My nieces and my LifeSavers Children's ministry experience

This previous weekend my wife and I had the honor of watching our twin nieces, Jordan and Taylor, while their parents went away for their anniversary. They are only a month old and they kept us up most of the night, but it was a lot of fun.

I have to say that our children's ministry is absolutely outstanding. This was my first experience ever bringing kids to church with me. You should have seen all the faces and heard all the questions we got as people thought they were ours. :-) It was priceless.

Anyways, the check-in experience was swift and informative, the drop off was warm, the people welcomed us and I felt comfortable leaving them there (it's a little scary when they are not your own), in fact I felt peace because of the high quality of our volunteers. They took great care of them during service and they were sleeping peacefully when we picked them up. We have an incredible Children's ministry and I know when I have kids of my own (many, many months down the road) I will feel safe and at peace leaving my kids there!

Invite

Read: Matthew 22:1-13, 25:14-30

How will they know unless they are told? This is the question I ask you about your friends and family. How will they know unless they are told? Think about when it clicked for you and you realized you had a need for Christ. Where were you? Most people were at church when this happened. They didn't know there was an answer to the hole in their life until they were told and usually that happens at church. Your friends and family need to be at church.

How will they come unless they're asked? Often we pray and pray and pray for our friends and our families to come to the knowledge of Christ and yet we do little to get them to come. I know I have. I've thought if I pray for my friends they will get saved, yet I never invite them to the place where I got saved. There are opportunities all around us to invite some one to come. It's up to us to take the step and invite them.

There are many more people than you think that would come to church with you if you asked. You need to pray for them, but more importantly you need to ask them to come. I forget the exact statistic, but it's something like 85% of all people who come to church do so because they were personally invited. It's time for you to invite. If you are going to double and disciple then you need to invite.

Who is someone you could invite this week? Give them a call, text or face to face and invite. You will be surprised at how many people come because you invite. It's time to invite.

Prayer: God give me the courage and boldness to invite someone this week. Go before me and place a desire in them ahead of time, so when I invite they are willing in Jesus name!

Make disciples - "double and disciple"

Read: Matthew 28:19, 9:37; John 8:31, 13:35; 15:8.

This year you have a goal, well an opportunity to make a goal and accomplish it. You ready for it? Well here it is: I will double and disciple this year! Sound good? Great, now go do it.... What? You want to know what that means? Well, okay then.

This year make it your aim to bring one person to Christ. Just one. Yes pray for your school, work place, family, community to come to Christ, but set your sights on one person. Choose that person right.... Now! Got them in mind? Now write their name down and begin to pray for them everyday. Look for opportunities to invite them to church and to lead them to Christ. This doesn't mean you don't invite others, but this one person is your goal for this year.

How many people did you lead to Christ last year? How many people were you trying to reach? Many of us would answer zero to the first question and thousands to the next. You see the problem is that our efforts are scattered. Jesus said Go into all the world, preach and make disciples, we make disciples one at a time. If each of us would set our sights on one person we would see that person come to Christ. Focus on one person and when they come to Christ your job is half done. Then it's time for the real fun.

After your one has come to Christ you have doubled. One (you) plus one (your friend) equals two, you've just doubled. Now it's time to disciple. Many people run from this because they feel totally unequipped to disciple. They don't know all the scriptures on giving, baptism, healing, why you should read the bible. They don't have a degree in theology, or a fancy business card that says Youth Pastor. Because of this they feel unqualified to disciple, but it is not man or knowledge that qualifies you it is God and because you have faith you are qualified. So how do you disciple? Here is how it's done:

Discipleship is taking someone from where they are to where you are. 1 Corinthians 11:1 says, "follow me as I follow Christ." That is what discipleship is. The person you lead to Christ is going to need to know about baptism. Tell them what you did, how it transformed you and what you know about it. They are going to sin, show them how to repent. Show them how YOU pray. Read the bible with them, Show them how to worship. Talk to them about giving and what it's done for you.

