It's funny how many ways there are to skin a cat, or in my case, to do ministry. Take "Kingdom Growth" A church can build bigger facilities and maintain a fairly traditional format (i.e. Sunday School, Worship at 11am Sunday). A church can expand but change things up like implementing small groups that meet in homes. A church can multiply itself, taking the growth and letting it spill over into new church plants. Etc. Even within these models, there are various styles of evangelism, preaching, missions, worship, fellowship, discipleship, etc. What if your church gives an invitation and mine doesn't? What if you're a Calvinist but I'm Arminian? Ooooh, here's a good one: What if you're Methodist, he's Presbyterian, I'm Nondenominational, and little Timmy is Baptist?

Throughout life I've always had a tendency to categorize things into "this is right and this is wrong." Don't get me wrong, I believe in absolute moral truths, but I think this is one area where I can say (and yes I think the southerner in my is starting to show), "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Yes, we can always be evaluating what we're doing to make sure we are doing God's will effectively, but small groups may work in one setting and not in another. A rock band on stage may be a really great idea at one church, but a really, really bad idea for another church. As long as we make disciples, I am content.

Your thoughts? How far can this be taken? How far is to far? If I could tell stories and give wonderful examples like Ed Stetzer would maybe this would be more profound or at least interesting. :)

In Trouble?

Budget cuts. That’s what I think about nowadays when I think of the mission entities in the SBC. The economic situation in our country has left nothing untouched. As I was listening to the report of a mission trip to Uganda by one family in the church we visited today, they reported a decrease in health care benefits for our missionaries and their families. Our missionaries are receiving less money to hire local help and less for ministry opportunities in their assigned areas. These concerns strike me even more so when I remember the optimism of the IMB a few years back. Their desire was to reach every people group on Earth.

The sermon that followed immediately though was on a passage of Scripture that speaks of God’s blessings on those who are faithful to Him. I personally have not been able to give as much beyond our regular tithe as I’d like to. While we as Christians must continually make sacrifices and give to support these causes, what God’s Spirit through this sermon showed me today was that we must continue to trust that He will continue to bless our efforts. Prayer is much more powerful and effective than any financial gifts we can give. God is still in control, and He provides so that His people can do His work. Prayer can accomplish much and, unlike money, our access to the throne of God is unlimited. Please continue to pray for the missionary efforts of the IMB, NAMB, and other missionaries around the world.