The Transforming Power of Water and the Word

The Transforming Power of Water and the Word
True Stories, Wise Sayings, Repetition and Reproducibility

By Jerry Wiles, President Emeritus, Living Water International
Special to ASSIST News Service

HOUSTON, TX (ANS) -- The way that important knowledge has been passed down from generation to generation is a fascinating phenomenon. And, the speed at which information (true or false) can spread around the world is equally fascinating.

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There are some interesting studies about how false stories, or what are known as urban legends, have spread around the world. The news media and social networks can report and repeat something that causes behavior change in many people. Then later, it may be proven to be a fake story or false information.

Having an understanding of this phenomenon can be a great asset in communicating and spreading the gospel and the truth of the Word of God. In relation to sharing the gospel and making disciples in the oral context, it is valuable to keep in mind the power of parables, proverbs (wise sayings) and repetition. While we use stories and questions to train people, there are many other methods that can be used to reinforce the message.

The vast majority of the unreached people in the world are oral learners

Wise sayings that are repeated often can be instrumental in sharing life-changing messages. Consider the well-known adage, "Two heads are better than one." That simple, short saying can be used to talk about teamwork, cooperation, collaboration and the power of agreement. People remember the short saying, and with reflection, discussion and application, it sticks in the mind and can influence attitudes, actions and behavior.

Consider the Golden Rule, "Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you." It can have a profound impact on people's lives, decisions and actions. Think about wise sayings that have been passed down for hundreds of years, like: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," or, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," or, "Be kind one to another." All of these are examples of orality. Many have been around for hundreds of years, and yet, their applications are timeless, universal and powerful.

For parents, teachers and leaders, short stories and wise sayings can be effective methods to instill truths from the Word of God into the lives of children, young people, and, in fact, all ages. Using short, simple sayings and having regular conversations around meal times, casual gatherings or as we go about our daily activities can help shape the attitudes, actions and behavior of others. These same principles can be very effective in training and making disciples and in training disciple makers. Reproducibility is a key factor.

When our conversations, stories, questions and sayings are rooted in the Word of God, we can count on the fact that the Holy Spirit will bear witness to the truth and bring those things to remembrance at the right time.

A friend of mine tells how knowing a proverb literally saved his life. He was with friends who were planning some criminal activity. He was being pressured to participate, but the Lord brought to mind a proverb he had learned as a little boy. As a result, he declined to go along with his friends. It turned out that his friends committed a serious crime, were caught and went to prison.

True worshipers worship God in Spirit and in Truth; these are the kind of worshipers that the Father seeks

In our work with Living Water International, we have the opportunity to learn about local or village proverbs in various parts of the world. Some examples are: "Wisdom is wealth"- Swahili proverb, "The fool speaks, the wise man listens" - Ethiopian proverb, "Knowledge without wisdom is like water in the sand" - Guinean proverb, "When a king has good counselors, his reign is peaceful" - Ashanti proverb and "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" - Asian proverb.

These are just a few examples of the many local proverbs that every nation and culture around the world has. If we take the time to learn about local cultures, sayings, customs and proverbs, it can give us some common ground for conversations and opportunities to share biblical proverbs and spiritual truths from Scripture. These are great connecting points to communicate, build relationships, share our stories and share God's Story.

Because water is necessary for life, all over the world there are stories, parables, poems and songs about water. There are many stories and references to water in the Bible; it is mentioned in the first chapter of the book of Genesis, the last chapter of the book of Revelation, and several hundred times in between. Water is a great connecting point for sharing about the life of God, the Holy Spirit and His redemptive activity in the world.

Speaking words about, or to, people can be a powerful influence in their lives. I can remember words people spoke to, or about, me when I was about 10 years old -- both negative and positive words. I remember an aunt of mine, as a result of my doing some work on my grandparents' farm, saying, "That Jerry is a hard worker; I don't believe he has a lazy bone in his body." That comment stuck in my mind and encouraged me to live up to her affirmation. It is amazing that a statement or comment can have such a long-term impact and shape a person's life, even after more than 50 years. That should make us think about what we say to people, realizing that our words have the power to change and shape lives.

It is as a result of the filling and overflow of Christ's life in us that makes us useful in His Kingdom work. Jesus promised that all who come to Him and believe in Him, out of their hearts (inner being) will flow rivers of Living Water. Revelation 22:1 says, "Then the angel showed me the river of water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb." He is the Source of the water of life, and we have the privilege of being channels of that life. We can speak words of life that change the eternal destinies of others.

All ages participate in gathering water in many parts of the world

Most of us have memories of things people have said to, or about, us on a school playground, in family discussions or in the workplace. Thinking before we speak and considering the impact our words can have is an important practice. The more we understand the way life change happens, the more effective we can be in sharing the Living Water of Jesus with others. Jesus is our best example. He made truth stick in people's hearts and minds. When Jesus said, "I am the vine and you are the branches," we have a picture in mind. When He said, "Out of your hearts (inner being) will flow rivers of Living Water," we can picture that. These are simple principles, but are very significant if we are going to be effective in sharing our life in Christ and making disciples who are reproducing disciple makers.

All of these are examples of using concrete, rather than abstract, concepts of communication. Other important concepts in Orality are simplicity, repetition and reproducibility. Asking thought-provoking questions and providing time to listen, reflect, discuss and interact around the content of the conversation is important.

Consider how much we can learn about the Creator by just observing His Creation. Of course, the ultimate expression of our Creator God is through the Person of Jesus the Christ. He is the perfect physical and visible expression of the character of the God of the Universe. God's Written Word testifies to the Living Word (the Lord Jesus Himself) and it is the Holy Spirit Who bears witness to people's hearts when they are exposed to either or both.

