Month: September 2007

Persecution is good for the church. Jesus said to the church in Smyrna, “These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!” (Revelation 2:8-9). The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Persecution causes the church to grow stronger. Look at China. When Mao came to power in 1949 there were a few million believers in China. Now there are probably 100 million. I’ve personally witnessed on various occassions how that Christ grows His church during hard times and under difficult conditions.

I noticed similar pressures in Venezuela. The Chavez government is trying to control the churches and politicize them as part of the government’s progoganda machine. Those who oppose the government’s policies are carefully watched and subtle forms of persecution already exist (e.g., lack of job promotions, etc.).

A few days ago I talked to a pastor’s kid from Venezuela who told me that he felt like God was purging and pruning  Venezuela, so that the people would wake up from their slumber. I bore witness to what he was saying. God loves us so much, in fact, that He’ll do whatever it takes to make us more like Him.

I was very grieved by the political pressures and problems in Venezuela and felt so sad for the people who find themselves trapped in a very difficult situation. Yet the third day in Venezuela while having my devotions, God showed me His sovereignty through the book of Daniel and the book of Revelations. He’s in control of nations, governments, and all people. He sets up one and disposes another. We can trust in our powerful, loving God. And so can the people in Veneuzuela. The gates of hell won’t prevail against Christ’s church, and I could testify that Christ’s church is alive and well in Venezuela.

Let’s remember that God is His soverignty uses hard times to mold and shape us.

Comments?
Joel

By Steve Cordle

It was a tearful scene. The Apostle Paul was saying good-bye to the leaders of the church in Ephesus, and everyone was quite emotional. (Acts 20)

Like a parent dropping off a child at college for the first time, Paul was excited and confident in the church’s future, but…. he also couldn’t help but wonder if they’d survive the new challenges they’d face without him around. “I know that fater I leave savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.” (v. 29)

As group leaders, when we finally leaves a group to our apprentice, we might wonder how they will fare. When a coach lets the new leader go on his own for a while, he may be concerned about what will happen.

It is true they will face problems, even savage wolves. But God’s power is greater, which is why Paul wrote about the armor of God. (Eph. 6) If you lead leaders, it is very helpful to pray for the armor of God to be upon them. And we can encourage them to be on guard for the inevitable attacks from the evil one, who doesn’t like what they are doing.

We need not fear, but anyone in a battle should take realisitic precautions! it is a joy to know the Lord has already provided us what we need: his armor.

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Last Sunday I returned from a week-long cell ministry trip in Caracas, Venezuela (my first trip to Venezuela). The people are super friendly–like most Latin Americans. When I do cell seminars around the world, I use a personal rating system of 1-3 (3 being the highest), depending on how the people responded and what I felt about the entire trip. This trip received a “3.” It was excellent. The Las Acacias church took great care of me. Someone was assigned to me during and after each speaking session. I wasn’t left to fend for myself. I actually felt renewed throughout the entire time.

Yet, the highlight was the hunger and responses among the participants. They were captivated by the cell church message–especially the message that cell church is based on following principles rather than models. The G12 movement is strong in Venezuela, and many churches have been divided over it and hurt as a result. The pastores and leades who attended the seminar were encouraged to follow timeless cell church principles that they could apply in their own culture and context. One hundred participants bought the videos of the entire conference. I received multiple invitations to return to Venezuela to speak to pastors in other parts of Venezuela.

Do pray for Venezuela. Life is tough for the people under the new regime (e.g., communistic socialism). I heard story after story of the abuse of human rights in Venezuela. Most of the people that I talked with are pessimistic about the future. Yet, we do know that God allows trials and sufferings to turn people to Himself. Pray that Christ’s church would continue to grow and prosper during these hard times.

Comments?

Joel

Isn’t it great to receive an encouraging note?  It lifts your spirit and helps you stay in the fight.  I received such a note a few weeks ago.  The note’s author is Tom who is a Southwest Airline pilot and cell leader in my church family.  Here are a few paragraphs.

“Reach, Connect, Disciple, Send.  These are four simple words that are on a banner in our worship center.  The banner, like the church, is not fancy; in fact, you may miss it unless you really look closely.  Yet the words on the banner have been experienced in my life.”

“When I first started to attend Cypress Creek Church, I thought it would be a typical American church in which I could sit quietly, unnoticed in the back and be fed the word of God.  No participation on my part was required.  I could stay in my little comfort zone.  Little did I know that I was being equipped to do the work of God in my city and beyond.”

“Not long after my first worship experience at CCC, a man took the time to REACH out and introduced himself to me.  We talked and eventually set up a time to have breakfast.  At this meal, or CONNECTION time, we talked about our families and our lives.  We talked more over the weeks ahead and eventually decided to commit to reading a few books of the Bible.  You see, what he was very gently doing was beginning a DISCIPLING relationship with me.  I learned so much from this man as he took the time to disciple and mentor me.”

“The last word:  SEND.  I lead a cell group each week with my wife.  I have the opporunity to disciple other men.  I have walked dusty trails in foreign lands to share God’s word with not-yet believers.  And here is a stretch:  I’ve even shared my faith journey with friends at work.  I now look forward to when God is going to stretch me because I know that I am going to see God at work in my life and the lives of those around me.”

“Reach, Connect, Disciple, Send.  These are four words that meant nothing to me in the beginning, but now I see how this experiential process is one way for equipping God’s people to live out the Great Commission.”

My friends, do not grow weary….May God grant you encouragement this day and week as you follow Him. 

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by Rob Campbell

www.cypresscreekchurch.com

 

During the sharing of the Word in the small group (normally after the worship time), God speaks to our hearts through the Bible. Many small groups follow the same theme and Scripture passage as was used in the Sunday-morning message. Even if this is the case, it’s best not to discuss what the pastor said on Sunday.

The people should interact with God’s Word, not with the sermon, which is merely the words of one human being. The reason is simple: If the sermon itself is the reference point, visitors and those who missed the celebration service will feel isolated. They’ll feel inhibited in freely participating in the group.

Remember that the Word and the Spirit-led worship go hand in hand. There’s a lot of truth in the oft-repeated phrase, “Without the Spirit, Christians will dry up, but without the Word of God, believers will blow up.” Both the Spirit and the Word are essential. God wants to use both to transform His Church through the small group. He uses the Word to keep us on track, but the only way we can apply the Word of God is through the Spirit of God.
Comments?

Joel