“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (Jn. 14:12).

You’ve got the right stuff …

A. The Father’s Blessing for a New Season

My teenage son and I were driving back from a retreat we attended together. It had been one of those memorable father-son experiences, the kind you know you’ll remember for the rest of your life. During the afternoon, we had gone for a hike up a mountain and talked along the way about life, God, hopes, dreams, etc.

As we left the retreat center and drove home, we talked together, and I sensed God’s desire for me to “bless” my son. This was something very different than a simple pronouncement after a sneeze, or merely saying, “You’re a blessing to me, son” or even something along the lines of, “Here’s some money; I just want to bless you.” No, this was something of Biblical proportion.

Allow me to briefly digress. I was raised as an observant Jew and came to faith in Jesus as Messiah as an adult. I had experienced Bar Mitzvah as a rite of passage. Our sons similarly experienced this rite of passage as I their father, rabbi, and pastor led them through Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and explained they were now men before God, sons of a New Covenant with God and sons of God’s blessings. Yet the day that I drove home with my son from the retreat, I sensed that God wanted me to bless my son again for a new season in his life … a new blessing to prepare for a new passage.

The Father blesses the Son in various important seasons of life and ministry.

This might seem a novel concept in a New Testament context, but consider that presumably Jesus experienced Bar Mitzvah in the Hebrew tradition.

Yet, when Jesus began His earthly ministry, a rite of passage, again His Father pronounced a blessing over His Son, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17).

Again, at the Mount of Transfiguration: The quest to the cross began in earnest, and another rite of passage is discovered. The disciples Peter, James, and John would be encouraged by the discovery of His glory as they were being prepared for their unique leadership roles. Jesus was far greater than their understanding of Messiah as declared at Caesarea Philippi (Matt. 16:16). The blessing of the Father would also encourage the Son, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 17:5).

The Father’s blessing is highly valued.

The concept of the father’s blessing was critical to the Patriarchs. The yearning for the blessing caused Jacob to scheme in an attempt to secure his father Isaac’s blessing (although God had assured him of the blessing), and caused Esau to lament the loss of something that he had previously neglected. The importance of the blessing caused Joseph to attempt to guide his elderly father Jacob to pronounce a blessing over Joseph’s oldest son when Jacob was directing the greater blessing of God upon his younger grandson.

The twelve sons of Jacob gathered at their elderly father Jacob’s bed as the patriarch pronounced blessings that foretold the destiny of each of these twelve tribes of Israel. The blessing of a father is a critical event to help prepare for the passage into adulthood and for various seasons of passage in life ministry and discovery and fulfillment of calling.

As I drove with my son from that retreat, I too sensed that I was to bless my son. Then the words came forth, “I believe that God wants me to encourage you and bless you that you will do greater works than I ever have or will do.” These were words that I had never previously spoken to my son. They were words of great weight and were spoken with conviction. The experience was profound.

A father is a source of great influence for his children. When they become adults, he’s to be a mentor as he continues to train equip and encourage them for the seasons they encounter and prepare them for the ones that lie ahead. He’s to assure them that they have the right stuff!

The blessing, “In whom I am well pleased” is not conditioned upon perfection or performance but flows from the relationship of father and son or a mentor and disciple.

It’s only natural for parents to want their children to have a good life. But to want them to truly do greater things, especially greater Kingdom work, is supernatural. Unfortunately, that blessing can be impeded by a father’s competitive nature. A father who competes with his adolescent son in sports, resisting the son’s desire to beat (do greater than) his father, might find it difficult to yearn for his son to do greater than he has done. The difficulty pronouncing that blessing might say more about the nature of the father than the nature of the son.

B. The Son’s Blessing for a New Season

Nevertheless, a blessing apparently flowed easily from the lips of Jesus as He prepared the disciples for their rite of passage in the Upper Room when He declared,“ Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (Jn. 14:12).

The commencement address: You will do greater works …

Imagine the disciples hearing those words in the Upper Room. They were being prepared to continue the Kingdom work Jesus had groomed them for. The work would continue through them, and this was the time for their rite of passage. Certainly they would be confounded by the idea that they could possibly do greater works than Jesus. They had witnessed miracles performed by Jesus.

As they considered their own frailties and insecurities, they likely couldn’t imagine these encouraging words as an actual declaration of prophetic truth. Yet, true were the Savior’s words. For indeed the scope, magnitude, and influence of Christ’s disciples would in some respects be greater works. In the span of about fifty days, three thousand converts would enter the Kingdom at Pentecost in response to Peter’s anointed proclamation of the Gospel.

This sum would represent more than all of the recorded converts in Jesus’ entire earthly ministry. Soon thereafter, the number of converts would measure five thousand. Today the total is estimated in excess of two billion—a far greater number than the 120 who gathered in the Upper Room awaiting the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Similarly, Jesus’ earthly ministry was essentially within a thirty-mile radius of His home at Galilee. The Book of Acts records the spread of the Gospel to the known world, and today, the four corners of the globe.

Jesus’ declaration that they would do greater works is the outpouring of the blessing of a Kingdom leader to prepare Kingdom leaders.

He was letting them know in no uncertain terms that they had the right stuff because they were His disciples (he who believes in Me). He not only blessed them to prepare them for their calling, but He would help and strengthen them for that work by sending forth the Holy Spirit who would be with them just as Jesus had been with them.

C. The Need for Blessing Leaders

Church leaders who are focused on developing their personal kingdom are generally more like the competitive dad with his adolescent son. They are okay with their disciples doing good, and maybe even great, but are reluctant to bless encourage and help their disciples to do greater than their mentor. Again, this dynamic may speak more in regard to the nature of the church leader as opposed to the disciple. Kingdom leadership requires a transition from the competitive mentor to the blessing mentor who truly desires his disciples to do greater works.

The need for greater works to be done to accomplish Christ’s commission

Here’s an interesting concept that can help motivate church leaders towards Kingdom leadership: the success of the disciple enhances the reputation of the mentor. For example, the success of Joshua in regard to bringing God’s people across the Jordan River and leading the conquest of the Promised Land actually enhances Moses’ reputation. Similarly, the many miracles of Elisha are connected to his mentor Elijah. Certainly the works of the twelve elevate the reputation of Jesus. Yet, this reality is not the proper motive for being a blessing leader.

What should motivate us to bless like Jesus is a genuine love for God and others—and an understanding that greater works are needed to accomplish Christ’s commission locally and globally.

The desire to bless leaders to do greater works than their mentors leads to action in regard to the allocation of resources.

Time, talent, and treasure are focused on emerging growing Kingdom leaders to equip, encourage, and empower them to do greater works.

I began to seek to live this principle during the last few years in the context of training disciples and teachers and preparing church planters. I began intentional training with a group of men who had Kingdom potential as Bible teachers and church planters. It required some hours a week of my time and theirs. I encouraged them as their growth as teachers and leaders became evident during the course of training.

Furthermore each of them sought to discern their calling for the next season of ministry in the Kingdom. Some of them went on to plant churches, some were called to significant teaching and leading roles at our local church, but all of them were blessed with the words, “I pray that you will do greater works than I have ever done or will ever do.”

Presently, I have committed time, talent, and treasure resources to continue to coach these men (and others) and support the work God has called them to. And I’ve discovered the wonderful experience and contentment of yearning to see these men whom I disciple do greater works than me, their mentor.

Remember, not only do they have the right stuff, but so do you!

Contemplate and Consider:

1. Who in your sphere of influence do you see as having Kingdom potential (the right stuff)?

2. How can you encourage prepare and assist them to walk in their Kingdom calling?

3. How can you communicate blessing to encourage them that they will do greater works than you and that you desire to assist them to do so?

So many words have been printed, published and proclaimed to honor Pastor Chuck. My tribute seems hardly worth disseminating when others with greater eloquence or experience have expressed so many memories.

