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Tag: Faith (Page 3 of 15)

Whose Voice Matters Most?

October 10, 2024 / / 2 Comments

We live in a world of noise. Everywhere we turn, voices are clamoring for our attention. They demand our loyalty, whisper doubt into our ears, and shout promises that never seem to be fulfilled. Among these voices, it’s easy to find ourselves lost, trying to make sense of the competing messages that surround us. When trust is broken, relationships fall apart, and we’re left shattered, those voices only get louder. But what if there was a way to silence them? What if, in the midst of the chaos, God’s voice could be the loudest voice we hear?

Imagine for a second that you’ve been let down by someone you trusted…deeply. A friend, a spouse, a family member—it doesn’t matter who, only that it hurts. The kind of hurt that gnaws at you and makes you question everything. Why did they betray me? Was it something I did? Could I have prevented this?

In the aftermath, our minds become a battleground, invaded by voices of accusation and guilt, swirling with regret and “what if” scenarios. We start doubting our worth, questioning our decisions, and maybe even reconsidering our faith. It’s a vicious cycle, one that leaves us feeling hopeless and alone.

In these moments, it’s all too easy to let the voices of the world consume us. They tell us to cut ties, to never trust again, to harden our hearts and move on without forgiveness. But what if those voices are leading us further from the healing we desperately need?

When God’s Word Speaks Louder

When I find myself lost in the fog of hurt and betrayal, I remember that there is one voice I can always trust—God’s. I know. I get it. He’s a pastor of course he would say that. Stick with me for a second.

In the Bible, we find words that cut through the noise, words that give us life, hope, and healing. They remind us of our true identity, rooted in Christ, not in the shattered pieces of broken relationships. The world isn’t coming more together. It’s falling more apart. If the more we lean into worldly friendship, the more we see our anger increase, then perhaps those worldly voices aren’t looking out for our best interests.

Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” When the voices around us say we should give up or that we’re not worthy of love, God’s voice tells us that He cares. He wants our burdens, and He promises to sustain us even when everything else falls apart.

Think of God’s Word as an anchor, steady and unmovable, in a storm of changing tides. The world will pull you in every direction, offering temporary solutions for eternal problems. But God’s Word stands firm, rooted in truth that doesn’t change with time or circumstance.

Drowning Out the Noise

I don’t know about you, but I often find that the loudest voices in my life are not the ones I should be listening to. They’re the ones that play on repeat when I lie awake at night, replaying my failures and amplifying my fears. They’re the voices that stir up resentment and keep old wounds open. But I want to live differently. I want God’s Word to be the loudest voice in my life.

That takes effort, though. It’s a choice I have to make daily. I choose to open my Bible and listen to what God has to say about me, about my pain, about my future. I choose to drown out the voices of fear and doubt with the truth of His promises. And slowly, I begin to find peace.

When we allow God’s Word to be the loudest voice in our lives, we’re choosing to trust in His promises over our insecurities. We’re letting His truth redefine our worth, instead of letting the world or our failures do it. And in that place, we find healing. We find restoration.

Letting God’s Word be the loudest voice in our lives means allowing His truth to shape our perspective on broken relationships and even fractured trust. It means letting go of the lies that tell us we’re alone and that our mistakes define us. Instead, we hold onto the truth that God has plans for us—plans to give us hope and a future.

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the noise, take a step back, take a deep breath and listen. Open His Word. Let it be the loudest, most reassuring voice in your life. And in that space of listening, allow God to begin His work of healing, because His love is greater than any betrayal, and His peace is deeper than any wound.

You are not defined by the fractures in your relationships or the trust that’s been broken. You are defined by the voice of God that speaks life, hope, and love into your heart. Make His Word the loudest voice, and you’ll find a strength that no other voice can offer.

Messed Up Discipleship

October 3, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Personal opinion: the church has screwed up discipleship. And I don’t mean a little bit either. For years, probably even decades, we’ve treated discipleship and evangelism like two separate programs, as if you can have one without the other. Guess what: you can’t. True discipleship requires evangelism. It’s not a side dish on an a la carte menu . It is the mission. If the people in our churches aren’t actively reaching out, telling others about Jesus, and living out the Gospel in the world, then they’re not being discipled. It’s really that simple.

Too Safe

Somewhere along the way, we started making discipleship “safe.” We turned it into a series of cozy small groups, where people sip coffee and swap prayer requests. But is that really discipleship? Is that what Jesus had in mind when He said, “Go and make disciples of all nations”? Did He mean, “Sit around in your comfort zone and get spiritually fat while the world burns around you”?

No! Discipleship is a call to action. It’s gritty, raw, and uncomfortable. It’s not about self-help or spiritual navel-gazing. It’s about reproducing the life of Jesus in others. Disciples make disciples. And if we’re not doing that, we’re not being discipled; we’re being coddled.

What’s the Point?

The modern church has drawn a neat little line between discipleship and evangelism, like they’re two different ministry areas. We’ve got discipleship classes here, evangelism training over there. But that’s insane. You can’t be a disciple without evangelism because evangelism is at the core of discipleship.

