Justin Taylor recently shared comments from Matt Perman about the differences between strengths, skills, and talents.

1. People should make sure not to confuse “what I’m good at” with “what my strengths are.” Your strengths are what make you feel strong. If something is a strength, you are also good at it. But you can be good at something that you hate doing. That is not a strength, and shouldn’t receive your focus.
2. This shows more specifically what role the individual has to play in discerning his or her calling—for nobody but the individual knows what he or she really enjoys. The community is critical in identifying “misyearnings”—things you enjoy but are bad at. That then needs to be integrated with something that only the individual can asses—your own awareness of what you find most energizing.
3. It’s worth noting that lack of skill can often be confused for lack of talent. The community of advisers needs to keep this in mind. Talent can be defined as the innate ability that allows you to do something well. This is a basic feature of one’s personality and isn’t chosen. Skills, on the other hand, can be learned. If you have talent but lack skills, you might not be very good yet. So people might encourage you to go in another direction, but in reality you could get the skills and, combined with your talents, become very effective.
4. Strength in something comes from talent, skill, and knowledge. The key to developing a strength is to add knowledge and skill where you have talent. Your talent multiplies the effect of those skills and knowledge, resulting in a much greater effect than adding them in areas where you lack talent.

Number 1 especially hits home to me. One of the topics of discussion during my Acts 29 Assessment was my gifting, as assessed by entrepreneurial and DISC assessments, and how I seemed probably a better fit for a #2 guy vs. a lead planter. One of my responses was the fact that administrative stuff comes very naturally to me, but I don’t enjoy it, it doesn’t bring me joy. I’m looking for opportunities at Grace and beyond to minister in areas that are both strengths and passions and I am praying that God would speak to me through those and direct my path.

Following the Verge Conference Brent Thomas wrote up some ideas for helping to transition a church from a program-driven model to a missional one. This is especially applicable as we start Engage Groups at Grace Bible Church and look to raise up and grow missional communities that happen “during life during the week” instead of “at church on Sunday”.

Go slow. . Any changes must be communicated clearly, demonstrated biblically and made slowly.

Be theological/scriptural. …missional is, above all, a theological movement. It is rooted in the Missio Dei (the “Mission of God”). God the Father sent the Son, the Father and Son Sent the Spirit and just as the Father sent the Son, so Jesus sends His people into the world (Matthew 28:18-20, John 20:21, etc.). Any transition to missional must be rooted in Scripture rather than pragmatics.

Clearly define your terms. Missional communities are small groups but they are not simply small group bible studies. Missional Communities seek to develop transparent relationships of Gospel accountability but they are not simply accountability groups. Missional communities are focused on re-orienting our entire lives around living on mission, but they are not simply outreach groups. If we are not clear in defining missional communities in our churches, tradition will be more than happy to define them for us.

Lead by example. A leader’s most powerful tool in a shift towards missional community is example. Jesus led by serving (Mark 10:45, etc.) and so should His people. … Take people with you. Lead by example.

Don’t neglect community. It’s possible that we can become so focused on mission that we find ourselves neglecting community. … We have been created to exist (and to minister) in relationship. Seek to implement ways of living missionally that are community-centered.

Center each community around a tangible mission with the clear end-goal of making disciples. … each mission must be targeted at making disciples, they must include relationships with non-believers.

Celebrate successes/share stories. It’s important to continually share stories of success. Just as we need to be led by example in community, we need to be encouraged and challenged by those who have had breakthroughs. Continually have church members share their own stories of living on mission (not just the successes but also the failures, this is a hard calling and we need to not only see success but be reminded that we’re not alone in struggle). This will not only provide a picture of what living on mission might look like for some people, it will reinforce the community piece, reminding each one of us that we’re not in this alone.

Focus on Jesus. We must never forget that this is all about Jesus. We are not on mission to get people to join our church but to know Jesus.

