Category Archives: Ministry

Family Friday, Leadership, Ministry, Youth Ministry Tips

YMT #3: Give Credit Where Credit Is Due

This week’s Youth Ministry Tip is dedicated to all of those ministry spouses out there. My wife is a huge part of my life and my ministry- and one of the big reasons that I am of any success. I want to proclaim a great big THANK YOU to her. Here are four ways that Sandy helps me be a better minister:

She is my biggest fan and fiercest critic
No one gives me more encouragement than Sandy. She is quick to tell me that I’ve done good and she is always there to cheer me along. On the flip side, she can be brutally honest. She minces no words when she tells me I could have approached something better. She doesn’t beat around the bush when I’ve messed up either. So whether it is praise or criticism, she is honest with me and that helps me stand firm or to move forward and get better.

She is my sounding board
I often feel sorry for Sandy when she is sitting in one of my classes or participating in something I’m leading because she has had to hear about the content, the teaching, the stories, and the jokes over the course of the last week. I run ideas by her. I ask her if the transitions make sense. I gauge her reaction to a story. She is very familiar with something before I deliver it to the public… and yet… she never seems to mind. Thanks for the input babe!

She participates and leads in my ministry
There is an old joke that says that churches will often get a “two-for-one” deal when hiring youth ministers. That is most definitely the case with Sandy. Sandy participates in classes, bible studies, camps, mission trips, you name it. She cooks meals on Sunday nights, bakes brownies for Wednesdays, and opens our home for Bible studies and movie nights. She prays with girls, encourages the guys, and hangs out with them both. She is not a passive participant in the youth ministry. She is a leader.

She takes care of our home and family
IMG_4815 THE MOST IMPORTANT WAY SANDY HELPS MY MINISTRY IS BY TAKING CARE OF OUR FAMILY. No joke. Sandy does everything within her power to take care of Hewson and I. She is selfless and she is tireless in her efforts to create a quiet, loving, peaceful home. Everything gets clean, everything gets put away, everything gets taken care of. If this were the only thing Sandy did for me it would be more than enough to satisfy. Instead she takes care of our home and much, much more. Nobody does it better than Sandy. She is the greatest wife, mother, and partner in the world. I can’t thank her enough.

Thank you for every single thing that you do for us Sandy. Hewson loves you. The teens and their families love you. I love you. You are the greatest!

Now, who deserves the credit for your success in life? Give them a call. Send them a text. Tell them how much you appreciate them.

Book Review, Books, Discipleship, Ministry, Resources, Theology, Wrestling With Scripture

Book Review: Dug Down Deep

“The wise builder is the one who comes to Jesus, listens to his words, and then puts them into practice. This activity- this faith-filled approach to Jesus, the acceptance of his truth and then the application of the truth and then the application of the truth- is what Jesus said is like a man who dug down deep and built on a solid foundation. When problems and trials and the storms of life came, the “house” of his life kept standing.”

I don’t know when exactly it happened but there came a time where I had no desire to read another pithy, saccharine-sweet devotional book. I craved the deep stuff. I wanted to know and understand beyond mere comfort and enjoyment. I wanted to dig deeper into the inner workings of my God and my faith. I wanted theology over warm fuzzies, truth over platitudes.

Dug Down Deep: Unearthing What I Believe and Why It Matters by Joshua Harris is a great primer for those who want to go a bit deeper in their faith understanding. For those who would like a beginner’s tutorial in the realm of theology you probably couldn’t find a more accessible book. Harris tackles everything from the doctrine of God (theology proper) to the doctrine of Scripture to the doctrine of Sanctification.

Don’t let the word doctrine turn you off. Harris makes each of these deep truths understandable without watering them down or coming across as some stuffy, thick-glasses academic. Harris writes about understanding and experiencing these teachings within the context of daily living. He talks openly about his struggles, his missteps, and his inability to understand it all. He does this in a way that invites the reader into the difficult task of building faith not of the shifting sands of the culture but but firmly in God and in the truth revealed through Scripture.

As a minister, where the rubber meets the road for me is whether or not this book is a good resource for me and my ministry. Would I recommend Dug Down Deep to my teens or their families? Yes. Could I use this book to help me teach a class on theology to teenagers/college students/families? Absolutely.