Perhaps I need to say it again. If you’re not engaging in evangelism, you’re not being discipled. Jesus didn’t just call people to follow Him so they could hang out and get spiritually fed. He called them to go out and make more disciples. Discipleship isn’t a destination; it’s a multiplication process.

If your version of discipleship doesn’t include evangelism, then it’s counterfeit at best! It’s fake. It’s a watered-down, self-centered version of what Jesus actually commanded. We’re not called to hoard spiritual knowledge or just “grow deeper” while ignoring those who don’t yet know Jesus. Discipleship is evangelism in action.

Many Christians are far too content sitting within the walls of their own church buildings, worrying more about the temperature of the sanctuary than the struggles of the culture outside. We host our Bible studies, plan our potlucks, and give lip service to missions, but we avoid anything that might actually challenge us to reach out to people who don’t look, think, or act like us. We’re so busy protecting and preserving our history that we’re ignoring the people around us.

Here’s the thing: if your version of Christianity isn’t compelling enough to share, do you even believe in it? If the Gospel isn’t radical enough to drive you out of your bubble and into the world, then maybe you haven’t grasped the full weight of it.

Jesus didn’t die so we could get comfortable in pews and fill our heads with more information. He died to send us on a mission. That mission? To make disciples of all nations. Not just to sit in Bible studies with people who already believe what we believe.

How Easily We Forget

In Luke 9:23, Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me.” He didn’t say, “Attend church regularly, memorize Bible verses, and stay comfortable.” No, Jesus called us to sacrifice, to step out of our comfort zones, and to follow Him into the broken places of the world. Attending worship and knowing the Bible aren’t bad, actually they are part of the discipleship process. But they are not the end goal of discipleship. The end goal of discipleship is that the world around us sees Jesus lived out in us and comes to know Him through our life witness. Notice that says life witness not just witness. It’s about living it out in our relationships through our words and actions.

When you read through the Gospels, Jesus was constantly engaging with people far from God. His disciples were right there with Him—learning, watching, and then doing the same things. They weren’t passive spectators; they were active participants in the mission of God.

The same is expected of us. If we claim to be disciples, we can’t just watch from the sidelines. We must be in the game—reaching people, building relationships, sharing the hope we have in Jesus. If we’re not doing that, we’re just playing church, and we’ve missed the point entirely.

Discipleship is not for the faint of heart. It’s war. Spiritual war. And I don’t throw that phrase out lightly. We’re pushing back against the darkness, not just for our own sake but for the sake of others. If your version of discipleship looks more like a church picnic than a battlefield, then you’ve missed it entirely.

Discipleship is about making war on the gates of hell. And you don’t do that by staying inside the walls of the church. You do that by stepping into the world and declaring the good news of Jesus to the lost, the broken, the hopeless, and the forgotten. That’s evangelism. And it’s not optional. It’s not for pastors and other church staff. It’s not for those with theology degrees. It’s for everyone who claims to follow Jesus.

It’s time to stop playing pretend. We can’t afford to keep drawing lines between discipleship and evangelism. If we’re serious about making disciples, then we need to start equipping people to reach those far from Jesus. Not in theory, but actually in practice.

It’s time to get back to the basics of following Jesus: go and make disciples. No excuses. No more sitting on the sidelines. If we’re not making more disciples, we’re failing at discipleship. It’s as simple as that.

Let’s be a church that’s known not just for what we know, but for what we do. Let’s be a church that multiplies, because disciples make disciples. And if we’re not doing that, are we even following Jesus.

Don’t Hate People Just Because They Sin Differently Than You

September 30, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Let’s get something straight right out the gate. You’re not better than the person who sins differently than you. That might sound harsh, but it’s something the church desperately needs to hear. Too often, we Christians act like we’ve mastered righteousness, but in reality, we’re just expert finger-pointers. We throw around phrases like “hate the sin, love the sinner,” yet the way we treat people says something entirely different.

Instead of love, we dish out judgment. Instead of grace, we serve up condemnation. We look at people whose struggles don’t align with our own and think, “At least I’m not as bad as them.” It’s not only hypocritical, it’s unchristlike.

Let me make this as plain as possible. Jesus didn’t come to give you a hierarchy of sin so you could rank yourself against others. He came to save sinners, period. And guess what? You’re one of them. So am I. So is everyone! The gospel levels the playing field, and it’s time we stop acting like our sins are cute little mistakes while the sins of others are grotesque and unforgivable.

Christian Condescension?

The church has created a culture where some sins are deemed more acceptable than others. We don’t bat an eye at gossip, greed, or pride, but if someone is struggling with sexual identity or addiction, we act like they’re public enemy number one. We throw around words like “abomination” while conveniently ignoring that God detests all sin. Yes, including that prideful spirit we carry when we sit in the pews and shake our heads at “those people.”

This culture of condescension has pushed so many people away from the church—and not just the ones who don’t believe in Jesus. I’m talking about people who do believe but feel like they can’t bring their whole selves to the church because they’ll be judged, labeled, or even rejected. You know what that means? It means we’ve lost Jesus’ purpose for the church!

