that we won’t ever encounter conflict. We need to remember that the Apostle Paul, Barnabas and John Mark had conflict and an unhappy separation early in their first missionary church planting journey. Conflict is normal; how we handle it is the key.
He also counseled that the problem is usually not aptitude but attitude – particularly pride and an unwillingness to humble ourselves. Scripture has much to say about humility and serving others, such as, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Phil. 2:3). “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all” (Mark 10:43b, 44). Walker emphasized that it is most important for the team to agree together to “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).
Finally, he told an inspiring story about the well-known reference book, The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible. Although over a million copies are in print, the author insists on being anonymous. The author also refused an offer of a million dollars royalty for his work, believing God would have him serve with minimal compensation.
I wonder if there would be a lot less ministry conflict if all of us were that selfless and humble.
Lord Jesus, Please help me to humble myself and be the slave of all! Amen. 

Dynamic Church Planting International (DCPI) “Equips Leaders to Plant 5 Million Churches Worldwide.” Learn more

The kingdom of God is not built on the successes and victories of man but through the power of God.

The Nearness of God

By Peter Sung The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. ~ Psalm 34:18
READING: Psalm 34
The Lord is near to those who are brokenhearted, and he delivers those who are discouraged. There is such a thing as something I would call a theology of “more-ness.” When we feel most alone and abandoned, God is, at that precise moment, most close to us. Grace abounds when sin abounds. Jesus forsakes the ninety-nine to find the one that is lost. Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is epitomized by ministry to the widows and the orphans.
In a world of fast preaching preachers and fast growing churches, our little struggling church plant can look less than. But the opposite is true. God has never been a respecter of persons. It is quite impossible to impress Him. The weaker we are the closer God draws. The fact is, we may be further away from God after we preach a home-run sermon than when after we have had “one of those Sundays.”
The kingdom of God is not built on the successes and victories of man but through the power of God which flows through the weak, the foolish and the downcast.
Many Sundays will come and go, as will events, programs and personalities. In a sea of churches and sermons, preachers and choirs, there stands Jesus, the Faithful One, building his church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it. His strength is perfect when our strength is gone. In fact, he never needed it in the first place.
Why so downcast, O my soul? Put your hope in God!
Dear Lord, I confess my discouragement and feelings of failure and inferiority. I rest today under the shadow of your wings. Amen.

Dynamic Church Planting International (DCPI) “Equips Leaders to Plant 5 Million Churches Worldwide.” Learn more

Praying Through to Victory

“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
MATTHEW 26:41

The purpose of prayer is to get aligned with the Mind, Will, Heart, Desire, Purpose, and Aim of God Himself.
It is a fight and a struggle just to get to Gethsemane. It is a battle to get your siblings to stay awake with you for even one hour; and it is an all-out war to “pray thrice” or ten times or twenty times or one hundred times, as the case may be, until you have gotten the victory over yourself, and come away soaked with the blood, sweat, and tears of that early morning wrestling. But once the outcome is decided in God’s favor, what awesome power and Life one receives, to drink that Cup that looked so impossible before, and to go forth bearing the Cross in the strength and power of God Himself, to do whatever He requires!
Source: The Irresistible Kingdom by Chip Brogden

Women Mentoring Women

by Chuck Lawless on Monday, May 20, 2013

In three decades of ministry, I've watched godly women invest in others. For example, Shirley, the wife of a leader for the Voice of America, has guided young women throughout the world during her husband's short-term assignments to many countries. She has been particularly strong in motivating women to use their gifts through their local churches.
Christie, whose life experiences, common sense, and deep faith make her a strong resource for hurting women, has made herself available to any woman who needs a listening ear and a friend dedicated to prayer.
My own wife, Pam, invests in younger women. Her mentoring style is simply to hang out regularly with the same group of women. It's been amazing to witness the life issues she's been invited to address during a meal, a shopping adventure, or a living room conversation.