My first significant conversation with Pastor Chuck occurred more than thirty years ago. I was a new believer, who had been following Jesus about eleven months. I taught a home Bible study with about 45 people in attendance. I had started reading through the Bible in Genesis, and when I got to James 3:1, and the warning that those who teach will be judged more strictly, I was panicked. I called the church and asked to speak to Pastor Chuck, and although I’d never met him, he graciously came on the line.

I explained my situation—that I’d never gone to Bible college or seminary and there were all these people coming to my house, and how I’d just read James 3:1, and … In the midst of my discourse, Pastor Chuck started to laugh, and walk me off the ledge. He encouraged me to participate in the School of Ministry (SoM) at CCCM. I explained that I was an attorney and although I had a pretty flexible schedule, there would be court appearances where I’d have to miss class. Pastor Chuck told me that he would ask Pastor Carl be gracious and work with me. That was the first hand-upthat I received from Pastor Chuck.

When Pastor Chuck was teaching through the Book of Acts at SoM, he reserved time towards the end of class to answer questions. One student asked, “Pastor Chuck, what do you do when Sunday comes and you’re not prepared?” Chuck simply closed his Bible, and walked out of class. I never asked him about it, but I presume that he was offended that someone would think that he ever came to his calling as a Bible teacher unprepared for God’s noble work. That was another hand-up. In thirty-plus years of teaching, I’ve made sure to be diligent to be prepared.

Pastor Chuck had a tendency to walk down the center aisle to greet congregants as they were leaving the services. One day, an elderly looking woman, perhaps in her 80s, approached. I was next to Pastor Chuck when I heard him excitedly shout, “Lois!” I later learned that when Chuck was a boy, Lois was his Sunday School teacher in Ventura, California. It was another remarkable hand-up. I purposed to remember the people who influenced me for Jesus, and remember the people I was privileged to serve for Jesus.

Pastor Chuck gave me opportunities to teach at the School of the Bible at CCCM, opportunities to serve, and his ear (attention). He encouraged me to plant a Calvary Chapel in Camarillo, California and prayed for my wife and I and our infant son, commissioning us. Being vertically challenged, he towered over me, but I remember him looking down and his broad grin. There are three great smiles in the universe, the Mona Lisa, the Cheshire Cat, and Chuck Smith. That was another hand-up, he encouraged me, empowered me and helped me to believe that God could use me—not because I was an attorney, but because He had counted me worthy.

Seven years after the church in Camarillo was planted, we had an opportunity to purchase a two-acre parcel of land. In the city where I serve, open land is rare and expensive. There has only been one Protestant church built from the ground up in the last twenty-five years. That one church is yet another example of a hand-up from Pastor Chuck.

Our fledgling church had no way to qualify for a loan even with my willingness to use our home as collateral. I reached out to Chuck to explain the situation, and the opportunity, and he graciously approached the CCCM Board about giving us a hand-up, not a handout, to help us to qualify. We were able to get the loan and quickly remove CCCM’s involvement in their gracious assistance to us.

As the blueprints and construction drawings were developed, Pastor Chuck invited me to share them with him. There in his office at CCCM, he opened the voluminous pages. He had clearly done this countless times before. And like so many abilities, he clearly had a knack and knew what he was doing. I recall that he affirmed the design, and words to the effect that we had done good. But what really stood out to me was Pastor Chuck asking about our proximity to the fields. In our community, there is fertile open agriculture space between the city and the ocean. It is generally a lovely verdant space, but when broccoli or cauliflower are harvested the odor can be noticeable. Chuck had grown-up nearby in Ventura, California and was very familiar with the phenomenon. He wanted to give me a hand-up so that I would be careful how the campus was designed.

When the building was finished, Pastor Chuck agreed to come and speak at the dedication service. I got to make some opening remarks, and encouraged people to open their Bibles to the Book of Jeremiah (people had printed Bibles in those days rather than their phone or tablet). Chuck was in the front row sitting with my wife, Karen. Chuck had heard me refer to my wife as, “The godliest woman that I know.” That evening, Karen didn’t have her Bible, so our pastor leaned over and said, “Can I share my Bible with the godliest woman Bruce knows?” My wife’s face was crimson, but it was just another hand-up.

As I reflect, I had a very comfortable life in Orange County. I had ample opportunities to teach, serve, and was being used by God. I never aspired to be a pastor, but when it was obvious that it is what God had called me to be and do, I left my career to embrace my calling. As I reflect, the single most influential human being in that process is Pastor Chuck. I have no regrets in my decision, and love what I get to do in God’s kingdom. So, in gratitude for what Pastor Chuck has done for me, I’m submitting these words as a tribute to him, his memory, his incredible legacy, and the very tiny part I play in it.

No other human being will have greater influence in a new church than the church planter. In seeking to determine who should plant, what are some key qualifications? Let us aspire as followers of Jesus, and as church planters (aspiring and existing), to see these traits demonstrated in and through our lives.

1. Christ-changed:

First and foremost, a church planter must be yielded to Jesus and regenerated by the Holy Spirit. This would seem so axiomatic that it need not be articulated. Nevertheless, as liberal streams flow into the Church, it is wise to ensure this foundation. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has lamented the increasing numbers of people leading churches who do not believe the Christian faith and have not been born again. The first qualification is that the church planter be Christ-changed.

2. Christ-called:

A planter must have a sense of calling in his heart head and hands. C.H. Spurgeon advised his ministry students that if they could pursue any other occupation besides ministry, they should leave the pursuit of ministry and do so. The issue was not how many other options the prospective planter had at his disposal. It was that the ones who were truly called could not follow any other course for their life regardless of how attractive it might objectively appear to others.

Church planting requires faith: hearing God speak and responding with attitudes of dependence upon, and acts of obedience to, Him (Heb. 11:1-39). Planting is like the trapeze, the first bar represents security. But when God sends a second bar, a call to plant, the first must be let go of in order to grasp the second. The call is generally characterized by confirmation in prayer and Bible study, holy discontent, burden for pre-believers, and affirmation by mature godly counsel. Spiritually mature leaders will recognize God at work in the church planter, what Barnabas described as “The evidence of the grace of God” when he visited the church at Antioch (Acts 11:23).

3. Christ-like character:

It is remarkable to read a passage like 1Timothy 3 regarding the qualifications of elders and deacons and discover that the only qualification dealing with ability relates to the requirement that elders be able to teach. Otherwise, all the qualifications deal with character. Integrity is the key! Whatever the leader is, the followers will become. Jesus declared, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). People rarely rise above their leaders.

The tendency is to review a list of character traits (e.g., 1 Tim. 3) and fail to allow the Holy Spirit to work in your heart. One wrong attitude is to review the list and praise your own sense of character—and that is simply spiritual pride. A second error is reading the list sensing the Holy Spirit begin to reveal an area in your life and ministry where you need to grow, and moving on without adequate reflection. A third error is seeing a list of traits as an insurmountable standard that no one can attain.

4. Christ-confident:

Depend on the power of Christ rather than your own ability. Your confidence is either in Christ or yourself. Effective spiritual leaders have discovered the need for dependence on the power of Christ rather than the strength of man’s flesh. Sooner or later, preferably sooner, you will discover and rediscover that apart from Him, you can do nothing that will bring forth spiritual value. Nevertheless, Jesus assures us that if we are connected with Him, that we will bear much fruit (John 15:5). The church planter will be and must be emptied of self-confidence (e.g., Moses in Ex. 2-3; Peter in Matt. 26-33, John 21:1-17) to become Christ-confident.

