http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/11/assemblies_of_go

I just got back from Phoenix. The Assemblies of God Church Planting Summit was a great experience. The Christian Post has the story here.

On the plane back, I wrote a bit about my friends in the Assemblies of God, returning a favor from Earl Creps blog here.

The Assemblies of God has a bold vision, called MX9, that they will have 1000 church plants planned or underway by 2009. This is a great step forward… and a great increase over where they are now.

I have a long term friendship and an appreciation for the Assemblies of God leadership. Earlier this summer, I spoke at the General Assembly of the Assemblies of God in Indianapolis at the request of Steve Pike, who is their church planting movement leader (and an all around great guy, having planted a strong church in Colorado and now investing his life in planters).

This year’s convention was a bit more interesting than usual as the General Superintendent and movement statesman, Thomas Trask, suddenly resigned a few months prior. (The suddenness was for all good reasons.) Thus, the position was open and an election had to be held.

They elected George Wood—who has cast a bold and exciting new vision. I have not met yet George, but they are very excited that he is speaking at the church planting summit today.

Here are a few Assemblies of God fun facts just for you:

• Fact #1: Blogs are playing an increasing role in their denomination. One of their best known “reformist” blogs is futureag.blogspot.com. To my knowledge, they do not have any “establishment” blogs. (If there are, let me know and I will add them.)

• Fact #2: One of the more controversial discussions in their movement is the desire by some (particularly the reformists) to downplay what others consider a central Pentecostal distinctive—that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit manifests itself with the “initial physical evidence” of speaking in tongues. You can read that debate here. Should be interesting…

• Fact #3: While on the topic of distinctives, you might find it odd that, while speaking at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary on the subject of the "Future of Church and Mission," I briefly mentioned the important of doctinal distinctives (and talked about my own denominations distinctives). I did this after a question from a student about why we can’t tear down all the denominational walls and just work together. You can listen to those talks here to see how it fit. (The Pentecostal Evangel turned my lectures there into an article in their pastors’ journal.)

I explained that I thought it was a mistake for us to pretend that we do not have differing views on certain issues that make it hard for us to cooperate in local church planting. We can cooperate on church systems training, evangelism campaigns, prayer, and so many other things… but that breaks down in local church planting. For example, at the first baptism you have decide if you need a “cup” or a “tub.” (Or, in the case of my A.G. friends, when we start talking about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit… which we believe occurs at conversion and they believe occurs later.) But, it does not mean we can’t work together.

• Fact #4: When the General Superintendent position is open, they have an election. Now, unlike in some denominations, there is no politicking, endorsements, or metaphorically “smoke filled" rooms. Instead, they just keep voting until the Spirit picks the right leader—and that took 6 (that’s right, 6) ballots. Yikes.

• Fact #5: When we did the research on church planting that involved 12 denominations, networks, and movements, the Assemblies was one of the participating denominations. Their church plants stood out for their evangelistic effectiveness. When I asked Steve Pike, their national church planting director, why their church plants were more evangelistically effective. He quipped with a smile, “because we speak in tongues.” We laughed. When he made that quip to the Executive Presbyters of his movement, they agreed—and increased his funding. Glad we could help!

• Fact #6: According to new research, Assemblies of God people have better hair.




• Fact #7: Mark Batterson is the author of the recent book, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day based on an obscure reference in 1 Chronicles 11:22 “Benaiah son of Jehoiada was the son of a brave man from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. Benaiah killed two sons of Ariel of Moab, and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion” (HCSB).

Mark is an Assemblies of God pastor at National Community Church reaching a group of young professionals in the District of Columbia using movie theatres and a very well done “third place” called the Ebenezer Café. (I interviewed Mark for our Leadership Network church planting research—he blogged about it here.) LifeWay is publishing his new resource kit through Threads Media. Be sure to get more information by clicking the graphic: .

Fact #8: Two of the well known leaders in the Assemblies of God are both named James Davis. And they are identical twins. They must have great appreciation for their parent’s creativity.
I found this out when I met James Davis(at left) while speaking to the Georgia District of the Assemblies of God and I asked some things about his ministry—and then he told me that was his brother, James Davis(at right), who is now leading the Second Billion Initiative. I must confess it took some convincing for me to believe that James was not James.)

• Fact #9: I taught at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary early this year and spent some time with the President, Byron Klaus—who is a Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary graduate and keeps up with (and says good things about) his friend Paige Patterson, whose seminary has taken a position against some practices associated with Pentecostal Christianity. I think it is important to note that people can still be friends even when they disagree.

Fact #10: One of my favorite Assemblies of God stories involves my friend Alton Garrison. He is the former head of U.S. Missions for the movement (they don’t like to be called a denomination). He is currently the Assistant General Superintendent, having been elected to the position this summer. A while back I preached at First Baptist of Branson, Missouri, just down the road from their headquarters. Alton came over that morning to visit the church—and it was his 52nd birthday. So, I had him stand, introduced him to the church and said, “It is Alton’s 52nd birthday and he could not think of a better place to spend it at First Baptist.” Alton told all his staff the next day and did not lose his job!

• Fact #11: The Assemblies of God people told me that Earl Creps is the Ed Stetzer of their movement. I don’t know that what means, but now I know you should pray for Earl more. Grin. (By the way, Earl partly blames me for his leaving the seminary to plant a church in Berkeley—but I think it was the Holy Spirit.)