Discipleship is showing others what God has done for you and helping them through all the experiences that you were helped through. It's not as hard as we make it. You are qualified, just be you, use your experiences and what God has shown you and you will make a disciple. Don't worry if something comes up you are not equipped to handle, call the person who discipled you and they will help.

This year double and disciple. Once you've done this, you and the one you discipled should double and disciple again. You are equipped to double and disciple. Begin praying today and watch how God will use you!

Prayer: God help me to double and disciple this year. I pray that you would work on _______'s heart and that I would have opportunities to invite them and lead them to Christ. Help me to disciple them and not be afraid. I am equipped!

Persecution

Read: Matthew 5:10; Mark 10:29-30; Luke 6:22; John 15:20; Romans 8:35-39; 2 Corinthians 4:8-12; James 1:2-5; 1 Peter 4:12-16.

Any time we talk about standing up for what God has done in our lives, we have to take a moment and talk about persecution. It would be unfair for me to paint of Christianity as the end of all trouble and pain. As Christ followers we will experience trouble and pain because of our stance but we don't have to go through it alone.

When evaluating persecution we know three things: It is guaranteed to happen, we will make it through it, on the other side is blessing. This is what the Word tells us about persecution. We will look at each aspect of this below after we address what persecution is and isn't.

What it is? Persecution is being made fun of, treated unfairly and unjustly because of what you believe. It is what people do to you when you stand for truth and they don't like it. I've seen parents persecute children and vice versa, friends persecute friends, teachers persecute students and on and on and on. Persecution is not suffering pain because of sin. If you sin and people do this things to you or you go through a hard time that's your own fault, you sinned. Persecution is suffering because you stand for Christ and it is an honor.

1 Peter 4:12-16
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. 14 So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!

It's guaranteed - In John 15:20 Jesus basically says you are going to be persecuted because you love me and stand for me. Above it tells us not to be surprised when we are persecuted. Persecution stinks! It's painful and not fun, but it is the price of devotion and discipleship and every time you pay a price for Jesus, He always makes it worth the pain of paying it.

You'll make it - No matter what happens in your life God will always be there. He cannot leave you or forsake you and you cannot be separated from His love. 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 tells us that even though we go through stuff, God will be there to help us. In the midst of persecution God is there and it is the fiery trials of life that cause us to depend on Him more and grow closer to him. It may feel like everyone has abandoned you and you cannot make it another day, but God is there and you will make it. Run to him and call on his name for help.

Blessing - Always on the other side of persecution is blessing. Jesus said that anyone who has given up friends, family, houses, etc... for his name will receive 100 times more in this life and the next. The other side of persecution has greater blessing, greater anointing, greater friends, greater victory, and a greater relationship with God. Every time God asks you to pay a price for him the reward always out weighs the pain of paying it. There is great blessing for you on the other side of persecution.

Every person who stands for God and takes ground from the enemy will be persecuted. I've been persecuted by family, friends, enemies, teachers, and other Christians. I've had rumors spread about me that weren't true, I've been labeled as many things and lost friends because of my stand. It was painful and it really stunk, but I wouldn't trade the blessing I've received and where God has taken me to go back.

Persecution is coming, God is ready to help and it will be worth it. Stand and endure!

Prayer: God give me the right perspective when I am persecuted. Strengthen me to endure and stand for you and bless me on the other side.

Confess

Read: Matthew 10:32; 1 Timothy 6:12-13; Romans 10:9-10; 2 Timothy 1:8; 1 John 4:15.

"Everyone who acknowledges (confesses) me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33

Confession. The bible is full of it. In fact according to Romans 10:9-10 you cannot receive salvation without confession. Confession is the key to forgiveness of sin and the healing of a sinful past. There is one area of confession that often doesn't get mentioned.

After you've confessed that Jesus is Lord, confessed your sins and been healed, had your life completely transformed, it is natural when you get around people who know nothing about the power of God and transformation to slide under the radar as the same old, so and so. It's easy to go back to school and go back to the same friends, have the same conversations and make the same choices. That is easy and natural, but you've been changed, radically transformed, you cannot go back, so now it's time to confess.