Joshua Harris cost me a few dates back in college when his I Kissed Dating Goodbye was all the rage. The young guy who rashly encouraged all the pretty girls to turn me down for dates has matured into an honest, thoughtful, and engaging author and minister. With Dug Down Deep Harris has proven that theology and doctrine are necessary to deepen one’s faith and understanding. Even more than that theology and doctrine help solidify the relationship between the believer and the Creator.

Disclaimer: This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah. (However…I would have bought this book anyway.)

General, Leadership, Ministry, Thanksgiving, Thoughts, Worship, Youth Ministry Tips

YMT #2: Desire

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You want to avoid burnout or irrelevance? Then you must find the desire to move forward. Everyday is another chance for you to improve, grow, & stretch yourself and the influence of your ministry. Yesterday is over. Take what you can learn- the good AND the bad- and use it as fuel for your journey today.

Rolling Stone just posted an article from The Edge asking him what the future looks like for U2. Truth be told, while Bono may be the face of the band the heart, soul, and mind of U2 is The Edge. (Check out the doc “It Might Get Loud” for a glimpse into The Edge’s work ethic) U2’s last album was one of the best selling albums of 2009, they are currently touring the planet on the world’s largest concert stage, and they are undoubtedly the world’s biggest band. And yet, the desire to move forward, develop, and excel is pronounced.

Rolling Stone: What do you foresee for U2 in the next decade?
The Edge: I can’t think that things will change radically for us, because we are already enjoying being in the band. It matters to us that we still make music that connects, and we are still capable of potentially doing our best-ever album. It’s not a foregone conclusion that our best work is behind us. That still makes it really exciting.

Remember, U2 has experienced unprecedented sustained success for 30 years. There have been missteps and mistakes, hubris and humiliations. Does this sound like a man that is burned out and ready to give up? No. This is a man on fire! In fact, that’s a big joke in the U2 fan community. Anytime a journalist asks Bono about the upcoming album he says (without fail) that “The Edge is on fire.” That fire must come from a desire to learn and move on.

What makes ministry exciting is that your best days are not behind you. Find that desire to move forward.

At what may seem like the apex of success or at what may seem like the pit of despair there is a choice. You can get bitter or you can get better. The choice is yours. Getting bitter is the easy choice. You get to complain and people will stroke your hair and sing “Soft Kitty” over you. And you will die inside a little each day.

But.. you choose to get better and there is hope. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2Corinthians 4:16) There’s your promise. We serve a God that takes our dark yesterdays and gives us bright tomorrows.

Do not lose heart. Your best day is not behind you because God’s best day is not behind Him!

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1Corinthians 9:24-27)

Book Review, Discipleship, Ethos, Experience, Leadership, Life, Ministry, Mission, Resources

Book Review: Primal

One of my favorite authors, Mark Batterson, has a great new book called “Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity.” I got my hands on an advanced copy and finished reading it earlier this week. I want you to know that this is Mark’s best book yet.

The challenge of “Primal” is to get back to the basic element of Christianity. Len Sweet once remarked that the best picture of the church is that of a swing. The power of a swing comes from the point where we lean back and kick forward. In order for the church to make an impact in the future we must be willing to lean back- past all church traditions and dogmas- all the way into the arms of Jesus. When we do that, we can then move powerfully into the future with the Gospel message. For Mark, the essence of the Gospel message– the most basic element- is living out the call of the Greatest Commandment. That’s the heart of the Gospel. Well.. the heart, soul, mind, and strength of the Gospel.

If Jesus said that loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is the most important commandment, then doesn’t it logically follow that we ought to spend an inordinate amount of our time and energy trying to understand it and obey it? We can’t afford to merely good at the Great Commandment. We’ve got to be great at the Great Commandment.”

The book divided into 4 sections to highlight the different facets of the Greatest Commandment that Jesus brings to our attention. Mark “reimagines” these elemants as follows:

The heart of Christianity is primal compassion
The soul of Christianity is primal wonder
The mind of Christianity is primal curiosity
The strength of Christianity is primal energy

Mark’s power as a writer comes from his ability to weave his heart and passion for the things of God into every story, every bullet point, and every conclusion. You become enthralled in the quest because Mark is enthralled with the quest. Mark Batterson is the real deal. He is a loving husband and father who loves his church and wants to introduce everyone to his Savior. You will not be disappointed by this book.

Here’s a great challenge for you. Make “Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity” the first book you read in 2010. As we start a brand new decade begin by working out your heart, soul, mind, and body to reconnect to the Gospel of Jesus. Start 2010 as a part of the primal movement to rediscover the Greatest Commandment for your life.