5. Christ-capable:

Church planters generally have some or most of the following gifts: apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, teaching, and pastoring (Eph. 4:11-12). Apostolic leaders tend to embrace large-scale initiatives. Prophetic leaders tend to be a clarion voice urging people to yield to God. Evangelistic gifting is characterized by a burden to see souls saved. Teaching relates to the ability to help people understand and apply God’s truth. Pastors tend to nurture and protect God’s people. In addition, gifts of faith and leadership are often displayed among effective church planters. Assessments, both formal and informal, that reveal strengths and areas to be developed (either by the church planter or the team) help ensure capability.

6. Christ-committed:

Church planting is exhausting: The work of initiation, soil preparation, planting, cultivation, and harvest are difficult, but you reap what you sow. The best additive for a healthy garden is the gardener’s shadow—time and your presence. Thus, you commit to Christ, commit to the work, commit to the people, and allow the process of church planting to unfold naturally, supernaturally.

Like Paul, we want to be able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me on that Day, and not only me but also to all who loved His appearing” (2 Tim .4:7-8). What did Paul know that would help us to be Christ-committed and finish our race?

First, he understood that it was a fight, albeit a good fight, but nonetheless a fight. Be prepared for a battle; this is not going to be a walk in the park. Second, Paul saw the relation between finishing the race and keeping the faith. If you depart from sound doctrine and thus a healthy relationship with Christ, you are likely to fail to finish your race. Third, Paul understood that although his primary motivation for ministry was love for God, he was confident that there were eternal rewards waiting. Please remember that Christ desires to greet you with the words “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matt. 25).

Here is another insightful experience from the life of Paul. When Paul gathered with the elders from the church at Ephesus, they implored him not to go to Jerusalem as great hardship was awaiting him. Paul knew that he was called to go and also knew that he would suffer. But he replied, “None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Paul decided, before he went to the city where he would serve, that he would not be moved. He asserted none of these things move me.

In context, these things related to arrest and mistreatment. Ask yourself, what might move you from your commitment to your call? Would you depart from the call if people treat you like the servant you are trying to be? Would you be moved if people did not express appreciation for you? Would you be moved to quit if you did not have influence over as many people as you were hoping to influence? Would you be moved to quit if you had to work long hours each week in ministry and a marketplace job for years?

Let us aspire as followers of Jesus—and as church planters (aspiring and existing)—to see these traits demonstrated in and through our lives.

Originally published on March 1, 2016

I’m not a huge pastry fan, but I do enjoy a fresh, hot slice of apple pie with a generous scoop of rich vanilla ice cream.
The rich, creamy ice cream, luxuriously melting over the warm, flaky, buttery crust is pretty much irresistible. Pie a la Mode was invented about 1885.

Fruit pies were common in the Roman Empire as early as the 5th Century B.C., and ice cream was available to the general public by 1660. Yet, the world would wait more than 200 years before ice cream and pie were combined to offer something wonderful—pie a la Mode. The moral of the story is that sometimes “both and” is better than “either or.”

What Is the “both and” of making disciples?

We need to be both filled with the Spirit and intentional in making disciples. Some might assert that not being intentional is organic, thus led by the Spirit. But that’s not necessarily the case. Similarly, one could argue that if a process is intentional (strategic), it’s of man (flesh) and not of the Spirit.

But again, a review of the Scripture reveals that the claimed divide between organic and strategic is a false dichotomy. In fact, a review of Paul’s ministry at Ephesus demonstrates the “both and” principle (Acts 19:1-7; Eph. 5:18).

Have you ever met people who claimed to be followers of Jesus, but there just seemed to be something missing that made you wonder if they were really submitted to Him? When Paul returned to Ephesus, he found some disciples and asked the curious question “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” On no other occasion do we have a record of Paul making this inquiry. What prompted him to ask?

Presumably, there appeared to be something missing in their spiritual lives that prompted the question. Perhaps they didn’t seem to be submitted to Christ as Lord, or empowered by the Spirit for Christian living, or perhaps Paul had some discernment about what was lacking. These disciples at Ephesus confessed their ignorance of the Holy Spirit (verse 2).

Yet, the text indicates they were disciples and implies they were believers. They understood the need for repentance and desired to follow Jesus (verse 4). But they were apparently seeking to become mature followers of Christ by either the power of self-discipline or man’s efforts rather than the power of God’s Spirit.

And Paul recognized the problem. Subsequently, the Holy Spirit came upon them and was manifest (verse 6).

Jesus declared that His followers would receive power to represent Him when the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 1:8). He likened it to being baptized with the Holy Spirit or being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5, 2:4).

We believe that the baptism, or filling of the Spirit, is distinct from salvation, but it may occur at the same time or subsequent to being saved. The work of the Holy Spirit empowers Christian living. Jesus affirmed that the Holy Spirit was available to those who sought this gift from God and were yielded to Him (Luke 11:9-13).

When Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he instructed them as follows: “Be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18).

The Greek reveals that it’s a commandment, and the tense can be translated “Being constantly filled with the Spirit.” The terminology of being filled might cause some to assume that we can leak the Holy Spirit, like a car engine can leak a quart of oil. Or we might think that the issue is how much of the Holy Spirit a believer has. Nevertheless, the issue isn’t how much of the Holy Spirit we have, but how much of us the Holy Spirit has.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit flows from being submitted to Jesus. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to be disciples and to make disciples.

Once the believers at Ephesus were filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul began an intentional process of mentoring them to become mature followers of Christ (Acts 19:8-10). Paul taught the Scriptures daily to make disciples and develop leaders at Ephesus.

The Bible helps us to understand God and know His commandments. Thus, Bible learning is critical to being a disciple. For example, it is through the Scriptures generally, and Ephesians specifically, that we learn how being filled with the Spirit is manifest in praise, gratitude, mutual respect, marriage, family, and the workplace (Eph. 5:17-6:9).

But having knowledge, apart from the power of the Spirit, to apply the lessons is futile. So, making disciples requires us to be both filled with the Spirit and intentional (“both and”).

The filling of the Spirit is so critical to disciple-making that Paul issued a sober warning: “And don’t be drunk with wine in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit …” (Eph. 5:18). Please pardon the pun about “sober” warning, for the issue is not limited to excessive alcohol consumption. Paul’s exhortation is connected to the earlier cautions to live carefully in wisdom, redeem the time, and understand and do the will of God (Eph. 5:15-17).

Excessive alcohol consumption is an obstacle to being controlled by God, and is sin. And Paul notes that being drunk is dissipation. Dissipation relates to squandering energy, time, money, or other resources.

The only way to avoid wasting resources and wasting a life is to be intentional to live as Christ’s disciples, disciples who make disciples. And the only way to be a disciple is to be controlled by God or filled with the Spirit.

Thus, the moral of this story is that sometimes “both and” is better than “either or.”

Lifework

1. How can disciples neglect the need for the filling of the Spirit?
2. Why is it helpful to have an intentional process, along with the filling of the Spirit, to help become a disciple?
3. How do you believe that being filled with the Spirit and intentionally going through the discipleship process would help you in making disciples?

One of the values of our local church is “We create margin for what matters most.” We have observed, discovered, and experienced that life is too complicated. As individuals, as families, as groups, and as a community of faith, we need to create margin for what matters most. How can you cultivate new rhythms that help you to flourish in community and grow healthier—spiritually, emotionally, and even physically?

1. What are the priorities?

First, we need to determine what matters most. Presumably, Jesus would not leave us without direction, guidance, and important clues to figure out what are the priorities. We presume the great commandments to love God supremely and love your neighbor as yourself provide valuable insight.

When Jesus was asked the greatest commandment, He responded by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Jesus’ Jewish audience would associate this verse within the premier prayer of Judaism, the Sh’ma. Israel is exhorted to “Hear” (Sh’ma), that is, to listen, understand, and apply God’s truth and wisdom. Israel is reminded that there is no other God besides YHWH, and they are in a sacred covenant relationship: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” Then, what follows is the instruction that God’s commands are to be observed in the home, taught to your children, and observed when you leave the home. Thus, we could conclude the first priority is God and the second is family. Note, God has to be first because you cannot properly love your family or others without receiving and responding to God’s love.

