'One Another' Series - Spur On One Another

 

This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders.

As we begin a new year, I have begun a new series, focusing upon the “One Another” scriptures found in the New Testament as viewed through the lens of leadership.

Today we turn our attention to the command in Hebrews 10:24-25.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

That was the New International Version. Here is verse 24 in the English Standard Version. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” Older translations admonish us to “provoke” one another to love and good deeds.

Two aspects stand out to me in these verses. The “what” and the “how.”

The “what” is that as leaders we are to “spur on”, “stir up” or “provoke” one another to love and good deeds.

Secondly, the author of Hebrews gives instruction on “how” we are to do this. We do this by “meeting together” and “encouraging one another.”

Good and godly leaders firstly set the example for love and good deeds. In my country we have the idiom, “your actions speak louder than your words.” While it is helpful for leaders to encourage their followers to love others and do good deeds, it’s much more impactful if those who follow us actually see us doing these things. Leaders set the example.

Secondly, leaders are intentional to “spur on” or “stir up” others toward love and good deeds. Another way we do this is by pointing out, by communicating where love and good deeds are needed. Sometimes it’s appropriate to make others aware where hurting exists in the Body, and we need to point them in the direction of that need.

I will reiterate two practical means by which we “spur on” others. We do so by meeting together and by encouraging one another. “Meeting together” brings to mind something called the “ministry of presence”. Sometimes people simply need someone to be with them during times of suffering or grief. I found online some thoughts about this from a physician who shared three aspects of this ministry of presence. https://www.drcarolministries.com/the-ministry-of-presence-being-there/

 Physical presence – being physically with someone

 Focused attention – turning off, or tuning out, distractions

 Shared suffering – empathy in the situation

Finally, we “spur on” others with words of encouragement. Good and godly leaders point others to Jesus and to the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

I urge you today to be intentional to spur on others to love and good deeds.

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

Be A Model of Generosity

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters. 

As I speak to you today, I have recently attended meetings at Asbury University that some have called a spontaneous revival and others have called an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Many who have attended these meetings have testified that they sensed, in an unusual way, the presence of God to heal, save, and cleanse from sin. In that environment, it was easy for people to trust God to work in them in ways that they had only dreamed of before. The goodness and the presence of our loving heavenly Father was so real to so many.

Faith came easy in that place. Our heavenly Father is a good, good God. Yet we need grace to trust God more in our day-to-day lives don’t we?

Daily people all over the world face challenges related to money. I have never met a young person yet who truly believed he or she had enough money. In fact, I have not met more than few older people who have said, “I have more than enough money.”  Have you?

Money seems to be in short supply. But our need for food, clothing, shelter, education and healthcare just grows and grows.  So it’s hard for most of us to be generous. Almost everyone I know who has learned to tithe, that is, to give 10% of their income to God, has described a struggle to give that much to the Lord. Many have feared that tithing would bring immeasurable financial difficulty. Every tither I know had to struggle to exercise faith to give God 10% of their income. It’s not easy to become a generous person.

Even so, I know many generous people: brothers and sisters in Christ from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and North America.  They testify that you cannot out-give God. They tell stories of how God has met their needs. How he has helped them and how he has provided in ways both miraculous and ordinary.  I hope you also know some generous people.  If you do, I’m pretty sure they also struggled to find faith to tithe. But once they began, they learned that you cannot out give God. He gives us more than we can imagine possible.

I have observed that when there are two generous people in a church, others soon learn to give. Soon the church becomes generous.  In my experience, a church does not become generous with just one generous giver. It takes at least two for the love of generosity to spread in a congregation.  If, over time, only one member of the church is generous, others will look to him as the church’s patron.  They will say to themselves, “We do not have to give, because our patron will meet the needs of the church.”  This is a recipe for disaster.  But when there are two generous givers in a church, soon there are three, and then four, and then more. Usually the pastor or church planter is the first generous giver.  He or she gives generously and then testifies about how God meets needs. It may take one or two years of modeling generosity and testifying of God’s gracious provision, but sooner or later, there will be a second generous giver in the church.

I have also observed that if the pastor or church planter is not generous in his or her giving, no one else will be either.  What about you? What steps is God calling you to take to give more and trust him more for his provision? As a church leader, your example is powerful.  What steps toward generosity will you take today?

