Discouragement

Sometimes I get irritated with myself because I know something is true with my head but I don’t act as if it’s true with my heart. Have you been there? Take discouragement. I know in my head it is one of the enemy’s most effective tools against the people of God. I know if he can get us discouraged, experiencing defeat is right around the corner. I also know in my head that everyone experiences discouragement. How many children’s teachers, youth leaders, adult life group leaders have dreams of seeing spiritual growth among those they teach and lead only to become discouraged and quit? How many pastors have I met that get involved in a power struggle within their churches who become discouraged and lose heart? (A lot of them) How many men and women enter the world of business with big goals and high expectations but end up experiencing discouragement? How many singles are discouraged in their relationships? How many people enter a marriage but soon become discouraged with each other and marriage itself? So, if I know discouragement is the enemy’s tool and everyone experiences it, then why do I succumb to it so easily? Why do I allow my heart to be overwhelmed with discouragement when I know in my mind these things about how discouragement works? I think the answer is forgetfulness. I forget that God is faithful to provide encouragement. I forget that discouragement makes me feel detached from God and it’s at that moment I must chase after God. (Read Psalm 42:1-2, 6) I also forget that God gives me hope. The Psalmist says “The Lord will send His faithful love by day, His song will be with me in the night – a prayer to the God of my life.” (Psalm 42:8) Putting hope in God reminds us of His presence even in the valley of the shadow of death. (Psalm 23) I also let discouragement overwhelm me when I forget His grace is sufficient for me today, right now and every day. (Take a moment and read 2 Corinthians 12:9) Brennan Manning, one of my favorite authors writes “Suffering failure, loneliness, sorrow, discouragement and death will be part of your journey, but the kingdom of God will conquer all these horrors. No evil can resist grace forever.” The hard work is to remember what we forget. Fill your mind with the encouragement of God and it will transfer down to your heart. Don’t forget! Blessings,  P.S If you have ever had someone judge you, misunderstand you, shun you, condemn you, blame you, reject you, you will not want to miss out on this Sunday’s message “To judge or not to judge? That is the question.”  Join me at 9:15am or 11:00am and discover how to be graceful; being a person everyone wants and needs.

The Big 5

There are five very important core values we are committed to at First Free.  A core value is like the buoy makers you see in a water channel.  The captain sees the markers and knows how to guide the boat through the channel successfully.

Our five values are speed, excellence, generosity, creativity, and positivity.  In this issue of Freshly Bru’d, I want to focus on generosity.  One thing God’s people are to be is generous.  Let me share with you four things about generosity.

First, it’s a different way to live.  God invites us to be generous every day of the year and in every part of our lives.  Whether we are talking about our money, our time, our love, or our talents we are to live generously.

Second, generosity is contagious.  Have you ever had someone at a drive thru who is ahead of you – pay for your meal?  If so, you know you then want to show the same generosity to the customer behind you.  It’s heartwarming to have someone pay for your coffee, but even more heartwarming for you to turn around and do the same for someone else.  It is contagious.

Third, generosity is counter cultural.  Most people today don’t feel like they have enough.  So we spend most of our time trying to accumulate, and the rest of our time trying to figure out how to keep what we have.  Giving away what we have, which is really God’s not ours, is directly opposed to how to cultivate acts and things.  That is why generosity is so powerful.

And last of all generosity reproduces itself.  The economy of God doesn’t work the way ours does.  When we give away what we have, when we are faithful with it instead of holding onto it, God reproduces what we have.

Nobody has ever starved because they tithed too much.  God just doesn’t work that way.  When we trust God with the money He has entrusted to us, He goes above and beyond what we gave to Him.

Generosity has never been about money, time or talent; it always has been about faith.  Faith to trust God and see Him bless.  Be generous!

Blessings, 

Questions from Non-Attenders

For most of us receiving and reading Freshly Bru’d each week, we feel very comfortable in church. It’s been such a part of our weekly routine and custom that it’s easy to conclude that everybody else feels as comfortable as we do in the church environment. But that is not true for those who didn’t grow up in the church environment. There is an incredible anxiety most of them feel as they walk through the church doors. The more we become an outward focused church and introduce people to Jesus, we need to enter into their anxiety about church.

Those who are far from God but are searching for the answer to life feel like a fish out of water. Brian Moss, a pastor of Oak Ridge Church in Salisbury, MD shares some of the questions going through their minds.

1. Am I going to get struck by lightning? This grows out of their feelings that their current lifestyle doesn’t match what God wants for them. Since they have no background to spiritual things they often believe God is probably ticked at them.

2. Is anyone going to acknowledge me? Not in an “all eyes on me” way, but just recognize that their guests/visitors are just like them.

3. Are my kids going to be safe? They are being asked to trust people they don’t know with their children. In a day of growing pedophiles, this is just scary.