While the glory of God can be seen in all of creation, it is the demonstration of the life of Jesus, through His New Body, the Church, that He desires. It is a lifelong challenge to be able to see God in all of our circumstances, to hear God in our hearts and be in tune with Him. Then we can more effectively communicate His life to those around us.

The interest in Orality Training is continuing to gain momentum in the USA

While many people today have the Written Word of God available and the ability to read it in their heart language, or mother tongue, still most of the population of the world are oral learners. These are people who can't, don't or won't read. They prefer to learn and communicate by means other than written instruction or print-based media. It is extremely important that we communicate God's truth to people in ways that they can understand, respond to and reproduce, rather than the ways we learned in our Western Culture.

In a recent Orality Training Workshop in the United States, an elderly gentleman who has been a believer and an active church leader for many years said, "I have known and studied these stories for many years, but this training has opened my eyes to new insights and understanding of deeper spiritual truths."

Orality really does cross over all barriers, has impact everywhere and is universal in its application. However, the important thing we must keep in mind is that it is the Holy Spirit Who ultimately touches hearts and transforms lives as the stories of Jesus are shared and understood.

For more information on Living Water International's Orality Training opportunities, visit: www.water.cc/orality.

    See all ASSIST News articles at www.assistnews.net

The World Shames the Church Once Again

August 11, 2013 by Jeremy Myers 3 Comments

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I know that the church is not supposed to follow the world, but sometimes, I think the church could learn a lot from the world.
Take this as an example:

What else could the church do instead of leaving trashy fliers like this on the windshields of other people? How about volunteering to be designated drivers for drunk people? Of course, the Christians who leave these fliers would spend the time telling their drunk passengers how they are going to burn in hell for getting drunk, so that might not work out so well…
But maybe instead of leaving junk on people’s windshields, the church could go clean junk up out of the bar parking lot. These lots are often filled with empty bottles, cigarette butts, and other fun items. Sometimes there is even puke.
There are other things the church could do, but whatever is done, we must make sure we are a blessing and not a curse to the people around us. And putting signs on windshields about how the owner is going to hell is not a blessing…
If you belonged to this church, what could you do to be a blessing to the people who frequent this bar?

4 Pitfalls to Avoid when Getting to Know your Neighbors

August 12, 2013 by Jeremy Myers 2 Comments

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This post on pitfalls to avoid in getting to know your neighbors is written by Sam Riviera, a frequent contributor to this blog.

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In the previous posts in this series (see link list below) we have discussed methods for getting acquainted with our neighbors, building relationships with them, and having group events that will help all of us to get to know each other better. In order to avoid some of the common problems that can occur during this process, let’s look at some pitfalls to avoid.

1. Being Too Helpful

We have learned that deciding ahead of time how much time, energy, money or emotional strength we can devote to neighbors allows us to be in a better position to help the most people. We have discovered that we can not meet everyone’s needs. Not setting limits can cause us to grow weary in well doing and cause us to want to stop helping others.
We attempt to first help those who are least able to meet their own needs, and then help others as we are able. We try to use our resources to help many people, rather than use large amounts of time, money and energy to help one person or family. Some individuals and families have more needs than we are able to meet.

2. Not Keeping Confidences

Are you the kind of person in whom others confide? I am. I have a friend in whom no one confides. What is the difference? What you tell me goes no further. On the other hand, the fastest way to spread news is to tell my friend.

3. The Neighborhood Grinch

Is there someone in your neighborhood whom no one likes? Several of our neighbors have told us they will not attend group functions at our home if X is coming. How do we handle that? We do not invite that person to small functions, but we do invite him/her to large functions, such as our upcoming block/neighborhood party.

4. Being Self- Centered

When we meet someone do we use it as an opportunity to tell them all about ourselves, or as an opportunity to learn about them? Do we see it as our chance to tell our stories, or listen to theirs? Do we invite people to our home to show them our tastefully decorated home and souvenirs from our many travels or to get to know them better? Do we want to know people better so we will know what they can do for us (or will buy from us), or so we can get to know them and make a new friend? After they have told us about themselves and told us their stories, most people want to hear about us.
Avoiding these pitfalls will help us build long-term, loving relationships with our neighbors.

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This "Getting to Know Our Neighbors" series is by Sam Riviera, a frequent blog contributor. This series provides concrete, practical suggestions for loving others like Jesus.

• Getting to Know Our Neighbors - Introduction
• 5 Ways to Break the Ice with Your Neighbors
• 7 Ways to Build Friendships with Your Neighbors - Part 1
• 7 Ways to Build Friendships with your Neighbors - Part 2
• Using Group Events to Love Others
• More posts coming soon! Subscribe to the Blog to Keep Updated!

Loving Neighbors without an Agenda

August 19, 2013 by Jeremy Myers 3 Comments

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This post on loving neighbors without an agenda is by Sam Riviera, a person who has loved others like Jesus for many years. His posts on this blog give concrete, practical, real-world ideas for how to follow Jesus by loving and serving others.

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As we have looked at getting to know our neighbors, building relationships with them and then getting to know them even better and helping them to get to know each other better through group events (See the link list below), perhaps you have wondered why we do this.