Jesus Loved the Outcast—Do You?

Take a look at Jesus. Who did He hang out with? The perfect? The pure? The religious elites? Nope. Jesus was drawn to the outcasts. He spent time with prostitutes, tax collectors, lepers, and those society deemed “unclean.” He didn’t just preach to them from a safe distance—He sat with them, ate with them, and loved them where they were.

Let that sink in for a minute. Jesus didn’t demand they clean up their lives before He could love them. He didn’t qualify His love with “as long as you get your act together.” His love was unconditional. And in the presence of that love, people’s lives were transformed. In the words of a group I’m part of, Jesus let people belong before they even believed everything he taught. I think we could learn from Jesus’ example!

Where is that love in the church today?

Let’s be honest. We’re more concerned with correcting people than we are with loving them. We want them to know they’re wrong before we show them they’re loved. That’s not how Jesus operated, and it’s no wonder it’s not working for us.

We All Need Grace

Here’s something we forget far too often: your sin might look different, but it’s still sin. Maybe you don’t struggle with the same things as someone else, but that doesn’t make you any less in need of God’s grace. You might not be battling addiction, but do you struggle with greed, anger, or pride? Have you ever lied, harbored bitterness, or been self-righteous? Welcome to the human condition.

Romans 3:23 doesn’t say “for some have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” It says all have sinned. Yes, that means you, me and everyone! So, why are we so quick to act like our own sins are no big deal while we crucify others for theirs?

Let me make this crystal clear: you are not the Holy Spirit. It’s not your job to convict people of their sin. That’s God’s work. Your job is to love people like Jesus did, without strings attached. You’re not called to change people’s hearts—that’s a burden only God can carry. You’re called to show the kind of love that leads people to want to know more about Jesus, not to judge them into hiding their struggles. We do need to call explain the right and wrong of the Bible but not to through judgement around like it’s candy at a parade.

Radical love looks like listening without lecturing. It looks like accepting people as they are. It looks like walking with people in the messiness of life, even if their mess makes you feel uncomfortable.

If we, as the church, want to see transformation, we need to create spaces where people can be honest about their struggles without fear of rejection. We need to be the kind of people who are known for love, not judgment. The kind of people who see past the surface and recognize the image of God in every human being, no matter what they’re going through.

Jesus didn’t shy away from the broken, and neither should we. In fact, He ran toward them, arms wide open. He loved people so deeply that they couldn’t help but be drawn to Him. That’s the model we need to follow. It’s time to stop acting like loving people means excusing their sin—it doesn’t. It means trusting God to do the convicting while we do the loving. When we rightly explain the law and the gospel of God, it opens a world of possibilities for the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us that faith comes from hearing the word of Christ. If we do the speaking, they’ll do the hearing and the Holy Spirit will do the rest.

Let’s start loving like Jesus did—radically, without reservation, and with the understanding that none of us are perfect. You can love Jesus without hating people who sin differently than you. That’s the gospel, and that should be the mission of the church.

The Mighty Will Fall

September 25, 2024 / / 0 Comments

I recently read a book titled How the Mighty Fall by Jim Collins. It looks at some of the nations significant corporations, past and present, and evaluates the rise and fall of many of them. He overlays five stages of this falling process. I believe there is something in this book for us as individuals but also for the church. What follows is how I see the principles in this book being applied to the church.

It’s no secret, the church in North America is in decline. Attendance is down, people (young and old) are walking away, and once-thriving congregations are closing their doors. If this isn’t alarming to you, it should be. And no, this isn’t just another cultural shift we can sit back and ignore, hoping it will fix itself. In fact, Jim Collins’ analysis in How the Mighty Fall provides a sobering look at what happens when organizations—churches included—refuse to address the warning signs of decline.

In his book, Collins traces the downfall of successful companies through five distinct stages: hubris (pride) born of success, undisciplined pursuit of more, denial of risk and peril, grasping for salvation, and finally, capitulation to irrelevance or death. Sound familiar? It should. These stages aren’t just reserved for businesses; they apply directly to a variety of scenarios in life including the local church.

1. Detriment of Pride

The first stage of decline, according to Collins, is the arrogance that comes from past success. For decades, the church in North America sat comfortably in the driver’s seat of culture. We built massive buildings, programs, and ministries, and we thought we had it all figured out. The problem? We became arrogant. We assumed that because we were successful in the past, we would always be successful. We took on a build it and they will come mentality. We acted as though all we had to do was hold to what we believe and the rest would work itself out.

Collins warns that this kind of pride is dangerous: “Great enterprises can become insulated by their success, becoming bloated and slow in their decision-making processes” (How the Mighty Fall, p. 26). The church’s historical position in society made us complacent. We assumed that people would keep coming, that we would remain relevant just because we always had been. Guess what? We were wrong. And that arrogance has set us on a dangerous path.

2. I Want MORE!

The second stage of decline is what Collins calls the “undisciplined pursuit of more.” We’ve seen this play out in the church in numerous ways. As numbers started to dwindle, many churches responded by starting more programs, events, and ministries hoping something would solve the problem. Remember build it and they will show up right? More opportunities means more people will be here. Bigger worship experiences, more events, more complexity. But this lack of focus is killing us. Trying to be all things to all people in all circumstances isn’t working out well.