4. Is the message going to be boring or confusing? Those with no church background (those are the people we want to reach) believe the Bible is an outdated, irrelevant book.

5. Am I going to be dressed right? We can understand this one because we all have attended an event either overdressed or underdressed.

6. Will I know where to go? Clear signage and ushers/greeters escorting them can be a life saver.

7. Who can I ask a question? Have you noticed the information counters are now called “Just Ask” counters?

8. Are they going to do anything weird? Someone who has no church context feels like they are visiting a foreign country. Not knowing what is going to happen can be terrifying.

9. Am I going to have to have sing or clap? How many environments does the average American go to that they’re asked to sing out loud and clap along with? It’s funny that we like to measure worship by crowd participation, but then we neglect to measure our outreach effectiveness by the lack of crowd participation.

10. Is there any hope? They are hoping that God can fix their broken hearts, homes and lives.

Since we are wanting to reach the unchurched of Lincoln, let’s be aware of their questions and strive to ease their anxiety.

Blessings, 

P.S. Ever feel like a phony? A fake? Do you fear what people would think about you if they knew the real you? Authenticity is one of the skills we need to develop if we hope to untangle our relationships with others and experience relational health. Join us this week at 9:15 and 11:00 as we peel off our masks. 

Have you ever been asked questions about your spiritual life? Questions like “Are you growing and maturing in your spiritual walk?” “Have you ever been discipled to help you with your spiritual development?” Or “What do you think you need to help develop yourself spiritually?” If you have never been asked these kind of questions, consider them now. How would you answer them? Let me share a couple of principles relating to growing or maturing spiritually. First, spiritual growth is not accidental. You must intend to grow. You must make a choice to grow. Now the church can come alongside of you and assist, but you have to own this one and yield to the Holy Spirit to help you grow. Second, spiritual growth is incremental. We grow physically through developmental stages. It is no different spiritually. Third, spiritual growth is personal. The word disciple means “learner.” Since we are all different, we all learn differently. Find your best way to grow and develop it. Forth, spiritual growth is practical. What I mean is in the end, we will become whatever we habitually do. Reading God’s Truth takes practice, praying is a spiritual habit. Giving and attending a life group are other practical ways to develop spiritually. Fifth, spiritual growth is relational. There are 50 “one anothers” in the Bible. God created us to relate with others. Take a minute and read Hebrews 10:24-25 to reinforce this principle in your mind. Sixth, spiritual growth is seasonal. You will relieve a lot of guilt when we understand this. Nobody grows at a constant pace all the time. Plants, trees, shrubs, grow in spring and summer and then are dormant in the fall and winter. The same is true in your life. Ever said “I just don’t feel like I’m growing much right now, even though I’m doing the right things to grow.”  That’s ok. Maybe it’s winter for you, but spring is around the corner. Spiritual growth is incarnational. It is not about what you accomplish, rather, it’s about the person of Jesus living in you. (Galatians 2:20) Our goal is to be like Jesus. (Romans 8:29) So, how are you doing spiritually? Are you growing? Blessings,  P.S. This Sunday at 9:15am and 11:00am we continue our series Untangled. We are examining your three most important relationships and the most important unifying skill needed to enhance them.

The World Changes; The Word of God Doesn't. What does that mean for church?

I have talked about this a number of times but it is one of those principles we need to hear over and over again. Here it is: The world changes but the Word of God doesn’t. Our message must never change, but the way we deliver that message must be constantly adapted to reach each new generation.

For First Free to be effective to our mission (introducing people to a relationship with Jesus, equipping them to be fully devoted followers of Jesus and equipping them to reach their city and world with the message of Jesus) we must learn to live with the tension between these two. The changing world and the unchanging truth.

What would be some changes in our methodology (not the message) that would enhance our effectiveness in reaching the current culture of Lincoln?

1. Learning to communicate the truth in ways that the non-believer understands.

2. Realizing that what is contemporary (the word literally means temporariness) is never meant to last forever. Whatever is in style now will inevitably be out of style soon and the cycles of change are getting shorter and shorter. New styles and preferences, like fashion, are always emerging.

3. Staying relevant to the times. (Acts 13:36) This means we are anchored to the unchanging truth of the Word of God and His eternal purposes but are willing to continually adapt how you communicate those truths and purposes. This is not watering down the Gospel, but it’s communicating it in ways the non-believer understands.

4. Requiring mature believers to unselfishly limit their own preferences of what they think a church should look like in order to reach lost people for Christ. (Luke 5:38)

5. Looking at the church as a family not an institution.

I’m a baby boomer. Boomers tend to see the church as an organization but the emerging generations are looking for community. That is why we promote and encourage life groups at First Free. Boomers focus exclusively on intellect, but the upcoming generations are focused on the experiential. We not only want people to know God but to encounter God.