Imagine the many spheres of life that people are trying to juggle: personal health, recreation, school, career, friends, family, God, etc. As you juggle those spheres, keep in mind that most of them are “rubber” in the sense that if you drop them, the consequences are manageable. On the other hand, the marriage and family spheres are like “glass,” so you don’t want to drop them. Making God the priority will allow you to balance and maintain the other spheres properly without damaging them.

Jesus helped us to discover the third priority when He volunteered the second greatest commandment: “And you will love your neighbor as you love yourself’ (Lev. 19:18). The second great command was like the first in that they cannot be separated. Not only do you need to love God to properly love others, but your love for neighbors is evidence that you truly love God. Therefore, the third priority is to love neighbors. We must remember that Jesus made clear that a neighbor is often someone that you have little in common with including religious beliefs, and affinity (Luke 10:30-37). They are people God has called you to share His love with where you live, work, study, play, and worship. Thus, we could say neighbors include friends and those whom God brings into your sphere of influence. The priorities arewho matters most: God, family, and neighbors.

2. Discover discretionary time and create margin.

Each of us has 168 hours in a week. Very few people are fully free or independent in the sense that they have no time-consuming responsibilities or commitments. The largest commitments of time are often related to parenting, being a student, work, and sleep. Anecdotally, life seems very busy and complicated. There does not seem to be a healthy margin, and where there is margin, we often neglect what matters most.

Take a week or month to consider how you use your time. Consider entering in a calendar your actual use of time to see the patterns and rhythms that emerge. Discover how you use time before work or school, after work or school, and on your days off. What time do you generally wake-up, and what time do you generally go to sleep?

The greater the margin, the greater your freedom to enjoy what matters most to God. Paul exhorted the Corinthians not to worry about being a servant (cf. employee), but if they gained freedom to use it: “Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it” (1 Corinthians 7:21). In an effort to gain freedom, you can discover discretionary time and create margin. I would recommend adjusting the pendulum intentionally, but gradually, to avoid unintended consequences. For example, in most instances the answer is not to quit your job, or stop all recreational activities to create margin. If you are married or have a family, there should be a team approach to decisions. What changes need to be made to free-up time? Begin by identifying changes that create margin of a few hours every day or week.

3. Discern how God would have you redeem the time.

Prayerfully seek to discern how God would have you reallocate time. Consider spiritual disciplines to enhance your relationship with God. These might include, but not be limited to: Bible learning, prayer, contemplation and reflection (e.g., journaling), weekend worship gatherings, service in a local-church or para-church ministry, fasting, or generosity.

Consider relational disciplines to enhance your relationships with spouse, family, friends, and neighbors. These might include, but not be limited to: date nights, family devotional and/or prayer, family meals, weekly time spent with friends and neighbors talking, sharing a meal, or recreation.

Consider personal disciplines to enhance your health. Consider sleep, diet, exercise, content consumption, alcohol, drugs, or recreation.

Cultivate new rhythms resulting in new habits. Our habits, good or bad, can generally be established or broken in about a month. You are engaging in time-leadership more than management. Schedule new practices for what matters most and zealously protect that time from intrusion. Learn to say “No” to non-critical encroachers. Evaluate at the end of a month or two (or three). If you need to adjust the rhythms, try something new.

In addition, create some margin generally to provide flexibility for divine appointments. Create margin to talk, to listen, to pray, to observe, to hug, and to spontaneously play. Learn to recognize God’s leading of how to use that margin on any given occasion. Passionately protect margin, because in the margin is where you discover and enjoy what matters most.

Originally published on June 10, 2016

When a husband or a wife says, “I want us to be intimate,” their expectation may be substantially different, whether it was the man or woman who spoke. I have never met a married person who didn’t want more intimacy in marriage. God designed a husband and wife to become one (Genesis 2:24), but intimacy can seem so elusive. Here are three keys to unlock the intimacy enigma:

1. Emotional Intimacy

The primary tool to develop emotional intimacy is communication. Communication is necessary for understanding. We know that husbands are to dwell with their wives with understanding (1Peter 3:7), but we need to communicate to understand. Consider the spouse who says, “If they really loved me, they would know how I feel without me having to tell them.” They are blaming their spouse for their lack of communication, and they are making their spouse be a mind reader. I need to share my feelings as well as facts, and I need to listen better. “…Be swift to hear and slow to speak” (James 1:19). My wife may simply want to be heard. So I try to ask before offering a solution or suggestion to see what she is looking for from me. Part of communication is asking simple probing questions. For example, “What was the best part of your day? What was the most difficult? How did that make you feel?”

Compassion is necessary for connection. Feeling what your spouse is feeling creates intimacy. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15). Sometimes it is difficult for us to weep with someone who is weeping. We may feel overwhelmed by their emotions or uncomfortable with our inability to bring comfort. We may even resent that someone continues to be sad when we feel they should have gotten over it by now. A person who connects with their spouse during the difficult times and good times demonstrates compassion, empathy and emotional intimacy.

Conflict is an excellent opportunity to develop emotional intimacy. Remember to respect the rules for handling conflict (i.e. “fight right”). “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of our mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). Focus on the issue at hand, and avoid words like “always & never” and bringing up the past. Express feelings rather than fault, “I’m frustrated” not “You’re so frustrating.” Give your spouse time to process, but seek to resolve conflict speedily. “Be angry, and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your wrath” (Ephesians 4:26).

2. Spiritual Intimacy

Couples that regularly go to church together, read their Bibles and pray report 91% satisfaction in marriage and divorce rate of less than 10% (Lifeway Research). Seek Christ together. Remember, spiritual intimacy with our spouse results from time together pursuing God. But unless we want to have a relationship with God as an individual, we cannot truly seek God together. Worship together by regularly attending weekend worship services. Read the Bible together, or create time to share what you’ve read independently. Praying together or alone is a spiritual discipline and can be challenging. Prayer helps to establish hunger for God, humility and honesty. Here are some practical suggestions about your prayer time as a couple: Set aside time for prayer. Agree on a start time and end time. Start off with a brief period. Take turns, and keep the prayers short. Go back and forth after about a minute. Keep the prayers personal. Pray for your marriage, your spouse, your kids and whatever else moves you personally. Also, take time to thank God for your spouse and children.

Emotional intimacy and spiritual intimacy create the foundation for physical intimacy.

3. Physical Intimacy

Sex in the marriage relationship; “Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control” (1Corinthians 7:3-5).

Physical intimacy helps to satisfy desires and helps to discourage adultery. Sexual intimacy is a right as well as a responsibility in a marriage. In considering sexual relations, we need to keep in mind the big picture of seeking to develop intimacy. In an ideal world, both partners would have the same level of sexual desire, would find each other totally satisfying in every way and would be comfortable with their partner’s sexual fantasies. The reality is that, often times, the expectations of the partners differ. Sexual intimacy is not imposing your will upon your partner at the expense of their feelings. In light of these differences, what should a couple do?

Elevate: Place your spouse’s needs before your own. Sexual intimacy flows from God’s love. God’s love is pure and never exploits. Avoid exploiting your spouse. In seeking to experience physical intimacy, place your spouse’s needs before your own.

Navigate: Sexual intimacy can be a complicated process. Be patient in the process of navigating overlapping emotional issues. Allow God the time to get you to the desired destination as He works in both you and your spouse.

Communicate: Communicate your desires to one another. Seek to learn from your spouse some of the emotional issues connected with their sexual desires. Avoid passing judgment. Sometimes certain desires in sexual relations flow from emotional issues outside of the marriage context. Perhaps one of you was sexually molested as a young person. This will certainly impact your feelings about sexual relations in the context of marriage. Other issues may arise from a desire for control. Still, other issues can arise from a sense of rejection and a desire to be wanted. And other issues relate to hormonal or other physical aspects. By communicating about these issues, we can better learn how to minister to needs in regard to physical, emotional and spiritual intimacy.