Collins states, “When an organization grows beyond its ability to fill its key seats with the right people, it has set itself up for a fall” (How the Mighty Fall, p. 39). The church, in its attempt to stay relevant, has often stretched itself too thin, offering everything to everyone while failing to keep its focus on its core mission: making disciples. We’ve traded depth for breadth, and now we’re paying the price. We traded discipleship and evangelism for programs and teaching styles.

3. Denial

Stage three is where things get really dangerous: denial. Collins says that organizations in this phase ignore the warning signs that their success is crumbling. The church in North America has been in this stage for decades, refusing to admit that we are, in fact, in decline. We point to outliers, large megachurches, or the strength of our teaching as proof that everything’s fine. But it’s not fine. We’re bleeding members, and our cultural influence is fading fast.

Here’s a hot take for you – the church does NOT exist without people!

Collins puts it bluntly: “In this stage, internal warning signs begin to mount, yet external results remain strong enough that leaders explain away disturbing data or attribute it to external factors” (How the Mighty Fall, p. 52). Sound familiar? We’ve been explaining away the decline of the church for too long—blaming secularism, technology, or changing moral values. But the real problem is our refusal to adapt and change.

Now don’t get your undies in a bunch! We need to know what can’t be change and hold fast. The truth of the Gospel. The purity of our doctrines are key! But the forms they take on? The way they’re expressed…those are the things that we need to be constantly evaluating.

4. Grasping for Salvation

In the fourth stage, Collins describes organizations in panic mode. They start grasping for quick fixes and salvation strategies. In the church, this often looks like chasing the latest trend: new worship styles, celebrity guest speakers, or flashy marketing campaigns. Or they move to the flip side and double down on tradition. We circle the wagons and cling tightly to what’s always worked so why not force everyone to look the same? But these are just Band-Aids on a gaping wound. “Leaders desperately search for a silver bullet,” Collins writes, “but most attempts fail to produce sustained improvements” (How the Mighty Fall, p. 78).

We’ve been trying to “fix” the church without addressing the root issues. These quick-fix strategies may work temporarily, but they aren’t sustainable.

5. Tapping Out

Finally, if we continue down this road, we’ll reach the fifth stage: irrelevance or death. This is where churches close their doors for good. And yes, it’s happening. All across North America, congregations are shutting down because they refused to acknowledge and act on the early stages of decline. “Capitulation is the final collapse,” Collins warns (How the Mighty Fall, p. 94). Will that be our fate too?

It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way

If we don’t wake up, we will continue down this path of decline. The church isn’t immune to the forces that cause other organizations to fall. We must acknowledge the warning signs, face reality, and take action before it’s too late. The good news is that Collins also emphasizes recovery is possible. But it requires humility, focus, and a willingness to change.

The time for complacency is over. Let’s stop denying the truth and start making the bold, hard decisions necessary to save the church before it’s too late. And it starts with an honest assessment of our current reality. If we can be brutally honest of our position on the lifecycle curve, we can properly address some next steps.

Stop Judging!

September 24, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Ok so hard truth we may not like to hear. Christians are really good at judging each other. I’m not talking about some polite “maybe you should rethink that” kind of critique. No, I’m talking about the deep-seated, “I’m holier than you” attitude that seeps into Christian relationships. That’s exactly what Paul was tackling in Romans 14:13-23, and let’s be real—it’s something we still wrestle with today.

The Judgement Trap

Paul opens this section with what some would call a mic drop: “Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another.” Bam! Paul doesn’t sugarcoat things at all does he. He knows that, left unchecked, we love to size up other people’s faith—what they eat, drink, or how they worship—and use that as a measuring stick for righteousness. Or perhaps a bludgeoning tool to beat our brother down. It’s like we’re always looking for an excuse to prove that we’re somehow “better” than the next believer.

But this attitude poisons our relationships. Paul tells us to knock it off. He flips the script and says, “Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.” (v. 13). In other words, stop acting like your version of Christianity is the only one, and focus on helping each other grow in Christ. Jesus is the only way to the Father, but you and I are not the only way to Jesus!

When Freedom Hurts

I love the idea of freedom. It just feels good when my freedom lines up with my lifestyle and passion. Who doesn’t love the idea of being free in Christ? But here’s the kicker—Paul says that sometimes your freedom can hurt someone else. In verse 15, he writes, “If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.” What? So my personal freedom can be a stumbling block for someone else’s faith?

Yup. And that stings because we hate the idea of limiting ourselves for someone else. But Paul isn’t just talking about food either—he’s using it as a metaphor for any area of Christian freedom. Maybe you feel free to have a drink, but you’ve got a friend who’s been sober for years. Your freedom to crack open a cold one could cause them to stumble. Is your personal liberty worth the damage to someone else’s faith? Paul says no, and I sure hope we all feel the same way!

Unity

So, what’s the big idea here? Unity. Romans 14:19 lays it out: “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Translation? Quit fighting over the small stuff and start building each other up.

