Thoughts on "follow up"

I found this very insightful article at churchleaders.com by Steven Furtick. Steven Furtick is the Lead Pastor of Elevation Church, an incredible move of God in Charlotte, NC with more than 6,000 in attendance each week among three locations.
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by Steven Furtick

Two Simple Secrets for New Believer Follow-Up
"We do have specific and practical things that we do. But when it comes down to it, our philosophy is pretty straightforward and simple."

I get asked all the time how we do discipleship at Elevation. Related to this question, I also get asked how we follow up with new believers.

Do we relentlessly call people until they’re in a small group?
Do we offer 57 Bible studies for people to grow in their faith?
Do we provide a yearlong systematic theology course for new believers?

We do have specific and practical things that we do. But when it comes down to it, our philosophy is pretty straightforward and simple:
1) We point the way and 2) we clear the path.

1) We point the way.
Like I said yesterday, there’s ultimately nothing we can do to force people to grow in Christ. Nothing. So whether we offer a 26-option discipleship program or a 4-option one really doesn’t matter. If someone really doesn’t want to grow, they’re either going to say no 4 times or 26.

For that reason, we keep it pretty simple.
We give new believers material to help them grow in the initial stages of their faith, and we call and encourage them to get plugged in. We constantly stress the importance of small groups. We faithfully proclaim the Word and encourage people to read it for themselves. In short, we point the way to what it looks like to have a relationship with Jesus for themselves.

If they decide not to walk that way, that’s their decision. And we’ve made the decision that we’re not going to chase all of them down if they do.

Some people might say to this: Is that what Jesus would do?

I don’t have to wrestle with that question because it’s exactly what Jesus did. Jesus didn’t hook His finger in people’s noses to make sure they were following Him. When you read through the gospels, Jesus always cast His net extremely wide. Everyone was invited to follow. But He didn’t chase people down if they weren’t committed (as in the case of the rich young ruler).

The call was to follow Him. Not be dragged kicking and screaming behind Him.
All He did was point the way. To Himself.

2) We clear the path.
This is where our greatest responsibility comes into play. If we’ve pointed the way clearly and people are responding, it’s our job to make sure the path is clear for them when they decide to walk on it. There’s no room to drop the ball when it comes to people’s spiritual development. If they’re taking a step towards Christ, we’ve got to make sure that step lands unobstructed.

In other words, we’ve got to make sure our systems and processes are running at full speed. And running efficiently. If someone wants to get in a small group, we’ve got to follow up with them quickly. If someone needs counseling, we need to get them into it right away and into the best counseling available.

Whatever approach your church uses to pull the maximum God-given potential out of people, it really doesn’t matter. Whether you take people through a five-year development plan or you just put them into small groups and let the growth happen more organically, your responsibility is ultimately the same either way:

1) Point the way to Jesus clearly.
2) Clear the path to Him effectively.

Let’s commit to doing both with excellence so we can see our people become all that God has dreamed for them.

LINK IN A CHAIN

A few months ago I had the privilege of riding in one of our Wednesday night vans. I was impressed with how organized the ministry had become. As the kids packed into the van I was riding in, I noticed how happy they were to receive their sack lunches we provide at the end of the night. What impacted me the most was when a little boy sitting behind me leaned up and told me, "My daddy gets out of prison Saturday and mom says he might come see me." I can't even begin to tell you what compassion swelled up in me. What is it like to live without your father? What does this little boy witness on a day to day basis? It breaks my heart to tell you that just a few weeks ago (after the father was released) the little boy witnessed him get arrested again.

It's stories like that which motivate us to start ministries such as Mobile Kids Club. We are taking the van pictured here into the apartment complexes around our church and ministering to boys and girls. I can't tell you how proud I am of our ministry team here at Highpointe. Our Pastors and servant leaders have such a heart for those who are without Christ.

I can't help but wonder the impact we are making by investing into the lives of little boys and girls whose family environment that isn't healthy.

If you would like to change the life of a little boy or girl in this ministry please email us at info@highpointe.tv The commitment is only one Saturday a month. Imagine what that one hour a month could reap in eternal benefits.

You could be a link in the chain which brought a deserving child to Christ!

Will it hurt me to drink bleach from the bottle?

Poison-
Noun:A substance that, when introduced into or absorbed by a living organism, causes death or injury, esp. one that kills by rapid action.