I always appreciate the Assemblies of God as they are a lot like my own denomination, just with some “extra” stuff. They have a similar sociological background, a high view of scripture, a passion for evangelism and church planting, a vision for the future. They also have distintives that matter to them, just as I do. And, finally, they have just about the same rules of my denomination – but they do seem a lot happier about them!

And, one confession: I do appreciate and relish the fact that I am blogging extensively on church planting and the Assemblies of God after several days of Calvinism blogs. It is good for all involved to see how God is at work in different parts of His Church.

So, all you Calvinists don’t get too freaked out reading about REAL Arminians. I will be posting more about the Calvinism research Monday-- including Nathan Finn's written presentation.

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/more_calvinism_i

Here are the two files from the Calvinism discussion panel. Click part 1 or part 2 for the files.

Nathan Finn's paper is here. And, Nathan also posts a plea for kindness in the debate-- what an idea.

Tomorrow, I will post more information about the Calvinism research.

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/11/nbc_nightly_news

Al Mohler and Tadd Grandstaff were on NBC Nightly News Friday night. See the teaser here:



You can see the video of the actual report here.

Three things stood out to me.


First, Tadd's church is far from an "emerging church." They are a contemporary church... and an edgy one at that. But, the piece was described as a look at the Emerging Church and its impact on politics. It was not.

Second, NBC tried to make the piece about homosexuality and the apparent disagreement between Al Mohler and Grandstaff's church. However, there is no disagreement as best I can tell. I could tell you a lot of areas where they would disagree (trust me), but that is not one of them.

On the homosexuality issue, Grandstaff has indicated that quotes were used out of context. Tadd wrote on his blog:

[T]he response to Jennifer's Snipes question was taken completely out of context. Her original question was, “How do you see politics and the church effecting the 2008 election?” In which her resonse was, “I think that is a personal issue…set aside from any church issues.” Her question was never anything about homosexuality.

Third and finally, the better and more detailed interview between Brokhaw and Grandstaff is here. The information here is much more clear.

There is a story out there on the Emerging Church and the move away from conservative politics, but it does not involve Tadd, it involves people with names like Brian, Tony, and Doug.

The boys at GetReligion.org have not yet broken open their usual can of stomp at religous media misreporting, but I am sure they will soon.

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/protestant_churc

Today, I speak at the PCPA meeting at the United Methodist Publishing House, unfortunately abbreviated UMPH.

UMPH owns Abingdon Press which publishes at least three of my friends: Lyle Schaller, Bob Whitesel, and Bill Easum.

I will be present our recent research on young church dropouts. If you are new to the blog, you can read more about it here.

The PCPA website explains, "In 1951, PCPA was incorporated with the intent to be devoted to the welfare of the official Church-owned publishing houses in fulfilling their functions as church service agencies."

I have promised those who invited me that I will put a little umph into my presentaiton. (I tried not to make the bad joke, but could not resist.)

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/quick_update_on_

I mentioned earlier about Tadd Grandstaff, who Tom Brokaw thinks is both in the Emerging Church and a threat the Republican Party hegemony over evangelicals (particularly in regards to moral issues such as homosexuality).

I don't know about you, but when I think of Emerging Church, I think of that bastion of theological re-imaging, Liberty University.

That is where Tadd comes from: see the November newsletter of Liberty University Church Planting Center where they wrote:

L[iberty] U[niversity] grad Tadd Grandstaff took notes and learned well during his first 10 years in ministry. Following a 4 year stint in TRBC Youth Ministry, Tadd served at West Ridge Church in Hiram, Georgia for 2 years (under Sr. Pastor Brian Bloye, also a LU grad), then participated in 2 of West Ridge’s church plants.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... maybe they had another agenda in the report.

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/columbia_ciu_chu

I just returned from a day in Columbia, SC. I was there to lead a conference on Mike Dodson and my new book, ComeBack Churches. I met with a group of "Directors of Missions," which are local leaders (often a county or two) who both consult with churches and help them partner for mission.



While in town, I stopped by to meet and have breakfast with the leadership of Columbia International University. I have had the privilege to teach at C.I.U. twice and have been very impressed with the school. (I have taught in their A.I.M. program which I think is a model program for schools wanting to train in-service leaders.)

Wikipedia describes the history as follows:

CIU began from modest beginnings in 1923 when it was founded as Columbia Bible School. The original purpose was to provide a two year course of study in biblical studies for local mill workers. By 1927, the decision was made to convert the school into a college and begin offering bachelor’s degrees in Bible. A location in downtown Columbia was established and the first dean (later president) of the college was chosen. The school continued to grow and eventually required a new campus. The college was relocated in 1960 to its present facility on Monticello Road. It was during the 1960’s that the institution’s longest serving president, Robertson McQuilkin, son of the first dean of Columbia Bible College, was inaugurated. During this period, the institution also changed its name to Columbia Bible College and Seminary. The name was changed yet again in 1994 to Columbia International University to highlight the growing educational mission as well as to demonstrate a commitment to preparing students from all parts of the world for global Christian service.

Catching up with Bill Jones (new C.I.U. President on left) and Junias Venegopal (seminary Dean on right) is always a great experience. These guys are passionate about the gospel and worldwide evangelization.

I spend a lot of time on seminary campuses, but Columbia is most impressive. It does not have fancy buildings (though they are nice), but it has one of the most multicultural contexts I have seen. Teaching there involves teaching people from many different continents.