Paul isn’t saying that we should all agree on everything. There’s space for disagreement and diversity in the body of Christ. But he is saying that we should stop letting minor differences tear us apart. When you prioritize peace and edification—building each other up—you create healthy, strong relationships that actually reflect the love of Jesus. That’s what people outside the church need to see.

Look at 1 Corinthians 8:9 for another way of hearing this: “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” It’s the same idea—your rights, while important, are secondary to the emotional and spiritual health of your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Love Not Legalism

Here’s where it gets fun. When you start living with this “building up” mentality, you’ll find that relationships within the church get a whole lot healthier. Instead of being caught up in judgment, you’re caught up in love. You’re not trying to out-Christian your neighbor; you’re trying to encourage them.

Paul encourages us in Romans 14:17 to focus on the important stuff: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” The Christian life isn’t about following a rigid set of rules; it’s about living in joy, peace, and righteousness—and helping others do the same. When we embrace that, our relationships thrive.

Major in the Majors

At the end of the day, Paul’s message in Romans 14 is clear: stop nitpicking and start loving. Focus on what matters—righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Keep the main thing the main thing. It’s ok to let the little differences slide. You’ll find that when you do, you’ll build deeper, healthier relationships.

So, next time you’re tempted to judge someone else for how they practice their faith, ask yourself this: Is my goal to help them grow closer to Jesus? If it’s not my goal, it’s time to take a step back, check our pride, and focus on what really matters—love, peace, and mutual growth.

And remember: “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” (Romans 15:7). That’s the heart of healthy Christian relationships.

Vegetables and Bacon

September 17, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Let’s talk veggies and bacon—two foods that couldn’t be more different. On one side, you’ve got your veggie lovers. They stick to the kale, spinach, and broccoli, probably starting their day with the one of those green smoothies, and wouldn’t dare put bacon anywhere near their salad. On the other hand, there are the bacon enthusiasts—crispy, salty, sizzling—who think bacon belongs on everything. And if there’s a vegetable involved, it’s only there to hold the bacon in place.

Now, believe it or not, this division isn’t just reserved for the dinner table—it’s a perfect setup for a conversation about living out our faith. And Paul, in Romans 14:1-12, does exactly that. He uses the example of food, specifically the tension between those who eat only vegetables and those who enjoy all foods, to make a larger point about the strength and weakness of faith. But before you think this is some kind of ancient argument between vegans and carnivores, let’s dive deeper into what Paul is really saying and how it can apply to our lives and the way we worship today.

The Backdrop

In Romans 14:2, Paul says, “One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.” There it is—Paul calls out the veggie eaters as “weaker.” But why? Is he picking on those with healthier diets? Not at all. This isn’t about what’s on the plate; it’s about what’s in the heart.

In the early church, especially among Jewish believers, food laws from the Old Testament were a big deal. Certain foods were clean, others unclean, and eating the wrong thing could make you unclean. Some early Christians, still tied to these food laws, stuck to vegetables to avoid breaking any rules. Others, like the Gentiles who had no such dietary restrictions, enjoyed a bacon-wrapped feast without a second thought. Paul is saying that those still bound by the old rules—those who can’t let go of the law’s limitations—are “weaker” in faith. Their faith is restricted by old regulations. But those who understand the freedom found in Christ, the freedom to enjoy all that God has made, are “stronger” in their faith.

We need to hit pause for a second when we talk about stronger and weaker. It’s not about duration in the church or how many Sundays a year one attends worship. This stronger and weaker imagery is about having a deficiency in our understanding of the gospel. Paul is saying that those who still think the rules and regs of the old covenant will save them or make them more acceptable have a deficiency in their understanding of what Jesus actually did. They’re missing the freedom that is found in the completed work of Christ.

From Food Laws to Worship Wars

Let’s move this conversation from the dinner table to the sanctuary. Just as there were food laws in the Old Testament that governed what was acceptable to eat, there are unwritten “worship laws” today that dictate what is considered “acceptable” worship.

Some people believe that worship has to look a certain way—maybe it’s only hymns sung from a hymnal, or perhaps it’s the opposite, with only contemporary praise songs led by a guitar. There’s often a feeling that if worship doesn’t follow these specific styles, then it’s somehow less spiritual or less God honoring. These preferences can be strong, but they’re preferences not prescriptions found in the Bible. In some churches, clapping during worship might feel like breaking the bacon rule, while in others, not raising your hands could feel like opting out of the vegetable aisle entirely.

But here’s the thing—just as Paul says that faith isn’t about sticking to old food laws, our relationship with Jesus isn’t dependent on one specific style of worship. Those who find themselves trapped in only one mode of worship, thinking it’s the only way to please God, might be what Paul would call “weaker.” Their faith is bound up in limitations and rules, much like the vegetable eaters of Romans 14.

But those who find freedom in Christ—the ones who understand that it’s not the style but the substance, or better yet the object of worship that matters— these are the ones Paul describes as stronger. They can worship through hymns, contemporary songs, or even in silence, knowing that the point is not about how worship looks but about whom it glorifies.