It's time to live the transformation and tell others about it. When your old friends ask what has changed about your old life, you confess. When they want you to do the same old stuff you used to and engage in the same conversations you used to, you confess, I've been changed, I don't do that anymore.

It's easy not to confess because of fear and rejection. Yet Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:8, "So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord." If we confess Christ before our friends they may mock us and reject us, but God will accept us and continue to transform us. If we deny him and what he's done for us before our friends then he will deny us. It's time to stand and confess what God has done for our lives.

Fear - Fear is the greatest enemy of faith. There are many people that have missed what God wanted to do through them because of fear. Fear will paralyze you and keep you from the purpose God has for your life. Take fear by the neck and throw it out of your life.

Timothy was a young man was radically transformed. Paul knew it might cost him his friends, his popularity, and much more if confessed God, so he told him never be ashamed, so right before that he shared with Timothy that God has not given us fear, but power. Paul knew if Timothy would pay the price, God would use him and he did. Timothy was the pastor of one of the largest churches in the world in his day, as a young man.

Fear will keep you from your destiny. Confront it head on and confess what God has done for you. It may be painful at first, but you will be in complete shock at what God does through you and for you. You will be amazed at the friends you never thought would come, are now living radically for God.

Rejection - I hate being rejected. I have never woken up and thought, "man I'd love to get rejected by people I care about today!" Yet rejection is a part of life, especially when you begin to stand for what God has done and is doing. In fact Jesus was rejected by his own family because of his stand. We too may be rejected as we confess what God has done, but because Jesus was rejected we are accepted by God. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be accepted by God and have Him place people in my life, than be accepted by everybody and be rejected by God. As you confess you may be rejected, but you will always be accepted by God and your church family.

Confession can cost you, but the reward or confess far out weighs the cost. As you go back to school transformed and changed, confess Him and watch what God does in your life!

Prayer: Lord give me the strength to confess you and not deny before man. When I fear or am rejected help me to stand and know that you are taking care of me!

Yearbook yourself!

Here's what Gia and I would look like through the decades:

50's:


60's:


70's:


80's:


90's:


Good times! You can do it too here. Have fun!

GO!

Read: Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 15:16; Colossians 1:6, 23.

Now that we have received Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit and are a part of the church family it's time to go. Too often people get transformed and they do nothing with that transformation. I've heard this analogy many times and I'd like to share it with you.

In the middle east there are two seas that are not far from one another. One sea is teaming with life and the other is completely dead. In fact it is incapable of supporting or sustaining life. They are the Red Sea, full of life, and the Dead Sea, well it's name says it all. The only difference that can be found between the two is this; one goes and the other stays. Both seas have rivers pouring into them, but only the Red Sea "go's" or has a river coming out of it. You see it is because the Dead Sea keeps all that is poured into it that it is dead. There must be pouring in and pouring out.

The same is true in our lives. God has poured his transformation and life into you and now you must go and take it to others. If we stay, what has been poured into us will eventually die. Jesus commanded us to go into all the world and tell others. This means getting out of the four walls of the church and telling others about what God has done.

We don't have time to stay, we have got to go. We need to pour out what is being poured in. As we pour out and go, God pours new and fresh anointing into our lives. It's time to go!

Prayer: God I will go. I will not be afraid. I will pour out and believe that you will pour in to my life!

Evangelism Reading Plan

Monday GO! Read: Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 15:16; Colossians 1:6, 23.
Prayer: God I will go. I will not be afraid.

Tuesday Confess Read: Matthew 10:32; 1 Timothy 6:12-13; Romans 10:9-10; 2 Timothy 1:8; 1 John 4:15.
Prayer: Lord give me the strength to confess you and not deny before man.

Wednesday Persecution Read: Matthew 5:10; Mark 10:29-30; Luke 6:22; John 15:20; Romans 8:35-39; 2 Corinthians 4:8-12; James 1:2-5; 1 Peter 4:12-16.
Prayer: God give me the right perspective when I am persecuted.

Thursday Make disciples Read: Matthew 28:19, 9:37; John 8:31, 13:35; 15:8.
Prayer: God help me to make disciples of every person I bring.