Also, there is a unique spiritual environment at C.I.U. The school is deeply influenced by the Keswisk movement that started with a series of conventions focused on the Higher Life. The movement has not been without some controversy, but the focus on "dying to self" and "the saving life of Christ" has been a challenge to my own spiritual journey and have helped shape a discipleship focused campus.

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/interim_teaching

Today it was announced that I will be the Interim Teaching Pastor at First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, TN.

I must admit that I am a bit surprised they asked... but God seemed to put us there at the needful time. The former pastor, Glenn Weekley, had been part of asking me to fill in during his treatment and recovery. As I wrote about earlier, he did not recover, and died in early September.

As Donna and I took the day yesterday to pray, we were reminded of how the timing was more than a coincidence... and yesterday I shared with the church leadership that I would serve with them during this transition time.
What is an Interim Teaching Pastor?

Well, basically, it means I will bring the message every Sunday morning. My family and I will be involved in the life of the church, but they have a very capable staff who will actually coordinate the day-to-day ministry.

My job: to listen to the heartbeat of the church and bring God's word each week. They will be searching for a pastor and when they find one, I will be done with my assignment there. Typically, it takes a while in a church like this. (Executive Pastor Bob Landham mentioned "two years" this morning, but it could be more or less.)

For those who might be interested, we will be podcasting (and perhaps vodcasting) the messages so I will share more about that soon.

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/ywam_shooting.ht

We don't know details, but there has been a shooting at a Youth With a Mission training facility... see here for more info. Please be praying.

Update: YMAM posts an update and some photos of young men and women who give all for Christ.

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/missions_and_vio

This weekend we were struck with the very real prospect of violence and missions as a gunman attacked a Youth With a Mission training facility and New Life Church.

Although it makes bigger news when it is on U.S. soil, mission work takes place in violent contexts every day-- and missionaries and nationals lose their lives.

Today, when I came home, I found that my copy of Keith Eitel's timely book had arrived. I cannot find a graphic or a link, but I will update it when I can. The book is called, Missions in the Contexts of Violence.

I have skimmed the book and it looks like an important new read with a breadth of contributing authors.

This book is part of a series published by the folks at the Evangelical Missiological Society. You can find the whole series, minus this new book, here (click on publications).

I believe that such violence will get worse, and not better, in the coming years. But, as IMB spokesman (at that time) Mark Kelly said:

Missions has always been a dangerous enterprise... In 1845, it was shipwrecks and malaria. Today, it's bandits and car wrecks. There simply aren't any safe places, even here in the United States. While safety is important, every missionary decides as part of obeying the missions mandate that it is better to serve God where he calls than it is to disobey and remain where it is 'safe.'

Keith Eitel quotes martyred missionary Karen Watson, who wrote a letter before she was killed along with three other missionaries in an ambush in Iraq. She wrote a letter before she left that would have profound significance after her death.

Keith reports that she told her pastor to put the letter in a safe place in case she did not return. She did not.

Karen's letter included this credo:

The Missionary HeartCares more than some think is wise.
Risks more than some think is safe.
Dreams more than some think is practical.
Expects more than some think is possible.

May we all learn from the missionaries that our lives are not our own, and Christ may call us to make the greatest sacrifice.

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/church_planting_

I just received and email from the folks at Global Church Advancement about their upcoming conference. Yesterday, Acts 29 posted their upcoming conference. The Next Initiative (the Purpose Driven church planting guys) are also planning their church planting conference that week. And, we will be talking church planting at Liberty that same week. Yikes.

What does it all mean? God is working in church planting! And He appears to be doing it all in one week.

Take a look and attend a conference of your choice.

Global Church Advancement



The GCA email I just received explains about their Orlando conference:

Ed Stetzer, Director of LifeWay Research and LifeWay’s Missiologist in Residence joins Steve Childers, Tom Nebel, Randy Pope, Scotty Smith, Daniel Montgomery, Chan Kilgore, and 20 other church planting leaders at the North America Church Planting Conference January 28 - February 1, 2008 in Orlando, Florida... Join 400 other church planters and leaders for Ed's half-day Workshop or experience the entire week of excellent training (more than 75 workshops), networking (with leaders from 30 denominations), daily corporate worship and heart renewal.

Steve Childers, the President of Global Church Advancement, has a heart for planters—and they do a great job preparing them in both the biblical and the practical.


Acts 29

The Acts 29 site just posted the ckeeky title, "No Blow-Hards in the Windy City."

They explained:

Speaking at the boot camp in Chicago is Mark Driscoll, Ed Stetzer, Mark Dever and Darrin Patrick. Dr D.A. Carson has also been invited but is not yet confirmed. We are blessed to have the caliber of men to lead and train this conference. The boot camp is a theological compass to guide the church planter. It is not a “how-to” for church planting. Participants will hear about contextualized preaching, gospel-centered theology, how a missional church is a biblical church, leading the mission of Jesus, the characteristics of a missional church planter and marks of a healthy church plant.

Carson, huh? We will see if he shows. Grin. But, either way, it will be a great week focusing on the gospel and transformation.