Consummate: Passion, romance and desire are an ideal for marriage. The verb tense of “consummate” is defined as making a marriage complete by having sexual intercourse. God doesn’t view sexual desire between a husband and a wife as dirty or profane. Song of Solomon is full of passion. When God saw Adam and Eve naked in the Garden of Eden there was purity of sexual intimacy. They were not ashamed, and God did not tell them to put clothes on. Everything was very good (Genesis 1:31). Enjoy sexual intimacy as part of intimacy with your spouse. God intends marriage to be an intimate relationship. Intimacy between a husband and wife contemplates an emotional, a spiritual and a physical bond that typifies God’s desire that the two shall become one flesh.

What are some other keys that you have discovered to unlock intimacy in marriage?

If you are interested in seeing God’s kingdom expand and local communities transformed, then this article is for you. Whether you are a church leader, an aspiring leader, or simply a catalyst for positive change, please read on. The hope of the world is the gospel, and the world needs more gospel-centered churches!

Church planting, like many activities of the local church, became somewhat dormant in the midst of the pandemic. As local churches attempt to navigate a post-pandemic ecosystem, many feel there is a shortage of qualified leaders. Thus, there is a reluctance to send out top-tier talent to plant another church. So, I would like to consider four tools to cultivate church plants in a post-pandemic ecosystem, tools that are adaptable in almost any size church anywhere in the world.

Before discussing the tools, it is helpful to understand the following: planting churches benefits the kingdom and the local sending church. It creates excitement and attraction. Gifted leaders and future leaders are drawn to churches that plant churches. Training future church planters is arguably the most holistic leadership training. Most ministry training is silo-specific (e.g., youth or children’s ministry), but conversely, training church planters encourages a 360-degree understanding of the local church. So, while some trained leaders will actually go and plant churches, others will remain and greatly help the local church where they are trained.

So, here are 4 tools to cultivate better disciples, better leaders, and church plants in any season and any ecosystem:

1. School of Discipleship (aka School of Ministry):

A School of Discipleship (SoD) is a means to provide a more formalized method of making disciples, developing leaders, and leveraging a leader’s time. At Calvary Nexus, we use a curriculum that covers devotions, worship, servant leadership, use of time, Bible teaching, ministry and people, missions, equipping, evangelism, church history, planning, vision, and Calvary Chapel philosophy of ministry and systematic theology. A link to our curriculum is available here:

http://calvarynexus.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/School-of-Discipleship.pdf.

We offer a class one evening a week, for one hour and fifteen minutes. Each participant is expected to complete one hour a week of “lifework” (really just homework, but it sounds more spiritual). Each participant volunteers an average of one hour a week (four hours a month) in an area of ministry at the local church or a para-church organization. The curriculum takes about fourteen months to complete.

Each module is independent, which allows you to enroll new participants every six months. Participants who excel are recruited (after they graduate) to grade papers and mentor new students. This SoD model creates tremendous leverage, because the primary leader spends less than ninety minutes in class and can train a relatively large group. Each mentor disciples up to ten students and provides feedback on papers and helps participants grow as they learn to follow Christ and serve Him.

The SoD approach develops a broad foundation of growing disciples and leaders. Like a pyramid, this foundation will support narrowing tiers of future leaders and prospective church planters.

2. Teacher Training Class:

The Calvary Chapel movement has a rich history of expositional Bible teaching. We recognize that making disciples, developing leaders, and preparing church planters is more than training to teach the Bible. Yet, a class that teaches participants how to more effectively proclaim biblical truth is an important tool.

Expositor’s Collective (https://www.expositorscollective.com/) has an abundance of wonderful resources. Their training events are effective at helping Bible learners communicate gospel-centered truth so that people can understand and apply the Bible to their lives and glorify Christ.

At Calvary Nexus, we offer a class usually every other year. The class will generally have eight to twelve students. Most of the participants have roles teaching in youth ministries, kids’ ministry, small groups, or another ministry context, but some aspire to teach and want to be trained beforehand. We spend about four to eight sessions explaining principles of biblical hermeneutics (interpretation) and homiletics (communication). The students learn elements of Bible teaching and become aware of some traits that can make teaching more or less effective.

Then the participants begin to present thirty- to thirty-five-minute messages and receive feedback from their peers regarding what they did well, and then, what they (and the class) can work on to be more effective. A seasoned pastor-teacher or two will provide a more nuanced or sophisticated level of critique. We seek to provide critique that is sensitive to the experience level of each individual participant. The Teacher Training Class is explained at length as a step-by-step process in the Appendix of the Calvary Church Planting Manual:

http://calvarynexus.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Calvary-Planting-Manual.pdf.­­­­

3. Internship:

Internship provides an opportunity to grow as a disciple and leader in the context of a healthy local church. Internship provides participants who are interested in ministry an opportunity to glean practical experience in a local church that can help prepare them for a future of full- or part-time vocational ministry. Internships are often useful to college students and recent graduates as many internship programs provide college credit rather than an hourly pay rate. Yet, older interns can also benefit from the experience. Internships may also offer individuals insight into a particular church’s culture and daily operations.

At Calvary Nexus, we offer six-month and one-year internships. The primary ministry areas are kids, youth, young adults, tech, worship, and administration. Yet, any area can be ripe for an internship. At the beginning of the internship, we generally define three to four ministry objectives that seek to align the gifts and passions of the intern with the needs of the ministry. Then we identify three to four spiritual growth goals that are related to the ministry objectives. For example, a Children’s Ministry intern may have objectives to see a new classroom started, recruit volunteers, or discover new ways to express appreciation to volunteers. The spiritual growth goals could relate to attending a Children’s Ministry conference, listening to podcasts related to children’s ministry, researching appreciation, and identifying ways parents can better disciple their children.

The great majority of staff positions at Calvary Nexus have been filled by people who attended our School of Discipleship and participated in an internship. They proved themselves as having Christlike character—and being capable, faithful, and interested in vocational ministry. The internship is also explained at length in the Appendix of the Calvary Church Planting Manual.

4. Church Planter Training:

Cultivate by CGN has created a somewhat distinct approach to cultivate church plants:
https://cultivatechurchplanting.com/. The primary garden to train church planters is a local healthy gospel-centered church. A healthy gospel-centered church of almost any size anywhere in the world is an ideal environment to be trained. A disciple who has demonstrated proven Christlike character, gifting as a Bible teacher, and leadership qualities can discover a 360-degree understanding of the local church by being trained in the local church.

Cultivate is not a para-church planting organization meant to take the place of the local church. Instead, we are part of an expanding global family of churches that provides resources and coaches to help local church leaders serve as mentors to aspiring church planters.

Cultivate offers training videos that provide a comprehensive understanding of the vision, values, philosophy, and theology of the CGN family of churches. Cultivate provides effective assessment tools that help an aspiring church planter discover ministry gifting as well as theological understanding, strengths, and areas where development can be targeted. This also helps a planter recognize the value and benefits of building a team of people with a common mission and complementary gifting. Online classes provided through Western Seminary enhance theological training. The Calvary Church Planting Manual serves as a comprehensive resource for a pastor-mentor to train a prospective planter in the local church.

At Calvary Nexus, we offer a class where we primarily invite disciples to participate who are interested in church planting. They are often people who have proven themselves in the School of Discipleship, teacher training class, and internships, but invitations need not be limited to only those with these experiences. We include men and women because there are several roles on a church’s team, and we have found that spouses of church planters are better prepared for challenges as a result.

