Next Generation Leader

One of the greatest controversies in the world, dates back to the creation of man and woman. This controversy that lead to the fall of man, is the roles that God created man and woman for. God created specific roles for each. Though they were different by appearance and roles, they were both created equal in the image and likeness of God. Mark Driscoll says it best in his book “A book you’ll actually read, On Church Leadership” when he writes “In the same way that a right hand and left hand are different but equally necessary.” Since we are made male and female in the image and likeness of God, it is best shown by man and woman functioning together as equal partners. In the same way that the Trinity works where we see God the father, God the Son, and God the Spirit functioning as one with different roles.    

If you have ever wondered why there are so many complications in marriages and a divorce rate that is on the rise. If you have a struggling marriages, and don’t know how to correct it or where to turn. Than look no further. All you need to do is look to your creator, your God. The biggest problem we face in our marriages is that we ourselves, drift from the roles that we are created for. So what are these roles? To find them you need to go back to the beginning. When God first created man.

The creation of man given to us in Genesis 2, we see how God brought both man and woman to existence, the roles that they were given, and how they were made whole coming together performing those roles as one. 

1) The first thing that we see is that God made man first. (Gen. 2:7) This established him as the leader responsible for the rest of creation. 

2) Second we see that God sees that things are not good with man. (Gen. 2:18) God saw that man needed a helper fit for him. Equal, but lead by man.

3) Third we see God create a helper for man. This helper was created from man’s own bones. (Gen. 2:21,22) This shows the woman’s dependence upon man.

4) Fourth we see that God permitted man to name this helper (woman) showing the authority over her. (Gen. 2:23) Just as he had authority over all the other creations that God created on the earth.  

So why are things so screwed up today? Why do we see marriages struggle and fall apart today, and all throughout time? For that we look in Genesis 3: 1-7 and the introduction of Satan as a serpent. 

¹Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” ²And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, ³but God said, ’You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” ⁴But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. ⁵For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ⁶So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. ⁷Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

The first sin we see is the woman’s attempt to over step her role, putting herself above man. Her actions to act on her own without her husband shows woman’s desire to do what feels best to them. That is hard to do in the role they were created in. Created to be a helper, woman naturally seek ways to help others trying to make things better. Why ells would Satan seek her out, trying to convince her that their lives would be better if they were all knowing just as there creator (God) is.

The second sin that we see here is the Mans cowardice to lead and stand up for his wife who was being deceived. He stood silent watching as the serpent lead his bride to disobey God. Mans lack to stand up and lead in their homes, causes their wives to naturally step up to take the lead. This ultimately causes conflict and disorder in the home. Men can not pass the role given to them by God on to their wives. They were not created to be in that role. We saw what happened when Adam didn’t stand up as the leader and protecter of his bride. 

The first thing that man needs to do is get right with God. Because of the sins of Adam and Eve we are all separated from God. Second, you need to know and understand the role that you are in. A leader of the home under the rule and guidance of God. Only He can give you the strength and courage to lead, protect, and provide for your family. 

Marriages are tuff and will always need to be worked on as man and woman struggle to find the correct balance between one another, to live as one. It will only get harder if the order of control is not established first and always kept in check. (God, Man, Woman) God should always be first in a marriage and man should lead the home with the help of his wife. (woman) Man cannot lead a Godly home if he refuses to rely on God first. Then lead his wife and children to do the same.

If you are a male out there struggling to lead your home it’s time you stepped up to the plate. Search your heart to see where God is and start living as He created you to.            

Have you ever wondered why God chooses to call on the people he dose? To change there lives from living for all the wrong things of this world. Living for themselves and their own desires and what they my feel is right in their own sin filled hearts. Maybe you have asked yourselves this very question. God why did you choose me? Or I am a no buddy and have nothing to offer, what can I possibly do for you? I have been there. You may have found yourself there or my be asking these questions right now. All through the Bible you find were God has changed the lives of all kinds of messed up people who believed, and put complete faith in God. Believing and trusting in Him, these people went on to do great things in His name. Because of these peoples lives were changed and people glorified God for what they saw Him doing in the lives of others.     