Disclaimer:This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Ministry, YM, Youth Ministry, Youth Ministry Tips

Youth Ministry Tips #1: Hospital Visits

2010 will mark my seventh year in full-time ministry. There is nothing on planet earth that I would rather do then minister to teens and families. Although I have been doing this for a few years I am learning something new every single day. I want to begin a new feature on the blog featuring Youth Ministry Tips. I hope that you find these tips helpful and feel free to add tips in the comment section. Today I want to start with tips on making hospital visits.

Know Where You’re Going
Hospitals are a bit like snowflakes- everyone is different. Take some time and get familiar with the hospitals in your area. Which hospital do most of your families turn to in times of need? In most towns you probably have 2 or 3 choices. Spend an afternoon getting to know the layout of those hospitals. Find out where the parking is. (Do they have clergy parking? Is there free parking for clergy? Do you need a clergy pass?) Find out where the surgery, ICU, and observation rooms are. See if you can pick up a campus map for your files so you’ll know how to get around. Knowing your way around the hospital will give you more time to spend with the people you came there to see.

Bonus: Schedule your visit around lunch time. Many hospital cafeterias have good food at rock bottom prices. Some hospitals around me even have a Starbucks.

Call Ahead
Sometimes being in a hospital is a boring affair. Often family members are waiting around for results, checkups, and for improvement. Sometimes they are just…waiting. If you are planning on visiting, think about calling ahead to see if you can bring anything– magazines, schoolwork, movies, coloring books etc. I would advise against bringing food for a patient but sometimes mom and dad could use a burger or coke.

Don’t Rush
Your class for Wednesday night can wait and you can make those calls for the lock-in later. When you’re visiting a student or parent in the hospital they should be your only focus. Spend as much time as needed to visit, share, and pray with the family. Think about turning off your phone as well. Everything you need to get done will get finished. Don’t rush your hospital visit.

Watch for Cords
I’ll never forget the time I visited my grandmother in the hospital. Her sister came in and sat down on the hospital bed next to her. Next thing you know my grandmother started acting funny and losing color in her face. My grandmother’s sister had puller out the IV when she sat on the bed. Here’s a good rule of thumb: Don’t sit on the hospital bed!!! Be very careful around the patient you’re visiting. Don’t cause more trouble than you have to.

Always Leave With a Prayer
I never leave a hospital room without offering to pray for the family I’m visiting. One of the greatest gifts you can give a family that is worrying and scared about the situation they find themselves in is to pray for them. Praying over the family gives them hope, peace, and comfort in an often chaotic time. At times when the situation isn’t dire praying for the family is a common bond you can share. Walking together into the throne room of God puts everything into perspective. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to pray with those you visit in the hospital.

Conclusion
I count it as a privilege to be able to visit families in the hospital. Ministry happens when you share your time and attention with those who are sick and hurting. Now it is your turn. What tips do you have to share concerning hospital visits?

Chase the Lion, Discipleship, Ethos, Experience, Faith in Action, Life, Ministry, Self-Leadership, Worship, Wrestling With Scripture

Chase the Lion Week 3 Notes

This is the midway point in our Chase the Lion series. This week is all about reframing your problems. Each day brings it’s own set of problems, issues, and challenges. We can choose to view these problems through the world’s perspective and find ourselves crushed under the weight of life’s problems or… we can begin to see our problems through the frame of Scripture and find that God meets us and carries through anything that is thrown at us.

Chase the Lion Week 3: Reframing Problems
Reframe (verb): to recondition a mental attitude or outlook
Problem (noun): a source of perplexity, distress or vexation

In order for us to put our faith firmly in God we must learn to reframe problems. Life throws everything it has at us and we feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities, expectations, crisis, and problems facing us.

We shared stories though about people facing extreme situations- cancer, poverty, injustice, and death. The men and women, in the face of extreme problems, stood tall and proclaimed “God is Good!”

Have you ever wondered what it is that enables someone to overcome adversity? How can someone have that “God is Good” attitude in the midst of suffering? Their problems have been reframed. Rather than seeing a problem, they see an opportunity. An opportunity to worship.

“Who you are is not determined by your circumstances. The outcome of your life will be determined by your outlook on life.”

This isn’t some pithy, new-age, believe-and-achieve, feel-good statement. If you look at your problems through the frame of Almighty God and His Word- if he is bigger than your fears or problems- than you can begin to see as He sees. Your outlook will begin to be His outlook.