Paul’s message is clear: don’t judge those who differ in how they express their faith. “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?” he asks in Romans 14:4. Whether you’re a veggie eater or a bacon lover, whether you prefer organ music or electric guitars, we all answer to the same Lord. And He is the master making us each His servant, not the servant of one another. The beautiful part about this passage is the reminder that God has accepted us, not because of what we eat, how we sing, or what rules we follow, but because of His grace.

In Romans 14:12, Paul brings it all home: “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” In other words, worry about your own faith journey, not someone else’s. Focus on your relationship with Christ, and let others do the same. If someone worships differently than you, that’s between them and God. There are multiple expressions of faith. The key is that these expressions need to be God-honoring, focus on the work of Father-Son-Holy Spirit in our lives, recognize the death and resurrection of Jesus as the only way to heaven.

Just like there’s room in the kingdom for both veggie lovers and bacon enthusiasts, there’s room for all kinds of worship styles. The strength of our faith isn’t measured by how rigidly we follow traditions or how modern we make things. It’s about understanding the freedom we have in Christ—a freedom that allows us to worship in a way that’s authentic to our hearts while extending grace to others who do it differently.

So next Sunday, whether your worship involves an old hymn or a new chorus, remember that it’s not the style that matters. What matters is that we’re worshiping Jesus—the only One who gives us the freedom to celebrate in a multitude of ways. And if you happen to enjoy a post-church brunch, feel free to add some bacon. Paul would approve.

People Movers

August 29, 2024 / / 0 Comments

My plane arrived in Baltimore on a Saturday evening. I had a small enough window of time to make my connection for my flight home that I was a little concerned about the distance I had to travel to my new gate.

As soon as I deplaned, I made my way into the concourse and saw my new gate number. A10. Not bad if I was in the A concourse I thought. Considering I was the farthest gate in C concourse and I had about 25 minutes to get to my gate, I decided to make every opportunity possible to use those cool people movers.

You know what I’m talking about right? The floor moves in the same direction you’re already going so that you can maximize your travel speed and efficiency getting to your gate closer to on time than not. Well it helped my moving with purpose to become even more speedy than I normally am. You guessed it. I’m the guy who walks my normal speed on these suckers. Why not double my speed!?!

Well the other day I got to thinking about those people movers. What a great idea. They take me where I’m already going. They just do it more efficiently and with less friction than if I were to walk there myself.

The reason I was in the airport was because I was spending time with some new and old friends who all work for the same network to which I’m connected. We’re called the FiveTwo Network and we are a group of Jesus-loving people who help churches move toward a thriving future.

It’s like being people movers but for churches.

We’re not taking you somewhere that you’re not already going. The church has pretty clear directives. We don’t bring the teachings of the church, you should have that locked in already. We don’t tell you how to do church either. That’s based on your context, congregation and church affiliation. We are simple people movers, moving you in the direction you’re already going.

Through a series of questions and onsite visits along with an immense amount of time digging through information we receive from you, we find out where you’re headed. Then we fire up that cool people mover and off we go. Together. In the same direction.

It’s super rewarding to see a church move from acting like they’re stuck in airport traffic in a busy concourse to watching it start to thrive. New programs. New ministries. Sometimes new staff. New people. New budgets. More people engaged in the same mission. Same church. Same teachings. Same Jesus. Just everyone moving in the same direction together.

The idea is simple. You don’t have to do it alone. And frankly you don’t have to come up with it by yourself either. There’s a people mover (for churches) that’s already been created that is able to help more efficiently and effectively move the local church in the direction it’s already going.

Ok so full disclosure here. If your church is moving in a direction that’s not biblical or just unhealthy, we’ll certainly let you know and can offer some help with that as well.

But more often than not, we’re already going in the same direction you are because our values are Jesus’ values. Our goal is all about growing Jesus’ kingdom by helping churches find hope and health and letting them thrive in an ever changing culture.

Well, I got to my gate with time to spare. Mostly thanks to the people mover (and a little help from a flight delay- just in case you’re curious planes need pilots or they don’t go anywhere).

If you’re in need of a people mover for your local church, let me know. We’re all about helping churches move more efficiently and effectively toward a thriving future.

It Was an Answer I Wasn’t Expecting

August 26, 2024 / / 1 Comment

Have you ever prayed for something and got an answer you didn’t expect? Maybe you were looking for a solution, but God gave you something that seemed way off course. All too often God’s answers don’t always line up with our expectations, but they are exactly what we need.

Romans 12:9-21 hits pretty close to home with what it looks like to live out our faith calling. It’s where the rubber meets the road. We love the idea of following Jesus, but when it comes down to living out these commands, it’s like, “Hold on, God, that’s not what I was expecting!”

Hypocritical Love

Verse 9 sets the stage: “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Sounds simple, right? But the reality is, this love isn’t the watered-down, feel-good emotion we often chase after. No, this love is genuine, selfless, and sacrificial. It’s the kind of love that Jesus showed us when He gave up His life for ours. Oh and don’t forget he did it while we were still sinners. That’s an answer I wasn’t expecting!