Are we networking, finding people who have something we need or who may buy something we’re selling? Are we building relationships so we can convince people to accept Jesus or attend our church? Another possibility – since most people want to live in a friendly neighborhood, are we building relationships with our neighbors to improve the value of our property? Are we just looking for friends?
None of these are really our reason. We try to get to know our neighbors, whether they live on our block, three streets over, in the next neighborhood or across town because as followers of Jesus we try to unconditionally love everyone who crosses our path.
But shouldn’t we try to get them to attend our church or accept Jesus or both? Hmmm. Consider a parable Jesus told. We usually call it the “Parable of the Good Samaritan,” though it might be better to call it the “Parable of the Beaten Man Lying By the Side of the Road.”
Is the parable about Samaritans, people in need, religious people who are too busy with their religion to help people in need, or what? Is it possible that one lesson Jesus is teaching us is that our neighbor can be anyone who crosses our path (or whose path we cross)

our neighbor can be anyone who crosses our path (or whose path we cross)

? Might another lesson be that we should help and love people lavishly, with no expectation of getting anything in return? Is Jesus teaching us to love people just because they are our neighbor?
Loving whoever crosses our path, with absolutely no agenda! Is that possible? As followers of Jesus we believe it is possible. We think this is what Jesus is talking about in “love your neighbor as yourself” and in the story we call the “Parable of the Good Samaritan.”
Shouldn’t we tell people about Jesus? We love them first and tell them about Jesus when they ask. Many do ask, but not all. Most people we know have figured out that we follow Jesus. Sooner or later they ask us about it, when they’re ready to talk about it.
Many years ago a couple we slightly knew invited us to their house for “dessert,” which turned out to be a high pressure sales presentation for a multilevel marketing company. We felt tricked. Even though we have received many subsequent invitations from other people we know for similar presentations (always disguised as something else), we could smell those a long way off, like dead fish, and we have never been “tricked” again. So it goes with most attempts to “win people to Jesus” (which usually means getting them to attend our church). Most people can smell those a long way off and avoid them like they avoid dead fish.
Smelling like Jesus, however, smells like loving our neighbor, loving them lavishly for the pure and simple reason that we are the kind of person who does this, loving them with absolutely no agenda attached.
That is a sweet smell, a pleasant aroma, both to our neighbor and to Jesus.
What experiences have you had in loving other people like Jesus? Share an example in the comments below of how you showed lavish love on someone whose path you crossed. 

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This "Getting to Know Our Neighbors" series is by Sam Riviera, a frequent blog contributor. This series provides concrete, practical suggestions for loving others like Jesus.

• Getting to Know Our Neighbors - Introduction
• 5 Ways to Break the Ice with Your Neighbors
• 7 Ways to Build Friendships with Your Neighbors - Part 1
• 7 Ways to Build Friendships with your Neighbors - Part 2
• Using Group Events to Love Others

Should Pastors Get Paid to Preach the Gospel?

August 20, 2013 by Jeremy Myers 10 Comments

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In years past I have written about what the Bible says about getting paid to pastor, and especially getting paid to preach the gospel (Look on this page, under the “Pastoral Pay” section). Recently, a reader sent in the following question:

I need help responding when someone quotes 1 Corinthians 9:14. Especially when they use the ESV & NKJV.
“In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.”
Specifically, that getting one’s living from the gospel is a “commanded” practice.
I understand that it is also translated “directed,” however, once “commanded” is interjected into the debate, it’s tough to respond.
My thoughts are: If “commanded” is the correct translation, then did Paul blatantly disobey the Lord’s command? And why would Paul say he would rather “die” than to even give the perception that he materially benefited from preaching?
Any thoughts on the issue would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Neil

I must admit that although I have finished a rough draft of a commentary on 1 Corinthians, I have never before considered this question Neil brought up. By one way of reading 1 Corinthians 9:14, Paul does appear to be saying that Jesus commanded that certain people should get paid to preach the gospel.
There are multiple ways of explaining and understanding this text, and I will present a few below, but would love for you opinion as well on what 1 Corinthians 9:145 means when Paul says that the Lord commanded that those who preach their gospel should get their living by the gospel.

Maybe the Command is not for the Preacher but for the Hearer

When Neil initially sent this question in to me, I responded this way:
First, I did some quick study of the Greek in the text, and decided that the various translations are fine. Though there are some verses in various translations that are horrid, this is not one of them.
So I then decided that maybe the command was not primarily for the one preaching the gospel, but for those who were receiving the benefit from the teacher. That is, the command is for the hearers. They were expected to provide for the one doing the teaching. If the one doing the teacher turned down the aid, that was fine, as Paul did. In the context, he says that although it was his right to receive financial help from the Corinthians believers, he turned it down so as not to hinder the gospel (1 Cor 9:12).
This is the answer I sent to Neil, and while I think there is truth to this idea (that the responsibility is on the hearer to offer support rather than on the teacher to demand it), I do not think that this is what Paul is saying. It does not seem that we can get my interpretation to fit the text. Note that the command is clearly to the one preaching the gospel, not to the ones hearing it. Although… the context is directed toward the hearers, so maybe my take is somewhat justified…
So what other options are there?

The Command is for Apostles who Preach the Gospel

Neil forwarded me an email that he got back from Alan Knox, who gave a much better (and more thorough) answer than I did. His answer actually considers the context and where Jesus might have given the command that Paul is referring to.
Hopefully Alan does not mind if I include here what he wrote…

My suggestion would be to consider the context… who is Paul writing about? As I see it, there are two options:
1) Paul is referring to anyone who “proclaims the gospel.” Of course, that would mean that he was referring to every believer who ever shares the gospel, and that all of them “should get their living by the gospel.”
or
2) Paul is referring to a specific group who “proclaim the gospel.” But which group. Again, I see two options: A) Paul specifies the group in the context of this passage, or B) We can choose the group. The B) option is not very palatable to me, which only leaves A). And, the first part of 1 Corinthians 9 tells us that Paul is talking about people who travel to proclaim the gospel, i.e., apostles.
So, by focusing on the “who,” you don’t even have to worry as much about what “commanded” means or what “should get their living by the gospel” means.
By the way, I think that Paul is talking about receiving hospitality, which Jesus “commanded” to apostles in Matthew 10 and Luke 10. So, the “command” was not to people giving the support, but to people receiving the support (that is, hospitality).