From Rob Plummer at the SojournKids.com blog

The Psalms – A Biblical Guide to Worshiping God

In the Psalms we find raw honesty – expressions of immense sadness, anger, joy, anxiety, etc.  The Psalms give expression to the full range of human emotions, but they do so always with reference to the God who made us and stands as Judge and Savior above us.  How do we worship God when others have wronged us?  The Psalms instruct us every conceivable situation as to how we should express our thoughts to our loving heavenly Father and ultimately how to worship him through all situations in life.

Suggestions for Incorporating the Psalms into Family Devotions

• Over the course of this month, have everyone in the family memorize the same Psalm (suggestion: Psalm 19).  Then, when the family takes a walk or is in the car together, take turns reciting parts of the psalm.
• Read a psalm or part of a psalm together at a family meal or before bed time.  If you read roughly one psalm per day, you will read through the book of Psalms twice per year.
• If your children are facing particular struggles, find a psalm that teaches them how to express their emotions in a God-honoring way.
• In family prayer time, read a psalm slowly verse by verse.  Pause after each verse to allow family members to express the ideas in their own words and apply them to their own situations.
• If you have a musically gifted member of the family, invite that person to make up an original melody to a psalm or portion of a psalm.
• Have the whole family draw pictures that illustrate some of the images or metaphors found in a psalm.
• For older children – have a “scavenger hunt” through the Psalms.  Everyone is required to find five types of psalms: (1) A psalm that praises God, (2) A psalm that expresses sadness, (3) A psalm that mentions the King, (4) A psalm that expresses repentance, and (5) A psalm that expresses thanksgiving.

From Trevin Wax. These are great ideas and I can’t wait to do them with Malachi.

1. Instead of watching a movie, create your own movie story.

Here’s what you do. In five minutes, organize the toys with your child. Pick out two or three main characters. Always have a superhero waiting in the wings. Use a toy house, a toy jungle, or some lego castle as a backdrop for the action. Have a plane, a rocket, or some mode of transportation. If you need a flood, have blue sheets nearby. Just look at what you’ve got and get ready for a Story. You don’t have to plan the whole story out.

Then, create an iTunes playlist with movie music that you can play in the background. Here’s our favorite five-song playlist for a twenty-minute story:

1. “The Wardrobe” – from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.
2. “Prince Caspian Flees” – from Prince Caspian
3. “The Aslan’s Camp” – from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
4. “Battle at Aslan’s How” – from Prince Caspian
5. “Return of the Lion” – from Prince Caspian

The more you use the same playlist, the more familiar you will be with the music. You can anticipate the musical cues, and begin to play with the toys accordingly.

Some of the music is mysterious and filled with wonder. Other parts sound suspenseful and would make good background music to a thrilling chase or battle. The beginning of “Aslan’s Camp” right after “Prince Caspian Flees” is perfect for a stunning entrance from a super-hero to save the day.

We’ve made these playlists from more than a dozen movies. The music makes the playing much more exciting, and it gives you a creative way of adding drama to the story. Try it. It’s fun.

2. Instead of playing Mario, let your son be Mario.

Set up an obstacle course in your living room. Tell your child the carpet is fire that he can’t touch. Take washcloths and place them in strategic places until there is a path of stones that the child has to jump on as he makes his way through the course. (Ask Mom first, of course.)

Lob plastic balls at him as if they were fire balls keeping him from getting to the end. At the end, give him three pillows, and be the big Bowser that is trying to stop him. He has to hit you three times. You have ammo (pillows) to throw at him too. It’s fun to do this on the sidewalk too, using chalk to create an obstacle course.

3. See who can find Waldo and his friends the fastest.

There are five main characters to find on every page, which means you can compete to see who can find the most characters. If you don’t want to make it a contest, that’s fine too. It’s fun enough to look for Waldo and his friends together.

From Daniel Montgomery’s sermon series on Proverbs, as summarized by Doug Wolter

TEACH YOUR KIDS TO SUFFER WELL.