This past Sunday I had to fill in as the lead teacher in the Discovery Land Discipleship class of i-kids. This is a class that I have sat in on and helped out in a couple of other times before hand but haven’t had the opportunity to teach. I must admit, I was a little nervous about how I would do with this unfamiliar curriculum and teaching it to a bunch of 3rd -6th graders. When I started looking over the curriculum and preparing I found myself excited about what the children had been learning and what I was going to have the opportunity to share with them.

The Lesson was on the conversion of Saul found in Acts chapter 9. This man Saul who later became known as Paul is a great example of how God can take anyone, bring them to their knees before Him and change their lives, to one that will bring great glory to Him.

At the end of the class I had many of the children come up to me with many questions about Saul and what he was going to go on to do. They proceeded to tell me that they could not wait to get home, open up their bibles and continue to read in Acts to find out what happens with Paul. They left this past Sunday excited about what God had done in the life of another. God was working in their hearts and those young children were eager to learn more about Him.

So why does God choose to love us who are undeserving and so caught up in our sin nature and our own lives. Why was I chosen to be removed from myself and added to His family, His church. For days like this past Sunday, where lives are being changed because they see how God has worked and changed the lives of others. As He did with Paul and as He did in mine. If you have experienced the life change that only God can give through the death of His Son Jesus on the cross, are you living that out for others to see?

Are peoples lives changing around you because of what God has done in your life?

At the age of 22 I truly saw God for the first time. No! He wasn’t in a form of a glowing light or an angle. I saw God in the form of LOVE.

1 John 4:7-12 (ESV)                                                                                                                  

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God  but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

God is love! He loved us so much that he sent His only Son into the world to free us from the sin that keeps us from Him. He sent His Son so that we might live through Him. God loves and commands that we love Him and others.  

I saw God through the undeserving love of another, who chose to forgive and show love to me despite the great pain that I had caused them. Her love for God helped her to look past the sin in me, and reveal the love that God has to offer. It is that love that has me where I am today eight years later. Living out Christ likeness in love for all. His love has remove the sin from my life and helps me to leave all that keeps me from Him at the foot of the cross.

Though living for God is hard at times, the reward of watching His love revealed and accepted by others is so rewarding. His love can only be revealed by those, that choose to let go of themselves and love others as He loves them.

Do you love God, and are you willing to love those that hurt and cause you great pain?

Trust me when I tell you that the love of God lived out through you changes lives. It changed mine. I now live for God and  watch as His love change the lives of many others. Why! So that this lost world can see it’s creators love and Glory as I have come to see.

Is God’s love revealed through you?

Go and love as God loves. Unconditionally!

This past Sunday in i-kids “Discovery Land Worship” we looked at listening carefully and following directions. Following directions is hard for many of us to do. Have you ever noticed that almost every time you buy something it comes in multiple pieces that need to be put together. There is always directions sent with it to follow in putting it together. That doesn’t always mean that you wont have problems putting it together. 

The thing with following directions is that you have to be patient with them, follow them step by step. Not jumping ahead thinking you have it figured out and don’t need the directions. You also need to follow them closely and do as they say. One wrong step or one step out of order usually means that you are unable to complete the task, and most often become frustrated. All of this is true with our spiritual walk with God. At some point in our lives God has called us to Him. To live life with Him as an example of His Grace and Glory.

In class we looked at Gods call to Samuel. In Samuel chapter 3 we see God call out to Samuel as he lays down to sleep. Now Samuel does not know that it is the Lord that is calling him and runs to his teacher Eli saying “Here I am, you called me.” This happened 3 times before Eli realized that it must be the Lord calling Samuel. He tells Samuel this and that when the Lord calls to him again say “Speak, for your servant hears.” Samuel does this and the Lord spoke to him, sharing with him His plans for Israel and the house of Eli. Samuel listened and obeyed God. The Lord was with him now and Samuel was established as a prophet. For this to have happened Samuel needed to have first listened and followed the directions given to him by Eli. Then he needed to listen carefully to the Lord and follow His directions.    

1 Samuel 3:21 says “And the Lord appeared Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.” Just as God revealed Himself to Samuel through His word, He continues to do so today. He speaks to us through His word. The thing is are we listening to Him and obeying all that He reveals and asks of us.