Scripture will reframe your perspective on everything:

It reframes your Identity (Who you are)
It reframes your Destination (Where you are going)
It reframes your Circumstances (What you’re going through)
It reframes your Legacy (What you leave behind)

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11–12 TNIV)

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2–4 TNIV)

“For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.” (Philippians 1:29 NLT-SE)

Charizomai– Greek word meaning to grant favor, in kindness.

Do we really see our suffering as a privilege gift from God? We should.

The ultimate key to reframing our problems is the act of worship. In the face of suffering, in the midst of trials the key to turning our pain over to the Lord is pure worship.

The best example of this is found in Acts 16.

Despite (in spite?) of their dire circumstances, Paul and Silas reacted with worship and actually witnessed to those around them.

“Worship reframes circumstances. The circumstances you complain about become the chains that imprison you.”

What about you?
1) Are there any circumstances that are currently imprisoning you? What are they?
2) What things have you complained about this past week? How can you turn those situations into opportunities for worship?
3) List 10 things you are thankful for

Discipleship, Ethos, Faith in Action, Family Friday, Family Ministry, Leadership, Ministry, Orange, Prayer, Resources, Worship, Wrestling With Scripture, Youth Ministry

Halloween Orange

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I’ve been working my way through Reggie Joiner’s Think Orange this semester in an effort to help me connect better with the whole family. As a youth minister I work with families but too often I have gotten the feeling that at times I am working exclusively with teens and at other times I’m focused on parents. My desire is to minister to the whole family and so I’ve been seeking out resources to help me do this.

Think Orange has been invaluable because Reggie’s heart families mirrors my own. “Orange” is the idea of “two entities partnering together to make a greater impact or to create a better solution.” To Reggie, the church is ” a bright yellow” light that exists to illuminate Jesus. The family is a bright “red” heart that demonstrates God’s love and character through unconditional relationship. Together these two forces combine to create Orange. What a beautiful picture and a perfect metaphor for authentic family ministry. The book has been great and I am excited to share some of this with those I minister to but, in the Spirit of Orange, I’ve really been thinking about Halloween this week.

Something Reggie wrote about this family-focused holiday (yes, I just called Halloween family-focused) has been on the forefront of my mind all week. Here is what he said:

– An estimated 47 percent of household consumers decorate for Halloween.
– Halloween is second only to Christmas in the volume of decorations sold
– Over 790 million pounds of jack-o’-lanterns and pumpkin pies will be bought
– Candy sales will exceed $2 billion.
– More than 93 percent of children go trick-or-treating every year. (I wonder how many of those families go to your church?)

Most families love Halloween. Right or wrong, there is something about October 31 that stirs the imagination of children and engages the hearts of parents.

Watch your neighborhood closely this fall.
Listen to the laughter.
Take a look at the generosity.
Taste the sugar.
Feel the energy.
See the glow in the children’s eyes.
Notice the parents walking with their kids.
And observe how families connect with other families.
It seems kind of… magical.

Why can’t the church be more like that? Why can’t the church create the kind of atmosphere for the family that captures their imagination and incites a relational revival in the home?

No color commentary from me on this today. It is just a question that I’m pondering right now.

How can the church create the kind of atmosphere for the family that captures their imagination and incites a relational revival in the home?

I believe that somewhere inside the answer to this question lies the secret to a dozen generations boldly proclaiming– in word, in deed, in heart, in mind, in power, and in strength- the Glory of Jesus Christ. So, there’s your challenge. It’s not just for this weekend but for the rest of your lives.

Have a Happy Halloween. Keep your eyes and your hearts open as you look for the answers to impact future generations.

How can the church create the kind of atmosphere for the family that captures their imagination and incites a relational revival in the home?

Chase the Lion, Discipleship, Ministry, Worship, Wrestling With Scripture

Chase the Lion Week 2 Notes

This week, our Chase the Lion series challenged us to Face our Fears. If you have not read In the Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day I highly recommend that you pick up a copy today. I hope that I am doing the material justice and I hope that you will find these notes encouraging as you stare down the lions in your life. Remember, we serve a God that is greater than any 500lbs Lion of a problem. God is bigger than your biggest failure and stronger than your strongest habit. Freedom from fear and discouragement is found in His mighty arms. Face your fears with the courage of Almighty God!