3 of the ways a person can be poisoned are: ingestion (swallowing it), inhalation (breathing it), absorption (absorbing it through the skin).

Most people don't poison themselves. In fact the majority of cases where someone is poisoned it's by accident. The other cases are involving children where they simply didn't know what they were taking in.

I believe it's possible for someone to get poisoned spiritually as well. Just as in the above mentioned cases, I believe its avoidable.

Sometimes Believers get connected in one way or another with someone that isn't as mature as they are spiritually. This, in and of itself, isn't a bad thing. In fact it's good if the mature believer is encouraging the other person.

However, the mature believer must realize that things may happen from time to time that will cause the immature believer to take something in (such as the baby drinking poison), that isn't good for them. It comes in many forms (most commonly gossip) but is still traced back to it's root form...sin. When this happens the immature Christian will change. They won't be thinking straight. They in essence have been poisoned.

HOW POISON EFFECTS THE IMMATURE:
*The poison effects their vision- they start seeing things that aren't there. People they once trusted now appear to them, to have ulterior motives or agenda's. They will view others differently because of the poison.
*The poison effects their speech- the poisoned believer changes the way they speak about others. People they once spoke of in high regard now receive only negative speech from the poisoned believer. The poison is effecting what they have to say about others. Their speech will become "slurred" or not making sense. You will know when this happening when the things the poisoned believer is saying just doesn't make sense to what you see happening in a situation.
*The poison effects their judgement- the poisoned person has seen things that aren't there and said things they wouldn't have normally said and now they begin to make unsound judgements toward people. Their poor judgment is normally made toward the motives of those around them. They begin to feel that others are out to get them or those around them.

NOW HERE IS THE REAL KICKER!!!!!
Its contagious!
That's right, this poison can be contracted by the mature believer before they even realize that they are being poisoned. It's subtle. This poison works it's way into the believer ever so slowly. Then before the mature believer realizes it...their vision is being changed.... They start seeing things that aren't there...then comes bad judgement.

So hopefully by now your wondering how this happens? How can a mature believer unknowingly take in poison?

The answer Is simple. They didn't know it was poison until it was too late. Think of carbon monoxide poisoning. One second your relaxing in your house and before you know it....your talking funny, your not thinking straight and your trying to get out but it's difficult.

THE WAYS YOU CAN BE POISONED:
1. Ingestion (swallowing it)- this is the easiest way to be poisoned. This is "swallowing" everything someone tells you about a situation or another person. Remember most of the time when someone is speaking bad about an Individual they aren't seeing things clearly and it is effecting their speech and judgement. This would be accustom to swallowing something that a drunk person gave you. Just as you wouldn't do that, "swallowing" or believing something that a poisoned person tells you could poison you as well.
2. inhalation (breathing it)- this is taking what the poisoned person tells you and sharing it with others. You start "breathing" it to others around you. The more you are exposed to the poison (bringing it out to share with others) the more you are being poisoned.
3. absorption (absorbing it through the skin)-This is a proximity poising. It happens by being around the poison too long. It happens when you spend so much time around the poisoned individual that you also begin to feel it's effects. It's similar to getting poison Ivey. Small contact gives you a small amount of poison that can be taken care of with a small amount of meds. (a good sermon or a little prayer time). But walking off into a patch of it and rolling around in it will cause some major damage in which hospitalization may be necessary! Be careful of over exposure to poisoned individuals!

SO...ARE YOU FEELING OK?
I want to ask you. Are you seeing things differently but there hasn't really been a reason? Are you thinking differently about people that really haven't changed? Are you making judgments about peoples motives that you really are unsure of?

I encourage you to follow the example of the Word of God in these matters. His Word is the only antidote to this poison.

It reads....
"If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'t If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. (Matthew 18:15-17 NIV)

In following the Bible way of resolving conflict you may just find that you had the motives of the other person all wrong....you may just find that you were the one in which was poisoned.

And if you are being poisoned? Ask forgiveness both from God and from the person you had it all wrong about. By doing so you make the poison of no effect.

and in the future....stay clear of those that want to poison you.

What is this babbler trying to say?

I've been thinking lately about what people think about our church. Not just the one I pastor, but the church as a whole. I wonder sometimes what those that have never stepped into a church, think about how we "do" church. Is the service itself confusing to them? Do they wonder why we stand when we do? Why we pass a bucket and ask them to give. Why we sing to a God we can't see.

