1. People form impressions and conclusions from what we say.
2. As leaders people imitate us. What we say gives them permission to do likewise.
3. Our words have eternal ramifications: they are taken into account at the judgment as they reflect what condition of heart is.
B. INCREASING OUR INFLUENCE MEANS AVOIDING THESE SPEECH TRAPS
1. Gossip: spreading negative things about someone or something with those who are not part of the solution.1 Timothy 5:3
2. Slander: character assasination with the intention to hurt Eph 4:30,31
3. Lying: untruthful statement with the intention to deceive John 8:44
4. Criticizing and judging: tearing down something or someone; and forming wrong conclusions based on a set of incomplete information. Matthew 7:1-3
5. Complaining, grumbling and murmuring: expressing dissatisfaction, and discontent about something or someon. 1Cor 10:1-10
6. Boasting and Exaggeration: 1 Cor 4:7; Prov 27:2
C. INSTEAD OF THESE, TO INCREASE INFLUENCE SPEAK OUT OF THE GOOD TREASURE OF YOUR HEART: EPH 4: 29; EPH 5:4; COL 4:6
D. THE KEY TO TRANSFORMED SPEECH IS A HEART CONTINUALLY TRANSFORMED BY THE LOVE AND POWER OF JESUS CHRIST. A DISCIPLE WHO LIVES IN INTEARACTIVE FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD WILL EXPERIENCE THIS GRADUAL TRANSFORMATION.
II. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1.How has the talk of people you have interacted with impressed or depressed you?
2. Isaiah had an encounter in the temple with the holy God? Why was cleansing of his speech enacted by the hot coals in his mouth so important(Isaiah 6)? Why is it so important for us Christians?
3.How can an insecure person who feels inferior who has a tendency to gossip, criticize and judge others become more secure and more complimentary and affirmative of others?
4. How can a person cultivate a more trusting and grateful heart so that he reduces complaining, grumbling and murmuring?
5. What is the commonest sinful speech pattern for you: at school, at home, at the workplace, or at church? How can this habit be broken?
Ex-private banker Lilian Tan took a step of faith and now serves as the National Director of Alpha Singapore. Peter Koh, one of the stalwarts of the Alpha team, introduced the new national leader to Pastor Thomas and I over lunch. She used to lead out the Workplace Alpha based at Telok Ayer Methodist Church. Over the last five years she had seen over 1000 people do the Alpha Course at that strategic city location, with many coming to know Christ, or touched by the Spirit, or moved further along in the process of seeking God. It’s wonderful to see marketplace people take faith steps like these even as the market for private bankers with experience has tightened.
May her move inspire us to invest in God’s kingdom in whatever way he leads us to!
The men may not like to read this but it was a woman who birthed what I believe was the precursor to the contemporary megachurch. This woman’s name was Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944). After a short stint as a missionary’s wife was curtailed by her husband’s death, and a period of fruitful itinerant evangelistic preaching, she decided to base herself in Los Angeles, California. There she built an enormous church with a seating capacity of 5,300. The Angelus Temple, which was completed in 1923, became a forerunner of contemporary megachurches of today.
She incorporated Hollywood entertainment and theatrics to attract and hold the attention of the crowds. Once she had a giant whale built on stage and she dressed up as Jonah to preach. Another time she preached to the LA Police and came on stage on a motorbike in police uniform, dismounted it, blew the whistle, and shouted:”Stop! You are breaking the law! ” That’s drama for you. According to Wikipedia, her “illustrated sermons attracted people from the entertainment industry, looking to see a “show” that rivaled what Hollywood had to offer. These famous stage productions drew people who would never have thought to enter a church, and then presented them with her interpretation of the message of salvation. McPherson believed that the Gospel was to be presented at every opportunity, and used worldly means at her disposal to present it to as many people as possible”. She preached a gospel of love and reconciliation and grace, unlike the many preaching the hell and brimstone gospel. “McPherson was famous both inside and outside of religious circles. Every city where services were held usually had civic leaders in attendance, as well as pastors representing the local churches of every denomination. She made sure that Angelus Temple was represented in local parades and entered floats into the famous Rose Parade in Pasadena”.
Her messages were accompanied with signs following: people were “slain in the Spirit”, “drunk in spirit”, healed, speaking in tongues and other supernatural phenomena. The church was filled to capacity three times each day, seven days a week.