The NEXT Initiative

The guys at the NEXT Initiative also have a conference in Ocala that week. Ron Sylvia, the director, has asked me to be a part and I am trying to be there, but they have a great group already speaking. They explain:

Jan 29-30, 2008 || Ocala, FL, Feb 5-6, 2008 || Phoenix, AZ
Start with a Crowd, not a Core!
Most churches never grow beyond 200. But over 70% of churches we've coached have broken through the 200 barrier in the first two years!
NEXT emphasizes the power of the Gospel to transform an audience into a congregation. Don't miss the NEXT conference! We will show you how to start a church with momentum by launching large.

These NEXT Initiative guys have a passion and a plan to start 1000 churches… and they are well on their way. Ron and I have been friends for years and he is the real deal.


Thomas Road and Liberty University

On Wednesday night, I will be speaking at Thomas Road in Lynchburg, VA. The next day, several of us are meeting with new pastor Jonathan Falwell, who wants to create a major church planting initiative. They have already set part of the theme for their new Innovate Church conference around church planting. Liberty already has a great church planting center, but they are talking about stepping it up to a new level.

So, a big week for church planting. Hope to see you there.

By the way, we like to list church planting conferences at our church planting site, www.newchurches.com. If you have a conference, please let us know at NewChurches.Com at this page. I co-sponor the site along with Church Plant Media, and Passion for Planting. (Passion for Planting are the guys who help coordinate the Mother of All Church Planting Conferences: The National New Church Conferencehttp://www.exponentialconference.org/.) By the way, the NNCC (now called "The Exponential Conference" is already at double the registration from last year...

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/off_to_chicago_a

I fly to Chicago in the morning. The weather does not look good, but we shall see if I make it.

I will be spending the day with some of the missions and pastoral ministries faculty at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Trinity has a great slogan about "studying with the ones who WROTE the books," so I am looking forward to spending time with these great leaders and thinkers.

While I am off to one meeting, let me point you to a story from an earlier meeting.


You can see a good recap here (as always, done well by Mike Ebert from NAMB and Polly House from LifeWay) about a joint strategy meeting with our SBC state conventions, NAMB (my former employer), and LifeWay (my current employer).

There are several interesting items in the story, including Geoff Hammond's comment that, "This is not your father's North America... What used to be a melting pot has become a mixing pot. Cities like New York have 500 people groups represented."

Also, Anthony Jordan, Oklahoma State Exec, echoed the hope of many that, "This may be the beginning of a Great Commission resurgence..." calling on our denominational leaders to work together.

Also, Thom Rainer explains some megatrends in the church. The article listed:

-- The disappearance of the 18-24-year-old in church. Rainer said LifeWay Research has well documented the dropout trends of this age group, and while the church has always seen a drop as young people transition from school to the workforce, "there are solutions emerging."

-- The growth in the multi-venue and multi-campus church.

-- The desire for deeper biblical doctrinal studies. "Those in our churches are asking for preaching with biblical depth in addition to life application," Rainer said.

-- The slowdown in the growth rate of mega-churches. "Not a decrease in the number of mega-churches," Rainer clarified, "but a slowing in the rate of growth."

-- The shortage of pastors. Seminary graduates "don't see themselves in rural, white collar or traditional churches," Rainer noted. "Some states are already seeing a crisis" among traditional churches.

-- The increasing demand for processes. "Churches are asking for help to put resources together," Rainer noted. "Churches are saying: 'Don't just give us products, show how I disciple this young believer.'"

There is some (intentionally) vague reference to some research I presented at the meeting. The reason it is vague is that we plan to do a full release later.

More soon…

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/i_have_been_publ

... and I have responded to the accusation here. For the record, I deny that I did it (much). I also deny that Beth Moore is in any way related to NAMB or can be compared to a certain preacher inferred in the post (and we love her at LifeWay and think she is a great Bible teacher).

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/more_on_the_calv

We just posted the Calvinism research data at LifeWay Research. Click the header above to head over to the LifeWay Research site. Also, you can read some of the presentations and listen to the messages here.


Research FAQs

One of the primary reasons LifeWay Research created this blog was to interact on research.

I was interviewed by Christianity Today yesterday about the research I presented at Ridgcrest. As such, that prompted me to write down a few answers... So, let me share a few FAQs with you.

These issues are also addressed in the presentation (you can listen here).


How did the survey originate?

There were two surveys—one from LifeWay and one that was done at NAMB. The LifeWay survey was of all pastors and the NAMB survey was for recent seminary graduates.

I presented both studies at the Ridgecrest Building Bridges Conference.

For more information about the LifeWay Calvinism research from last year, click here.

We have posted a PowerPoint with the NAMB data here.

The NAMB research was part of a bigger project that included a few Calvinism related questions.

When NAMB began the Nehemiah Project, there was an agreement with the participating schools that there would be an evaluation at a later date. The NAMB leadership decided to do a robust survey on issues that could then be cross-tabbed with NAMB focus areas. Thus, the NAMB survey asked about many different issues, including Calvinism, and then cross-tabbed to see if those issues impacted such things as planting new churches, evangelistic effectiveness, and other factors.

The survey, called “New Millennium Ministers,” was originally developed by the Center for Missional Research team, then modified by the NAMB Executive Leadership team, sent to the Nehemiah Project Professors at the SBC seminaries for feedback, then emailed to the provosts of the seminaries, and finally sent to the recent graduates.

The work was primarily done by Richie Stanley (Director of Research at NAMB) and through a contract with Reggie Ogea (professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary). Dr. Ogea worked with many New Orleans students to make phone calls, analyze data, and do other research. (For example, you may be interested in the recently released research from NAMB on recent graduates and their views of church planting. Other data will be forthcoming from NAMB.)