Friday Invite Read: Matthew 22:1-13, 25:14-30
Prayer: Please place spiritual mothers in my life to nurture me and encourage me.

Saturday Pray Read: Matthew 5:44; John 17:20-21; Ephesians 1:18, 3:17-21; Colossians 4:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 3:1
Prayer: Please help me understand my role in the family.

Sunday Live Read: Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Matthew 5:13-16; 2 Corinthians 4:6.
Prayer: Please help me to fulfill my role in the family.

Your role in the family part 2

Read: Acts 2:42-47; Romans 1:8-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; Romans 12:9-13.

As I mentioned last post each of us has a role to play. Here are more areas each of us need to contribute to the family of God. Sharing our time, talent and treasure and prayer.

Time - Each of us has time. We use that time to work or go to school. We use that time for TV, the Internet, to hang out with friends. We use our time to do many things. One area we need to share our time is with church family. We need to spend time volunteering, discipling, helping, and hanging with church family. It is important to give your time to your church family.

Talent - God has given each of us a talent for one purpose. To contribute it to the church family. You have talents that you can share with the church family. When each person shares their talent the church family grows in health and number. What are your talents? Share them with the church family and watch God grow the church family and your life.

Treasure - Finances, money! We each have it in different measures. Some have tons, some have little. Each of us should share with the church family out of the measure they have. It is so important to give your finances to God and to His family because it shows that your heart is for him and his family. The tithe, offerings and blessing others are ways to share your treasure with the family of Christ. Give and it will be given to you even more. Share your treasure and God will bless you with more.

Prayer - Pray! Pray for your church family, pray for your pastors and leaders. Pray for others! This keeps you focused on the needs of others and not yourself. Remember there is no room for selfishness in this family, only those willing to serve. Prayer eliminates arguments and grudges. Pray for everyone, people you like and don't like, friends and enemies. Pray for your church family!

Each of us has a part to play. It's time for you to begin playing yours. Share your time, talent and treasure and pray! Don't wait, start now.

Prayer: Father I am going to share my time, talent, and treasure with my church family and I will pray. Use me to grow the family of Christ.

Your role in the family part 1

Read: Galatians 6:10; Matthew 20:25-28; Proverbs 17:17; John 13:35.

The moment we choose Christ we become part of a church family. There are huge benefits of being a part of the family. Leadership, guidance, destiny, identity, DNA and much more. The joy of having a spiritual father and mother, brothers and sister and on and on. Each person has a part to play and role. Here are a few roles that each must fulfill: Do good, serve, love and friendship.

Do good - In everything you do, with every word do good, especially to those who are in the family of Christ. Many families are built around selfishness. The attitude of what can you do for me is the attitude of most people. In the family of God our attitude needs to be what can I do for you? In every possible way we should do good for and to each other and not harm. Every time you have an opportunity, do good!

Serve - Jesus addressed this one. He told us that it's natural to lord over people. If we are older or have achieved more we feel we have earned the right to be served and honored by people "under" us. It's natural to flaunt our authority, yet Jesus commands us to serve. Instead of fighting over who's in charge and who should be listened to, we should serve one another, listen to each other and submit to one another. This means treating our younger siblings and those "under" us with respect and serving them. It's crazy, I know, but in this family we serve each other.

Love - The church family is built on the foundation of love. Love endures, it keeps no record of wrong and it covers sin. In this family we are quick to forgive and love all even if we don't like them. There is no room for grudges, gossip and hate, but love and forgiveness. It is your duty to love others and help them. Read 1 Corinthians 13 for a greater understanding of the love we should have for each other.

Friendship - As a part of the family of God we have a role of friendship to play. We have a duty to be friends to others in the family. Friends are loyal and trustworthy. Friends help us through difficult times. You need to make friends and be friends with people in the family of God. My best friends are those who are in God's family. They encourage me and help me through things and I return the favor.

Each of us has a role to play in the family and this is only the beginning. If each of us will play our part the family of Christ will be irresistible to those who are outside. People will know that Jesus is who He said He is when we each play our part in the family.

Prayer: Father please help me understand my role in the family and help me to fulfill it!