Life Stage Mentoring

Opportunities for women to mentor other women abound. For example, mothers will benefit from intentional life stage mentoring that guides them through the stages of motherhood. The young mother raising her first preschooler often yearns for the advice of another who's walked that path. That inquisitive preschooler will someday bring new challenges as a daring teenager, and the mother whose patience may be stretched will, without doubt, need support.
For some women who've been unable to conceive, Mother's Day is a painful reminder of grief. Churches sometimes unintentionally compound this pain through insensitivity. If you know a woman who's struggling with infertility, perhaps you can connect her with another who's faced the same issue victoriously.
Another option is to help her network with others who've adopted. In either case, be a supportive sister in Christ.
Other women face Mother's Day knowing their own mothers are growing feeble. Caring for aging parents is complex. Decisions about medical care, legal issues, finances, driving, and housing can be overwhelming, especially if a parent is battling dementia. Carrying that burden as a caregiver is lighter, though, when someone who's already walked the path offers wisdom and solace.
Short-term life stage mentoring is invaluable. The only training needed is life experience. The primary cost is time. The required skills are listening and talking. A potential mentee is anyone crossing a bridge you've already crossed.
Ask God to direct you to someone who will welcome life-stage support. You may discover a relationship that becomes lifelong.
This article is courtesy of More Living Magazine.

Chuck Lawless is the author of Mentor: How Along-the-Way Discipleship Will Change Your Life (LifeWay). He is dean of graduate studies at Southeastern Seminary and serves as global theological education consultant at the International Mission Board.

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Related Content

• LifeWay Women provides biblical solutions for churches, small groups and individuals, engaging women to know Jesus, to seek His kingdom and be spiritually transformed and equipped for service.
• 10 Keys to Finding the Mentor You Need Here are ten keys to finding your perfect mentor.
• Mentor: How Along-the-Way Discipleship Will Change Your Life by Chuck Lawless. Explores mentoring as a God-given relationship where one growing believer encourages and equips another to reach his or her potential as a disciple.
• More Living Magazine Encourages adults, ages 46-64, to accomplish great things for God, embrace the opportunities to go to the lost world for Christ’s sake, and mentor younger generations.

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New churches start for many reasons, but the most basic reason comes from the heart of our Savior: compassion.

Lord of the Harvest: Compassion

By Jim Carpenter When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ~ Matthew 9:36 (ESV)
READING: Matthew 9:35-38
Carl (not his real name) had a loving family and a good job, but he also had a secret life. He was addicted to alcohol and he was gambling away huge amounts of money. If he had continued on this self-destructive path he would have lost his family, his livelihood and his health. Ultimately, he would have lost his soul for eternity.
He was no different than the crowds who flocked to Jesus as He preached and taught throughout Galilee. They were “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” “Harassed” means mangled, like skin that has been flayed and stripped. These poor sinners were like sheep that had been skinned alive. And they were “helpless” – wounded, cast down and left for dead. Lost people are so lost. They are so desperate and so hopeless. They need a shepherd, but not just any shepherd. They need the one true shepherd – Jesus.
Jesus reacted to these people with compassion. The Greek word implies deep emotion. Sometimes we speak of feeling something “in your gut.” He was moved by the sight of these pitiful, hopeless people.
New churches start for many reasons, but the most basic comes from the heart of our Savior – compassion for shepherdless people like Carl.
Carl’s wife, Terri, was a baby Christian in our new church, and she started telling her husband about Jesus. I remember being on the phone with Terri late one night, coaching her as she shared the gospel with Carl. The next morning he gave his heart to Christ.
Lord Jesus, Please give me Your heart of compassion for lost people, and may many of them find the Great Shepherd in our new church. Amen.