“She was also very skillful at fundraising. Collections were taken at every meeting, usually with the admonishment of “no coins, please”. When the $1.5 million Angelus Temple opened its doors, construction was already entirely paid for through private donations.”(Wikipedia)
She started a social and educational center for mid-western immigrants to California and during the Great Depression she supplied free hot meals for thousands of poor and hungry people.
She started a Bible School to train pastors and missionaries and by 1944 over 4000 have graduated from its doors. She also planted many satellite churches in the pattern of the Salvation Army and they evolved into a denomination called the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel.
When it came to communications Aimee was way ahead of many: she wrote scores of books, 180 songs, 7 sacred operas. She also published the weekly Foursquare Crusader and a monthly magazine called “Bridal Call”. She also began broadcasting on radio in its infancy in the early ’20s. McPherson was the first woman in history to preach a radio sermon, and with the opening of Foursquare Gospel-owned KFSG (now KXOL) on and was also the first woman to be granted a broadcast license by the Federal Radio Commission.
But her life was marked by controversy: her divorces, a suspicious kidnap and an alleged adulterous relationship, and her death from sedatives. Read more HERE and HERE.
The contemporary model of the megachurch is not a new idea: it’s almost a century-old!
Key Text:”Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith , in purity.”(1Timothy 4:1)
St Paul instructs Timothy to put in order the church in Ephesus. Timothy needed to excercise his influence and combat false teachers. He was relatively young and he had to lead older men. Paul told him how to counter his sense of inadequacy and natural lack of respect among the members for leaders younger than themselves:the power of example.
I. WHAT IS EXAMPLE
a. New International Dictionary of N.T. Theology says example is: “what an object leaves behind when pressed against another, such as a trace, a scar, the impress of a seal.”
b. Examples: branding a sheep; handprint on wet cement.
c. It is not trying to live up to a standard or doing a list of duties. It is allowing others to see what impact, impression, mark the Lord Jesus has left on your life. It is showing others the outworking of your faith and love relationship with Jesus, and it is a dynamic thing.
II. WHY IS EXAMPLE SO IMPORTANT FOR CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP?
a. Firstly it is because people follow leaders’ examples. They follow what they see not what they hear.
1. Eg. If our politiacl leaders, pop and movie stars, industry leaders, all smoked heavily, many more of our citizens will smoke cigarettes too. Same with corruption in top political leaders: a disease that can weigh down and impoverish a whole nation.
2. Different organizations need different kind of leaders. Armies need generals; corporations need CEOs. Purpose determine the kind of leaders you need. What is God’s purpose for the church? God’s purpose is that “those he foreknew, he predestined to be conflormed to the image of His Son”(Romans 8:29). God desires that every believer be transformed and changed into the character and likeness of Jesus Christ. As such the important quality a church leader needs is to be an example of Christlikeness. it is no wonder that the qualifications for elders are heavy on character and less on ability. Because God is interested in transformation and character. 1Peter 5:3 “…be examples to the flock” reinforces the importance of example in Christian leadership.
b. Secondly, example motivates, empowers, inspires change. 2Thess 3:7-11 Paul build tents and did not take financial support from the church specifically because some Thessalonians were using Jesus imminent return as an excuse to slack, and Paul wanted to use the power of example, to inspire change in them. Another example is Nehemiah who identified and worked with and sacrificed with the residents of Jerusalem and it inspired them to build the wall in record time.
c. Thirdly example gives hope to people who feel it is impossible to change. When one sees a person changed by Jesus in a difficult stubborn character flaw, instead of wallowing in defeat and discouragement, he is filled with hope.
III. CONCLUSION
As we grow in our relationship with Christ and allow Him to have his way in us, and impact us, we will have people saying, “These men have been with Jesus”, their lives make a difference. And they will want to change too.
II. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Is it realistic to expect humans with all their frailities to be examples? Do I need to be perfect to be an example or would it be sufficient for people to see me making progress? What other doubts and hesitations do you have about being an example?
2. How important is an exemplary marriage, home life and morality important for executives including the chief executive running a corporation? What about in politics ? What about in church? Why the differences?
3. Read these passages and discuss how Nehemiah’s example inspired his followers: a. Nehemiah 4: 21-23: b. Neh 5:6-12; c. Neh 5:14-19.
4. How has been my relationship with Christ? What has he been saying and doing in my life this past month?
5. How can I co-operate so that God can “impress” His likeness in me?
Pic on the left is Timothy P. (P for photogenic), a ministry staff with Bartley Christian Church in Singapore. I think he works with the young adults. He blogs HERE.