The Nehemiah Project professors, who serve in joint appointments with their school and the North American Mission Board, worked with the alumni offices of their schools to obtain mailing lists of recent graduates. (The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary declined to share these names, citing policy reasons.)

A letter was sent out to all graduates inviting them to participate in the on-line survey. Over 2000 did.


Why is LifeWay Releasing NAMB’s Research?

Perhaps because they do not want to write long FAQ files. Grin.

But, more seriously, the new leadership under Geoff Hammond “gave” us data from much of the New Millennium Ministers survey because they are looking to create a laser focus on evangelism, church planting, and sending missionaries. If you have been watching NAMB lately, you will find them to be greatly focused on their core mission.

Releasing studies on Calvinism was better suited at LifeWay Research, particularly since we have now been “assigned” such research by the Southern Baptist Convention. NAMB was able to learn what it needed from the research—how do these things impact evangelism and church planting. Knowing the percentage of Calvinists is less essential to them than knowing Calvinism’s impact on their core mission.


Why did you not release the numbers by school?

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary did not to release the data along with the other schools. So, we had a complete listing of all the Masters level graduates of the SBC seminaries—with the exception of SBTS.

Because we did not want to leave them out completely, we spent many additional dollars and hours to find a sample of recent SBTS graduates. (We did this by searching for graduation announcements in state papers.) That yielded 52 survey responses.

Although those 52 were very similar on most of the issues, there were some where they differed. So, in order to avoid the situation where the sample size was criticized for being too small, we did not release the exact numbers. However, we did rank the Calvinist percentage by school. As I indicated in my presentation, Southern, Midwestern, and Golden Gate had, in that order, more graduates who identified with Calvinism. We released that information at the Ridgecrest conference.

Feel free to interact below.

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/helping_students

The Dropout Study showed the importance of Pastors relating to teens (see relevant preaching). This senior pastor caught our attention, because he already had a track record of trying to prepare the students in his church for the changes that were going to take place once they graduated from high school.

In a recent email, Ken Sirmans, pastor of Rockdale Baptist Church in Conyers, GA shares some great suggestions as he has applied the research findings in practical way for his church.
Ed and research team,

Thank you for the invaluable work you've done on the 18-24 issue. While I
found your research and suggestions to be challenging and helpful, there
seemed to be one obvious response that was never mentioned. If your
research is correct, and the number one reason this age group drops out of
church is life changes, shouldn't a part of our response be to help
facilitate a smooth transition over and through this huge life change? We
must find ways to carefully hand off students from youth ministry to the
next step of spiritual and personal development.

Within a church, leaders must work harder at bridging the transition from
youth ministry to college ministry along with connecting students to the
larger church body as you mentioned in your study. However, we can't just
be concerned about a smooth transition for those who stay in our church.
We must find ways to facilitate this transition even among students who go
away to college.

I have 2 suggestions. The first suggestion is something we do, although in
light of the research it needs to be expanded. As their senior pastor, I
go on a mission trip every other year with the 11th and 12th graders. In
addition to spending time with them and introducing them to missions, I
lead the devotions for the week. The devotions are focused on the
transitions they need to prepare for as they get ready to go to college. I
talk to them about temptations, increased opportunity and decreased
accountability, the need to identify with a church where they go to college
and to join that church, and developing and maintaining spiritual
disciplines. I also talk to them about issues such as money management and
piranha-like credit card companies that want to draw them into debt, time
management and organization, and the changes that will occur in their
relationship to their parents during this transition. I emphasize that
they will be different people when they return from college for Christmas
break. They will have experienced 3 months of unprecedented freedom and
living back at home, even for 3 weeks, is often a challenge both for
parents and students.

The week I spend with the students is an attempt to begin to prepare the
students for the transition. Certainly this needs to be expanded to a
discipleship study or something that covers several weeks or months, which
could facilitate the relationships/mentoring you suggested. I plan to meet
with some of our college students over Christmas break and simply ask them
how we could have done better.

My second suggestion is that churches be more proactive in helping students
identify a community of faith where they're going to college. The church I
pastor is not in a college town. However, the majority of our students
attend 1 of 4 colleges. I think we need to build relationships with 3
churches in each of those college towns. We should get to know the church,
the staff, the teaching, and then encourage our graduating students to
consider these churches. Schools provide college preview trips for juniors
and seniors. Should churches provide college church preview trips in
which we take our students to the 3 churches, introduce them to the college
leaders and then work in partnership with those leaders so our students
don't fall through the cracks?

Nothing's foolproof, but if life change is one of the bigger issues, is a
part of the answer to be proactive about making a smooth hand off from one
church ministry to another?

Thanks for letting me be a part of the conversation,

Ken Sirmans
Rockdale Baptist Church
Conyers, GA

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/in_philly_jason_

Yesterday I was in Philadelphia at a NAMB Missional Network event. It was good to see friends from many different churches there.

We had a morning dialogue with the pastors, church planters, and others at Real Life Church (more about them below).


The setting was great for dialogue.


And discussion.


And community.


After the morning dialogue, we then went over to Nazarene Baptist Church for the afternoon meeting. Nazarene Baptist Church has the unique challenge that if you mix up the name, it changes denominations. Grin.

The church is a large African-American church, pastored by the state convention president, Keith Marshall Williams, Jr., who was recently elected to be the “President” of the State Convention Presidents Fellowship.