MYTH:  Suffering is to be avoided at all costs.
REALITY: Suffering is normal. (Proverbs 10:25, Romans 5:3-5)

TEACH YOUR KIDS TO WORK DILIGENTLY.

MYTH: Work is to be avoided at all costs.
REALITY: You were created to work. (Proverbs 10:4, Colossians 3:23-24)

TEACH YOUR KIDS TO SPEND WISELY.

MYTH: Everything is yours to use as you see fit.
REALITY: Your life is a sacred stewardship (Proverbs 23:4, Romans 12:1)

TEACH YOUR KIDS TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS.

MYTH: Only you can decide what’s the best, most fulfilling way to live.
REALITY: Holy living allows you to experience God’s best for your life. (Proverbs 3:7-8, 1 Peter 1:15-16)

TEACH YOUR KIDS TO LIVE BY GRACE.

MYTH: Failure is final.
REALITY: You were created to receive and give grace. (Proverbs 19:11, Ephesians 2:8-9)

Dr. Andreas Köstenberger is the founder of BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS™ and the author, editor, and translator of over 20 books, including God, Marriage, and Family: Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation. He also serves as professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. He recently posted five observations on the gospel. The gospel is

1. Divine, not human: The gospel is God’s saving message to a world living in darkness and a humanity lost in its sin. The gospel is not a human message, nor was its conception a function of human initiative, but its origin and its impetus derive solely from God. For this reason our role with regard to the gospel is not that of evaluation, criticism or reformulation, but that of grateful acceptance and obedience. Humans are not equal partners with God as far as the gospel message is concerned; they are rather his commissioned representatives, charged with proclaiming the gospel in the exact form in which they received it (e.g., John 17:20; 20:21; 1 Cor 15:3–4).
2. Required, not optional: Acceptance of the gospel is not optional for salvation but rather required, owing to pervasive human sinfulness. As the Book of Hebrews states, “people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment”; “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time . . . to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Heb 9:27–28). Apart from believing in Jesus Christ, “God’s wrath remains” on people (Jn 3:36), and they are spiritually dead (Jn 5:24; Eph 2:1). People must be “born of God” (Jn 1:12; 3:3, 5; 1 Jn 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18), that is, be spiritually regenerated (Tit 3:5; 1 Pet 1:3). As Paul writes in his epistle to the Ephesians, “[a]nd you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit . . .” (Eph 1:13). Inclusion in Christ comes only by hearing and believing the gospel.
3. Christological, not merely theological: The gospel is not vaguely theological, as if it were amenable to various ways of salvation depending on a person’s belief in a particular kind of god, or depending on the degree to which people were able to hear the gospel presented in a clear way; it is decidedly and concretely Christological, that is, centered on the salvation provided through the vicarious cross-death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence Paul is able to speak of “the gospel . . . regarding his [God’s] Son . . . Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 1:2–4). Significantly, this gospel is not a New Testament novelty but was “promised beforehand through his [God’s] prophets [such as Habakkuk, Rom 1:17 citing Hab 2:4] in the Holy Scriptures” (Rom 1:2). Abraham already had resurrection faith (Romans 4; Galatians 3; Heb 11:8–12).
4. No other gospel: The messianic motif pervading all of Scripture and centering in the Lord Jesus Christ coupled with the risen Jesus’ “Great Commission” for his followers to go and disciple the nations inextricably link an understanding of the gospel as the exclusive message of salvation in Jesus Christ with the church’s mandate to engage in missionary outreach. This is clear especially from the Gospels of Matthew, Luke, John, the book of Acts, and several of Paul’s writings. Conversely, any messages proclaimed in the name of Christ that feature a “different gospel” or a different Christ (such as compromising his simultaneous full humanity and deity, e.g. 1 John 4:2–3) are rejected. The church must engage in missions, because “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17). If anyone confesses with his mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believes in his heart that God raised him from the dead, he will be saved (Rom 10:9; see also vv. 10–13).
5. No other name but Jesus: In light of the clear biblical passages mentioned above and in view of the strong and pervasive trajectory of scriptural references to the gospel there is no proper foundation for arguing for salvation apart from explicit faith in Jesus Christ. Scripture makes clear that humanity is universally sinful, and that God’s wrath remains on every individual who has not placed his or her trust in Jesus Christ on the basis of his substitutionary death on the cross and his subsequent resurrection. While there may be philosophical or larger theological objections to such a notion (such as the difficulty experienced by some of reconciling this notion with the love of God), while there may be commonsense concerns on the basis of human conceptions or “fairness” or other similar considerations, there can be little doubt that Scripture nowhere teaches, or easily allows the implication, that there is a way to salvation other than through explicit faith in Jesus Christ during a person’s lifetime (e.g., Heb 9:27–28). In fact, this is not an obscure topic; it is the central contention of the biblical message concerning the gospel, that “[s]alvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