Another blogger, a lecturer in theology at STT Satyabhakti is Ekaputra Tupamahu(pic on right), an Indonesian. You may access his theology blog HERE.
If you do know of other Asian or Singaporean pastors who blog regularly do let me know by sending me his link in the comments box or contact box.
I had lunch with pastor Thomas and Boyd Au, and Shirley Lee. Now Boyd Au once worshipped with us and then later moved to Trinity Christian Center. He is the founder of ENZER the listed electronics company. He shared with us how the Lord led him to sell the whole business to some investors and now he runs a social enterprise called 7 Fish. The vision is to do a viable fish soup and rice business in hawker centers and using part of the profits to provide meals for the poor and needy in co-operation with social agencies. A great idea, I think. He also does mentoring with several Christian bosses to help them turn around their businesses.
Shirley Lee, whom Boyd introduced to us, was in advertising and now runs several reflexology centers but her passion is to reach out to the prostitutes in Geylang. She prayer walks the streets and talks to the ladies of the night and try to help those who are trapped and want to be set free. This is certainly a ministry that needs to be on our prayer list.
Wonderful isn’t it-God’s people using their business skills (honed in the marketplace) for the glory of God.
Now I have met another online pastor-friend Rev. Dr. Tony Siew (’Revelation is Real’- see my blogroll) who was in Singapore to give some lectures at Singapore Bible College. He preached in the main service on Sunday. He spoke about the graciousness of God and his text was Zechariah 4: 7. The church was blessed with the anointed message. As we got to know Tony my wife remarked that he is a personification of what he preached: a gentle and gracious person.
He brought along an interesting uncle, a Datuk Dr Alex Ho, a Roman Catholic, who over Whitley Rd prawn noodles, regaled us with entertaining anecdotes about the grace of God upon him as the personal physician to the former and present Johor Sultans and the royal family. He is now an active layman and has designed a program to help Catholics become Bible literate. Interesting character.
Tony Siew did his law and theological degrees and earned his doctorate in New Testament in New Zealand. He is pastor of Likas S.I.B. (Sidang Injil Borneo-450 strong church denomination) in Kota Kinabalu and also district superintendent over 24 churches. He is an ethnic Chinese pastoring the Bahasa Malaysian section of the indigenous churches made up of Kadazan-Dusuns and other tribal peoples of Borneo. To read his blog go HERE.
I first heard about moshing from worship lecturer Dr Lim Swee Hong of Trinity Theological College. During his lecture, he mentioned how a certain writer likened what you see in contemporary charismatic worship (particularly the megachurches) to the moshing you see in punk rock concerts. That really got me all curious. So I went to do some research about moshing.
Wikipedia describes moshing as “an activity in which audience members at live music performances aggressively push or slam into each other. Moshing is frequently accompanied by stage diving, crowd surfing, and headbanging. It is commonly associated with concerts by heavy metal, punk rock, and alternative rock artists, although it occurs at performances by musicians of all sorts of genres. Moshing primarily takes place at live shows, though it can be done to recorded music, too. In the 2000s, many variations of moshing exist, such as “thrash”, and the dance is practiced at concerts of many musical genres. Moshing is typically done in an area in front or the stage which is referred to as the mosh pit or circle pit. While moshing is seen as a form of positive feedback or reflection of enjoyment from live audiences, it has also drawn some controversy over its dangerous nature. However, it is generally agreed that moshers are not trying to harm one another and follow a “moshing etiquette” which promotes safety through behaviors such as immediately helping audience members that have fallen back to their feet to avoid their being trampled”. Urban Dictionary describes it as “a rock related dance which involves jumping up and down in a “mosh pit” full of fellow rockers to rock and heavy metal music”. Then I went to YouTube to get an idea of what it is like.
And then I compared it with a worship concert done by Hillsong United. Compare them for yourselves. You may think otherwise but I think they are different.
In fact moshing is more like what’s in this next video. Take a look at this and form your own conclusions.