Neil followed up with some further comments of his own on how Paul reacted to that “commandment” in the second half of 1 Corinthians 9.

Reading only the first half of 1 Corinthians 9, it could be argued that Paul taught and endorsed that pastors have a right to receive a salary. But that would be taking Paul completely out of context on this issue. In reading the entire chapter in context, Paul went much further, by word and deed, as an example to clearly demonstrate that he believed one’s personal right to compensation for preaching the gospel ends where the gospel of Christ begins. Specifically, Paul explained in the second half of the chapter that exercising that right would not only “hinder” the gospel, but also be a financial “burden” on the Church.
So examining Paul’s words and actions on the issue in full context, it’s obvious that Paul wanted no part of anything, including the exercising of one’s personal rights that could possibly harm the gospel message and be a financial burden on the church. And for those who point to 1 Corinthians 9:14 and say, “the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel,” the word “commanded” is also translated, “directed” in many prominent translations. Not to mention that if the Lord did in fact command it, then the man He personally ordained as an Apostle and minister of the gospel decided to make the Lord’s command just an option. It couldn’t be sensibly argued that this is the case.
To be clear, in the second half of chapter 9, Paul puts the compensation issue from the first half of the chapter in context, focusing on pastors having to endure all things in complete submission to the gospel, not accommodating a pastor’s personal right to reap material benefits and make a living from the gospel.

I believe Neil is right on target when he says that “one’s personal right to compensation for preaching the gospel ends where the gospel of Christ begins.

one’s personal right to compensation for preaching the gospel ends where the gospel of Christ begins.

” I have written previously about what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:9 where he says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain.” Among other things, I wrote this:

1 Corinthians 9 cannot be used by pastors to defend the practice of receiving a salary. It is talking about traveling missionaries and apostolic leaders who have left their home and jobs to teach and support other Christians in other towns. Since they will typically only be in a city or town for a few weeks or months, they are dependent upon the hospitality of the people in that city or town. Ideally, even these spiritual leaders should have “travelling professions” if possible, so like Paul, they do not have to depend on the financial aid of other people either.

In other words, there are a lot of critical cultural, historical, and biblical background material that must be considered to properly understand, interpret, and apply Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 9:14 that those who preach the gospel should get their living from the gospel. We need to understand the role of hospitality in the Hebrew and Roman culture and economy, we need to understand the law in Deuteronomy about borrowing a neighbors oxen, we need to understand the the role and purpose of apostles, and above all, we need to properly understand the full scope of the gospel.
The bottom line is this: If a pastor quotes 1 Corinthians 9:14 as a way to demand that the people he minister to should pay his salary, he is using 1 Corinthians 9:14 in exactly the opposite way that Paul was using it. Paul writes 1 Corinthians 9:14 in the context of explaining why he does not take money from the people he serves. 
Don’t misunderstand. I am not saying it is a sin for pastors to take a salary. All I am saying is that 1 Corinthians 9:14 cannot be used to defend the practice. Taking a salary as a pastor is a choice, and deciding to not take a salary is also a choice.

Taking a salary as a pastor is a choice, and deciding to not take a salary is also a choice.

Each person must decide for themselves which way of living will be of most benefit to the gospel of Jesus Christ and to the people whom they seek to serve. So what do you think about 1 Corinthians 9:14? Have you ever had a pastor tell you that it is God’s command that you support him to preach the gospel? Weigh in below, and if you have written about this on your own blog, include a link in the comment section.

A tought for today

 
“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”
- Mother Teresa 

PENGINJIL DAN ALKITAB

ARTIKEL MISI: PENGINJIL DAN ALKITAB

Pada tahun 741 sM, Bangsa Yehuda berada dalam kemerosotan moral dan spiritual sedemikian rupa sehingga bangsa tersebut mendatangkan penghakiman Allah atas mereka. Pada kondisi yang seperti inilah, Allah membangkitkan seorang laki-laki yang adalah seorang pengkhotbah yang cakap. Dia memiliki pengetahuan tentang firman Allah. Orang ini sedang dalam pelayanan selama beberapa tahun ketika dia mendapat visi tentang Yesus. Pada waktu dia menerima visi yang baru tentang Yesus, pengetahuan firman Allah yang ada dalam kepalanya menuju ke hatinya, dan dia menjadi nabi terbesar dalam Perjanjian Lama. Namanya adalah Yesaya.

Saya percaya bahwa hari ini, Anda dan saya tinggal di dunia yang juga mendatangkan penghakiman Allah. Banyak dari Anda adalah seorang pengkhotbah yang cakap, dan Anda memiliki firman serta kebenaran Allah dalam kepala Anda. Namun, saya percaya Allah memanggil Anda dan saya untuk menyimpan firman-Nya di kepala dan hati kita.

Tantangan dari saya untuk Anda adalah mengerjakan apa yang saya yakini diberikan Allah kepada kita. Ini merupakan panggilan ke dalam kemuliaan. Perbedaan antara seorang pengkhotbah yang cakap dengan pengkhotbah yang besar, pada dasarnya hanyalah sejauh jarak dari kepala ke hati Anda.

