Saturday, November 21, 2009

Where is your focus in prayer?

Have you ever felt that when you pray you are more focused on what you are praying than on God? Maybe you focus on praying for the right things...or on the right words...more than the one who made you? Sometimes we can forget where our focus should be; but when Jesus taught his disciples to pray, He was more focused on the confidence and certainty we can have when we approach God in prayer. Check it out:

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “ Matthew 6:7-8

It is only after He makes that point that Jesus goes on to give an example on how to pray. That's because He wasn’t trying to teach us the right words. He was trying to teach us how to pray. He wanted the disciples to pray in that confidence and certainty, and He was ultimately directing their focus. Where is your focus when you pray?

[Jesus] said to them, "When you pray, say:

"Father, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,

for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

And lead us not into temptation."

Luke 11:2-4

I like the way songwriter and theologian Michael Card describes this. He wrote, “After all the emphasis on prayer in the Gospel of Luke, we are anxious, like the disciples, to simply hear Jesus pray. So they ask, "Lord, teach us to pray." And we are glad that they asked. Jesus offers a prayer (the shorter form of what we call the Lord's Prayer), stunningly brief and simple yet bottomless in its implications. It can be spoken in a single breath. A child as well as a Ph.D. can learn to pray by means of this prayer.”

Let’s pray with the confidence and certainty that comes in knowing our Heavenly Father knows what we need. He's the focus...not right words.

Keep pressing on.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Seeds or Bullets [Part 2 of 2]

As we continue striving to live SENT, we need to pursue opportunities that provide a platform for us to communicate the love of Christ; and how we go about doing that is important.

Here are some steps to make sure we are planting more seeds than bullets in our live SENT opportunities:

1. Pray: Take time each day to let God prepare your heart and mind for your live SENT opportunities. Ask Him to equip you with wisdom to know when to speak and when to be silent. Ask Him what you are to say. He will do that. Check out Matthew 10:19-20.

2. Look: Stay alert and look for opportunities. Colossians 4:5 reminds us that we are to “make the most of every opportunity.” If we are not paying attention, we can miss the opportunities that God brings in front of us. Look at every circumstance as a situation that God is already working in and seek to join Him in that work.

3. Risk: God calls us to trust him so much that we aren’t afraid to put ourselves in situations where will be in big trouble if He doesn’t show up. This is not a call to careless or frivolous risk. I am talking about risking big for God…risking for people to know Him…risking by inviting…risking by giving…risking by loving. It is easy to live SAFE and SAVED, but we are called to live SENT.

4. Go the extra mile: Following Jesus is a radical way of life. It runs counter to our culture…even North American Church culture. In Matthew 5:39-42, Jesus sets a standard that we often overlook or ignore; but living SENT will require us to do more. Read what He said in Matthew 5. Now seriously consider what you need to do to go the "extra mile."

- Help a co-worker with a project when you really don’t have to.

- Ask your neighbor if you can help them with something and do that with joy.

- Give generously and then give more.

- Take an afternoon and invest in someone else.

- Ask someone who is struggling how you can pray for them and do it every day.

- Listen more in conversations and ask good questions for their benefit...not yours.

- Treat those who mistreat you really well…even after they do it again.

- Forgive more…smile more…encourage more…pray more….the list can go on!

5. Repeat: Be consistent. Too often we try this stuff; and because it is not received well or did not result in immediate and significant changes, we give up. However, there is power in our consistency, and Galatians 6 reminds us not to give up. When people see that we consistently love them, forgive them, invest in them and serve them, they see we are genuine. They notice, and then want to know why. That is when we introduce them to the one who is the Way, the Truth and the Life…Jesus! Don’t give up. Be faithful and consistent. Then repeat.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people…” - Galatians 6:9-10a

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Seeds or Bullets [Part 1 of 2]


"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." – John 13:34-35


How we approach the mission matters. We can create situations that God is able to work through us or in spite of us. Clearly “through” us is better. We don’t want to hinder the work God, but how we approach live SENT opportunities matters.

A few years ago, I came across a quote from Former U.S. Senate Chaplain, Dr. Richard Halverson. He said:

“You can offer your ideas to others as bullets or as seeds. You can shoot them, or sow them: hit people in the head with them, or plant them in their hearts.

“Ideas used as bullets will kill inspiration and neutralize reality in the life in which they are planted.

