The Value Of Masuline Ministry

This is an extract from John Piper sharing on "The Frank and Masculine J.C.Ryle"

In dealing with the life and ministry of John Charles Ryle, my hope is to clarify and commend what I mean by the value of a masculine ministry. But before we turn to “the frank and manly Mr. Ryle,”1 let me make some clarifying comments from the Bible.

God has revealed himself to us in the Bible pervasively as King, not Queen, and as Father, not Mother. The second person of the Trinity is revealed as the eternal Son. The Father and the Son created man and woman in his image, and gave them together the name of the man, Adam (Genesis 5:2). God appoints all the priests in Israel to be men. The Son of God comes into the world as a man, not a woman. He chooses twelve men to be his apostles. The apostles tell the churches that all the overseers—the pastor/elders who teach and have authority (1 Timothy 2:12)—should be men; and that in the home, the head who bears special responsibility to lead, protect, and provide should be the husband (Ephesians 5:22–33).

Masculine Christianity

From all of this, I conclude that God has given Christianity a masculine feel. And, being a God of love, he has done it for the maximum flourishing of men and women. He did not create women to languish, or be frustrated, or in any way to suffer or fall short of full and lasting joy, in a masculine Christianity. She is a fellow heir of the grace of life (1 Peter 3:7). From which I infer that the fullest flourishing of women and men takes place in churches and families where Christianity has this God-ordained, masculine feel. For the sake of the glory of women, and for the sake of the security and joy of children, God has made Christianity to have a masculine feel. He has ordained for the church a masculine ministry.

And, of course, this is liable to serious misunderstanding and serious abuse, because there are views of masculinity that would make such a vision repulsive. So here is more precisely what I mean. And words are always inadequate when describing beauty. Beauty always thrives best when she is perceived by God-given instincts rather than by rational definitions. But we must try. What I mean by “masculine Christianity,” or “masculine ministry,” or “Christianity with a masculine feel,” is this:

Theology and church and mission are marked by overarching godly male leadership in the spirit of Christ, with an ethos of tender-hearted strength, and contrite courage, and risk-taking decisiveness, and readiness to sacrifice for the sake of leading, protecting, and providing for the community—all of which is possible only through the death and resurrection of Jesus. It’s the feel of a great, majestic God, who by his redeeming work in Jesus Christ, inclines men to take humble, Christ-exalting initiative, and inclines women to come alongside the men with joyful support, intelligent helpfulness, and fruitful partnership in the work.

There are, I believe, dozens of sweet and precious benefits that come to a church and family that has this kind of masculine feel. Some of those will emerge as we consider “‘The Frank and Manly Mr. Ryle’: The Value of a Masculine Ministry.”

Click in order to watch the video of Piper sharing his Masculine profile of Ryle: John Piper Profile J.C.Ryle

"35 Values I Wish I Had When I Started Pastoring"

[By J.D. Grear]

People ask me what I wish I’d known when I started pastoring. Here are 35 different things. At our church we call them plumblines. Our plumblines serve as guides for decision-making.

1. The gospel is not just the diving board, it’s the pool. Christians gro not by going beyond the gospel, but deeper into the gospel.
2. People are the mission.
3. Jesus commanded us to make disciples, not converts.
4. Discipleship happens in community.
5. God’s strategy for completing the Great Commission is planting churches in strategic cities.
6. The church is God’s demonstration community.
7. The church is God’s plan A.
8. Belief unlocks the power for the mission of God.
9. The church is not an audience; it is an army.
10. The week is more important than the weekend.
11. The best ministry ideas are in the congregation.
12. The Great Commission is completed through multiplication, not addition.
13. Churches should be evaluated by sending capacity, not just seating capacity.
14. Stay where you are; serve where you live; let’s be the church in that community (a value we promote in our multi-site strategy).
15. We multiply congregations, not preaching points (another value for multi-site).
16. Each small group should function like a small congregation.
17. People come because of quality and options; they stay because of personalization.
18. Those who serve are just as important as those you serve.
19. Live sufficiently, give extravagantly.
20. Generosity is contagious, and so is stinginess.
21. The sermon starts in the parking lot.
22. In light of global lostness, excellence must be balanced by “good enough”.
23. Word of mouth is the best advertisement.
24. Just because “we can” doesn’t mean “we should”.
25. Humility is shown by openness to the ideas of others.
26. Believe the best about others.
27. Move with the movers.
28. Nod to fashion; don’t embrace (especially as you age).
29. Preach the announcements (announcements are – or ought to be – how our people apply the mission).
30. Love is the most essential element of leadership.
31. Pushing out leaders creates more leaders.
32. You replicate what you celebrate.
33. It is easier to get 1 volunteer out of 3 than 3000: Make people feel like you are talking to them personally.
34. One size rarely fits all.
35. When I’m sick of saying it, the staff has just heard it. When they’re sick of hearing it, the church has just become aware of it.