Chase the Lion: Facing Fears
Fear is a real and powerful emotion. There is no getting around this fact. The problem is that Satan knows this and uses fear and discouragement take away our spiritual trust and faith is our Almighty Father. Satan want to neutralize us spiritually.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 TNIV)

When we live in fear we basically press pause on the DVR of our lives. We live in a way that keeps us from moving forward and we get stuck in bad attitudes, poor mistakes, and debilitating sin.

I’d be willing to bet that our man Benaiah was not fearless. When you are staring down the barrel of a spear or up against 2 warriors or facing a 500lb lion fear is definitely part of the equation.

I think too often we look at our Biblical heroes and ascribe to them an aura of fearlessness and otherworldliness. We mistakenly believe that we could never live lives as rich and full as Moses or Elijah or Peter or the Apostles. They were strong. They stood their ground. They were fearless. Really?

– We forget that Moses stuttered.
– We forget that Elijah, immediately after defeating the 400 prophets of Baal, fled like a little school girl because Jezebel threatened him.
– We forget that Peter sank in the sea of Galilee.
– We forget the apostles scattered after Jesus was arrested.

Unfortunately, we cannot fully live God-honoring lives if we are paralyzed by fear.

The good news is that we serve a big God! Our God is bigger than anything that threatens you or frightens you. The key to living a full life isn’t in becoming fearless but in putting your trust in a God that is bigger than your biggest fear.

Did you know that we are only born with two innate fears? The only fears that we are born with are the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. That means that every other fear- from the fear of going to school (didaskaleinophobia) to the fear of puppets (pupaphobia)- is learned or picked up somewhere along the way.

But if fears and be learned than they can be unlearned. This is great news!

Scripture gives us some some lessons about unlearning fear.

“If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:15–18 TNIV)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1 TNIV)

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you” (Colossians 3:15–16 TNIV)

“I write to you, young people, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” (1 John 2:14 TNIV)

Lion chasers aren’t fearless. Lion chasers have just let God help them unlearn fears that were keeping their lives stagnant and captive. Don’t let mental lions keep you from experiencing everything God has to offer. The fear of uncertainty, the fear of embarrassment, the fear of failure, the fear of the past- these all loose their power because they are exposed by the Light.

When we put of faith and hope and trust in God fear is overtaken by courage. Courage is doing what is right regardless of circumstances and consequences.

Despite fear, Jesus had the courage to face the cross. He was able to do what is right regardless of circumstances or consequences because he trusted the Father to carry him through. Fear had no power over Jesus because fear has no power over our God.

Have you given fear too much reign over your life? Are you afraid of your past? Be strong and very courageous! Are you afraid of your mistakes? Be strong and very courageous! Are you afraid of the unknown future? Be strong and very courageous!

Don’t let fear separate your from the life that God has in store for you. Be strong and very courageous! Put your hope in God!

Discipleship, Ethos, Jesus, Ministry, Remarkable

Making Jesus Famous

If you have not read The Tipping Point, Blink, or Outliers than you are probably unfamiliar with one of the greatest storytellers and one of the most brilliant writers around- the great Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell’s latest, What the Dog Saw and Other Adventures, is a collection of his favorite articles written for The New Yorker. Gladwell has the uncanny knack of drawing you into something that is at first mundane and somewhat uninteresting. However, you quickly begin to find a hidden nugget of wisdom or truth right smack dab in the middle of a story about Hush Puppies or airline disasters.

That’s why it came as no surprise to me that as I was reading his article about Ron Popeil last night I was reminded of the most important truth for authentic God-honoring ministry- the key is making Jesus famous.

You don’t know who Ron Popeil is? I’m certain that you know about his greatest product to date: The Ronco Showtime Rotisserie & BBQ. The tag line is unforgettable: (Say it with me) Just Set it & Forget it!!! The Showtime has sold millions of units and made a billion dollars all because of a twenty eight minute and thirty second informercial filmed and financed and starring Ron Popeil. According to Gladwell, Popeil “didn’t use a single focus group. He had no market researchers, R&D teams, public relations advisers, Madison Avenue advertising companies, or business consultants. He dreamed up something new in his kitchen and went out and pitched it himself.”

Gladwell makes it perfectly clear that in the informercial- in any of his infomercials- Ron Popeil is decidedly not the star. The product is the star! Ron built a product that is designed well- designed in such a way that the user can see “the magic happen” and Ron simply shows the thing off. He lets the machine sell itself!

