Archive - July, 2010

The Church Planter and the Language

July 23, 2010 in Church Planting, Church Planting Methods, Language Learning, Ministry Philosophy, Preaching with 0 Comments

The following is by Charles Brock in his book Indigenous Church Planting A Practical Journey pp. 74-77

There are two areas of concern the church planter must hurdle if he is to be a strong indigenous church planter. One is finding a handle with which he can feel comfortable and aggressive. The other is learning to communicate in the local dialect or language.

There is, in a real sense, taking on a new culture as one learns a new language. Language and culture are so intertwined that to have one means sharing in the other to some degree.

The church planter must pay the price of learning the language because of the needs of the hearers. The deep needs of the hearers can most adequately be met when they hear about sin and the Savior in their own native tongue, It is the heart that must be reached. The people’s native tongue is their heart language, the language of their will and emotions. When they are confronted with something so intimate as the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ, they need to hear it in their heart language. In this way the message can penetrate every part of their understanding and being.

There is no better way to communicate love than to speak to people in a language they can understand. Nationals feel good when they see the foreigner sweating over learning their language. They sense that he must really love them. If the language is learned early, more churches will be planted later.

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Done nothing amiss

July 23, 2010 in Devotionals with 0 Comments

Luke 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

The criminal realized that he deserved to die. He had sinned and was simply receiving his just punishment. He also knew that Jesus was innocent and dying for crimes that He had not committed.

As Jesus died He was paying our sin debt. He died as a sinner to pay for our sins. Through His death we, sinners, can live!

Tomorrow’s reading Luke 24

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The Overseas Church and Missionary Finance

July 22, 2010 in Church Planting, Church Planting Methods, Ministry Philosophy with 0 Comments

The following quotes are by Melvin L. Hodges in his book, The Indigenous Church and the Missionary pp. 54-60

The Danger of depending on foreign support for salaries of pastors and the maintenance of the work may be itemized as follows:

There is a Danger to the church itself. Sometimes instead of helping, subsidy often destroys the very principle that will produce a strong vital church. It has been amply demonstrated that for a church to depend upon foreign sources for its finances kills its initiative and deadens the sense of responsibility.

The second Danger is to the worker himself. We develop when our faith is put to the test. Struggle and sacrifice have their part in the development of every man of God. God has His own way of maturing workers which is often thwarted when we supply artificial help from foreign funds. The worker learns to depend upon the mission instead of upon God. This is also a cause of deep conflicts between missionaries and national workers since rarely does the mission have enough funds at its disposal to actually pay the worker an adequate salary. Tensions that are produced result in anti missionary feeling.

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Who is the greatest

July 22, 2010 in Devotionals with 0 Comments

Luke 22:24  And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

Jesus is on trial for His life. He is agonizing in prayer. He is facing the biggest challenge of His life and His disciples are worried about who gets to be the big shot.

How wicked can we be! We do not look to serve we look to be recognized so many times. God forgive us. Help us to be aware of what you are doing and to focus on you. Forgive us for being so selfish and so focused on ourselves.

Tomorrow’s reading Luke 23

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Conclusions about the Will of God

July 21, 2010 in Ministry Philosophy, Quotes with 0 Comments

The following quotes are by Charles Brock from his book, Indigenous Church Planting A Practical Journey p. 20

The greatest joy and contentment are found in the center of God’s will.

Our children will always be under God’s watch care if we, the parents, are in His will.

God will not call us to do anything for which He will not give sufficient strength.

Life is too short and eternity too long to live for self

Only the continuing, clear call of God would keep us on the mission field.


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