We use the manual as a resource/curriculum for the class and simply walk through the step-by step training described in the manual. Those who continue to feel called, and are recognized as being qualified by God to plant, will then be sent through Cultivate’s assessment process to refine, equip, and further mentor, coach, and prepare them to church plant and transform a community for Christ.

The class does not create any undue burden for the teacher-mentor (I spend less than two hours a week), and it ensures growing disciples and leaders for the kingdom and the local church.

We, along with several other churches, have discovered that these are effective tools to cultivate church plants in any ecosystem. So, whether you are presently a church leader, an aspiring leader, or a catalyst for positive change, contemplate how you can use these tools—or share these tools with others. The hope of the world is the gospel and the world needs more gospel-centered churches!

Treat those on Christ’s side as friends not foes,
For he who is not against us is on our side. Mark 9:40

We Have Our Own Recipe for Shepherd’s Pie…

We have a wonderful Irish restaurant in our town (when writing to a Christian audience, it seems prudent to call the place a restaurant rather than a tavern or pub). They serve tasty traditional faire and one of my favorites is the shepherd’s pie. The dish is lined with mashed potatoes; filled with savory gravy, vegetables, and ground beef; and topped off with even more mashed potatoes. Now although it is truly delicious, I would generally refer to the above-described delicacy as “cottage pie” rather than a “shepherd’s pie” because its principle ingredient is beef. It seems axiomatic that a shepherd’s pie should have lamb as the primary ingredient. Nonetheless, today the term “shepherd’s pie” can acceptably refer to a dish prepared with either beef or lamb. In other words, beef or lamb are both considered orthodox.

If I wanted to learn to prepare a shepherd’s pie, I would want to use lamb. It just seems right to my sense of values. I am sure the cooks at my local Irish restaurant could teach me quite a bit about their savory gravy, mashed potato, and vegetable ensemble. I just do not want them to substitute beef for lamb. For me, lamb is an essential. It just seems like lamb is how we would do shepherd’s pie in “my” tribe.

Unique, Special, and Part of the Whole

Every tribe has their own sense of identity and values they treasure and that make them special and arguably unique. In Christ’s Church, there are numerous “tribes,” whether they are a denomination, network, association, non-denominational or independent. Assuming they meet the essentials of orthodoxy, then they are part of His Church and presumably interdependent of one another. This appears to be a self-evident Kingdom principle as articulated by Jesus in His commencement address to the disciples in the Upper Room (John 17).

The twelve tribes of Israel were interdependent. The two reasons they came together were worship and warfare. They had a common God whom they were to worship together, and they were to oppose common enemies of their God, enemies who threatened the welfare of the Kingdom as a whole. They were, ideally, not to be engaged in a civil war unless one of the tribes truly posed a threat to the Kingdom. They were all part of a whole Theocracy or Kingdom. Yet they were also independent with a unique sense of identity. Each tribe presumably thought they were special.

The tribe of Benjamin was the smallest tribe, yet they could boast of their famed left-handed slingers, bravery, and fierceness in battle and how they had withstood attacks of the other tribes. Saul, Israel’s first king, as well as Esther and Mordecai, were part of this tribe. The people of Benjamin later opposed idolatry as part of the kingdom of Judah. The great Apostle Paul pointed to his heritage as part of the tribe of Benjamin when asserting a lofty spiritual pedigree. Paul also realized God’s Kingdom would include other tribes—the Gentiles—whom he would not only teach, but receive from. The tribe of Benjamin was part of a greater whole.

Focusing on Christ’s Kingdom

Because of our tendency to focus on our tribe rather than Christ’s Kingdom, we sometimes view other tribes with suspicion, as competitors, or even as foes. Kingdom leaders treat those on Christ’s side as friends not foes. This principle was revealed to the disciples as recorded in Mark 9:38-42. The Apostle John reported to Jesus how the disciples had observed someone from outside their group casting out demons in Christ’s authority. As if to assure Jesus, John told Him how the disciples had stopped this outsider from engaging in unauthorized Kingdom work.

Perhaps Jesus’ disciples were upset another follower of Christ, from outside their group, was successful in casting out demons when they had just failed (Mark 9:18). To their surprise, Jesus was not pleased with the report. Instead He told them, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side.”

Kingdom leaders have a sense of unity with other tribes that are a legitimate part of Christ’s Kingdom without being cliquish, elitist, or competitive. Christ’s Kingdom likely includes far more “tribes” than most church leaders are comfortable embracing. Yet they are friends not foes.

Consider the parable of the shepherd’s pie. You can almost imagine those of the lamb shepherd’s pie tribe wailing in dismay that another tribe has prepared a pie with beef and still called it a shepherd’s pie! Those of the lamb shepherd’s pie tribe would likely declare their heritage of faithfulness to the original recipe and traditions with a certain sense of superiority over the upstart beef and, worse yet, ground beef clan. There would be a subtle competition between the proponents of the various recipes, all claiming to preserve the true recipe or to reach a whole new contingent of consumers of shepherd’s pie.

It is not too difficult to imagine the lamb pie clan discouraging their disciples from attending cooking conferences hosted by the beef clan or vice versa. There may be some reluctance to invite a noted chef from the other clan to speak at their conference on meat pies, because even though he was asked to speak about how to prepare vegetables, he might propagate his meat preference and contaminate our young chefs who know not the dangers of succumbing to this charismatic chef’s meat agenda. You get the point …

In light of the call to Kingdom unity and the reasonable desire to maintain the unique characteristics of the relevant tribes in the Kingdom, how do we develop a Kingdom-leader attitude towards other tribes?

In an effort to live this principle, I am suggesting the following four-fold process: culturalization, collaboration, communication and cooperation.

The Four-fold Process: Culturalization

One of the obstacles to Kingdom unity is the fear that members of your tribe, especially the chronologically younger or spiritually less mature, shall be negatively influenced by the values of other tribes that are in conflict with your own. One way to avoid the perceived contamination is ensuring your tribe’s younger members know the values of your tribe (theology and philosophy of ministry). When your tribe’s members understand their values and embrace them as their own, they have developed in their culture. Once developed, they are less likely to be negatively influenced by exposure to other tribes.

The Four-fold Process: Collaboration

As noted, the twelve tribes of Israel came together for worship and warfare. This may provide a model for collaboration. One aspect of warfare can be seen in prayer. In our community, fifteen to twenty evangelical church leaders gather regularly for prayer. As we pray together for the spiritual health and welfare of our community and the advancement of God’s Kingdom, we are in effect engaged in warfare together. Similarly, a National Day of Prayer event hosted by multiple evangelical churches displays the united Church engaged in our common spiritual battle. Another example of warfare collaboration relates to community service projects. Joint projects involving multiple evangelical churches can leverage significant Kingdom resources to minister to needs, present the gospel, and advance the Kingdom.

The worship element is displayed when evangelical churches come together for times of worship and praise. An assembly of local churches hosted a common Sunday morning service at an outdoor venue to display the united Church. These Kingdom leaders cancelled their typical weekend services to gather together as the Body of Christ. We have also had gatherings where each church provides a team to help lead praise and worship among the assembled from multiple churches.

As an aside, I am not suggesting collaboration by various tribes for the purpose of church planting. My personal belief is that combining tribes in that way tends to dilute the systematic theological views and philosophy of ministry values, diminishing their effectiveness in reaching the lost, making disciples, and developing leaders.

The Four-fold Process: Communication

What can you learn from Kingdom leaders from other tribes? What lessons can you impart to leaders from other tribes to help them advance God’s Kingdom? Church leaders, especially those with a very strong affinity for their tribe, tend to be reluctant to receive from or share with leaders from other tribes.

I occasionally meet with pastors from other tribes because I respect them as godly men and Kingdom leaders. I appreciate that I can learn from them as well as learning from other leaders from my own tribe. Perhaps attending a conference hosted by another tribe or hearing a speaker from another tribe will stimulate development.