God doesn’t call us to live a life doing things our way. We are to listen to Him and follow His plans and directions. As Christians we need to ask ourselves these question. Are we seeking God through prayer and His word? Are we listening carefully to His directions and following them or are we jumping ahead and doing things our way. If you have ever tried to put something together you have experienced what happens when you don’t follow directions carefully and try to do things your way. 

I pray that the children understood the importance of listening and obeying, and that they would listen to God as He reveals Himself to them.

This month at Impact Worship we will be focusing on Light. This past week God has been hitting me with Matthew 5:14-16. This whole thing about being the light of the world. 

What does that mean?

As I think about this I am reminded of my little 3 year old Brianna going around the house playing. And as she is playing hearing her singing parts of songs that she sings in her class at church. One of them that I hear her singing is one that most of us are familiar with, “This Little Light Of Mine” . It says in the song that I’m going to let my light shine. Not going to let Satan blow it out, or hide it under a basket, I’m going to let it SHINE. It’s a great song and easy for young children to learn, but as Christians do we understand it?

Hear are some questions that we will go through the Bible to answer and hopefully be able to understand what Jesus is talking about in Matthew 5:14-16. Not only understand what it means but how to truly live it out.

- What is this light that Jesus speaks of?       

- What are ways that prevent this light from shinning? 

- How do we reveal this light do others? (become the light of the world.)

I am looking forward to sharing this with the teens at Impact Worship and being able to answer these questions.

The New Year has started and God hasn’t wasted any time in revealing His greatness. This past Sunday, the first Sunday of the new year was one that I have been waiting and praying to come for a long time.
Back in 2006 I sat down with my uncle David and cousin David Jr. I shared with them Gods truths in the gospel. They both repented and excepted Christ into their hearts that night. It was a great night to have experienced. God had opened their eyes and hearts to the truth and they excepted His grace.
This past Sunday, January 4, 2009 the two of them along with my aunt and three other cousins were baptized and became members of a local Baptist Church near them. A day that I had been praying for since that night I first sat down with my uncle and cousin, sharing with them the gospel.
I am so thankful to have have been a small part in the life change that my Uncle and his family have experienced. All glory to God for only He can give life, as He has done for me and this family. I pray that God will continue to work in all of their hearts, and that great glory will be given to Him for the work in the kingdom that will be done in His name.
May Gods name be lifted high this year and many more great things be done in His name, furthering the advancement of His kingdom. Praise God!

Tuesday is the finale week in the “Sent” study for the Stafford Community. I am excited about gathering together with those of our group. I love our group and feel that this Study has brought us closer together, and helps us in understanding our purpose as Christians living sent.  

This week in session five we take a close look at how we as individuals have roles according to the calling in our lives within the church body. We are all to live out our calling as a “living sacrifice” worthy of Gods calling. (Romans 12:1) Together as one the Church can live out its mission as a sent church.

In this Study I personally can see how easily it can be to get caught up in the many tasks within the local church body. It is important to be doing the work or serving where you are gifted and called to. This may be different for each individual. I can not allow myself to be consumed by more than I have been gifted and called to. Others need to have the opportunity to serve according to their calling.

Ed Stetzer says this in the “Sent” study. “A huge obstacle to living missionally as individuals is our refusal to accept our vital importance to the church. We’ve all been gifted to play a role in God’s kingdom. Until you find out who you are and where you  fit in that kingdom, the church will be incomplete and you will be frustrated, and pressed into areas of service that don’t fit who you are.”    

As an elder and leader of the local church Image, I must seek and help train others to serve in areas that fit who they are. I pray that I live daily as a “Living Sacrifice” for the kingdom, and can provide as many possibilities as possible for others in the kingdom to serve according to their gifts, calling, and who they are.

It is when we as individuals of the body  start serving with the full acceptance of who we are, that we’ll be better equipped as individuals to fulfill our individual roles in the kingdom of God. It is then that we will serve joyously, not out of duty and without bitterness or resentment. (Ed Stetzer)

For the church to function as a sent church as was intended by the creator, we all have to do our part.

Do you understand your part in the kingdom and are you living that out as a “Living Sacrifice” daily?

