Knowing the Heart of God

Do you want to know the heart of God? Do you want to be actively involved in doing something that you know will bring Him great joy and glory? Do you want to get the perspective you need to evaluate how everything you do can make a difference for eternity? Then attend Perspectives on the World Christian Movement.

Perspectives is a 15-week course that will turn your world upside down (or more likely, turn it right side up!). Taking it will help you to catch the vision of God's glory, His heart for the nations and the advance of His Kingdom to the edges of the frontiers.

Perspectives will be offered at over 200 locations next year. The closest one to Cedar Rapids will be the class hosted at Mt. Vernon Community Bible Church in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, beginning January 18, 2010. For more information or to register, go to perspectives.org/mtvernon. Or go to the Perspectives website to find the course nearest to you.

(Click here to read another post I wrote about the Perspectives course.)

The Flood Is Coming

I vividly remember June 10, 2008. It was the day before I left for the Czech Business Camp. At our staff meeting, Kim shared with us a private meeting he had attended where they were predicting the Cedar River would crest above flood level and flood our city. They talked about the urgent need to help those in the 100 year flood plain.

At that time, the prediction was a crest of maybe 24 feet, not the over 30 feet we actually experienced. We could not have imagined the devastation and loss of property that would occur. But we did believe a flood would happen. A number of Serve the City churches including New Covenant mobilized volunteers to help those in danger. They originally went to help people move belongings to a higher level, and later mobilized to get word out about the need to evacuate.

I know that we did not act alone, and I don’t write this to brag or give credit to ourselves. My point is simply this: We were told something would be true, we believed, and we took action on that information.

The Bible clearly teaches that those who do not put their trust in Christ will not have eternal life (John 3:18). It clearly says that people cannot believe unless someone goes and shares the good news with them (Romans 10:14-15). Jesus specifically told us to pray for workers who would go to those who need to hear (Matthew 9:37-38). So why is so little being done to reach and make disciples of every people group (Matthew 28:19-20)?

Perhaps you do not believe the flood is really coming. Yes, you might agree in theory, but you haven’t really driven down by the river and seen how high it has risen. It doesn’t seem real or urgent to you. I challenge you to take the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement class here at New Covenant next January and learn more about the state of the world around us.

Perhaps you don’t know where to start. Consider praying regularly for Myanmar (formerly know as Burma), or join us Monday night, September 15, at 6:45 PM in Room 135 to pray for the Muslim world.

The flood is coming. What are you going to do about it?

(Picture courtesy of Austin Spooner.)

The Observation Deck

One of the benefits I enjoyed while attending Moody Bible Institute was living just north of downtown Chicago. I was a short walk or subway ride from many wonderful places. I could window shop on Michigan Avenue, enjoy the lake and Buckingham Fountain at Grant Park, see the animals at the Lincoln Park Zoo, or experience a ballgame at Wrigley Field. But my favorite thing to do was to go up to the observation deck of the John Hancock Center.

When you live downtown in a big city like Chicago, you live and move in man-made canyons. With the limited view, it is harder to see the bigger picture of your surroundings. In that urban jungle, the only places you could truly rise above to get a clear perspective was by going to the top of either the Sears Tower or the Hancock Center. Although the Sears Tower is taller, the Hancock had a spectacular view of both the lake and some of the most beautiful parts of Chicago. Even when it was cloudy or overcast, I still marveled at the view.

I suspect we usually live our busy lives in our own version of “downtown man-made canyons.” We focus on the next project we need to finish for work, the next activity our kid needs to attend, the laundry that needs to be done, or the vacation that seems to not come soon enough. Rarely do we rise above the hectic pace and the legitimate needs in our daily lives to see things from God’s perspective. But only then do we truly see things as they really are.

I want to invite you to join me on the observation deck of life to see God’s grand plan for all of history. It will require some time and even some money. But the view is breathtaking—and quite possibly even life changing. You will see the beauty of what God has been doing throughout human history and the role that God would have you play in making it a reality. In fact, I would suggest that every decision you make will most likely be faulty until you see the world from God’s perspective.