Consider an opportunity to invite someone who is part of another tribe to partake in a gathering of your tribe. I have discovered that simply attending a service at a church outside of my tribe can expose me to new ideas and perspectives, helping me to grow and be more effective as a Kingdom leader. Again, this presumes maintaining the essential values of my tribe.

The Four-fold Process: Cooperation

Resources are limited, and it is not unreasonable to generally prioritize investing in Kingdom efforts aligned with your tribe. Presumably, you value your tribe and its unique place in the Kingdom. However, do you view other tribes with suspicion? Do you perceive them as competitors? In essence, do you see them as friends or foes? How do you feel when you learn a different tribe is planting a church in your community?

I must confess, my first reaction when receiving requests for resources from other tribes has often been to disregard it. (As long as I am confessing, I will admit I am sometimes offended they are asking for my support instead of limiting the request to their own tribe.) I am convicted that in order to move towards a Kingdom attitude, I need to prayerfully consider how I can cooperate in their Kingdom initiative. Perhaps some measure of support is called for such as prayer, finances, providing excess equipment, or even counsel. This type of support encourages the Kingdom value of unity.

Anyone who seeks to represent and serve Christ in the midst of a fallen world shall discover that it’s difficult, to say the least. There are countless circumstances that tend to cause God’s people to lose heart and to experience the following: frustration, anger, discouragement, disappointment, distress, and depression. (I’ve felt them all.) In the midst of these universal feelings, a gospel-centered life and ministry provide the means to triumph in trials. Let’s discover the keys to triumph as we explore 2 Cor. 2:14-4:17.

1. Remain Grateful (2:14-16)

In the midst of the struggle, Paul urges us to remain grateful and embrace an attitude of gratitude. Paul concluded his first letter to the Corinthians with the same admonition: “Thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57). The fragrance of Christ is upon His people. And that fragrance is a pleasing aroma to God’s people but an offensive odor to the world. The same fragrance is perceived differently, like the fragrance of incense in a Roman victory parade. To the Romans, it’s a pleasing aroma; to the defeated, the odor of suffering. So too, the conflict in the present Church age between God’s people and the world is real and tends to discourage and distract from the wonderful reality that we are triumphant in Christ and diffuse His fragrance. So, although we should remain grateful, it can be very challenging. This is why Paul asks the poignant question: “Who is sufficient for these things?”

2. Be Christ-Sufficient (3:4-9)

Paul reveals the key is being Christ-sufficient rather than self-sufficient. He answers the question Who is sufficient? The one who has a new covenant or gospel-centered ministry/life. Here, Paul contrasts the new (kainos) as different in nature and quality from the former, not merely successive in time.

The former covenant refers to the Mosaic law. It’s a standard that displays God’s moral ideals, establishes a code as an ideal for a community of God’s people to thrive, and reveals our inability to meet the standard(s), thus revealing our due judgment and need for a Savior. The former focuses on man’s works or performance. A performance-based perspective on life is almost certain to produce either a sense of pride or utter defeat and discouragement.

In contrast, the new covenant or Gospel focuses on Christ’s work! God’s grace through faith in Christ. Where the law says “do,” the Spirit declares “done.” Where the law and performance-based life produce separation from God and the sense of death, the gospel and Spirit give life! Where the law produces condemnation, the gospel is exceedingly better because it produces righteousness. You’re accepted in Christ!

In every realm, i.e., personal, marriage, family, career, calling, and community, we thrive when relationships are based on the gospel (what Christ has done) rather than performance (what we or others must do).

3. Have a Gospel-Centered Life That Triumphs (4:1-11)

Don’t lose heart (4:1): Since we’ve been called to a gospel-centered life and ministry, and are recipients of God’s mercy, we don’t lose heart. Discouragement is one of Satan’s primary tools to render us inoperative for Christ. In the midst of struggles with the world, the flesh, and among the family of God, DON’T LOSE HEART! Don’t give up, don’t give in, don’t be discouraged! You’re Christ’s, He is good, and He has it all under control. You’re His child, and He will ensure that, in the end, you triumph. So, continue to represent!

Don’t compromise the word of God (4:2): Resist the temptation for an easier way. Following God’s commands, and avoiding liberalism and legalism, is only possible as we are yielded to the Spirit of God and the word of God. Avoid manipulating or deceiving yourself or anyone else.

Honor God and His word, seek to do what’s right, and trust God with the results. Proclaim the gospel without compromise, both to others and to yourself!

Do let the light of the Gospel out (4:3-11): Paul moves from the metaphor of aroma to light (five times in these verses). We’re simply earthen vessels, or clay pots. It’s what’s inside that’s most precious. The light of the gospel of Jesus is what God has called us to reflect, or represent, to the world. We are to pour this light out as we proclaim the gospel to those we come in contact with, whether it be where we live, work, study, play, or worship. We’re to pour out this light by centering our relationships on grace, love, humility, and respect, rather than performance. Your identity is not your ability to perform, and your relationships aren’t centered on performance.

The light comes out when the earthen vessels are bumped (vv. 8-9). Difficult circumstances, difficult people, unmet expectations, rejection, conflict, apathy, opposition, and persecution are all opportunities that God allows in order to manifest the life of Jesus to us and others (v. 11).

4. Know the Triumph of a Gospel-Centered Life and Ministry (4:15-17)

As God’s grace and His gospel impact more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That’s why we won’t lose heart … and why we won’t give up. The present struggles, as heavy as they may feel or seem, can’t be compared to the eternal weight of glory. And if they could be compared, it would make the present struggles seem featherweight. So, we keep seeking to experience the triumph of a gospel-centered life and ministry.

I’m fascinated by tools. The right tool, used the right way, produces beauty in our world.

Unfortunately, I’m not a handy person, but I have the utmost respect and appreciation for those who are. Although I know that I can drive a screw into drywall using a hammer, I also understand intuitively that a hammer is likely the wrong tool for the job. There’s no universal perfect tool for all possible jobs, but discovering the appropriate tool for a variety of functions—and learning how to use that tool well—is one way to produce beauty in our world.

In the realm of developing disciples and leaders, I have sought to identify a simple tool that, when used appropriately, will help produce beauty in the form of transformed followers of Jesus, ones empowered to make disciples of others. In other words, a tool to make mature disciples and kingdom leaders. So, with the understanding that there are no perfect tools, and the further understanding that effective tools are valuable, I’ll offer a Disciple Development Plan (DDP) that we use at Calvary Nexus to develop disciples, and can likely be used in your context, wherever you might be.

There are six key elements to the plan that I’ll describe below. Our team reviews and updates our individual DDPs quarterly. Your rhythm might be different, but this plan has been very effective for us.

1. What are you reading or listening to that is helping you grow in Christ?

Here, we note Bible reading, podcasts, videos, books, articles, and any other content that we are consuming for the purpose of growing in Christ. The process of actually listing what you are consuming should ideally help a follower of Christ consider whether their diet of content is healthy. Is there adequate nutrition? And, is the content potentially focused too narrowly?

For example, if someone is volunteering in a Children’s Ministry (CM) context and the content they are consuming is limited to CM curriculum, they are likely to consider expanding their content to create a balance. Similarly, if someone was consuming several varied forms of content in a prior season, but now they are consuming very little content, it can be helpful to see the shift in a tangible way.

2. Who is mentoring you, and what are some of the matters that you are working on?

In my experience, most followers of Christ (disciples) move from generalists to specialists. As you begin your Christian experience, there are usually about 1-3 people who take you under their wing, or mentor you. You are generally trying to discover basic Christianity, i.e., what it means to be a disciple.