This has been “Multiply.” And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #Generosity

Elements of a Culture of Generosity in the Church

 

Hello! Welcome to Multiply, a podcast to encourage village church planters, pastors, and Christian leaders. I am your host today, Daneille Snowden.

In the New Village Church Planters Term 2, we learned about how God sees our offerings. Wow! He looks at the heart, and the motives as we give. It is always good to even ask ourselves, why am I giving my offerings and tithes to God? Is it that we realize all we have comes from Him (look at Genesis 1:1 & Psalm 24:1)?

2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift].”

When leading a church and training leaders within a church; it is our objective to create a culture of generosity. This will test our faith and theirs, as well as deepen our relationship with our Savior. What is a culture? It is a, “set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization.” As we create a culture of generosity within the entire church, it creates then a community of people actively achieving the standards God longs for His church. 

It is His supply for our personal needs, that will flow into the church, then in return; the church giving out to help the needs of others. That is the living-flow of the Body of Jesus Christ! 

When I was little, I loved the story of the widow with two mites, Jesus watched as she gave all she had. Jesus said that she gave more than everyone else because she gave out of her poverty. As a missionary, I can tell you the most cheerful and giving churches plus individuals have given sacrificially! And God continues to pour into their lives and churches as they continue to give out to bless others. 

Creating a culture of generosity begins with our values, what do we as a church value the most? To please God? To bring Him glory? This is a good question to meditate on as we listen and receive from the heart of God for direction. Generosity within the church should be considered a normal character trait as the Body of Christ. 

This quote from Term 2 is simple but well defined: “In the New Testament, churches took up collections to provide relief for God’s people who were in need (1 Corinthians 16:2). We should give to help those who are in need (Luke 10:25-37), also to support Christian workers who give all their time to ministry (1 Timothy 5:17-18), and to send missionaries to neglected places.”

I love attending our beautiful churches in Africa all for numerous reasons, but one of them is their generosity! I know they sacrifice, but that does not stop them! You can see the love and passion they have for the Lord and others, the passion to see the Gospel to be sent to touch lives. They meet the needs of their widows, orphans, and the sick. In this they are the light that shines far and wide for all to see the generous, loving heart of our God!

Thank you for listening, I hope this has blessed you and added more to your walk with God. Please share this podcast with others, and follow us on Facebook, and YouTube, plus, subscribe also on our website at vcpencouragemen.org.

Youth Can Lead Cell Groups

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters. 

When I was 14 years old, leaders in my church asked me to lead a small group Bible study for youth aged 11 to 13.  Every week I prepared a Bible study. I carefully wrote out my topic, the Bible reference of the passage we would study, and the questions I wanted to ask. I prayed for the members of the group during the week. I was only a couple of years older than they were, but I was the group leader. I took my responsibility seriously. We met in the homes of the youth. Their parents were nearby, but they did not participate in our youth cell group. Our meetings often ended with very rich times of prayer. Every week, seven or eight kids and I had wonderful fellowship in the Lord. 

While I have great memories of prayer times and fellowship in that cell group, I feel a little bit embarrassed as I think about the quality of my Bible studies.  I don’t think I ever taught any heresies, but if I had it to do over again, I would make a lot of improvements!  But I am so thankful I was given the chance to lead.

One of the greatest lessons I take from that experience is that youth can lead cell groups. I know they can do it because I did it when I was a youth. So often church leaders look at children, youth, the elderly, and other marginalized groups as people who need to receive ministry. But in Village Church Planting we view every person as a potential minister of the Gospel. I want to repeat this very important observation: In Village Church Planting we view every person as a potential minister of the Gospel.

This means that youth need to hear the Good News so they can repent of their sins and trust Jesus. Teach young believers to obey Jesus’ seven basic commands. Challenge youth to make disciples.  A great way to make disciples is to start and lead a cell group.

Ideally, cell groups should have a leader and a co-leader. Older youth can lead younger youth.  In some contexts, young women will lead older girls and young men will lead older boys. The important principle is to empower youth to lead cell groups made up of other youth. Have adults nearby, but let the youth leader have the freedom he or she needs to truly lead and multiply the cell group.

