Fetching Rebekah...Gen 24

Today I read in Genesis 24 which is the story of Abraham sending off one of his servants to his homeland in order to find a wife for Isaac. Abraham did not want his son marrying one of the “local” women, the Canaanites.

The servant, who is not named, takes the job very seriously and prays that God will answer Abraham’s prayer for a wife for his son.

There is one thing in this passage that is interesting to me.

In verse 2 Abraham has the servant swear an oath by having him place his (the servant’s) hand under his (Abraham’s) thigh. This, of course, seems very odd today. A quick look at a commentary tells us that it was common to include some kind of gesture or object when swearing an oath (like swearing on the Bible). And in this case, the thigh likely refers to the inner thigh, thus symbolically swearing to find a wife for Isaac in order to carry on the family line…still pretty strange by today’s standards, but common in that culture.

Jason Cooper

"Your only son" - Gen 22:2 & 12

Genesis 22 records the testing of Abraham. You know the story…God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as a burnt offering. And this after God miraculously opened Sarah’s womb when she was very old. Also after God had repeatedly promised Abraham a son and descendents. Also after Abraham’s son through Hagar had been sent away. Abraham had to have had some doubts…but the text does not suggest that he did. In fact, verse 8 suggests that he knew God would be faithful if he was faithful, and provide an alternative sacrifice.

What interested me as I read this passage this time through was the repeating of the phrase “your son, your only son” (v. 2, 12). A Christian can not help but think of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…”

Now, I don’t know that this is much more than a coincidence that these phrases are similar in these passages, but it is amazing how God’s story of redemption contains, at the very least, so many parallels. To think that Abraham’s promised son, the one who would bring blessing to all nations, would have to die…that would have been difficult to understand. Yet, the “blessed” one that came from this very family line would have to do just that to bring the blessing anticipated…anticipated even clear back in Genesis.

Jason Cooper

THINK STEPS, NOT PROGRAMS...

Last year I read through a book called 7 Practices of Effective Ministry (by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner, & Lane Jones; 186 pp. © 2004 Multnomah Publishers) and much of what it has to say has helped me focus my own approach to ministry.

Last time I shared with you the idea of “clarifying the win”. This time I want to go on and tell you about the second “practice” – thinking steps, not programs.

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? This is the key question facing church leaders. Does it mean I just need to come to church Sunday morning? Does it mean I come to church every time the doors are open? Does it mean I tithe? Does it mean I serve? Does it mean I join the choir? Does it mean I read my bible and pray daily? Does it mean I …???

If our purpose is “to make disciples” (i.e., clarifying the win), then how we answer this question is especially important. How would you answer this question? What would you tell someone if they asked what they needed to do in order to grow as a disciple of Jesus? How did Jesus disciple people?

Let’s go back to another sports analogy. The “win” in football is to have more points than your opponent at the end of the game. That is the overall goal. But the game breaks down much farther than that. The next goal below winning the game is crossing the goal line (scoring). But the game breaks down even farther. The goal below that is to simply get a first down. But there are even more specific steps that a coach considers when putting together a game plan, many of which vary depending on the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. The overall strategy for winning the game affects every decision…from practice routine, to warm ups, to motivating the team, even the coin toss. And all of these steps are taken before the clock even begins to tic.

The point is that a coach is going to make every effort to accomplish the overall goal…winning the game. We as the body of Christ need to make every effort to accomplish our overall goal…making disciples.

So what does this have to do with the church and programming? Typically, a church grows because it develops strong programming…usually children’s ministries, youth ministries, or strong worship and preaching. Other ministries begin to pop up as more people enter the church and are looking for ways to become involved and get to know others. Eventually you end up with a smorgasbord of ministries that people can pick and choose from. No longer can one person be involved with everything the church has to offer, and they have to choose which programs to be a part of.

This causes two problems. First, many people, especially those who have grown up in the church, have equated discipleship with participation in everything the church has to offer…going to church every time the doors are open. They begin to struggle trying to do it all, and they feel a sense of loss as they can no longer keep track of everything and everyone. Secondly, others find themselves in ministries that are not necessarily what they need in order to grow. Sometimes this is an intentional effort to avoid being challenged or to avoid commitment. Sometimes it is merely a result of being emotionally tied to programs or people in them, and not wanting to lose or strain those relationships.

The point? The church should have a step by step strategy for discipling. These steps should be determined apart from existing ministries and programs. The steps should be clear, reachable, and contribute to the purpose of the church. Once the steps have been determined, then the church should design programs and ministries that accomplish these steps.