There is so much that I could share with you all about the amazing week that I had with all of my family and friends. It was great to see family and to truly reconnect with close friends, that I have felt were lost forever. I am truly grateful to have been blessed with great family and friends.

Sunday was  an amazing end to the Thanksgiving week. My family and I were able to make it home in time to gather together with our church body. It was great to be home and to be with all of you.

With many families still out of town or sitting in traffic on their way home. We saw many children in our i-kids classes. I heard that there were 10 babies in the nursery, 9 children in the 2’s & 3’s class, and 17 children including 3 guest in the Discovery Land K-6th grade class. It is just amazing to see what God is doing in the lives of so many children here at Image Church. I am so grateful to have been chosen by God to be just a small part of His plans.

Chris brought the Word as he always does. From Luke 1:46-53 He shared with us that we need to be grateful to God for:

•  A Savior (That offers a better life to live)
• Showing us Mercy (When we deserve none)
• Noticing the humble (God noticing us)

Jesus offers us all a better life to live, because God notices us. I am truly thankful that He noticed me.

Because God has noticed me and has given me a heart for the next generation I am able to live a life worthy to Him. Living for Him and others. This morning as I started reading in 2 Thessalonians God hit me with this.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is from this passage that I realize why we, chosen by God do what we do. It is not for us, but so that others may see, and experience God and that he may be glorified in them. Though we are unworthy, God can do great things through those that choose to follow Him.   

This past Sunday in our i-kids Discovery Land Worship we learned how God provided a way for the Israelites to be saved from the final plague sent upon the Egyptian people. We call this the Passover. With the blood from the lambs that God ordered them to prepare and eat. He told them to cover their door posts. This was a sign to God to pass over their homes. (Exodus 13) We then talked about how God today frees us through blood of a lamb. That lamb is Jesus and his shed blood is what saves us from eternal death. It was a great day and the Spirit was doing a great work in the children’s hearts.

Monday we had our second Impact Worship and it was awesome.

• We went from 17 people the first week to 22 the second.
• The band doubled in size in one week
• We had a guest student visit us for the first time
• Toby finished off a two week series on servant hood. Sharing from John 13 and Jesus washing his disciples feet.

We had a great night and I am looking forward to our next gatherings December 8th and 15th. It is exciting to see what God is doing in the hearts of the next generation. 

Tuesday we had a great home group though we missed a couple of families that were unable to make it do to illnesses or jobs. We continued in our study through Sent a missional study by Ed Stetzer. It has been a great study for us as a group and for the church body as a whole. We looked into the topic of how it is that we can love those in the world, but not love the world. To be living in the world as people belonging to God and His Kingdom. I feel we were able to open up with one another and learned a lot about each other and ourselves. I am looking forward to the next time we gather and session five. Living life as a sent people. Sounds good.

There is so much to do before my family and I leave to go back home to family for a week. It has been awhile since we have seen our family so we are looking forward to being able to see them. It’s the 6 hour car ride with a 3 and a 1 year old that I’m not looking forward to.

Last night we had our first real Impact Worship gathering. I knew that God was calling our church body to step out in this direction with our students here at Image, but I never could have expected it to turn out the way that it has so fare. Gods hands are definitely directing our students ministry, His Spirit was definitely felt and was moving in the hearts of the students and the leaders. 

- Stephanie Williams with the help of Brian Shifflett did a great job leading us in Worship. I am looking forward to watching the Lord take her talents to a whole new level. Way to go Stephanie.

- Charlie Hutson did a great job with our team building and Icebreaker time. We had balls flying everywhere that resembled the aspects of our everyday lives. Amazing!

- Toby Ward brought the Word, sharing about servant hood. Jesus was our true example in this as we saw from Him so many times including washing His disciples feet. “Do to others as I have done to you.” We are to serve others. Looking forward to Toby expand on this Next week.

- Our small groups went great from what I experienced and heard. 

It was a great night all together. We even had a guest come and I had the opportunity to share about our church body, with her father. I am so grateful to have been called by God, and to experience His great work being done in the lives of so many young teens.

Looking forward to next weeks Impact Worship, but so much work to do before then.