I wonder how intimidated they are when they first step unto the property? Will people judge them? Will they be wearing the right clothes? Will they wonder if we'll expect them to do something that makes them uncomfortable or embarrass them?

Or do they just not care one way or the other about the church and this Gospel message? I wonder if people just simply think it's all irrelevant. Maybe they just feel that their life is fine and they don't have a need for God... if there even is a God.

All of this has me thinking what those who carry this timeless message can do. Is our message of any value to someone who wont listen to it? Can someone be changed, forgiven or enter into heaven without ever hearing, believing and accepting the message? I think not.

Maybe the church should begin to think more creatively. Maybe we should question everything we do and and how we do it, based on how the unchurched would view it. Of course the message remains the same, but could we package it differently? Could we present it in a way where others would actually listen long enough to hear it?

Are we relevant?

A church of all colors

Diversity's Symphony from Emanate Media, Samson Varughese on Vimeo.

Can I be real here?  Can I be honest with you for just a minute or two?  I was raised in a tiny little country town.  The school was small and I knew everyone by first name.  Outside of a kid that came to our school for about 1/2 a year in my 3rd or 4th grade year (can't really remember), I never attended school with anyone that was a different color than me.  In fact,  as far as I know, the entire town was either Caucasian or American Indian.  All my friends were white.

It wasn't until the military that I had any interaction with people outside of my own race.  I never thought about it really.  Most of my closest friends in the military were black.  As I would listen to them tell the stories about the narrow minded people they had encountered in their lives, I was embarrassed.  Embarrassed for what other "white" people had done or said to them.  As I began to study the issue, I learned more about the deep hurt that many suffered throughout the south during the 60's.  I learned of the ignorance that some portrayed by thinking that someone was actually different because of the color of their skin, and I was embarrassed.  Segregation...left me embarrassed.  The fact that their needed to be a civil rights movement...left me embarrassed.  The fact that Rosa Parks even had to be courageous in keeping her seat...left me embarrassed.

We've made many mistakes in the past because we were narrow minded and ignorant to the fact that all people are created in God's image.  I think God has placed in me this strong desire to see His church be part of the solution...in this generation.  When Christ returns, and I stand to give an account of how I lead this church...I don't want to be embarrassed.

Have you ever really read John 17:21? 
John 17:21- that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 

I'm so glad that the church God has called me to is filled with all races and kinds of people.  I love that when I look out across our congregation I see a few from India, more than a handful from Africa, a couple from Poland, a family from Costa Rica and even some covered in tattoos and earrings.  THIS is diversity.  THIS is accepting all people as Christ did for us.

I pray that God will continue to take us further into being that multi-cultural church that He desires for us to be.  If you're looking for a place where you can fit in...you'll find that at Highpointe.

10 Reasons why...

So, tonight I've been thinking about why it's important to share this message of God's forgiveness and Grace which came through Jesus. Church folks call it Evangelism, our friends call it "pressure!" (depending on your method and motive).

Regardless of what you call it there are some real reasons that we should tell others about Christ love for them:
1. It's hard to walk away from a faith that you are actively sharing.
2. It's rewarding when you see a friend start their faith journey.
3. Lets face it, there is something exhilarating about sharing our faith. For me it's similar to my first ride on a roller coaster. But every time!
4. It proves to me that I really have a faith at all. When you believe something you act as such.
5. It keeps me from being selfish. "Do I really care if anyone else feels the joy of salvation?”
6. I love Jesus and He tells me to do it.
7. Everywhere Jesus went He told them that forgiveness was available and I want to be just like Jesus.
8. Something inside urges me to tell people about the joy I have found.
9. Faith in Christ will help people and I want to help people.
10. I feel obligated, because I know that someone loved me enough to share...shouldn't I do the same?

This is a pivotal aspect of what we say we believe. I pray that you'll have the courage today to introduce Christ to someone.

Vicious Tornadoes in Oklahoma

I admit it. I don't like tornadoes. Ever since I was a small child I've been scared of them. Over the years I've suffered ridicule from others because of, what I like to call, my healthy respect of them.

Today several large tornadoes ran through my home state of Oklahoma and my heart and prayers go out to those who were effected by them. As one of those was raging toward the town of Piedmont, we made the last minute decision to make a dash for a friends house, who has a storm shelter, about 5 miles away. In order to get to safety we had to actually drive toward the tornado.