We didn’t deserve that kind of love. If we’re honest, many of us don’t love like that either. We slap on a smile, shake hands on Sundays, but our hearts are far from this sincere, no-strings-attached kind of love. God’s calling us out on our hypocrisy. He’s saying, Stop faking it. Love people like I love you. That is certainly a tough pill to swallow.

Serve NOT Be Served

Look at the next few thoughts from Paul. “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (v. 11). We love the idea of serving God, but when it comes to serving in the midst of our daily grind, to the sacrifices, to the inconveniences, that’s when we start dragging our feet. Jesus served us in the ultimate way by laying down His life. He didn’t just talk about serving—He did it, and it cost Him everything.

Now, God expects us to serve like that. This isn’t about signing up for the easy stuff or doing the bare minimum. It’s not giving those unwanted canned yams that have been in the pantry for a decade to the food pantry and calling it generosity. This is about getting down and dirty for the kingdom. Serving others even when it’s uncomfortable, even when they don’t deserve it. That is definitely an answer we were not expecting. But it’s the answer we need if we’re serious about following Jesus.

Mercy Over Justice

And here’s the kicker: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (v. 14). This one might cause us to pause just a little bit longer. God wants us to bless the people who hurt us? That sounds crazy doesn’t it! But that’s exactly what Jesus did. On the cross, He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). That’s a mercy we weren’t expecting!

We want mercy for ourselves, but judgment for others. We want God to deal with our enemies, not bless them! But God flips the script. His mercy for us is the model for how we should treat others, even those who hurt us. Mercy isn’t earned; it’s freely given—just like it was for us.

Romans 12 is a blueprint for a life that is completely counter-cultural. It calls us to be living sacrifices, which means laying down our lives for the sake of God’s Kingdom. Loving without hypocrisy, serving without hesitation, and showing mercy without limits—none of this is what we naturally want. It’s not the answer we were expecting. But it’s exactly what God expects of us because that’s what Jesus did for us.

This quite frankly is the hard road of discipleship. And it’s the only road that leads to experiencing the real life that God intends for us. So when God gives you an answer you weren’t expecting—when He calls you to love the unlovable, serve the undeserving, and show mercy to the unforgivable—remember that He’s asking you to do exactly what He’s already done for you.

God’s love is radical. Jesus’ service was sacrificial. His mercy is limitless. And He’s calling us to do the same. Don’t shrink back from the unexpected answers. Lean into them. They are the path to real life, the life you were created for.

Live it. Serve it. Show it. No more excuses. No more playing church. It’s time to be an unexpected answer in someone else’s life.

No More Apples

August 13, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Think you’re just an apple in a basket, waiting to be picked or discarded? Wrong. You’re an orchard in disguise, brimming with potential that could feed nations, change lives, and alter the course of history—if you’d just wake up to it.

I recently heard the line Within every apple there’s an orchard. I did not come up with this and its origin is unknown, but I feel there’s power in this thinking. This isn’t just a feel-good quote to throw on social media and forget. It’s a battle cry, a declaration of war against mediocrity, and a direct challenge to the excuses you’ve been feeding yourself for too long.

The Apple Mindset

Too many people are stuck in the “apple” mindset. You know the type. They see themselves as small, ordinary, just trying to get by without making too much noise. They’ve bought into the lie that they’re just one in a million—replaceable, forgettable, insignificant.

But here’s the truth: you’re not just an apple. Inside you is the seed of something far greater. You have the power to grow, to expand, to become an orchard—a force of nature that can produce fruit for generations to come. The potential within you is limitless, but it’s useless unless you recognize it and do something about it.

We can’t stop there either. If you’re a Christian, this concept hits even closer to home. Within every Christian, there isn’t just potential for personal growth—there’s the potential to build a whole community of faith. Just like the orchard in the apple, there’s a church, a body of believers, a thriving community within you waiting to be cultivated.

Too many Christians walk around with a small vision, thinking that faith is a private matter, something personal and contained. We treat ministry like it’s something we can hire someone else to do for us. But the truth is, Christianity is meant to be lived out…in community…by everyone! Your faith isn’t just about you; it’s about the people where you live, work, and play.

Your faith isn’t meant to stay locked in the walls of your heart or the pews of a church. It’s meant to grow, to spread, to multiply. Just like an orchard starts with one apple, a thriving community of faith starts with one believer—one person willing to plant seeds of love, kindness, and truth in the lives of others.

Stop Settling

The problem is, most people settle for the apple when they could have the whole orchard. They settle for a paycheck when they could have financial freedom. They settle for good when they could have great. Why? Because they’re scared? Because they don’t believe in themselves? Because they’ve been conditioned to think small.

You need to start thinking like the orchard, not the apple. The orchard doesn’t just survive—it thrives. It doesn’t just exist—it expands. It takes up space, it demands attention, and it produces more than enough. The orchard is the picture of abundance, and that abundance is within your reach. It’s easy to see the limits of scarcity but Jesus took our scarcity and showed how abundant it truly was.