Hidup di Dunia yang Berubah

Silakan buka Alkitab Anda di Yesaya 1. Kita akan melihat bersama kesaksian pribadi Yesaya. Dalam Yesaya 1:1 dikatakan, "Penglihatan yang telah dilihat Yesaya bin Amos tentang Yehuda dan Yerusalem dalam zaman Uzia, Yotam, Ahas dan Hizkia, raja-raja Yehuda". Ayat itu mengungkapkan kepada Anda dan saya bahwa Yesaya hidup di dunia yang sedang berubah.

Anda dan saya juga tinggal di dunia yang sedang berubah. Kita memiliki perubahan dalam bidang teknologi, perubahan lingkungan, bahkan mengalami perubahan dalam kehidupan kita sendiri.

Yesaya hidup di dunia yang sedang berubah dan dia mengerti apa yang menjadi akar masalahnya. Apakah Anda memiliki pengertian yang sama? Jika kita melihat dunia kita saat ini, kira-kira apa yang menjadi akar masalahnya? Apakah menurut kita akar masalahnya adalah era postmodern dan dominasi budaya anak muda serta ateisme? Apakah masalah utama dalam negara, kota, dan di dunia Anda adalah kemiskinan, pelanggaran HAM, narkoba, atau AIDS? Yesaya memahami bahwa akar masalah di dunianya adalah dosa.

Memberitakan Firman

Yesaya berkata, "Celakalah bangsa yang berdosa, kaum yang sarat dengan kesalahan, keturunan yang jahat-jahat, anak-anak yang berlaku buruk!" (Yesaya 1:4) Yesaya menunjukkan akar masalah di dunianya. Apakah Anda mengakui bahwa satu-satunya akar masalah di dunia saat ini adalah dosa? Kita harus mengetahui akar masalahnya sebelum kita sampai ke solusi yang mendasar, dan jika masalah mendasarnya bukan salah satu dari yang saya sebutkan, maka solusinya bukanlah untuk hal-hal itu. Solusinya bukanlah uang yang lebih banyak atau pendidikan yang lebih baik atau hal-hal lebih lainnya. Solusinya adalah seorang Juru Selamat.

"Marilah, baiklah kita berperkara! -- firman Tuhan -- sekalipun dosamu merah seperti kirmizi, akan menjadi putih seperti salju; sekalipun berwarna merah seperti kain kesumba, akan menjadi putih seperti bulu domba." (Yesaya 1:18) Kita bisa melihat bahwa dari perspektif Perjanjian Lama, Yesaya memberitakan Injil. Dia tahu bahwa Injil adalah solusi bagi permasalahan di dunianya. Yesaya berada di dunia yang sedang berubah dan ia memahami apa yang menjadi akar masalahnya. Karena itu, ia mempunyai solusi yang mendasar bagi masalah itu. Dia terus-menerus berpegang pada firman Allah. Yesaya bahkan memberitakan Firman. Rasul Paulus mengatakan bahwa firman Allah adalah seperti guru. Firman itu mengajar kepada kita bahwa kita adalah orang-orang berdosa dan membutuhkan seorang Juru Selamat. Jadi, jelaslah bahwa Yesaya adalah seorang hamba yang memberitakan Firman.

Marilah kita melihat bersama Yesaya 1:2, "Dengarlah hai langit, dan perhatikanlah hai bumi, sebab Tuhan berfirman ...." Yesaya memberitakan firman Tuhan. Lihat ayat 10, "Dengarlah firman Tuhan ...." Yesaya memberitakan Firman. Lihat ayat 24, "Sebab itu demikianlah firman Tuhan, Tuhan semesta alam, Yang Mahakuat pelindung Israel ...." Yesaya terus-menerus memberitakan Firman. Dia tidak memberitakan buku-buku, video, drama atau hiburan, atau musik tentang Firman. Dia memberitakan Firman itu!

Jika Anda berkhotbah, apa yang Anda sampaikan? Beritakanlah firman Allah, beritakanlah firman Allah, dan beritakanlah firman Allah! Sampaikanlah firman Allah! Yesaya adalah seorang nabi yang cakap, dia seorang pengkhotbah yang cakap, dan dia memberitakan Firman. Izinkan saya memberi tahu Anda kerinduan saya: Saya berdoa kepada Allah agar kita mempunyai lebih banyak pengkhotbah yang cakap dalam memberitakan Firman -- yang memahami masalah, memahami solusi, dan memberitakan Firman.

Allah memanggil Yesaya ke dalam kemuliaan. Yesaya mempunyai sebuah pengalaman yang membuat pengetahuan akan firman Allah yang ada di kepalanya bergerak menuju hatinya. Mari kita membaca Yesaya 6. Yesaya mengalami 3 hal yang mendorong dirinya membuat peralihan dari kepala ke hatinya.

Hidupnya diguncang. "Dalam tahun matinya raja Uzia." (ayat 1) Pada saat Raja Uzia meninggal, saya percaya bahwa Yesaya terguncang dalam tiga hal. Kita tahu bahwa Yesaya masih termasuk kerabat raja, dan saya akan berasumsi bahwa dia terguncang secara pribadi karena orang yang dikasihinya baru saja meninggal. Dia juga sedang berkabung.

Yesaya juga terguncang secara finansial karena saya berasumsi bahwa jika dia mempunyai keperluan, dia datang kepada raja, dan raja memenuhi kebutuhannya. Akan tetapi, sekarang raja sudah meninggal sehingga tiba-tiba dukungan finansial Yesaya terputus. Yesaya juga pasti terguncang secara manusiawi ketika dia berdiri di pemakaman seorang yang dikasihinya dan menyadari bahwa kematian hanyalah sejauh napas, kekekalan hanyalah sejauh napas. Yesaya terguncang.