Nowadays there are a great deal of “How to…” messages which give instructional, moralistic, practical, Readers Digest type advice albeit with a Christian makeover. While I admit there is a place for this, the diet of God’s people has to be balanced with Pauline ’s order of indicatives(what God has done for us) before imperatives(what we therefore ought to do in response). One of the more insightful succinct books I have read on preaching is “A Primer for Preachers” by Ian Pitt-Watson, a Professor of Preaching at Fuller Theological Seminary. I particularly like his emphasis that preaching the Good News is founded on driven by the ‘indicatives’ (who God is and what He has done). Here is an extract:
“What is preaching? It is procalmation, not just moralizing. It is Good News, not just good advice; it is gospel, not just law. Supremely, it is about God and what he has done, not just about us and about what we ought to do. Logically and theologically(though by no means always chronologically) preaching is about God before it is about us; it is about what God has done before it is about what we ought to do. Our self-understanding must flow from our understanding of God. When we speak of what we ought to do(as of course we must, our moral imperatives must issue from our knowledge of what God has done. Otherwise our imperatives are no more than pious moralizings that refuse to face the facts of life: “When I want to do the right, only the wrong is within my reachâ€(Rom 7:21). Or else, if the moral exhortations are seriously intended and seriously attempted, the consequence is simply to compound in our hearers their burden of guilt when, inevitably, they make the same desolating discovery that Paul made: “The good which I want to do, I fail to do; but what I do is the wrong which is against my willâ€(Rom 7:19). Only through what God is and has done can I be what I ought to be and do what I ought to do. What I cannot do for myself, “what the law could never do, because [my] lower nature robbed it of all potency, God has done.†At heart, preaching is about what “God has done: by sending his own Son in a form like that of our own sinful natureâ€(Rom 8:3). That is the gospel.
The practical consequences of these theological conclusions are of immense importance to the preacher. Now that the “what?†question has been faced, the “how do you dos†of preaching can be answered with more confidence. If preaching is to be proclamation and not mere moralizing, then the ethics of our preaching must be rooted in the theology of our preaching. We cannot make sense of who we are and what we ought to do until first we know who God is and what he has done in Jesus Christ. The Christian ethic, severed from its theological roots, is no more than a new law, more demanding and therefore more burdensome than the old. That is why it is always so clear in the letters of Paul that the ethic flows out of the theology. We can be what we ought to be and do what we ought to do only because of what God is and has done. The theology empowers the ethic; it does not just accompany it with an encouraging, heavenly-father pat on the back. For every imperative of the Christian ethic there is an empowering indicative of Christian theology. In the Sermon on the Mount the imperatives are indeed there and inescapable in their demand. But they are more than imperatives; they are descriptions of life in the kingdom of God, indicatives of that kingdom. Perhaps that is why the Sermon begins, not in the imperative mood speaking of how things ought to be, but in the indicative mood speaking of how things are. “How blest are those who know their need of God; the kingdom of heaven is theirsâ€(Matt, 5:3). This is how things are in the kingdom that in Christ is already in our midst. People are happy(makarios) with the special kind of happiness that comes from God alone. The most surprising people are happy in the most surprising circumstances. They are not told to be happy or trying to be happy. They just are happy. The blessed indicative of the Beatitudes precedes and empowers the demanding imperatives of the kingdom that are to follow.
“Don’t preach!†means “Don’t just tell me what to do; help me to do it.†That is precisely what authentic biblical preaching is all about. It is about action encabled by insight, imperatives empowered by indicatives, ethics rooted in theology, “what we ought to do†made possible by what God has done.(p21,22).”
If only more pastors including myself can better understand and practice this balance and interaction between the indicative and imperatives. It will result in a more transformational framework and balance.
Last Sunday, we started training for the Mt Kinabalu Youth Adventure 3 (7-11 March 08). The leader is Peter Lim, who can work with and challenge young people. So I’ll be trekking Bukit Timah Hill every Sunday at 3.30pm with the 16 trekkers, mostly from the church. Sam Sin has set up a nice website-blog for participant-writers to journal their thoughts. I have linked it on my blogroll for those who want to follow the fun and process. To go there click HERE.
the entertainment industry, looking to see a “show” that rivaled what Hollywood had to offer. These famous stage productions drew people who would never have thought to enter a church, and then presented them with her interpretation of the message of salvation. McPherson believed that the Gospel was to be presented at every opportunity, and used worldly means at her disposal to present it to as many people as possible”. She preached a gospel of love and reconciliation and grace, unlike the many preaching the hell and brimstone gospel. “McPherson was famous both inside and outside of religious circles. Every city where services were held usually had civic leaders in attendance, as well as pastors representing the local churches of every denomination. She made sure that Angelus Temple was represented in local parades and entered floats into the famous Rose Parade in Pasadena”.
“drunk in spirit”, healed, speaking in tongues and other supernatural phenomena. The church was filled to capacity three times each day, seven days a week.