http://betweenthetimes.com/2012/03/22/plumblines-35-values-i-wish-i-had-possessed-when-i-started-pastoring-10-years-ago/

11 Questions To Help Discern If We Are Judgemental

These 11 questions cut like a knife as they probed my soul for answers.
Righteous judgment is a wholesome command that we are all called to
relationally walk out with one another, and yet, it can be easy to fall prey
to becoming overly critical in our attitude.

However,  the questions also point to the seriousness of compromised integrity
when we resort to minimizing, rationalizing, jutifying or moralizing the sin in
our own lives.

May the Exalted Christ grant each of us the strength of grace to walk with
integrity with ourselves and others by avoiding these two dangers.

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1. Am I more likely to see the sin in others than my sin?


2. When I pray, am I more likely to pray for God’s judgment
 on others rather than marvel at God’s amazing grace toward me?


3. Am I overly critical toward others while I give myself a pass or
 an excuse and justify my own sin?


4. Does my own sin ever lead me to deep remorse and repentance?


5. Do I have people whom I allow to hold me accountable for my sin
 and unforgiving heart?


6. Do I have a tendency to be unforgiving while expecting others to
 forgive me quickly?


7. Do I find joy in exposing sin in others?


8. Do I find more joy in the “gotcha” moments of exposing sin
 or in sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ?


9. When others see how I deal with people, will they think God
 is mighty to save or that God would never forgive them and there
 is no hope for forgiveness?


10. Do I receive correction humbly?


11. Before I correct others, do I spend time in God’s Word and prayer
 asking the Holy Spirit to expose my sin so that I might repent.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2012/03/15/11-questions-to-discern-a-judgmental-heart/?

This Borders On Witchcraft!

J. lee Grady is a proven discerner of the counterfeit and the frauds
who flow "unchecked" within the charismatic stream. His recent article
is excellent and this quote nails the seriousness of the issue.

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"...The charismatic movement has become an embarrassing mixture.
Some preachers dangle God’s promises over people’s heads and
offer elusive promises of prosperity "if people will call this number
now and give a donation."

Others fake certain body movements to make people think they are
super-charged by God. Others mix exotic anointing oils (on sale now
for only $12.99!) or they create anointed candles, suggesting that certain
scents can trigger the Spirit’s power. This borders on witchcraft."

http://charismanews.com/opinion/32755-please-stop-the-holy-ghost-smackdown

J. Lee Grady is contributing editor of Charisma.  He is the author of several
books including 10 Lies Men Believe and The Holy Spirit Is Not for Sale.

Does God Really Hate Divorce?

Some will think this post a reaction to the pain our family is undergoing

due to my daughters present divorce process initiated by her

husband who has chosen apostasy to his covenant oath to his wife and children

sworn before Christ in the presence of many witnesses.

However, it is honestly motivated by a recent SBC blog posted on the 20th.

The author does a thorough job pointing out problematic KJV translation of

Malachi 2:16 regarding the issue of divorce.

Does God personally hate divorce?

Does God hate the man is who guilty of divorcing his wife?

Does the man hate his wife when divorcing her?