As we drove, the clouds grew more and more ominous. The lightening was the most intense I've ever seen. We continued to race toward the black wall of clouds and also our safety, blowing through stop signs and driving as fast as was safe.

Now sitting in my comfy chair in the living room, reflecting on the event, a few things stand out.

1. As we drove quickly to safety there were cars in front of us that seemed to be unconcerned of the sever conditions. This was evident from how slow they were driving.

2. The experts told us to get to the safest place possible at all cost.

3. Even though we were driving into the storm, safety lay between us.

We continued driving as fast as possible, until finally we arrived at the road. We raced down the street and into the driveway of our friends. In moments we were underground in a storm shelter.

Fortunately, the tornado stayed about 4 miles North of us and my family is safe tonight. This time. What would have happened if we would have ignored the experts and the storm would have made a direct hit to our house?

Its an easy transition to make a spiritual implication here. Many people are wondering through life not realizing the sever condition of their souls. Without Christ, life and certainly eternity is pointless. Even though God has sent people into their lives to warn them of those sever conditions. Undoubtedly, there will be times that we feel we are driving right into, or have entered into, the greatest storm of our lives. However, if we are in the safest place possible...we'll survive the storm.

Where is that "Safe" place for our souls? In Christ. The Bible says in Psalms 32:7 "Thou art a hiding place for me,thou preservest me from trouble; thou dost encompass me with deliverance."

Romans 10:9 "because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

I pray that you will get to the safe place soon.

Think POSSIBLE!

I was reading this morning in Genesis chapters 17 and 18. It's the story of God telling Abraham and Sara (God changed their names to this). I never noticed it before, but as God was informing Abraham that his wife was going to have a son, Abraham fell face down and began to laugh (17:17). Abraham, went on to ask God, "Can a son be born to a man one hundred years old?" Abraham thought this to be impossible.

However, at some point Abraham decided to believe God for the impossible. In fact he acted on that faith by doing what God asked him to do (God told him to be circumcised along with all his household). Sometimes it's hard to act on what God tells you to do isn't it?

In chapter 18, Abraham again has a visit from the Lord. This time it was his wife Sara who laughed when she heard she would have a baby (Gen 18:12).

It's a little strange to think of Abraham as having great faith, yet today we speak of him when we mention those with who have it. Even the writer of Hebrews mentions Abraham as an example of someone who has the kind of faith we should emulate (Heb 11).

THE POINT:
God wants you to believe Him for the impossible. He is a BIG God who loves you and is working out His plans in your life. It may appear that what He has asked you to do is foolish. However, God chooses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. It isn't our role to "reason" if things are possible, but to believe this BIG God for BIG things in our life. God works through faith!

TODAY:
1. Believe God for BIGGER things in your life.
2. Trust that He is BIG enough to take care of your problems.
3. Activate your faith by doing what He has asked you to do.

Bitter Sweet

I didn't get the news until last night about 10pm, that Osama Bin Laden had been killed. This man who was by far the most wanted man on the planet, met his demise through the constant pursuit of our U.S. Military forces. Having served in the Army and still having friends that serve, it hits home. I'm extremely proud of our military, especially for friends that are in military units which were directly involved in administering the justice to Bin Laden.

As I sit in my living room now watching CNN. There are interviews happening where people are speaking as though all of the terrorism threats are behind us now because of Bin Laden's death. Although, a major threat has been removed I don't feel that the overall threat is behind us.

We need to rejoice in the victory, but also be thankful for those who fight in our place.

This can be connected directly to our spiritual lives as well. We have an enemy who is out to bring terror and death to our lives. His soul mission is to chip away at our defenses until we give up the fight. So what do we do?

We turn to the One who fights for us. To win spiritual victories in your life, you don't need to relentlessly pursue your enemy, but relentlessly pursue your Savior. Jesus Christ has made the ultimate sacrifice for you. In fact, Jesus is the one that tracked down and defeated your enemy for you.

The Bible says about Jesus in Colossians 2:15, "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it."

Today, rejoice in the victory that Jesus has given you.

Don't throw it away

Have you ever accidentally thrown something away that was worth something to you? A few years ago as we were packing our house to move to Africa, my wife found this old purse she didn't use anymore. Not thinking she would need it, she threw it away. Months went by before we realized that the diamond earrings I bought her were missing. We searched high and low for them, but couldn't find them anywhere. Want to guess where they were? You got it...she had thrown them away with the purse!