From Duane Smets of The Resolved Church in San Diego as posted on the Acts 29 Network Blog

Below are ten common reasons given for what keeps us from mission, coupled with ways we can work to combat their tendencies in us.

1. Too busy
2. No (Christian) community support
3. Uncertainty of one’s own beliefs
   1. Apologetics Level
   2. Gospel Application Level
   3. Discipleship Level
4. Unwillingness to seek the conversion of others
5. Don’t want to waste free time
6. Don’t have anything in common with community
7. Fear of condemnation
8. Fear of corruption
9. Fear of what to say
10. Fear of damaging the relationship

From the Crossway blog and Joe Carter, who writes for First Things, among many other places.

Whether you are defending your faith, telling someone about God, or simply in a discussion—these simple tips can help you communicate effectively without high blood pressure or raising your voice:

1. Start with examples your audience will understand: Always start with an example or concept your audience knows, understands, or finds interesting, and connect it to your core message.
2. Speak your audience’s language: When you speak to an audience, to the extent possible, you must speak their language.
3. Use witness: Consider the use of witnesses essential to the construction of an effective message based on narrative and ethos. Wherever possible, elicit testimonies.
4. Know when to speak: There are a lot of important topics in the world, and it is not necessary that you have something to say about all of them—particularly if speaking on the topic would hurt your credibility or detract from your primary goal.
5. And know when to be silent: Silence is one of the most powerful forms of communication. It shows that you are in control and gives the person or people a moment to think for themselves and consider how they will respond to your message

Read full article from Relevant Magazine here. Adapted from How to Argue Like Jesus.

Among the many admirable attributes of Bethlehem Baptist Church is its commitment to church planting. On January 31, 2010 Pastor John Piper preached on the necessity of church planting and that God alone will build the church. Pastor John opened with statistics that demonstrate the necessity of planting churches

There are about 200 million non-churched people in America, making America one of the four largest “unchurched” nations in the world.

Each year about 3,500 churches close their doors permanently.

Today, of the approximately 350,000 churches in America, four out of five are either plateaued or declining.

One American denomination recently found that 80% of its converts came to Christ in churches less than two years old.

He followed with a discussion of Bethlehem’s past, and future, church planting efforts and an exposition of Matthew 16:18. You can read the manuscript here and watch the video here.

Summarized from his blog post on the 9Marks blog

When you come to a passage there are four things you can do:

Illustrate – this is one of the two most difficult to do. “It requires a different part of your brain. You need to think creatively. You need to imagine what your people are or might be going through”

Defend – “it is rarely wise to spend a lot of time defending what your people don’t need defended”

Explain – “If the passage is especially obscure or controversial, it makes sense to land heavy on the E. But sometimes the passage is relatively simple. In this case, don’t spin your wheels on endless word studies that basically repeat with synonyms what everyone can see immediately in the text”

Apply – his is one of the two most difficult to do. “It requires a different part of your brain. You need to think creatively. You need to imagine what your people are or might be going through”