In other words,who in fact is the subject of hate that Malachi speaks of?

Many credible translations actually reveal it is not God who hates divorce

in this passage, rather, the man who wrongfully divorces his wife is actually

guilty of hate.

Read these translations for motivation to employ Berean Nobility to pursue

your own scholarly exegesis.

I personally believe the Holman translation to be one of the best ever produced.

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Holman Translation:

"If he hates and divorces his wife,” says the LORD God of Israel, “he covers his

garment with injustice,” says the LORD of Hosts. Therefore, watch yourselves

carefully, and do not act treacherously."

New International Version:

“The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the LORD, the God of Israel,

“does violence to the one he should protect,” says the LORD Almighty. So be

 on your guard, and do not be unfaithful."

Contemporary English Version:

"The LORD God All-Powerful of Israel hates anyone who is cruel enough

 to divorce his wife.  So take care never to be unfaithful!"

Wycliff Translation:

"When thou hatest her, leave thou her (not), saith the Lord God of Israel.

Forsooth wickedness shall cover the cloth of him, saith the Lord of hosts;

keep ye your spirit, and do not ye despise. (even if thou hatest her, leave

thou her not, saith the Lord God of Israel. Yea, let his cloak cover his

wickedness, saith the Lord of hosts; so keep ye watch over your spirit,

and do not ye despise her.)"

http://sbcvoices.com/does-malachi-216-condemn-all-divorce/?

Compromised and Dangerous!

Brothers,

While thinking through recent years, it seemed  profitable to post this
axiom that we have maintained and proven to be a trustworthy principle.
If you recall,we taught it as a means of personal ministerial accountability
and for the flock to protect themselves against compromised ministers
who go rogue.

"Beware of any man who publicly declares he is accountable to others and yet,
 when called to account for sin and compromise, he then defies,denounces, and
 denigrates the very accountability he once publicly affirmed". Beware! Such a
 person is absolutely dangerous and should be "feared" rather than "followed!"

Unfortunately, we have watched "brothers" immediately abandon their
ministerial covenant when they were held accountable for an uncharactered
life or confronted for violation of ministerial ethics or were guilty of
compromised conduct unbecoming to ministers.

With that in mind, some of these same "brothers" continue to distort facts,
deceive the vulnerable, and denigrate our ministry. However, I  find a
grace-filled confidence to enter 2012 since we remain accountable thru
ministerial covenant with the same honorable  brothers that we have been
relating to since the Redeemed Community days in the 90's.

I am indebted to Bishop Bill Mikler, Pastor Jim Crabb, Joe Sacco, John Reyes,
Jon Paul Jordan, Frank Freeman, Norm Waddell,  Jacob Watson, and Pastor
Kenny Tanner for relational accountability and covenant friendship.

Should anyone hear slanderous accusations against our character or ministry,
please employ these righteous actions as a means to silence false accusers:


1. First, ask the individual  if he was ever in relational covenant with RFM,
and if so,were his credentials revoked or was he asked to surrender them?
After they answer, apply the above axiom.

2. Second, contact any of the brothers mentioned to confirm our sustained
covenant submission to them regarding ministerial, marital, doctrinal,
ethical and moral integrity. Request them to explain  the RFM
"Cross of Accountabilty".

Stengthened by grace, our mutual covenant commtment has endured years
of relational testing and correction of one another.


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15 Characteristics of Great Leaders

Thom Rainer put together 15 characteristics of great leaders.

They:

>see possibilities rather than obstacles.
>do not blame others.
>do not have a victim mentality.
>give credit to others.
>seek what is best for the organization rather than for themselves.
>respond to some critics and to ignore others.
>see past the latest obstacle or challenge.
>are continuous learners.
>exhibit true humility.
>admit their mistakes.
>take calculated risks.
>are more likely to make quick decisions.
>have a love and a passion for what they do
>are first great leaders in their families.
>mentor others to become great leaders.

http://www.thomrainer.com/2011/10/fifteen-characteristic-of-great-leaders.php