The contrasts between the two churches were fascinating-- and it was encouraging that we were able to meet in both places in one day. The meetings illustrate the kind of partnership evidenced in these churches.

Let me specifically mention Rob Burns and Real Life Church. They were gracious to host the event in Philadelphia. The church is a new SBC church plant, also networked with Acts 29.

They started their church by purchasing a former neighborhood bar. (In the Northeast, most urban contexts have a small bar that caters to the people who live nearby.) The bar serves as something of a "Third Place." Wikipedia explains:

"The Third Place" is a term used in the concept of community building to refer to social surroundings separate from the two usual social environments of home and the workplace. In his influential book The Great, Good Place, Ray Oldenburg argues that third places are important for civil society, democracy, civic engagement, and establishing feelings of a sense of place.

Oldenburg coins “first” place as our home and those we live with. Our second place is the workplace — where we may actually spend most of our time. Third places, then are "anchors" of community life and facilitate and foster broader, more creative interaction. All societies already have informal meeting places; what is new in our day is the intentionality of seeking them out as vital to our current societal needs. Oldbenburg suggests these hallmarks of a true "third place": free or inexpensive; food and drink, while not essential, are important; highly accessible: proximate for many (walking distance); involve regulars - those who habitually congregate there; welcoming and comfortable; both new friends and old should be found there. (58)

As part of their mission strategy, Real Life Church bought the bar, extensively renovated it, and turned it into a coffee and snack bar. And, it is an intentional Third Place outreach and church.

There is a helpful article on Third Place ministries here. It is worth a read.

Pray for Real Life Cafe that is helping make Real Life Church possible.



They are reaching Bridesburg, a section of the city that few know. It is very white, very Irish, and very Catholic.

This is hard soil, but the church plant is already seeing 60 or so people attend each week. That is remarkable for a year old church in a community like this.

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/lifeway_research

At LifeWay Research, we recognize that research is often a part of discussions and debates. That will always be the case.

However, it is important that the research be accurately cited. This week, on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, it was not.
Last week a program aired, which can be seen in its entirety here, including some inaccurate information regarding LifeWay Research's recent study on the issue of "speaking in tongues."

This statement, from Pastor Dwain Miller of Cross Life Church in El Doreado, Arkansas, is not accurate:

“LifeWay… this past summer... did a survey… and they reported that 51% of Southern Baptist pastors believe in speaking in tongues as one of the gifts… The truth is that there are more than half, I believe, of Southern Baptist pastors, anonymously surveyed… said they practice a private prayer language... but they were anonymous about it."

I am assuming that Pastor Miller has taken the percent answering the survey question about belief (see the actual question below) and confused it with a claim of practice.

They are not the same thing.

Here is the correct information (click here for the original article):

Private prayer language

The survey asked Protestant pastors, SBC pastors, and laity their beliefs about private prayer language using this question wording: “Do you believe that the Holy Spirit gives some people the gift of a special language to pray to God privately? Some people refer to this as a Private Prayer Language or the ‘private use of tongues.’”

Fifty percent of Southern Baptist pastors answered “Yes,” 43 percent said “No,” and 7 percent responded “Don’t know.”

Non-SBC pastors are more likely to believe that the Holy Spirit gives some people a private prayer language than Southern Baptist pastors. Sixty-six percent of non-SBC pastors responded “Yes,” 32 percent responded “No,” and 3 percent responded “Don’t know.”

Protestant pastors (Southern Baptists and non-SBC) are more likely to believe the Holy Spirit gives some people a private prayer language (63 percent) than Protestant laity (51 percent).

Of the Protestant laity surveyed, 15 percent responded “Don’t know” when asked if they believe in the gift of private prayer language. Of the Protestant pastors, only 3 percent are unsure.

Later today, I will be calling Pastor Dwain Miller of Cross Life Church in El Doreado, Arkansas to inform him that he has an incorrect perception of our research. As a brother in Christ, I know that he will want to know the correct information. Furthermore, I will be writing the program host and TBN leadership asking that they edit the incorrect information from the program so that people are not confused by the inaccurate statement.

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/the_theology_of_

I have been doing a series of messages at my church that focus on the Theology of Christmas. I have not talked much about donkeys, wise men, and shepherds... though they are important. Instead, my focus has been on what God did in Christ.

You can download here:

The Theology of Christmas: Incarnation
The Theology of Christmas: Kenosis

This week I will preach "The Theology of Christmas: Glory."

Here is the outline of the Incarnation message:

The Incarnation of Christmas
John 1:14

John 1:14 (HCSB) The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

1. God the Son, Who Always Was,…

“The Word”

John 1:1-3 (HCSB) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.

John 6:38 (HCSB) For I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

John 8:58-59 (HCSB) 58 Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am.” 59 At that, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple complex.

2. Took On Flesh and Lived Among Us…

“became flesh”

Philippians 2:5-8 (HCSB)

Hebrews 2:14-15 (HCSB) 14 Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, He also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the Devil— 15 and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.

3. To Glorify God and Redeem Us.

“We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Hebrews 1:3 (HCSB) He is the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature, and He sustains all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/mormonism_incarn

Before I preached the Incarnation message I mentioned yesterday, I was asked to comment for a Wall Street Journal "reaction" story, responding to Romney's speech on faith and politics.

I declined. I don't need a "new issue"... I have enough issues already. Grin. If they would have asked a theological question, I would have been glad to comment.