What does this mean for our church? I wish I could say that we have it all figured out, that we have a clear step by step process for bringing people along in discipleship. What I can say is that we are moving in that direction. Our purpose is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ.” When we reworded this statement last year, we thought there needed to be more to help explain what it means to make disciples. We wanted something that was memorable yet broke down the process of discipleship into steps. We chose four key words: CONNECT, GROW, SERVE, and SHARE. These four words break down Jesus’ discipleship process into four basic steps that speak to how we should disciple people today. We should help people CONNECT to Christ and his church; GROW in their relationship with God; identify their gifts and SERVE in ministry; and SHARE their faith and ministry with others.

What is the next ‘step’? We are working to break down these four basic steps into clear, reachable, and strategic steps that will truly help us “make disciples of Jesus Christ.” It is not that “programs” are bad, it is simply that programs should be designed to take people through these steps (rather than starting a program because “it will draw people” or “people will like it”). Please pray for this process.

In Him,

Jason Cooper

Who is Responsible...Gen 16:1-5

Genesis 16:1-5

I have been reading in Genesis and as I read I often notice things I wasn’t aware of before, or that I had forgotten.

I find it interesting that in this passage of Genesis Sarai says what appears to be an odd thing.

This is the story of about how God had promised Abram offspring, but Sarai had been barren her whole life and now she was old, as was Abram. So, she told Abram to take her maidservant and sleep with her and provide a family through her.

Abram did exactly what his wife asked of him, and Hagar became pregnant.

Then in verse 5 Sarai, sensing Hagar’s attitude, becomes upset with the whole arrangement (an arrangement she made) and says to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering…” (v. 5, NIV).

Now I realize there are cultural practices involved here that are so far from our experience that it makes this passage a little hard to understand. But what I was pretty sure I understood was that this was Sarai’s idea. How is it that she now blames Abram???

That is one thing about historical narratives like this…it isn’t always clear if a behavior was right or wrong. We don’t always know what “should” have happened. We don’t always know if what we are reading would have been “normal”. What we do know from these kind of passages is that God works despite our efforts (intentionally or unintentionally) to get in the way.

So, was Sarai being unfair in blaming Abram??? I don’t know. Was what Abram agreed to a moral failure on his part? Possibly. But one thing is clear…God’s plan proceeds.

Jason Cooper

CLARIFY THE WIN

Last year I read through a book called 7 Practices of Effective Ministry (by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner, & Lane Jones; 186 pp. © 2004 Multnomah Publishers) and much of what it has to say has helped me focus my own approach to ministry. I have special interest in the philosophy of ministry this book teaches as it can greatly increase a church’s effectiveness in actually making discipleship THE purpose of the church.

Let me tell you about the first “practice” – clarifying the ‘win’.

What does it mean to succeed as a church? Is it numbers? Is it programs? Is it budget? Is it facilities? Is it meaningful worship services? What is it?

In football, as with most sports, the “win” is pretty easy to understand…end up with more ppoints on the board at the end of the game. Everything that happens on the field should contribute to that goal. Yet coaches don’t rely on that single measure alone to determine if their team is playing to its full potential. They know that they have to have a solid rushing game, passing game, offensive line, good pass protection, pass coverage, defensive line, special teams, etc., in order to win game after game. They have to clarify not only the overall “win”, but the “win” at every level of the organization.

Again…what does it mean to “win” as a church? What do you use to measure the effectiveness of the church? In my experience, church-goers tend to look to their own impressions and feelings as the primary measure of success. Did I ‘enjoy’ the music or sermon? Did I ‘feel’ the Spirit in worship? On the other hand, church-leaders have a tendency to look at attendance, or offerings, or key programs. Unfortunately, neither of these methods of evaluation tell us if we are truly succeeding. Wouldn’t it be nice if God had given us some direction…

…Oh, but He did! There is a little passage of scripture that actually gives us a goal to achieve…a “win”. Matthew 28:18-20 is known as the Great Commission. Jesus had a task for his followers (the church) to accomplish. The scripture reads as follows:

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20; NIV, emphasis added)

The command in this passage…the goal to accomplish…the “win” to be achieved…is to make disciples. Every other phrase in these few sentences are in support of this “win”.

So, I ask again: What does it mean to succeed as a church? The answer…to make disciples of Jesus Christ! How do we tell if an individual ministry or program is succeeding? The answer…determine if it is effectively contributing to the goal of making disciples.

In Him,
Jason Cooper