Dalam hal apa Anda terguncang? Ketika hidup kita terguncang, lihatlah ke atas! Mungkin Allah mengizinkan Anda dan saya terguncang supaya kita melihat ke atas.

Visi Baru Tentang Kuasa Yesus

"Dalam tahun matinya raja Uzia aku melihat Tuhan ...." (Yesaya 6:1) Mata Yesaya terbuka ketika hidupnya terguncang. Matanya terbuka melihat visi yang baru tentang Yesus. Yohanes 12:41 mengatakan kepada kita bahwa Yesaya melihat kemuliaan Yesus Kristus. Visi ini, dalam Yesaya 6, merupakan visi tentang pre-inkarnasi Anak Allah. Yesaya berkata, "... aku melihat Tuhan duduk di atas takhta ...." (ayat 1) Dia mendapatkan visi yang baru tentang kuasa Yesus Kristus. Yesus duduk di atas takhta, artinya Dia berada dalam otoritas yang absolut atas semua yang ada. Dia yang memegang kendali.

Apa yang membuat Anda ragu bahwa Yesus memegang kendali? Apakah ketika Allah tidak menjawab doa-doa Anda? Apakah ketika tidak ada yang memberi tanggapan terhadap berita Injil Anda? Apakah ketika beberapa tragedi terjadi atas anak-anak atau orang-orang yang Anda kasihi? Dan Anda berkata, "Yesus, apakah Engkau berada di atas takhta?"

Yesaya berkata, "Dalam tahun matinya raja Uzia aku melihat Tuhan duduk di atas takhta ...." Melihat ke akhir sejarah manusia, dalam Wahyu 4, Rasul Yohanes berkata, "Kemudian daripada itu aku melihat: Sesungguhnya pintu sorga terbuka, dan di takhta itu duduk Seseorang" (ayat 1-2). Mata Yesaya terbuka atas visi baru tentang kuasa Yesus. Tuhanlah yang memegang kendali!

Visi Baru Tentang Posisi Yesus

Mata Yesaya terbuka atas visi baru tentang posisi Yesus. Dia mengatakan bahwa Yesus berada di tempat yang tinggi. Tidak ada seorang pun yang lebih tinggi daripada Yesus. Saya tidak tahu siapa yang lebih tinggi daripada Anda. Mungkin dewan diaken Anda, atau Anda mempunyai atasan, dan mungkin ada gubernur, dan mungkin raja atau presiden. Kita mempunyai penguasa dan orang-orang yang berwenang di dunia ini. Semua mempunyai tingkat yang berbeda-beda posisinya. Akan tetapi, tidak ada posisi dari otoritas di seluruh jagad raya ini yang lebih tinggi daripada Yesus. Dialah yang tertinggi!

Efesus 1 mengatakan bahwa ketika Allah membangkitkan Yesus dari kematian, Dia mengangkat-Nya ke atas melampaui semua ketetapan dan kuasa yang ada di dunia yang kelihatan ini dan di dunia yang tidak kelihatan dan mendudukkan Dia di sebelah kanan Bapa serta menyerahkan semua otoritas di bawah kaki-Nya (baca ayat 22-23). Dia berada di tempat tertinggi!

Visi Baru Tentang Pribadi Yesus

Mata Yesaya terbuka atas visi baru tentang pribadi Yesus. Dia ditinggikan. Tidak seorang pun yang lebih besar daripada Yesus. Saya tahu banyak di antara Anda yang secara amat nyata menghadapi Iblis, roh-roh jahat, kerajaan serta kuasa dunia yang tidak kelihatan dan juga orang-orang yang menganiaya gereja dan umat Allah. Anda menghadapi kejahatan dan kebejatan. Akan tetapi, dengarkanlah saya. Tidak peduli siapa yang Anda hadapi atau apa yang Anda hadapi, entah kelihatan atau tidak kelihatan -- tidak ada satu pun yang lebih besar daripada Yesus. Dia ditinggikan! Dia ada di atas semuanya itu!

Visi Baru Tentang Kehadiran Yesus

Mata Yesaya terbuka atas visi baru tentang kehadiran Yesus. "Ujung jubahnya memenuhi Bait Suci." (Yesaya 6:1) Yesaya mempunyai visi baru tentang seperti apa jika bait suci tubuhnya dipenuhi oleh Roh Yesus. Akan menjadi seperti apa gereja, pelayanan, kota, negara, dan dunia Anda jika dipenuhi dengan kehadiran Yesus? Mata Yesaya terbuka dengan visi baru mengenai akan menjadi seperti apa jika Yesus memenuhi semua tempat dan semua orang.

Visi Baru Tentang Pujian kepada Yesus

Lalu, matanya terbuka atas visi baru tentang pujian kepada Yesus. Malaikat berkumpul bersama dan saling bersahutan, "Kudus, kudus, kuduslah Tuhan semesta alam, seluruh bumi penuh kemuliaan-Nya! Maka bergoyanglah alas ambang pintu disebabkan suara orang yang berseru itu dan rumah itu pun penuhlah dengan asap" (ayat 3-4). Asap itu bukanlah asap yang berasal dari api. Asap itu merupakan kemuliaan Allah yang turun. Itulah kemuliaan Shekinah yang turun.

Apabila kita memuji Yesus -- tidak akan menjadi masalah jika Dia menjawab doa kita atau tidak, tidak masalah jika tidak seorang pun pernah memberi respons terhadap berita kita atau tidak, tidak masalah jika Dia pernah menyembuhkan penyakit kita atau tidak, tidak masalah jika Dia tidak pernah memberi kita uang atau jika Dia tidak pernah menyelesaikan masalah kita atau mendamaikan kita dengan orang itu -- kita hanya memuji Yesus karena siapa diri-Nya. Ketika kita memuji Yesus, sesuatu terjadi! Gereja bergerak dan kemuliaan Allah turun ke atasnya!