So what does that have to do with making Jesus famous? I am NOT comparing Jesus to a stupid rotisserie or even saying that ministry is about selling Jesus as a cheap product. Repeat: I am NOT comparing Jesus to a stupid rotisserie or even saying that ministry is about selling Jesus as a cheap product. Heaven forbid that I reduce the King of Kings to a thing like that! However, I have learned a valuable lesson from Mr. Popeil.

As a minister of Jesus Christ the greatest way for me to make Jesus famous is to allow people to see more of Jesus than they see of me.

Jesus said that when He is lifted up, then He will draw everyone unto himself. (John 12:32) That is a powerful promise! The power of love was made evident when Jesus was lifted up on the cross. The power of new life was made known when Jesus was raised from the dead. As Jesus ascended into heaven the power of mission was given to us. The power of Jesus is still best understood and radically experienced when we lift Him up to a dying and broken world.

If we would lift Jesus up higher than our churches, higher than our ministries, higher than ourselves… If we would make it our goal to make the name and person of Jesus Christ more famous than ourselves… can you imagine what would happen?

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others? Do you want to see marriages healed and families strengthened? Do you want to see people released from lives marked by fear, greed, pain, and sorrow?

Than get out of the way and lift high the One who can really change broken lives.

Lift up Jesus Christ- put Him at the center of your ministry and life- and let him be the star.

Discipleship, Leadership, Ministry, Resources, Wrestling With Scripture

Chase the Lion Week 1 Notes

This past Friday, I had the honor of helping to kick off a new men’s Bible study at our church. I am teaching through one of my favorite books, In the Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson. Week one is the introduction to the study and I wanted to post my notes here on the blog as well. My thanks to Mark Batterson for his material and for his passion to see God’s people become fully engaged disciples. My hope is that these notes will encourage you to draw closer to Jesus in the midst of your challenges and struggles.

Chase the Lion Week 1: Defying Odds
Your view of God- how big or how small He is to you- will determine your spiritual future. Ask yourself: How big is your God? As A.W. Tozar said, “A low view of God is the cause of a hundred lesser evils. A high view of God is the solution to ten thousand temporal problems.”

The story of Benaiah is found in 2Samuel 23:20-23. Benaiah was not the odds on favorite in any of these situations. Out maned and out speared, not to mention the specs of the King of the jungle- Full grown lions weigh 500lbs and run 35 mph. These were crazy scenarios that would make many of us turn tail and run! But not Benaiah. “You have to admit: these victories look pretty good on your resume for the head of security for the king of Israel.”

What seemed like the worst experiences for Benaiah ended up being his big break. God used the most difficult situations in Benaiah’s life to mold him, prepare him, and lead him through to greater things.

Trusting in God to deal with and carry us through our most difficult challenges, experiences, opportunities, and failures requires us to have the proper perspective of our Heavenly Father. He is the creator and sustainer, he is the victor, he is God above all. He is bigger than an 500lb lion of a problem.

“Chasing lions is not about some foolish act of dumb courage, it is about defying odds because we believe in a God who is bigger than what we can comprehend or control.” – Mark Batterson

I want to challenge you to a paradigm shift. Maybe, right now, God is using your toughest challenge to teach you something, to take you to the next level, to reveal himself more fully to you. Are you going to have the courage to go after what God has called you to? He has called you to:

– Have an intimate and deep relationship with his Son, Jesus Christ.
– Fully rely on the Holy Spirit to guide and direct you
– Build strong, healthy families that honor God
– Determine, with His help, to have a rock solid, fire proof marriage
– Leave a legacy of faith that passes down through generations

“There are some parts of being a dad that I can’t outsource if i want to raise Godly kids. There are elements of my marriage that may seem insignificant. But in reality, they’ll determine whether my marriage is won or lost.” – Steven Furtick, pastor of Elevation Church

Everyday, we are faced with seemingly insurmountable odds. The world wants to see us fail- if we fail then they believe that our God fails. Fear not! Christ has overcome the world! (John 16:33; 1Cor 1:18; 2Cor 4:1-18)

The Courage to Defy Odds begins with the proper perspective of who God is and what he is capable of. The proper perspective than drives us to humility before God because we know that while we cannot handle these obstacles on our own, God is fully capable of delivering us through any situation we might face. Even though this runs counterintuitive to the way we want to operate, we must submit to God because his thoughts are not our thoughts, and his ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:6-9)

Questions for this week:
Is God bigger than your biggest problem?
Is God bigger than your greatest fear?
Is God bigger than your worst failure?