Category Archives: Outreach

Jul 08 2009
4 Comments
Leadership, Missional Living, Outreach, Teaching, Theology

Who does Jesus WANT to save?

A few Scriptures I’m meditating on:

John 12:31-32
31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.
32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.”

Acts 17:31
31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

Romans 5:18
18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.

Romans 11:32
32 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. 

1 Corinthians 12:6
6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 

1 Timothy 2:1-6
1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone–
2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men– the testimony given in its proper time.

1 Timothy 4:8-10
8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance
10 (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
13 while we wait for the blessed hope– the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

 2 Peter 3:9b
9b … He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Who did Paul want to see saved? He says so in his purpose statement:

Colossians 1:28-29
28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

 And from the OT:

Ezekiel 18:23
23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

A simple but profound truth: God wants to save every single person that has ever existed, and every single one that ever will.

God loves mankind, and wishes for “all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

If this is true, how should it affect our lives? Our churches? Our priorities?

While it is true that God wishes for all men to be saved, does that mean all men will BE saved? How could a loving God send anyone to hell?

Thoughts?

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May 13 2009
1 Comment
Devotional Thoughts, Discipling, Evangelism, Leadership, Missional Living, Outreach, Resources, Simple Church, Small Groups, Teaching, Theology

Notes From the Pepperdine Lectures – Phil and Meredith McCullom

Notes from Phil & Meredith McCullom’s class at Pepperdine – “New Churches in New Places for New People pt. 4” – Friday, 9:00PM

  • We don’t plant churches – we teach people to obey – church plants occur naturally when people obey.
  • When we obey, God gives us more opportunities to be obedient.
  • Making disciples isn’t an event so much as it is a way of life. If a person isn’t making disciples where they are right now, why should they go “plant” a church somewhere else and expect things to be different?
  • The Holy Spirit & Jesus plant or build churches – our job is simply to be gospel planters or Word of God planters – God will build His church, not us.
  • Make sure you’re planting the real seed – not something else. Your goal has to be for people to rely on the Lord – not for them to rely on you!

Phil & Meredith are simple church planters working in East Hollywood, CA. Airiel and I are hoping to have them up for a visit sometime.

I thought their comments on the church planting panel were biblical and very practical.

If you’d like to keep up with the McCullom’s work, bookmark their website: http://WayOfLifeVillage.org

Happy Wednesday!

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Apr 29 2009
5 Comments
Campus Ministry, Discipling, Evangelism, Leadership, Outreach, Resources, Teaching

What its all about

I just got done chatting a bit with Kerry Cox – the campus minister for The Crossings Church who heads up A Cross Between – The Crossing’s campus ministry serving Lindenwood University. Kerry’s ministry serves as one of the training centers for Campus Ministry United. That is, when someone calls me telling me they’re interested in campus ministry and would like some training, Kerry is one of the next people I’ll send them to.

Kerry tells me that since January, A Cross Between’s ministry has resulted in 16 people giving their life to Christ and putting Him on in baptism. In addition to that, there are another 18 people currently being studied with who are considering the commitment themselves.

This is what its all about, folks.

Sadly, if current trends continue, over half of the exisiting Church of Christ campus ministries will reach one person or less this year. Over 30% won’t reach a single person at all! The reason for this: most current Church of Christ campus ministers never received adequate training before entering the field to run their own ministries.

I realize that’s going to sound elitist to some (especially current CoC campus ministers), and I want you to know that’s not my intention, nor is it my intention to belittle anyone personally or their past/present work.

The conclusion I shared with you is the result of careful, meticulous research.

If you’re interested in this topic, I encourage you to listen to the lesson I presented at 2008’s CMU workshop, and I also encourage you to listen to Dr. Flavil Yeakley’s presentation as well. Here are the  links (note: for more like this visit CMU’s audio/video page:

  1. Wes Woodell – “2008 CMU Report: What Makes a Ministry Evangelistically Effective?” (53:47) (Characteristics PowerPoint; Characteristics Handouts)
  2. Dr. Flavil Yeakley – “Why Should Churches of Christ Care About Campus Ministry?” (57:43) (Yeakley PowerPoint; Q&A with Dr. Yeakley)

For each lesson, you’d benefit from downloading the powerpoint presentations and following along as you listen.

If someone wants to start an evangelistically effective campus ministry, they’ll best learn how to by working within an evangelistically effective campus ministry – not by going to a brotherhood Bible college (which will really help a person learn the Bible, but won’t really help them learn the nuances associated with certain types of ministries like campus work), and not by working within an evangelistically ineffective campus ministry.

Apples produce apples, oranges produce oranges, and training within evangelistically effective campus ministries produces evangelistically effective campus ministers.

Tomatoes don’t produce grapes, and bananas don’t produce squash, yet in studying this issue, the general attitude towards training new campus ministers has made me think a lot of people have never thought about this concept.

This ain’t rocket science, but it most certainly is important to point out.

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