Visi Baru Tentang Kemurnian Yesus

Mata Yesaya terbuka atas visi baru tentang kemurnian Yesus. "Kudus, kudus, kudus." Karena Yesus betul-betul murni dalam motivasi-Nya, betul-betul murni dalam cara-Nya, betul-betul murni dalam perkataan-Nya, dan betul-betul murni dalam keputusan-Nya, maka Dia kudus, kudus, kudus. Dan, Allah berkata, "Kuduslah kamu sebab Aku kudus" (baca Imamat 19:2). Dia menghendaki kekudusan dari umat-Nya, terutama para pemimpin umat-Nya.

Visi Baru Tentang Kekudusan Yesus

Mata Yesaya terbuka atas visi baru tentang kekudusan Yesus. Apakah Anda membutuhkan visi yang baru tentang Yesus? Maka, lihatlah ke atas. Bila hidup Anda terguncang, mintalah Allah membukakan mata Anda. (t\Jing Jing)

Diterjemahkan dan disunting dari:
Judul buku: The Mission Of An Evangelist
Judul asli artikel: The Evangelist and the Bible
Penulis: Anne Graham Lotz
Penerbit: World Wide Publications Minneapolis, USA 2001
Halaman: 65 -- 68

10 Questions for Better Church Communication

By Aubrey Malphurs

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The church in general isn’t doing a very good job in communicating. Just ask their people if they know what is going on. Several churches in Dallas-Ft. Worth have been singled out as good at communicating: Prestonwood, Stonebriar, and Irving Bible. Irving Bible has its own department with a staff that’s responsible for communication.
Spend a day (or at least a few hours) exploring what these churches are doing well. I don’t think churches are completely aware of the importance of good communication as indicated by their lack of doing it well. Number 1 is trust. Good communication engenders trust, poor communication creates distrust. People think you’re hiding something. Some churches can get away with poor communication if their pastor has been with them awhile and has gained respect for his leadership in general. However, it is “getting away” with poor performance should not be the ideal.
Create a church communications team. Then empower them to answer the questions below. The most important step comes next as you empower them to develop and execute a plan for improved congregational communication.
10 Questions to Transform Church Communication:
1) Why is communication important in the church or any ministry for that matter?
2) Why should it even get our attention?
3) What is our definition of communication (to get us on the “same page”).
4) What are the ways that ministries can communicate?
5) What is our plan for communicating well?
6) How are some who’re doing a good job communicating?
7) Who needs to take responstibility in the organization for good communication?
8) What must be communicated to other ministries to generate church-wide communication alignment?
9) How will we evaluate the effectiveness of our communications and communication team? (also who and how often)
10) What is our vision for communication? (paint a written, verbal, visual picture of good communication so that people see what things will look like if we do our jobs well)
What other questions do you believe are essential to congregational communication? What has worked for you and your church? What hasn’t worked?
photo credit: Stuck in Customs

The Goodness of God In Bad Decisions

By Ronnie Floyd

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The results of a recent survey by LifeWay Research and Bible Studies for Life found nearly half of Americans (47%) agree they are dealing with the consequences of a bad decision on some level. Think about that. Nearly one out of two people you will see on the street, at work, in the park, or at church are dealing with issues related to a bad choice. That is significant, and should guide our thinking as we engage the people around us.
It seems people are constantly running up against the consequences of bad decisions. Try as we might, some things just do not work out. We decide to buy a car only to have something in the engine blow up three weeks later. We search and search for the best house only to have the water heater spring a leak two days after closing. (How much did we pay that home inspector, anyway?) It seems our decisions frequently yield unintended results.
Fixing problems after the fact can be difficult enough, but what happens when our bad decision involves God’s will? Specifically, what happens when we are overtly disobedient to Him?
As we consider the needs people have in responding to bad decisions, we need to help them see God does not abandon those who make bad decisions. Even overtly sinful decisions can be overcome, leading us to a new experience of God’s grace.
If we are to connect the unconnected, we need to be prepared to minister when people are recovering from mistakes.
How Jesus Responded
One well known example of this is Jesus’ response to the Apostle Peter’s denial. Jesus prophesied that Peter would deny Him in His hour of need. Jesus even gave Peter a marker from the animal world – the rooster crowing. Though Peter was disbelieving of Jesus, our Lord’s words were fulfilled. Peter denied knowing Jesus three times while Jesus was on trial for His life. When the rooster crowed, Peter wept bitterly about his denials.
Had Jesus responded to Peter’s denials with judgment or castigation, Pentecost may never have seen the Apostle preaching in the Spirit’s power. Instead, after His resurrection, the angel made it clear that Peter was still numbered among the disciples.