How to Cultivate Your Orchard and Your Community

I know I poke holes in status quo a lot on here. So here are some practical steps for shifting that focus. How do you tap into this orchard within you? How do you break free from the apple mindset and start living up to your true potential—both in your personal life and as a follower of Jesus? Here are a few thoughts:

  1. Imagination: First, you need to see the orchard. You need to believe that there’s more to you than what meets the eye. You need to imagine what life could be if you stopped settling and started striving. As a follower of Jesus, you need to see the community within you and believe that your faith can impact others.
  2. Farming Framework: Understand that the orchard doesn’t appear overnight. It takes time, effort, and patience. But it all starts with the seed—your potential. Nurture it, protect it, and watch it grow. In the same way, start small in your own circle—share your faith, serve others, and watch as your impact multiplies. Look at the relationships that already exist in your life. Why do you think God put those people here at this moment?
  3. Nike: Stop waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect opportunity, or the perfect conditions. Just Do It! Start planting today. Take action, no matter how small, toward your goals. Every seed you plant today is a tree that will bear fruit tomorrow. Don’t just attend church—be the church. Get involved, serve, and lead. Move from observing the faith in others and start owning the faith in you.
  4. Perseverance: Don’t give up when things get tough. Orchards face storms, droughts, and pests, but they survive because they are deeply rooted. Be resilient. Stay the course. In your faith, hold on to God’s promises and continue to sow seeds of righteousness, even when it’s hard.
  5. Harvest: Finally, don’t be afraid to reap the rewards of your hard work. When your orchard starts to bear fruit, don’t apologize for success. Share it, enjoy it, and let it inspire others to cultivate their own. As a Christian, celebrate the growth of your community and continue to foster the faith in others. Raise up new leaders and begin leaving a legacy of discipleship for those that will come after you.

You can sit there and let life pass you by, or you can realize that you’re carrying an orchard within you. You can choose to stay small, or you can unleash the abundance that’s been inside you all along.

Don’t let another day go by without tapping into your true potential. Don’t waste another minute thinking you’re just an apple when you could be so much more. The world needs your orchard—it needs what only you can provide.

And as a Christian, remember that your faith is the seed of something far greater. It’s the foundation of a community, a church, a movement. It’s time to stop thinking small and start cultivating the orchard within you.

Within every apple there’s an orchard. It’s time you start believing it.

Square Pegs in a Round World

August 12, 2024 / / 1 Comment

Ever feel like you’re the odd one out? Like no matter how hard you try, you just don’t fit into the mold everyone else seems to slide into so easily? Welcome to the life of a square peg in a round world. And guess what? That’s not just okay—it’s freaking fantastic.

I recently received this pen and immediately my mind started racing. There’s power in being a square peg or in this case pen. This thing won’t roll off my table. It won’t get lost under my desk. But more importantly it’s different which means it reminds me a little bit of myself.

Let’s get one thing straight: fitting in is overrated. And this is coming from a guy who used to bow to the masses and care what the world had to say. I was soft around the edges and tried to fit in and never stand out. But that is no longer who I am. There’s too much to lose by giving in to the powers of culture and society.

Society loves to push this idea that you’ve got to blend in, conform, and smooth out your edges to fit the round hole the world has carved out for you. But what if those edges are what make you, you? What if shaving them off means losing the very thing that makes you unique? Too many people spend their lives sanding down their differences just to be accepted, only to wake up one day and realize they’ve become a dull, lifeless version of themselves that looks like just about everyone around them!

And for what? A fleeting sense of belonging? Totally not worth it.

Standing out because you’re different isn’t a curse—it’s a blessing. It’s your golden ticket to a life that’s unapologetically authentic. So what if you don’t fit in? Who wants to be a carbon copy anyway? Square pegs don’t just follow the path—they carve out new ones. They push boundaries, sometimes break the rules, and even redefine what’s possible. Being a misfit means you’ve got the guts to be true to yourself in a world that’s constantly trying to make you someone else.

The beauty of being a square peg is that eventually, you find your people. The ones who aren’t interested in fitting into the round holes either. You know, the ones who don’t just tolerate your differences but celebrate them. When square pegs come together, they form a tribe that’s unbreakable. A community of people who get it—who get you. And let me tell you, there’s nothing more rewarding than finding those who stand out just like you do. It’s like finding a breath of fresh air in a world that often feels suffocating.

And here’s the kicker: when you embrace your square-pegness, you give others permission to do the same. You become a beacon for other misfits, showing them that it’s not just okay to be different—it’s powerful. Your willingness to stand out becomes a rallying cry for those who’ve been hiding their true selves, afraid to let the world see their sharp edges. You become a leader, not by blending in, but by standing up for what you believe and standing out no matter how much the world around you tries to shave your edges down.

So, stop trying to fit into a mold that was never meant for you. Stop sanding down your edges just to squeeze into a place that doesn’t appreciate your true shape. Own your square peg status. Embrace it. Because when you do, you’ll find a world full of other square pegs who are ready to stand out with you.

And trust me, that’s a world worth living in.

Be bold. Be different. Be the square peg that refuses to fit in.

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