My prayer for First Free is that we be sensitive to those seeking like Jesus was, willing to meet them on their own turf and speak to them in ways they understand and provide for them a clear, practical looking and timeless message in a contemporary fashion.

Blessings, 

P.S. Struggling with a relationship? Husband, wife, boss, co-worker, sister, brother, friend, neighbor, mom, dad, teacher, classmate, daughter, teammate… Relationships can become a tangled web of confusion. In this new series we will be learning some significant skills to help us keep our sanity and health in our relational world. Join us Sundays at 9:15am and 11:00am. 

Easter is Coming!

Easter will be here in 12 days. This time of the year is one of the greatest seasons for growth in the life of the church. It also provides us an opportunity for our own spiritual growth and renewal. I would like to encourage you to do three things to provide you the experience of spiritual growth and renewal. Hopefully, you will start today.

The first thing is to renew. Take this time of the year to examine your own personal life. Is there an area where you need spiritual renewal? Ask God to renew that area in your life. Make a concerted effort to intensify your spiritual growth. Do a spiritual inventory on yourself. Is there anyone against whom you hold a grudge? Is there an area where you have not put God first? Have you failed to seek the lost for Christ? Are you secretly pleased over the misfortunes of others? Have you robbed God by withholding His due of time, talents, money? Are you in anyway careless with your body? Do you have any personal habits that are not pure? Are you dependable and honor your word? Do you listen to unedifying radio or T.V. programs? Are you thankful? Are you taken up with the cares of this life? How is your conversation with others? How is your attendance in church? Do you submit to your leaders? Do you give your best at work?

Get alone with God for an extended period of time – look into His Word as you answer these questions. I read the accounts of Jesus’ last week on earth and it always renews me.

The second thing I want to suggest to you is to invite someone to join you at the Easter services. Sit down and make a list of five to ten of your unchurched friends. Make a commitment to pray for each of them each day before Easter Sunday. Call them, email them, text them, Facebook them, visit them, do whatever it takes but make sure that you take personal responsibility for inviting them. Statistics show that 80% of people who visit a church for the first time come because someone they knew invited them.

Third, connect them to the church. If you invite them and they come it is your responsibility to help them connect to the church. Introduce them to others, sit with them in church, follow up with them the following week. The simple truth is that unless people connect to other members of the church within the first few days after their visit, they are unlikely to come back.

Join me in these three things and let’s see what God will do. (Ephesians 3:20)

Blessings, 

 P.S. Are you burdened? Facing some kind of trouble or tribulation? Do you wish you could experience peace in the unsettling times in which we live? Join me this Sunday in worship at 9:15am and 11:00am and discover how you can experience peace in an unstable world. 

Friends Day, Every Day

Every Sunday truly is a Friends Day. Any given Sunday you should be able to invite a friend and experience engaging music, challenging sermons, and a friendly smile in every aisle. However, First Free has designated a couple Sundays a year when we intentionally encourage people to bring a friend to church.

Our next Friends Day is March 22^nd. I hope you have been investing your life in someone you can invite to come and see how you worship God – what you experience when you are in church.

We use the expression “Getting ready for company” for Friends Day. Whenever you have company in your home you make sure it is an enjoyable visit and experience, things are clean, inviting and warm. So should we and will we on March 22^nd.

There are several practices of churches people are excited to take their unchurched friends to. As you read the list, see how First Free measures up:

1. Churches you are excited to take your unchurched friends to are genuinely glad unchurched people showed up. Everybody, especially greeters, sincerely say “We’re glad you’re here.”

2. Churches you are excited to take your unchurched friends to have people designated to serve them. Greeters are warm – open the door, take people to the room they are wanting to go to. Ushers help them to their seats and are warm, friendly and positive.

3. Churches you are excited to take your unchurched friends to are concerned with children’s safety. Security and safety are big deals to unchurched people. Numbering systems and escorts to nursery are provided. The nursery is clean – that is a must.

4. Churches you are excited to take your unchurched friends to are generous to unchurched people. Tours of the church are provided, gifts like a mug and Starbucks gift card are available.

5. Churches you are excited to take your unchurched friends to meet the needs of unchurched people. Complimentary coffee and muffin, clean bathrooms, easy access directions, signs and personal escorts.

6. Churches you are excited to take your unchurched friends to create services unchurched people love to attend. Everyday language, music they can relate to, relevant message, explanation of why we do what we do.

Is First Free a place you are excited to take your unchurched friends to? I pray so.

Blessings, 

P.S. A new series begins this week. You won’t want to miss Bridge Building: Developing a Heart of an Effective Bridge Builder. Remember our new service times, 9:15am and 11:00am and to set your clocks forward for Daylight Savings time!