“The only risk in the seed approach: Once it grows and becomes part of those in whom it’s planted, you probably will get no credit for originating the idea. But if you’re willing to do without the credit . . .you’ll reap a rich harvest.”

Dr. Halverson is right! You don’t have to read much in God’s Word to realize that seed planting is more Biblical than sending rounds down range. It is also more effective; but in our zeal, we can end up turning people away from God instead of toward Him.

As we strive to live SENT, it will continue to be increasingly important to lead with love. It is the mark of a believer. Jesus said it is how people will know we follow Him. However, we need to communicate the truth in love…not love in truth. [ref. Ephesians 4:15] There is a difference between the two. Delivering love in truth is the bullet method. It leads with force and impact, and it can hurt more than help. But communicating truth in love is seed planting. It leads to a greater harvest, and it should be our primary delivery system.

In Part 2 of this post, I will provide some specific steps to help us ensure we are planting more seeds than bullets in our live SENT opportunities.

Until then.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Upcoming Series – Live SENT

This weekend we will revisit our commitment to Live SENT. This is tremendously important to who we are as a church. We don’t exist for ourselves. We exist for God and the mission He gave us.

I am praying that the Lord God Almighty will use this time to equip & empower us to reach hundreds of people in the coming months. Here’s a sneak peak:

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:21

God sent His son to earth on a specific mission. Jesus was sent to die for the sins of the world. God sent His Son to this lost world, so that we could be saved and sent. He sends us into the world just as He sent Jesus into the world. In fact, while talking with God one day, Jesus said, "As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." [John 17:18] Being a follower of Jesus inherently means we are sent. Are you living sent?

It is vitally important to live as a people who know we are sent. Take a few moments before the service to talk to God and ask Him to speak to you today as we look at how we Live SENT.

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday! Don’t forger to invite a friend.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Podcast Fixed

The SLW Podcast is up and running again! [Thanks, Matt!]

Web Listeners: You should be all set. You can access all of them from the SLW homepage, by clicking the "podcast" icon on the right panel of this blog or by clicking here.

iTunes Users: You will be good to go, but you will need to re-subscribe to download the podcasts. For there moment, only the last two podcasts are available, but the archived files will hopefully be accessible soon.

Thanks for your patience on this.

See you on Sunday!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Veterans Day 2009

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the Germans signed the Armistice, which ended the major hostilities of World War I. The “Great War” would officially continue for seven more months, and it would ultimately end with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, in Versailles, France.

Today is a day that marks that first November 11th event and honors the roughly 25 million military veterans in the United States today. It is Veterans Day! [a.k.a. Armistice Day & Remembrance Day]

I deeply appreciate those who have served and those who currently serve in our military. To me, they are heroes. Whether you are supportive of the U.S. Government & the U.S. Military or not, it is fitting to honor those you have selflessly served to protect and defend our freedoms.

Every veteran has paid a price, and some still carry the “marks” of that service. Father Denis Edward O'Brien, United States Marine Corps, once used these words to describe a veteran:

“Some veterans bear visible signs of their service; a missing limb, an aged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them; a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg, or perhaps another sort of inner steel; the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity. Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem.”

To all the veterans I know I want to say: Thank you! I appreciate you, and I praise God for your selfless service protecting our freedom.

Take time to thank the veterans you know today.

Note: If you are a veteran and you are within striking distance of an Applebee's, be sure to head there for a thank you and a free meal today. All you need is proof of service [i.e. DD Form 214, etc.]


Monday, November 9, 2009

Sunday Reflections - 11/8

- Yesterday was incredible! I love the gathering of God’s people.

- SLW: You bring glory to God each and every week.

- Worship team: Thanks for taking us before the throne of God. You “knocked it out of the park.” Vocals…wow!

- If you were a guest with us, thanks for coming! We want you to know that we are glad you were there. We would love to see you again next week.

- We ended a great series…Fans2Followers. God clearly used this time to challenge all of us. May we be true followers of Jesus everyday of our lives.

- There is no greater place to be than on mission with God.

- Next Connect on Sunday night was awesome! There was a great group of new friends, and I am looking forward to seeing how God will lead them to connect in the body at SLW.

- We’re getting ready to launch into a second look at living SENT this weekend. Can’t wait!

- Keep inviting your friends and family. God is using these invites to draw people to Himself.

- Gotta go. MNF is about starting. Go Steelers!