The writer of Hebrews says in 10:35- "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded."

Many times in our anxiety of moving on to the place God has for us we "throw away" our confidence. This happens because we've grown confident in the place God has us. You know the routine, the in's and out's of the place and generally can just flow because you've been there for awhile. But now God is asking you to completely trust you again to step out into the unknown.

He could (as many times) ask you to do something that is way out of your comfort zone. Maybe He is leading you to do something that you've never done before. In these times don't be worried that you don't have what it takes to do what God is asking you to do. It is He who has called you and equipped you and it is He who supplies the confidence you need to accomplish the task.

If you keep your confidence in HIM and not in yourself you'll find that He will come through for you time and time again. It's only when we get confident in ourselves that we begin to feel that anxiety.

Today do something big for God. Place your confidence in Him and it will be richly rewarded.

2 Cor 3:4,5 4Such is the confidence that we have in God through Christ. 5By ourselves we are not qualified to claim that anything comes from us. Rather, our credentials come from God...

Patient in Affliction

affliction |əˈflik sh ən|
noun
something that causes pain or suffering

I don't know about you, but I do not much like "Pain" or "Suffering." Yet Paul told us in Romans 12:12 to be patient in them.

Romans 12:12- Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Patient in affliction is actually how he put it. That word, which is defined above, isn't a pretty word.

If Paul tells us to be "patient" in our afflictions, it must mean that there is a time that it will all be over. It seems like he is telling the Romans, "Hey, I know times are hard. Just hold out because this too shall pass."

Are you going through something right now that seems too heavy to carry? Consider the fact that Jesus is there with you helping you carry that load right now. Call out to Him for strength and wisdom. Remember, be patient...for this too shall pass.

Thunder basketball and Jesus

I'm sitting watching the Thunder finish up a 3 game streak over the Nuggets. I'm usually really tired by midnight, but it's the playoffs! I think I'm a little juiced up about tomorrow being Easter too. It's like the NBA Championship for churches. It's one of the 2 days when anyone who considers themselves a "church goer" attends church. (Christmas being the other).

Just being transparent here...I wonder why some people only come those days? It makes me wonder, if It's the church that isn't attractive enough for people to want to come more often or people just having busy lives. I want to believe it's the latter.

If it's not however, the church has some serious realities to face. How can we place ourselves in position to be relevant and attractive to those of our communities? Again, taking from basketball, I believe its just practice and the ability to make adjustments.

Great basketball teams take seriously those two things. In practice, the believer must live out their Christian witness everyday so others see the blessings God brings to them, thus making them want it. (Matthew 5:16). In adjustment, the believer and the church must be able and willing to change the presentation in order to get the ear of those only mildly interested.

I really hope the Thunder win the NBA Championship this year. I love these guys!

My complaining

So today I was feeling sorry for myself and thinking how difficult Pastoring is sometimes. Then tonight I received an email from a Rwandan Pastor friend. He emailed me to say how much he missed me and loved me.

He was a Pastor, who I remember delivering food too. He and his family didn't have enough to eat because he had moved to another town to plant a church and there wasn't enough money in the church to pay them. They lived in a small little house that wasn't big enough for them. He had no car, his shoes were wore out and he wore the same suit every Sunday. His congregation met in a rented house with a dirt floor. They sit on wood benches with not back. The day I delivered food to them, the whole family cried.

No more complaining for me.

Perspective

I've been thinking a lot lately about things that are REALLY important vs. those that I only think are important. I guess some people call it priorities. Either way, I'm finding that many of the things I think are "really" important are not. It appears to me that when I judge what is important only against my own life and what surrounds it, then many things can be "really" important.

However, when I judge the "important" against the things that are outside of my own life I find that my "really important" is not so important. Call it selfishness or whatever you like, but it seems that without really trying I make some things that shouldn't be....really important.

I think its a matter of perspective. If I only look at what is happening in my life my world is very small. (The song, Population Me comes to mind). On the other hand, when I look outside myself to the people and world around me, I find a few things happen.

1. My "really important" becomes very small.
2. I spend less time thinking about myself and my "really important

I think I'm going to try and do that a little better from now on.

Today a friend sent me this video. It puts things into perspective for me and illustrates what I'm talking about.