Teach youth cell group leaders to pray constantly for group members and plan cell meetings carefully. Train the leader and co-leader to lead in prayer, Bible study, worship, and ministry outreach. Help the leaders set simple, achievable goals for the group and share their goals and vision with the members. Meet once a month with cell group leaders to encourage them, pray for them, and train them.  Keep the vision for multiplication before the leaders. Help the group to reproduce itself in new cells.  In Village Church Planting, we view every person as a potential minister of the Gospel.  Your encouraging words and living example will bless the youth of your church. When you show the young people of your church that you believe in them and want to help them achieve great things in the Lord, many will rise to the challenge, grow in faith, develop ministry skills, and bear much fruit.

This has been “Multiply.” And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #CellGroups #EmpowerYouth

'One Another' Series - Teach and Admonish One Another

 

This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders. 

As we begin a new year, I have begun a new series, focusing upon the “One Another” scriptures found in the New Testament as viewed through the lens of leadership.  We began with “Love One Another”, a command issued 16 times in the New Testament.  In my former podcast we addressed the imperative to “Serve One Another” and we are commanded to do so “in love”.  

Colossians 3:16 instructs us to “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

Three components of this scripture stand out to me. 

• Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly

o I appreciate that the Apostle Paul uses the phrase “Among you”.  The message of Christ is to be experienced in community while being shared with others.  Leaders set the example of this “among you” lifestyle by sharing their lives, and life experiences, with others.  

o Another translation says it this way, Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.”  This “richness” has the implication of a life of abundance or fullness. Good and godly leaders live lives where God’s goodness flows into them and then overflows in blessing to others. 

• Teach one another – As church planters and leaders, we are instructed to “teach one another”.  This includes many planned opportunities such as preaching in a church service.  But, teaching goes beyond this; there are many unplanned opportunities to teach as we model Christ-centered values and mentor men and women who are less experienced in their walk with Christ.  

Perhaps you have heard this idiom or something like it.  “More is caught than taught.”  The meaning here is that those who follow us “catch” our beliefs and values by observing how we live out our faith.  What we say and what we do must be in alignment; when there is inconsistency, others are more likely to follow what we do more than what we say.  

• We are also to Admonish one another – to admonish is to rebuke, correct or scold.  While this may not carry with it a pleasant implication, nonetheless Paul saw the need for church leaders to “admonish one another”.    The key is that, when necessary, we admonish “with all wisdom” and with the goal of restoration.  As mentioned during one podcast late last year, “The goal of our negative feedback is redemptive; it is intended to correct or restore.” 

Good and godly leaders teach (or instruct), and they admonish (or correct).  We must discern by the Holy Spirit which is appropriate in any given situation.  

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

Empower Youth for Ministry

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis, and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters. 

I was 12 years old and a new Christian. I was just beginning to read the Gospels and really discover who Jesus is. I knew He loved me and had forgiven my sins.  I loved Jesus and wanted to follow him.

So, when the youth of my church planned an evangelistic trip, I asked if I could join them.  Everyone seemed surprised. No one had thought to invite me. After all, I was only 12 years old and had only been a part of the youth group for a few months.  But after a few days they decided it would be OK for me to join the team.  I was the youngest kid in the group.  There were a few adults on the team along with youth aged 13 to 18. 

No one really expected much of me, but I learned a great deal from the evangelistic examples of the older youth and adults who led the trip.  They modeled the way with prayer.  They prayed for things that I had never thought to ask God for, like transportation to get our team to the place where we would evangelize.  Their faith challenged me. They taught me how to share my testimony and how to listen. They called out to God for people to be saved.

Not only did they model the ways of ministry to the 12-year old Dean Davis, they helped me be a better servant of Christ.  Over time, as they learned to trust me as a growing Christian, they gave me more responsibility.  The leaders of my youth group modeled the way for me; they assisted me; they allowed me to minister as they watched me develop, then they left ministry responsibility in my hands.

Those first seven years of my walk with Christ were very formative. Everything I have done in ministry during the 48 years since I graduated from that youth group is built on the ministry lessons, I learned starting with that first evangelism trip.  And here’s the thing:  When those youth leaders were showing me the way to minister, they never dreamed that someday I would apply their lessons in other nations.  They never dreamed that I would be a missionary privileged to work on 5 continents. And neither did I.  But the lessons they taught me when I was just 11 years old are still bearing fruit in the lives of hundreds and thousands of people today.

I share my story with you to encourage you.  Keep on investing in the youth of your churches. Let them know you believe in them and are trusting God to do great things in and though them. Keep on modeling the way.  Give young people a chance to minister.  Help the youth of your churches succeed.  They may look small and weak and awkward today.  But God delights to give grace to the humble and use the weak to display his glory. So, by God’s grace and with the help of your good example, in a few short years some of your young people will have a ministry that is far greater than anything you can imagine today.  

This has been “Multiply.” And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #ModelAssistWatchLeave

Helping Youth Obey the 7 Basic Commands of Christ

 

This is Multiply a podcast to encourage village church planters and ministers I am Brad Snowden

In 1 Timothy 4:12 it says “Let no man despise thy youth” the dictionary definition for part of it is the word neglect. It is important as church planters and ministers not to neglect teaching our youth. I believe one of the greatest impact we can have is teaching our young people the truth. I can look back to a time when I was a young person there were key people who taught me the importance of living out God’s truth The people who intentionally poured into my life equipped me to be who I am today.  Church planters ministers of the gospel we all have the opportunity to touch a young person’s life. We have the 7 basic commands of Christ to lay as a foundation to encourage and empower their hearts.  

We can teach them the importance of repentance and believing God’s word that will change their hearts. We can help them understand how powerful a witness Baptism can be for those around them. Oh to model and teach the power of prayer and we can help create a hunger for God’s word. These young people can grow and help disciple their friends. We can teach through example the joys of loving one another and this fruit can change an entire village. They too can participate in the Lord’s Supper being taught what each element means and the power of remembering the sacrifice of Christ. They can experience the joy of this as a participant. They can also learn to give and how much God will bless obedience. They can learn also of giving of their talents and time to the Lord. 

If we teach our young people and consistently model these 7 basic commands of Christ, the Church will be a different place. The village and the world would definitely be a different place to live. God has given so much to us and I pray that each one of us use what God has given us for a fruitful life in Christ Jesus. The blessing is that we can touch many lives through the young people that we invest in teaching them, encouraging them and walking with them through this very important time in their lives. It will shape their future and eternity.   This has been a word of encouragement for village church planters. Please share this with others.

Identify and Meeting Needs

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters. I have just

returned from a ministry trip to the Republic of Guinea. While there, I was

blessed to observe a literacy class for adults. A member of the church had

been trained by Bridge to Reading to teach adults how to read, write, and do

simple math. The class members were adults aged 20 through 40 who had

never learned to read. None were members of the church. All were Muslims.

Each of the students was thankful for the opportunity to gain the important

skill of literacy. What a blessing; what a great way to show the love of Jesus in

a concrete way!

It is so very important for churches, even small, young churches to identify

needs and meet them. Deacons are the men and women of a church who

observe and meet the needs of church members and community members.

Here is how our Train and Multiply booklet called “The Role of Deacons”

describes this important ministry:

“The word deacon means servant in the New Testament. Deacons help the

elders, pastors, and others. Each church should appoint deacons as soon the

need appears. Elders do pastoral work; they teach and lead. Deacons do

practical work with material things.” The book of Acts demonstrates very

clearly that both deacons and elders must rely on the power and presence of

the Holy Spirit to carry out their ministries effectively.

Deacons observe needs in the church and in the community. Then they take

practical steps to meet those needs. If people need to learn to read, a deacon

may organize a literacy ministry. If people do not know how to grow vegetables

or raise chickens, a deacon may teach them these practical skills. If people are

at home sick and bedridden, deacons and church members trained by deacons

can visit the sick to pray, share encouraging words, and give small gifts of food.

If there are refugees from war who need help, deacons respond in practical

ways. If church members are prevented from working in their fields because of

illness, deacons can respond by organizing a few church members to help out

with weeding or other chores as needed.

Sometimes the problems that people face are so big and so overwhelming,

churches feel that they cannot solve them all. And this is true. But we should

not be paralyzed because we cannot meet every need of every person. Only

God the Father Almighty can do that. But churches, even small churches can

organize small, practical ministries that will solve real problems for a few

people who are really hurting.

Deacons identify needs in the church and in the community. Deacons are the

leaders in a local church who organize the response to needs. Deacons pray,

asking for the Spirit of God for strength and wisdom to meet practical needs.

Then they take action, even if their actions only help a few people at first and

even if the needs are greater than their ability to respond. Deacons remember

from 2 Corinthians 9:10 that “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for

food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the

harvest of your righteousness.”

Deacons are important leaders in the church. Who should be named as deacons

in the churches you are planting?

This has been “Multiply.” And I’m Dean Davis praying for your church to be

strengthened today.

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #Deacons

'One Another' Series - Serve One Another

 

This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders.

As we begin a new year, I have begun a new series, focusing upon the “One Another” scriptures found in the New

Testament as viewed through the lens of leadership.

We read in Galatians 5:13, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge

the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Three things stand out to me in this admonition from the apostle

Paul.

 Firstly, we are to serve one another. That means that servant leaders place others’ needs higher than their own.

 We are to serve humbly. Among other things, this means that we serve in such a way that does not draw

attention to ourselves.

 Finally, we serve in love. Love is our motivation for service to others. We spoke about this Love for one another

in the previous podcast.

The apostle Peter also wrote about humble service in 1 Peter 5:5b. “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward

one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’"

The Greek word translated as “clothe yourselves” means to “put on the garment of a servant”. Most Bible students

believe that Peter is referring to the last supper of Christ. In John 13:3-5 it is recorded that “Jesus knew that the Father

had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the

meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and

began to wash his disciples' feet…”

I see a couple of very important lessons for us in this scripture.

 “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was

returning to God.” Jesus was completely secure in his relationship with the Father. He was totally unconcerned

with what the disciples’ response might be or what the owner of the home in which they were meeting might

think. Because he was secure, he was able to serve his disciples by washing their feet. As VCP leaders, we, too,

need to be secure and assured of our relationship with the Father and our acceptance by Him.

 As Jesus set the example for his disciples, we, too, must set the example of servant leadership for those whom

we are leading.

We are to serve one another in humility.

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

Who Are Deacons?

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters. 

One of the most important task and biggest challenges a church planter faces is the appointment of the first leaders in a new congregation.  Churches, like families, businesses, and governments cannot function well without good leaders.  In the beginning, you as the church planter may have been the only true leader the embryonic church had.  Then maybe a person of peace helped with you with some leadership activities.  But other than that, you may have been the only one who planned, ministered, guided and evaluated the church.  As we know from the story of Moses and Jethro in Exodus 18, no one is served well when one leader does all the work.  So for your health and the health of the church, elders must be appointed.  Two kinds of church leaders described in the New Testament are elders and deacons.

But what is the role of a deacon? How do they serve a church? Are deacons truly leaders?

Deacons are church leaders who work to meet practical needs.  In fact, the Greek word translated in the New Testament as “deacon” means servant. Deacons serve the church in practical ways.  Is food needed? Deacons take care of obtaining, preparing and distributing food.  Is shelter needed, deacons take care of providing shelter for the congregation. Are there church members who need clothes. Deacons work to find solutions and meet this practical need.  Do people need medical attention. Deacons can help make sure that medical needs are met.

Deacons often have spiritual gifts such as helps, service, administration, and mercy. When deacons think of love, they think of action not just words.  Deacons can often work with their hands. Some are cooks, some sew, some are carpenters or welders. 

But are deacons really leaders?  They should be.  While it’s true that elders are responsible for the overall leadership of a church, wise elders will make sure that deacons have clear responsibilities and well delegated authority to make sound decisions to meet the practical needs of the church.

The example from the Jerusalem church describe in Acts 6 is instructive.  After the problem of food distribution was identified, the apostles said to the congregation, in front of the new deacons, “We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

One of the hardest tasks you will have as a new church planter is to turn responsibility over to others.  But you have to do it.  So ask God for deacons full of the Holy Spirit and full of wisdom. Then give them authority to take care of the practical needs of the newly planted church.  As you do so, you will lighten your own load, you will strengthen the church, and you will bring joy to men and women God has gifted with power to serve well.

This has been “Multiply.” And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #ChurchDiscipline