The conversation prompted me to mention in my Sunday message that Mormonism is not Chrisitanity-- and the incarnation is an important part of why that is the case.

What/who Jesus Christ was makes all the difference-- two natures in one person. Fully God and fully man. The Incarnation is understood through the Hypostatic Union. I mentioned the concept but did not use the term in my Incarnation sermon.

Well, FoxNews asked Mormon scholars 21 questions about Mormonism. And, they answered... but the uber-apologeticists at the North American Mission Board decided their answers were insufficient. I agree.

Bowman gets at the "what/who" issue here (the format is the FoxNews questions, then Mormon answers, finally Bowman response):

Q: Does the Mormon Church believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God?
Q: Does the Church believe in the divinity of Jesus?
Q: Does the Church believe that God is a physical being?

A: Mormons believe Jesus Christ is literally the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer, who died for the sins of humankind and rose from the dead on the third day with an immortal body. God, the Father, also has an immortal body.

Bowman:
What this answer—which is accurate as far as it goes—neglects to make explicit is that Mormons understand what it means for Jesus to be “the Son of God” in a way that differs radically from orthodox Christianity. When they say they believe he is “literally” the Son of God, the significance of this qualification will be lost on most people. Mormons believe that God the Father is an immortal Man and that he is the literal father of Jesus Christ “in the flesh,” just as Mary is his literal mother (see below). This is not what orthodox Christianity means when it affirms that Jesus is the Son of God. To us, Christ has existed eternally as the Son of God, personally distinct from the Father yet one and the same God. For us, to affirm that Jesus is the Son of God means to affirm that he is eternally of the same absolute, infinite divine nature as the Father.

It is peculiar that the LDS Church did not directly address the question of the divinity of Jesus. In their view, Jesus is Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament, and yet he is a different God than Elohim, the Father, and will always be subordinate to him. Mormons do not pray to Jesus. In their view, Jesus, and all other human beings, and all angels, existed in the distant past as the spirit offspring of our heavenly parents (God the Father and his wife); Jesus is simply our Elder Brother and the first of God’s children to become a God himself.

So, read Rob Bowman's answers to the Mormon answers here.

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/the_theology_of_

From Christopher Wright, The Mission of God, pg. 125:

God makes visible God’s own self through the incarnation of God the Son. So, then, to know Jesus is to know the Father (Jn 8:19; 10:38, 12:45). But this knowing God through knowing Jesus is not to be confined to those who saw him in the flesh. On the contrary, that privilege was accorded to them for the purpose of making him known to the world, “to let the world know that you sent me” (Jn 17:23). So, in truly priestly fashion, Jesus dispenses the knowledge of God, first to his immediate disciples and then through them to the world.

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/_the_los_angeles

The Los Angeles Times does a good job with their story on YWAM. YWAM (Youth With a Mission) is the mission organization whose Colorado offices were recently attacked by a gunman, killing two staffers.

Youth With a Mission is a nondenominational Christian network that takes in just about anyone -- punk rockers, misfits, retired engineers, schoolteachers, fresh-faced teens. After a little training, they are sent to preach the Gospel in some of the most dangerous parts of the globe.
That nonconformist approach brought tragedy to the group last week when Matthew Murray, who had been expelled for apparent mental health problems, fatally shot four people -- two at the Arvada Youth With a Mission office near Denver and two at New Life Church in Colorado Springs -- before killing himself.

The attack exposed what Youth With a Mission members acknowledged was the group's greatest vulnerability and its greatest strength.

"YWAM has been known as a mission that believes in young people and gives them a chance," said Jarod Marshall, 32, a staffer in the Colorado Springs branch. "You believe in people, and there's a risk in that -- but it's a risk worth taking."

Scott Moreau, who is contributing to the new mission book that David Hesselgrave and I are co-editing, explains:

Youth With a Mission is considered avant-garde, on the "bleeding edge" of the evangelical movement, said A. Scott Moreau, a professor at Wheaton College in Illinois who studies mission programs.

"They are passionate, they are a bit wild," Moreau said. "A lot of agencies are wondering how they're going to mobilize this generation. YWAM has figured it out."

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/christianity_tod

You can find the details here.
Here are the bullets:

1. Taliban takes Korean short-term mission team hostage, killing two

2. Atheism tops the bestseller charts

3. Presidential campaigns start early, with some faith surprises

4. Ruth Graham promoted to glory

5. Anglican Communion fractures over Scripture, homosexuality

6. Three Christians tortured and killed in eastern Turkey

7. Lions of the Religious Right pass away

8. Francis Beckwith returns to Catholicism

9. Campaign to oust NAE's Richard Cizik fails

10. Supreme Court upholds 2003 federal partial-birth abortion ban

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/christmas_with_r

I still remember the day in 1998 Rick Warren called me and encouraged me to go to Southern Seminary to teach church planting.

In the early days, Saddleback helped start the Nehemiah Project, a program to help seminary students become church planters. His encouragement helped me to leave the church I had planted and and start a journey that would focus on training planters, and eventually pastors. I am not sure I would have done it without his encouragement.

Rick has been a friend at some key moments. He gave away all his resources to my students and provided resources and training at important times. When I was struggling with a decision a couple of years ago, he prayed with me and encouraged me. His name has been on several of my books and projects and I am honored he would lend his name. And, as he has become one of the leading evangelicals in the world, I have still found him humble and gracious-- and more concerned with others than with himself.

