I think the church needs both to really be the organism and organization (and dare I say “institution”?) God intends it to be.

It may very well be a sign of our need for community that we tend to overemphasize one or the other.

Man I cannot tell you how much encouragement I have received from this blog. I guess my biggest problem in doing ministry is that a lot of churches have always told me that being somewhat regal, having this professional look to you, is the key to success. I kind of felt like if that was the case, overiding loving people where they are at and engaging in their culture and needs, then I didn’t want to do ministry.
Listen, I’m heading up the 1838 ministry at ACU next year, cause Mark Lewis asked me to and I’m also starting up this ministry called “Jesus & The Hip-Hop Prophets” on campus. I was wondering if I could email you about some things and maybe get some insight from you concerning some stuff for the upcoming school year. I would really appreciate it.

Peace,

Matt W.

The church that I ended up interning at and becoming most involved with was Southeast Christian Church, where Bob Russell preaches. At the time SECC was experiencing absolutely phenomenal growth, and Bob and the elders couldn’t understand why. They never planned for it to become a ‘mega-church’ (that phrase wasn’t even coined yet). They just knew that they had seriously prayed for God to help them grow the church in the way He saw fit, and were overwhelmed with His answer. When I began serving there, I asked Bob if it was OK if I did not complete seminary. I was seeing then that although much of what I was learning was a true blessing to me, I was having concerns about becoming ‘too professional’ in my quest — if I continued it seemed to pull me further and further away from people who would not be able to relate through the theological fog I so enjoy!

Bob had me look at the make-up of the staff at SECC. He pointed out that over half of the staff did not have a post-grad degree from a seminary. At the time he was not that familiar with ACU, my alma mater, but he knew that I had a strong Biblical and educational background. He and others there assured and encouraged me that God could use me in meaningful ministry without professional posturing (for lack of a better phrase). I had always felt somewhat inadequate in my training, as I had yearned all my life to become a minister. But the years I attended ACC/ACU were when women were not allowed to major in Bible. So I took as many missions courses (which seemed then to be treated like a Third World cousin) as I could. Academic confidence was not such a forte for me in those years, but I tried.

Anyway, all this to say, it’s about time that we re-think things through with regards to professional studies in ministry, missions, theology, and application. IMHO, it’s important not to throw the ‘pro’ out of the mission yet. Especially as more of Christian society seems to be falling into Biblical illiteracy. There is a lot of good to be said for ardent study, but we need to craft it around meaningful, missional ministry in post-modernity and beyond. Mentoring, dialoguing, and discipling are so needed. As are those who have God’s gifting in academics, analysis, and educating.

These are exciting times … we are rethinking here in the UK, too! Thanks for this post, Mike.

God bless us as we take his love to the masses… whether in huge buildings or tiny homes.

…oh yea, what do you think about them Mavs?

Could you please explain what it means when you wrote “And I double my prayers for the kingdom of God to continue breaking in”? I’ve seen you refer to this event before, but I have no idea what you mean. I thought the kingdom was here.

All the best,

John”
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is asking about the kingdom and its status as here, not here, already, not yet.

“The kingdom” is spoken of many times, and means at least three different things that I can think of in the NT. Jesus speaks of the kingdom in parables which seem to mean the eternal kingdom, and the kingdom as the church here in the present. In addition, the kingdom can refer to the belief that there will be an actual physical millenial kingdom on earth ruled over by Jesus with a “rod of iron”.

Also, if you spoke to an Israelite during the time of Jesus, it would have meant to him the kingdom of David, which had been taken away, and for which they were looking for a return, based on their understanding of prophetic language they were familiar with.

This term can mean many things, and I feel Mike is using it to mean the breaking in of Christ’s reign (not the millenial reign, but the “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” reign during this church age we are in. Some would equate this phrase with the millenial reign, but I don’t believe he is using it that way). But before I continue to try to explain what I think he means, I’d better stop, because I may be way off.

The way I have heard this phrase used –already but not yet–I feel the speaker is trying to say that we are agents for the “inbreaking” of his leadership and influence in the here and now, and “the kingdom” is being used in a way to refer to the church as well as its influence; to God’s called out people here on earth. I also infer an active role for the Holy Spirit in this inbreaking.

Maybe this will get the discussion going for you. I hope this is what you are asking, and offer it in a spirit of trying to help.

Mike -I’m curious…

What is our New Testament model for having paid preachers in the first place?

Also, why are you committed to helping a large church when you say the future is in the small church.

Thanks.

Whether intentional or not, your words are harsh.

I am a seeker, and I thought you were a teacher. You may not remember, but a year or more ago (it may have been two) I asked ths same question of you when you wrote about the “Kingdom breaking in” and you promised to write about it soon. As such, it would seem to me that you do need the reminder.

You made a promise that many months later you still have not kept. I would think that someone with “With seven years of Greek and a couple years of Hebrew along with class after class of textual studies” would not have a problem dealing with something that they clearly believe in. I have no such education, so I turn to you for help.

I am sorry if I seem harsh.

All the best of the day!

John

The passage that lurks in the back of my mind here is I Corinthians 14, in which Paul makes it pretty plain that he wishes all of the church “members” or “body parts” would prophesy. Similarly to Moses (Numbers 11?), Paul was not interested, apparently, in being considered the ultimate prophetic authority within a group of Christians. He wanted that gift to be dispersed among all who aspired to it, had been gifted by the Holy Spirit “just as he wills” and had the humble temperament required to exercise it faithfully.

I surely would be interested in some ruminations on this concept, because it is slowly becoming an obsession with me.

qb

When I told my elders that I spend an hour in study for each minute in the pulpit, they voted to cut my hours.