“But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there just as He told you.’” Mark 16:7, HCSB

Have you ever made a decision that brought a bad result? Worse, have you ever felt condemned for making the decision? Or, have you felt that God would never forgive you for it?
We are Forgiven
Thankfully, followers of Christ do not need to live with self-condemnation. The scriptures assure us,

“This is how we will know we belong to the truth and will convince our conscience in His presence, even if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience, and He knows all things.” 1 John 3:19-20, HCSB

If God does not condemn us there is no reason to allow our conscience to do so.
God has also promised that our sins have been removed from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). If they have been removed so far from us, we need not go looking to bring them back.
God’s forgiveness is full and free. Even our most damaging de

Top 10 Non-Negotiable Requirements for Church Planters

By Kurt Bubna

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Starting new churches is one of the best ways to reach new people and introduce them to Jesus. When done right, with the right people, in the right place, and at the right time, God can do remarkable things through what is commonly called “church planting.”
In the past thirty years or so of ministry, I’ve had the pleasure of being directly involved as the senior pastor in two church plants and indirectly involved as a team member in three others. I’ve watched it done with God’s favor and wisdom, and I’ve also seen it done poorly too. Through all of these experiences, I’ve learned a lot.
There are many qualifications for success, but here are what I consider to be the top ten non-negotiable requirements for those called to plant a church:

1. A clear call to church planting which is confirmed by other leaders and pastors who know them and have worked closely with them.
2. A supportive spouse and a stable, healthy marriage and family.
3. A strong emotional resilience. (Without it, they won’t likely survive.)
4. A heart for evangelism with a proven gift and ability to reach the lost.
5. A capable teacher who is an anointed and gifted communicator.
6. A proven ability to gather and inspire others.
7. A demonstrated ability to start something new.
8. A proven ability to recruit, train and deploy others into ministry.
9. A demonstrated track record of wisdom in life and in leadership.
10. A teachable heart proven by the ability to take direction and constructive criticism without defensiveness or arrogance.

The where, when and how of church planting are all critical issues, but the who matters most. I’ve seen many start-up churches come and go over the years, and the ones that survive and thrive have leaders with these qualities and more.
Church planting is glorious, challenging and an adventure! May those with the call, the learned or God-given capabilities and the chops to attempt it . . . know God’s favor.
Always remember, like any farmer, the Lord loves to plant!
photo credit: sergecos

4 Ways To Create Web-Ready Content for your Church

By Justin Lathrop

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The complaint I get most often from churches is that they aren’t sure how to improve their community’s online presence. They know they’re supposed to do it, and they’re pretty sure it involves a website and being more involved in social media, but beyond that, they aren’t really sure.
But the problem goes even deeper than that. Because many of them get as far as a website, and still aren’t sure what to do.
My response is always to tell them they need to create great content. I feel like a broken record actually, saying “create good content, create good content, create good content” but of course this is easier said than done. Then recently my friend Josh Burns pointed out how churches are content factories and it clicked. It’s actually really simple. With a few small directions, you can create web-ready content to engage your members and potential members of your community online.
The best news is: It takes very little work.
Here are four things you can do to leverage the content your church is already creating in order to equip your online community with content that will be helpful for them.

1. Convert sermon notes into blog posts

Use the notes your pastor creates for his sermons each week and have someone on your team convert them into blog posts. It doesn’t have to be complicated or perfectly polished, the important thing is the message is communicated clearly. Chances are, you have someone on your staff who is a good writer and can do this.
Then, have the pastor glance over the post and approve it before you post it online.

2. Turn sermons into podcasts

Most churches are already recording their sermons, but they aren’t using this material on iTunes, where people who don’t know about your church can find you, and where people who need to hear the Gospel can be equipped with quality content. Taking those existing sermons and putting them on iTunes is a win for you, and a win for those who benefit from hearing them.
The other place you can put recorded sermons is in blog posts, or on your church’s website, where they can be easily downloadable by members and searchable for newcomers.
You’ve already gone 80% of the way by recording the sermons, you might as well go the remaining 20%.

3. Capture staff meeting notes

Many churches I know do weekly devotionals in staff meeting. Have someone take notes and capture what is discussed during that meeting and convert it into a blog post. I’m not talking about nuts and bolts, but about what God is teaching your leadership team. The benefits of sharing this with your congregation.
Not only will your community feel privileged to be invited into the “inner-workings” of your staff meeting, chances are they will be moved by the same lessons which are moving you.

4. Divide existing content into bite-sized pieces

This could be as simple as having someone take notes during the sermon on Sunday, and capture several Facebook and Twitter-sized (140 characters) thoughts. Save these in a document somewhere so you can send them out periodically during the week.
Okay, so I got the ball rolling but I know there are tons of other ideas about how churches can make this happen. Leave a comment below with ideas you have or things your church does that work well.

Dukung kami dalam menggalang dana

Bulan yang baru dimana pelayanan kami menghadapi tantangan finansial. Dimana kami harus membayar kontrakan rumah yang juga sekaligus merupakan tempat pelayanan kami dimana kami juga menampung tiga orang dewasa (salah satunya seorang ibu hamil) dan dua anak ( seorang balita n anak SD kls 2). Saya meminta bantuan doa n juga dukungan agar apa yang tengah kami kerjakan dan kembangkan dapat terus berlangsung. Saat ini untuk menutupi biaya kehidupan n pelayanan, ada dua orang kawan yang hendak menjual rumahnya di kota Bandung. Saya berharap bila dapat membantu menjual rumah mereka, agar saya bisa mendapatkan fee untuk bisa menutupi kebutuhan yang kami perlukan.
Adapun informasi rumahnya sbb:

1. Rumah type 45, luas tanah 71m lb 90,listrik 2200w, jetpump, 2 lantai, 2 km tidur, 1 km mandi, 1 km pembantu, kitchen set, jemuran, carport, jalan besar, lokasi Perum Bukit Sariwangi, poltek sariwangi bandung harga berkisar 400jt.

2. RUMAH SUPER LUXURY. Lt 325 lb 225. Di daerah asri Dago atas. Minta 2,9M.

Untuk saudara-saudaraku yang berminat dapat saya kirimkan foto rumahnya melalui inbox. GBU ALL. Thank for the support and prayer.

Rumah type 45 di Perum Bukit Sariwangi: