Steward Leadership - Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

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

In this new year, I have begun a new series on the subject of steward leadership. One author defines a

steward as “someone who manages resources belonging to another person in order to achieve the owner’s objectives.” In our context, we are managing resources provided by the Lord for our Village Church Planting work.

Our text for today’s podcast is Luke 13:6-9.

Then he [Jesus] told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.  So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next

year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

As I began to study this parable, the first thing I asked myself was “how many years does it take for a fig tree

to bear fruit?” That seems like a reasonable question, so I did a quick online search and found several sites

that said a fig tree bears fruit in 3 to 4 years. Of course! Would not the Creator of the universe know this? (see Colossians 1:16)

My point here is that “the man” in our parable – who represents God – expects that we bear fruit in the

anticipated season. So it is with us; He expects us – and our ministry - to bear fruit when we have reached a

level of maturity where fruit is expected.

Consider the conditions in which the fig tree existed. It was planted in the rich soil of the vineyard. Sun and rain were present. After the third year, the caretaker of the vineyard dug up the soil surrounding the tree and fertilized it well. The tree enjoyed all the conditions necessary to produce fruit.

Here are the key lessons from this parable.

 God expects fruit in due season; He has provided all that is needed for fruit to be produced.

 His patience and grace grant more time to produce, and He treats us in a similar way.

 Ultimately, there is accountability for the absence of fruit.

I close with this reminder from 2 Peter 1:3. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

In our next episode, we will continue our study of steward leadership. This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters and leaders.

Demonstrate Ministry Skills for Your Disciples

 

Hello, this is Multiply, the podcast designed to encourage village church planters and leaders. I am Brad Snowden, and today we are going to explore John 13:12-17. In this scripture, Jesus has just finished washing the disciples' feet. This is not an easy task; it was typically assigned to a servant. 

I believe this was one of the key lessons Jesus wanted to impart to his disciples. Jesus understood that the most powerful lessons are often learned through observation. When those we are disciplining see our lives exemplifying what must be done, it becomes easier for them to learn. For instance, if I want to teach someone how to put a roof on a building, the student will learn much more effectively by watching me demonstrate the task. 

The same principle applies to gaining ministry skills in serving and other necessary tasks. We must practice these skills in front of our disciples. This not only instructs them on how to perform the tasks but also explains why we do them and highlights how effective that work can be. By being genuine examples, we also provide disciples the opportunity to reflect and ask questions, enabling them to learn even more for their own ministries. 

It is our responsibility to model Jesus' example for our disciples to foster both spiritual and functional growth in ministry. John 13:17 states that if you know these things, you are blessed, happy, and favored by God if you put them into practice and faithfully do them. If we demonstrate ministry skills before those we disciple, we will all be blessed by the Lord. This is a word of encouragement for village church planters. 

Who will you share this with today? Lord bless you!

Teach with Kindness and Compassion

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

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

Over the past few months, in these Multiply podcast episodes, we have been

considering topics related to the broad theme of multiplication. We have

recalled that the only way to fulfill the VCP vision of a church in every African

village by 2050 is through multiplication. Because we love God and desire to

fulfill his Great Commission of making disciples of every nation and in every

place, we believe in multiplication. The heart of Village Church Planting is the

multiplication of disciples, leaders, and churches.

If we are to multiply disciples and leaders, we must do far more than simply

teach them new ideas. We must empower them to act. To empower means to

give strength, ability, and authority. Wise Christian leaders know that there are

many ways to empower. We empower others through coaching, through

mentoring, and through the delegation of both responsibility and authority.

Another important way to empower others is through teaching. Jesus

empowered his disciples by teaching them to pray, teaching them to think with

wisdom, teaching them to know and understand the Kingdom of God and by

teaching them how to minister to others.

But, I’m sorry to say, not all teaching is empowering. Some people who teach

do so simply because they like to hear themselves speak about important ideas.

Some people who teach do so because they love the honor that is given to a

teacher. Some people teach because it makes them feel so good to have

everyone sit quietly while they talk. Teachers who teach so that others will

honor them or show them respect rarely empower their learners.

So what are the attributes of teachers who empower? How does a teacher

teach when he or she wants to strengthen others and make them competent to

lead? The ministry of Jesus give us a great answer to this question. Jesus’

teaching was filled with compassion. His teaching was not simple or even easy

to understand. But, it was filled with kindness. Matthew 4:23 tells us that

“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the

good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the

people.”

Jesus showed his compassion by taking three years to prepare his disciples for

much greater responsibility. Jesus sent out his followers to minister. Then he

listened to their reports when they came back from ministry. Jesus was patient

with his followers. He never gave up on them, even though they were often

slow to learn and slow to understand.

What about you? Would your disciples describe you as patient and kind? When

you teach, do you take time to listen? Would your disciples say that you take

time to listen to them and to understand them? Do your disciples know that you

believe in them and that you expect them to accomplish great things? Is your

teaching filled with kindness and compassion?

If it is, praise the Lord and keep up the good work. But if you sense that you

lack patience and compassion, take time today to talk to the Lord. Tell Him

you are sorry for your impatience with your students and your lack of kindness.

Be specific. Humbly ask the Lord to fill you with compassion for the students

you teach. Let Him know you truly want to empower them to live as His

disciples. The Lord will surely answer your prayers because, as James 4:6 says,

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?”

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #KindnessAndCompassion

Steward Leadership - Parable of the Talents Part 3

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

In this new year, I have begun a new series on the subject of steward leadership. One author defines a steward as “someone who manages resources belonging to another person in order to achieve the owner’s objectives.”

Today we continue our study of the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30. In my two previous episodes, we looked at seven principles from this story. Today, I want to explore some things we do not see in this parable of Jesus.  

As we begin, I want to share a very important point.  Steward leaders lead with humility.  

Now, here are some observations of what do not see from the steward who began with five talents and ended with 11.  

* He did not chastise or criticize the servant who handled his one talent poorly.  The “faithful” steward left it to the Owner to declare that one “wicked, lazy, and worthless.” Sometimes we as humans encounter the temptation to pass judgment on others, and we must be very careful about this. We need to leave it to the Lord and to those in authority over us to deal with those who fail to meet expectations.

* Secondly, we do not see the servant with 11 talents gloat over the one with four. You may recall as I said in my last podcast that the servant who received five bags and the servant who received two bags heard the same commendation from the master. ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ I will again emphasize that we must avoid the trap of comparison with others.

* Lastly, I appreciate the example set by the servant with 11 talents.  There is no mention of chest-thumping (we see this all too frequently by athletes) or calling attention to himself. Consider these words from Jesus in Luke 17:10.  “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”  

There is no place for self-promotion in these words of Jesus.

While the servant who ended with 11 talents received commendation from the Owner, he remained a servant.

As steward leaders, we must maintain a humble posture, always realizing that all that we have, and all that we are, belongs to our Owner, the Lord Jesus Christ.

In our next episode, we will continue our study of steward leadership. This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters and leaders.

The Train and Multiply Pledge

 

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

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

The New Village Church Planting ministry begins when a VCP trainer gathers

disciples to plant churches in villages that do not have churches. The trainer’s

goal is to gather 15 men and women who are faithful, available, and teachable.

These faithful, available, and teachable brothers and sisters commit to four

years of learning in the training center about how to plant churches. But they

commit to much more than learning. They commit themselves to the Lord’s

work: to work hard to multiply disciples, leaders, and churches.

Village Church Planting students probably remember the Train and Multiply

Student Pledge they made when they first started in the training center. But,

let’s take a moment now to remember that pledge which is written on page 24-

32 of the Train and Multiply booklet called “Pastoral Worker Training and You.”

As I read, identify the point that is most meaningful to you and the pledge that

is most difficult for you to consistently keep.

The Train & Multiply Student Pledge:

With God’s help, I pledge myself to:

* Love Jesus Christ and give first priority to obey all his commands.

* Teach others to obey all the commands of Jesus.

* Care for my family with sincere love (Ephesians 5:25-33).

* Pray continually for those I shepherd, my coworkers, and those who still need

Christ.

* Work hard with others in loving harmony, especially my church, and keep my

T&M trainer informed of my activities (Romans 12:9-11).

* Give of my time and money to extend Christ’s kingdom wherever he calls me

to go (Matthew 28:18-20).

* Trust in God’s power to enable the church to grow and reproduce (Mark 4).

* Seek to obey the requirements for leaders of the church as described in 1

Timothy 3:1-7.

* Explain the Gospel with zeal, love, and clarity so that people will believe in

and obey the Lord (Matthew 28:19-20).

* Seek to raise up new, healthy churches that will multiply, especially in areas

where there are none (Romans 15:20-21).

* Be willing to suffer for Christ (2 Timothy 2:3).

* Follow the advice of my trainer, faithfully fulfilling all my assignments in

work and study.

Which of these points is most meaningful for you today? For me, it is the first

point, “Love Jesus Christ and give first priority to obey all his commands.” This

point gives me great clarity about how I must live my life. It protects me from

temptation and it clarifies when I need to confess and repent. I love it because

it guides me as a disciple of Jesus.

What is the hardest pledge for you? For me, the hardest is, “Be willing to

suffer for Christ.” I don’t like to suffer. I try to avoid suffering. But I know that

as a follower of one who endured the cross for me, I too am called to suffer.

Even so, this pledge challenges me so much.

As you commit yourself to the training of disciples to plant daughter churches,

let me encourage you to show them this pledge. Ask your disciples to seriously

consider it and commit to it by faith. God is delighted when his children

commit to obey him, to proclaim the Good News and “To seek to raise up new,

healthy churches that will multiply, especially in areas where there are none.”

I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #Train&Multiply