Dynamic Church Planting International (DCPI) “Equips Leaders to Plant 5 Million Churches Worldwide.” Learn more

Samaritan's Purse Calls for UK Church to model the Early Church

Samaritan's Purse Calls for UK Church to model the Early Church and bring hope for the World's Poorest Families

By Peter Wooding
Europe Bureau Chief for ASSIST News Service
BUCKHURST HILL, ENGLAND (ANS) -- Samaritan's Purse is calling on churches across the UK to model the early church, as described in the books of Acts, who held everything in common and who pooled their resources to reap hope for some of the world's neediest families this Harvest time.
Just as the first century church ensured there wasn't a needy person

Raising Families poster

among them by sharing all that they had, Samaritan's Purse has launched a unique way for today's UK churches to do the same through their Raising Families Harvest resource packs. "What we've seen happening in local churches right across Africa and Central Asia is them pooling their resources to look after the most vulnerable families in their communities," explains Simon Barrington, Samaritan's Purse UK Executive Director.
On a recent visit to Rwanda, Simon asked Pastor Celestine in the Kamweru Parish what was different about their ministry programme, and the pastor responded:
'We're going back to the church in the book of Acts by bringing all our resources together, even though we have very little, and we're sharing it. In the past most families in our village could only afford one meal a day. But today people who once felt doomed to a life of poverty are working in groups - planting and growing crops, raising livestock and joining savings groups.
'Those who once had nothing are now making a living and helping out their needy neighbours too. Because of this generosity countless lives have been turned around and many people have regained their faith in God.'
Simon added: "We wanted to do something in the UK that models what's happening in places like Rwanda and this Harvest is the perfect time to do it!"
Each Raising Families Harvest resource pack contains a variety of resources and creative ideas to help churches put on a My Promise event to engage and enthuse both their church and their community in giving hope to needy families in Sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia.
The pack includes an inspiring DVD that can be shown in churches in the run up to their Harvest services, telling the story of how churches in Rwanda have responded to the issue of poverty in their communities by pooling their resources to address the needs of families.
Raising Families Harvest DVD : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWbkzKy0el8

Grandmother Cecile

One of those stories is that of grandmother Cecile who had to take on responsibility for her five young grandchildren when her son and his wife tragically died.
The local church trained by Samaritan's Purse, introduced Cecile to other vulnerable families in her community. They prayed together, encouraged each other, shared their knowledge and pooled their money and other resources.
Cecile said: "When I look back and see all that I have been able to do, it's all due to the encouragement I received from the group at church.the group also helped me in cultivating crops which helped me earn money in the harvest to pay for school fees and healthcare.

"I want my grandchildren to know God, to pray to Him and to understand that He is able to meet all their needs."
The Harvest packs also include:
Helpful ideas for planning your Harvest celebrations
Heart-warming stories of families who have lifted themselves from poverty with the help of the local church
Prayers and reflections for God's family worldwide
Powerful Bible readings and sermon notes
Engaging all-age activities and more
My Promise resource materials and ideas
Individuals taking part in My Promise will be asked to make a promise, either something practical like babysitting, shopping or providing lifts, or more substantial gifts, such as the use of a holiday home or caravan. These promises will then be put up for auction. Everyone can play a part, even those simply promising to support a family in need for just £10 a month.
Already many churches around the UK are grasping this concept.

Phil Smith Worship and Prayer Vision Team Coordinator at Fleet Methodist Church commented: "Linking a project such as this to Harvest is both a natural and challenging concept. Most Christians in the UK have little connection with a farmer harvesting a crop, yet we all 'give' at harvest. Samaritan's Purse has put in place a realistic project that allows Christians throughout the UK and wider to give a little of what we do have to make a life-changing difference to others."

Simon Barrington concluded: "I hope that churches will grasp the fact that when they come together and pool their resources that they can have an impact on vulnerable children and families. In doing that they'll understand who we are as the body of Christ that we are one family globally and we can do things together, which makes a world of difference."
To find out more go to: www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/raising-families-harvest
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SamaritansPurseUK
Twitter: @samspurseuk