It is amazing to see how God is using Rick and Saddleback today.

I prayed for him last week as they had an important planning meeting at Saddleback and Purpose Driven.

I will pray again this week as God has given Saddleback some incredible opportunities, including these listed in a recent email:

-14 Christmas services at Saddleback

-Fox News will broadcast “Christmas with Rick Warren” multiple times on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

-The US Armed Forces Network will broadcast “The Purpose of Christmas” (last year’s Saddleback service) for all troops around the world to watch.

-All Wal-Marts and Sam’s Club are broadcasting “The Meaning of Christmas” a message by me, along with Christmas carols by the Salvation Army, on all their in-store TV screens.

-Good Morning America is broadcasting our roundtable about “The Good News of Christmas” on Christmas Day.

Viewers on Fox and elsewhere will be directed here. The pamphlet that is on the web page explains:

It All Starts with God.

It’s not about you.

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/new_stories.html

Time Magazine lists its ten biggest religious stories in 2007:

#1 Mother Teresa's Crisis of Faith

#2 | Faith Stalks the Campaign Trail!

#3 | The Rev. Jerry Falwell Dies

#4 | The Pope and Latin Mass

#5 | The Slow-Motion Episcopal/Anglican Train Wreck

#6 | Green Evangelicals

#7 | The Roar of Atheist Books

#8 | Another Blow to a Megachurch

#9 | The Creation Museum

#10 | Kidnapped Korean Missionaries

Christianity Today provides a another version.

1. Taliban takes Korean short-term mission team hostage, killing two

2. Atheism tops the bestseller charts

3. Presidential campaigns start early, with some faith surprises

4. Ruth Graham promoted to glory

5. Anglican Communion fractures over Scripture, homosexuality

6. Three Christians tortured and killed in eastern Turkey

7. Lions of the Religious Right pass away

8. Francis Beckwith returns to Catholicism

9. Campaign to oust NAE's Richard Cizik fails

10. Supreme Court upholds 2003 federal partial-birth abortion ban

While pointing out stories, this story on megachurch Christmas extravaganzas was interesting and disturbing at the same time.

For a more important news flash, click here.

http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2007/12/theology_of_chri

I have already posted my first message from the Theology of Christmas series here. The audio is up (see below) and I have included my outlines for all three messages (at the bottom).

First, here is the audio:

The Theology of Christmas:

Incarnation
Kenosis
Glory

Here are the outlines:


The Theology of Christmas, part 1
The Incarnation of Christmas

John 1:14 (HCSB) The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

1. God the Son, Who Always Was,…

“The Word”

John 1:1-3 (HCSB) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.

John 6:38 (HCSB) For I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

John 8:58-59 (HCSB) 58 Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am.” 59 At that, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple complex.

2. Took On Flesh and Lived Among Us…

“became flesh”

Philippians 2:5-8 (HCSB)

Hebrews 2:14-15 (HCSB) 14 Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, He also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the Devil— 15 and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.

3. To Glorify God and Redeem Us.

“We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Hebrews 1:3 (HCSB) He is the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature, and He sustains all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Theology of Christmas, Part 2:
The Kenosis

John 1:14 (HCSB) “The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14 (The Message) “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.”

Philippians 2:5-11 (HCSB)

Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

1. Relinquishing of Position

“Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.”

Although Jesus still had the possession, he limited the expression, of certain divine attributes:

Omniscient

Matthew 24:36 (HCSB) “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son—except the Father only.

Omnipresent

Luke 11:14, 15, 21 (HCSB) “So Jesus then told them plainly, "Lazarus has died. I'm glad for you that I wasn't there so that you may believe. But let's go to him." Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother wouldn't have died.

Omnipotent

Mark 6:5 (HCSB) “So He was not able to do any miracles there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.”

2. Emptying of Self

“Instead, He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men.”

God the Son took on the likeness of man when men are tempted to take on the likeness of God:

Genesis 3:5 (HCSB) “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

“He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave”

John 13:5 (HCSB) “He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.”

3. Humbling of Obedience

“And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient”

2 Corinthians 8:9 (HCSB) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: although He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.

4. Remembering of the Cross

“to the point of death—even to death on a cross.”

Matthew 26:53-54 (HCSB) “Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than legions of angels? How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?"

Romans 9:3-4 (HCSB) “For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel.”

Joy to the world…the Lord is come…
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Theology of Christmas, Part 3
The Glory of God at Christmas

Hebrews 1:1-4 (HCSB)

1. God sent prophets, but they were never enough...

Hebrews 1:1

“Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways.”

2. Then He sent His Son...

Hebrews 1:2

“In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe.”

John 1:1-3 (HCSB) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.”

3. The One and Only

Hebrews 1:3

“He is the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature, and He sustains all things by His powerful word.”

Philippians 2:5-8 (HCSB) “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.”

4. Who Redeemed Us…

Hebrews 1:3

“After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

Hebrews 12:1-2 (HCSB) Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.

5. Then Returned to His Rightful Place.

Hebrews 1:4

“So He became higher in rank than the angels, just as the name He inherited is superior to theirs.”

Philippians 2:9-11 (HCSB)
For this reason God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow—of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth —and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

John 17:4-5 (HCSB) “I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with that glory I had with You before the world existed.”

John 1:14 (HCSB) “The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 (HCSB) We all, with unveiled faces, are reflecting the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.