Shaller argues for a fluid church government that changes and adapts to the size of the church. I think he is right!
pp. 43… if one views the fellowship church as a family, the small church as a clan, the large church as a tribe, and the mini-denomination size church as a nation, the question is raised as to whether each should use the same form of congregational organisation. Perhaps it is not just acceptable, but essential to adapt the form of church government to the nature of the institution as reflected in the size of the congregation.
D. A. Carson, with whom Keller conceived The Gospel Coalition, has called The Reason for God the most significant apologetics work since C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity.
Been browsing the Redeemer Church Planting manual – great resource – and was struck by these two points under the characteristics of a church planter…
1. Prayer: convinced that prayer is more than a devotional practice; prayer is the work of ministry.
2. Spiritual vitality: exhibits a compelling walk with God demonstrated in a deep commitment to Christ and his Word.
I am not sure that in Australian Church planting cirlces we emphasize this enough. We tend to focus on gifts and a readiness to fight. I am praying as of today that I will be convinced prayer is a work of ministry (Luke 10; Acts 6).
* For the purpose of time invested into ministry and time off for rest and family, the pastors split the each day into 3 Rest & Rejuvenation modules (morning, afternoon, & evening) or 21 modules a week. They have pledged to take off 7-10 R&R modules a week, and to take off 3 of these modules consecutively (to fulfill a Sabbath principle). Most pastors take their Sabbath on Fridays, and choose 4-7 other modules a week to take off.
I reckon this is hard to keep to? BUT I also reckon I waste time just in the office not being productive! I hate that. My mate clocks his hours and when he is done is amount for the week he is done. Pens down and out of there!
One of the things that amazes me as an MTS trainer is that they are often surprised when I disappoint them. Our doctrine of sin and renewal ought to teach us that we ought not be surprised when our trainer lets us down but at the same time we can be hopeful to see change as you nut out your relationship with your trainer.
I have recently been impressed with Matt Chandler. The first time I ever heard him speak I thought he was conceited and arrogant… but ever since then I have been impressed. Have a listen to his recent interview with Mark Driscoll on The Resurgence.
How does this change the decisions we make about career. A friend of mine (who has only been a Christian a year) had a choice. A job with more money and fantastic career prospects, but that required a move or stay where he is on less money but around a church fmaily he has just settled into and more time to get involved with his church family (and probably less liklihood of being lured away from his faith by the pursuit of a career. An hour before he made his decision he stumbled across this passage:
4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem [a] as well—the delights of the heart of man. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work,
and this was the reward for all my labor.
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.
He decided life was not about money and pleasure but about Jesus and he thought he could do that best for now with less money and surrounded by people who encourage him to live for Jesus. What would you choose?