As you mature, there may be more specialized areas of focus. For example, as you enter into an area of service in a local church or para-church ministry, you likely will be mentored by someone with some expertise in that area (e.g., Children’s Ministry, Youth Ministry, Usher Ministry, etc.). You move from generalized mentoring to targeted, specialized mentoring. During this season, you’re likely to continue receiving general and specialized (focused) mentoring.

As you develop, you might discover an area where you want to grow, and someone to help you in that area. For example, you become part of a small group and discover people who have a prayer life that you find attractive. You engage one and ask, “I really appreciate your prayers in our group. Would you be willing to meet with me and help me to grow in my prayer life?” Thus, a new mentor relationship is created.

By actually contemplating who is mentoring you and what you are focused on, you can make these discoveries.

3. Who are you mentoring and what are some of the matters that you are working on with them?

Similarly, we develop as we develop others. Ask, who are you mentoring? What are some of the areas that you are focusing on with them? Also, are the people that you are mentoring being encouraged to pass along what they receive from you, and are they doing so (2Tim. 2:2)? In essence, unless you are helping others develop, and encouraging them to do likewise, growth is hindered.

4. What do you believe are your best gifts? How are you using those gifts?

Over the course of time, through trial and error, you tend to identify where God has gifted you. Keep in mind that as you begin to discover gifting, there’s generally extra-effort. Just like learning to ride a bike, there’s a learning curve to developing God-given gifts.

Ask, where do you get “A” results without extra effort? For example, I like to play the drums, but learning new rhythms with more complex time signatures is challenging for me. I get “C+” results even with much effort. So, drumming is not my best gifting. On the other hand, as a teacher, I tend to get high marks without added energy.

I find it very helpful to ask people who know me, and whom I respect, “What do you believe are my best gifts?” Others have insights that I may be blind to. Once you identify your best gifts, contemplate how you are using them to advance God’s kingdom. Any gifting can be used for God’s kingdom to make disciples; it simply takes some contemplation and inspiration.

5. What are you seeking to delegate to others?

In the early church, the apostles realized that they were called to focus on prayer and Bible teaching, rather than overseeing a food distribution (benevolence) program (Ac. 6). So, the oversight of the benevolence program was delegated to people of good reputation and wisdom, and those whose lives were characterized by being led and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Delegation relates to equipping and empowering others to do what you’ve been doing.

If you consider a Venn diagram with intersecting circles, the place where all three circles meet is the proverbial bullseye. So, where you are gifted, what you are passionate about, and where there is a need, are often great targets to aim at. Ideally, everything else can be delegated over time.

By developing others to do what you are doing, you and those to whom you delegate are growing as disciples. As a rule-of-thumb, if someone can do what you’re doing about half as well as you, they are ready to be developed, and the task is ripe for delegation.

At Calvary Nexus, there are ministry responsibilities that I like to do and am gifted to do, such as administration and biblical counseling. Nevertheless, there are others here who can do those tasks well. So, by delegating, they grow, and I grow too.

6. Reflection + development steps:

Review your answers to the first five questions (keys). As you reflect, you are likely to discover areas where there is clear development and targeted areas for growth. List a few action items that you want to take during the next quarter (3 months). The action items should be focused on growing as a disciple and helping others to grow.

Like any tool, it’s easier to use with practice. Also, helping others know how to use the tool will help you, and them. In the realm of developing disciples and leaders, I have sought to identify a simple tool that when used appropriately helps to produce beauty in the form of transformed followers of Jesus, those empowered to make disciples of others.

Rob Salvato and Ted Leavenworth are joined by Nick Cady (Whitefields Community Church) and Bruce Zachary (Calvary Nexus) to discuss the new equipping resource from Calvary Global Network called Cultivate. Cultivate will help with the assessment, training, and cultivating of prospective church planters.

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Whitefields Community Church — https://whitefieldschurch.com

Calvary Nexus — https://calvarynexus.org

To my sons whom I love more than words can say:

“If there was only one principle that I could impart to you, what would be the most impactful for this life and the life to come? By the grace of God, the priority of this value is so clearly evident in the Scriptures that I feel confident in discussing this principle first: Love God more than anyone or anything. Nevertheless, despite it being obvious, we can be easily distracted and thus neglect this vital truth. Let’s consider the value, then I can confess where I have struggled to live it and share my journey of rediscovery.

Jesus revealed that the Greatest Commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength (Matthew 22:37-39; Deuteronomy 6:4-5). We are to love God with our thoughts, emotions, body and soul. In essence, God is to be the supreme love of our lives. Similarly, when God made a covenant with the Jews, He set apart the Ten Commandments uniquely when he wrote them on tablets in His own hand. The first four of the ten all relate to the value of loving supremely: You shall have no other God, you must not make any idol since it will diminish the glory of God, you shall revere His name, and honor the Sabbath to contemplate and worship Him (Exodus 20:1-8). So, we discover that the value of loving God more than anyone or anything else is crystal clear, but the application to our lives can be clouded and elusive. So, here’s my confession…

I was contemplating Jesus’ letter to the church at Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7). He commends them for their sacrificial service, perseverance and endurance with difficult people and circumstances. He also affirms their sound doctrine, and that the leaders served the people rather than seeking to be served. But Jesus also gave a word of correction, “Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4).

I began to wonder: How did that church receive Jesus’ correction? He truly knows the condition of our lives, and His assessment is always perfect. However, we may be unwilling to receive His correction. Did they seek to justify, defend, deflect or deny? As a quick aside, whenever there is repeated justification, defense, deflection or denial, there is likely to be spiritual and emotional unhealthiness. On the other hand, humility, receptivity and openness to correction often reflect spiritual and emotional health. As I was contemplating Jesus’ correction of the church at Ephesus, that is when the conviction came.

Several years ago, our neighbor Phyllis made the comment, “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were having an affair.” She had been observing me leave early in the morning, and frequently go out at night. And although she knew that I was going to the church, she made the tongue-in-cheek comment. What she didn’t realize was that she was right…

No I wasn’t having an affair with another woman (I’m madly in love with your mom), but in a sense, the church had become a mistress. I have to confess, there were times in the last 25+ years that I’ve allowed the ministry to become the master passion of my affections. I was seemingly more in love with the ministry than the One I was doing ministry for. It was subtle, because I love the Lord and was truly seeking to do good works for Christ and His kingdom. But there was no denying that something had taken his rightful place.

As long as I’m confessing, I should ask for forgiveness from you (I’ve already asked for forgiveness from God (1 John 1:9). To the extent that I neglected you or your mom in any way, I’m so very sorry. What I’ve come to realize is that when Christ is the master passion of my life, then I’m a better husband, father, friend/neighbor and servant. The only way that I can do those relationships well is doing my relationship with Jesus right.

For you, it may not be ministry, but there are countless other ways that someone or something can become a master passion. It could be your spouse, your kids, your friends, your career, your recreation, possessions or position. And as long as you’re not in full-blown-backslide-rebellion mode, you may not even notice that you’ve left Jesus as your first love. But you’ll suffer, and others that you love and care for will suffer; and the sooner you realize the unhealthy pitfall that you’re in the better.

You know that He deserves to be the One you love more than anything or anyone else.Jesus gave His life to give you eternal life and an abundant life in Him. You will be separated from everything and everyone else that you treasure on this earth, except for Jesus. And I’m confident that you know this and will remember this. And if sometime you discover that someone or something has become the primary focus of your affections, Jesus provides the answer. Jesus encouraged the church at Ephesus, and you and me, when He declared, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works …” (Revelation 2:5). First, remember a time when Jesus was your first love. Second, repent or change your thinking about Jesus and return to Him. Third, do or redo the first works. What were you doing when Jesus was your first love? Return to those disciplines such as, but not limited to, Bible learning, prayer, contemplation, serving God by serving others, worship, charitable giving and sharing your faith.

I have many values that I want to share with you, but this is the first principle to live by.

Love always,
Dad”