Next January we will host Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. For more information on this incredible 15 week course, go to Perspectives.org or pick up a flyer from the Kingdom Partners table in the lobby at New Covenant.

Praying for bin Laden

Christianity Today has a very challenging interview with Brother Andrew posted on their website. I encourage you to take time to read "Have You Prayed for bin Laden Today?"

(Click on the title above or go to this link: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/juneweb-only/125-52.0.html)

A Goal, Not Just a Process

When Jesus gave us His mandate in Matthew 28:18-20 (commonly referred to as “The Great Commission”), He left us with a very specific task. This task was not just given to the “missions program” of the church or to a few who feel called to be a “missionary.” This task was given to all of us. Here is how one author has explained the mandate that Jesus gave to all of us who are followers of Jesus Christ:

“Disciple all the peoples.”

Jesus spoke as if they could see every single nation from the hill on which he stood. To disciple each one of the nations meant that there would be a once-for-all change among every one of the tribes, languages, and peoples.

In the syntax of His sentence, the Greek word translated “make disciples” required an object for the discipling action. The scope of that object (in this case “all the peoples”) would define the extent of the discipling action. The mandate should never be abbreviated as merely “make disciples,” as if Jesus simply wanted the process of disciple-making to happen. The expression must stand as a whole: “disciple all the peoples.” Jesus was setting out a super-goal. A discipling movement was in the destiny of every people on earth. He was given them the task of starting the movements.

Jesus did not emphasize the process of communicating the gospel. In fact, He said nothing about the gospel itself. They were not mandated merely to expose people to the gospel. They were commissioned to bring about a result, a response, a global following of Jesus from every people. It was a task to be accomplished. And it would be completed. No doubts crossed their minds about that. Jesus always finished everything He set out to do.

(Excerpt from Steven Hawthorne, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, Third Edition, page 110.)

(Map image from www.mapability.com)

Prayer Resources

If you are a Kingdom Partner, then you know that prayer is one of the most important ways that you can be actively involved in global disciple making. One of the best resources out there for praying for people all over this planet is Operation World. They have information on both countries and people groups. Go to their website for a daily prayer guide.

Another resource is 24-7 Prayer. This website uses the information from Operation World to give you a quick list of facts about various countries and prayer needs.

I encourage you to explore both websites. The links will be permanently listed on the left under the "Perspectives Links."

Perspectives Links

I have added a new section to my blog. On the right you will find a "Perspectives Links" section. It will provide websites and resources concerning God's heart for the nations. I will add new links in the coming weeks as I learn about them.

God's Perspective

Two thousand years before Christ, God told Abraham that in his seed all the nations of the world would be blessed. Two thousand years ago, Jesus came to earth to die for the world. Now, it’s been another two thousand years. Is there a connection between Abraham’s promise, the Messiah’s coming, and what is happening in our world today?

When William Carey stood before a room full of pastors and pressed the need to take the gospel to India he was told, “Sit down, young man. If God wants to reach the heathen He will do it without your help or ours.” But in 1793 William Carey sailed to India where he would start churches, oversee six complete translations of the Bible, and found colleges. How are we to respond to the Great Commission of Christ?

The Sawi people of Irian Jaya were headhunting cannibals, and treachery was their highest virtue. When missionary Don Richardson told them the crucifixion story, who should emerge as the hero but Judas for his act of treachery! That wasn’t the end of the story, however and today the Sawi have a growing church in their culture. How could this happen?

In the year 100 AD there were 360 non-Christians for every believer on earth. Now, in 2006, the number has shrunk to only 9 non-Christians for every believer on earth. Can the completion of the Great Commission be near?

Come join us for the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement class to find out the answers to these questions and learn more about the biblical, historical, cultural, and strategic aspects of fulfilling the Great Commission. We live in a unique time in history. God has given us a call with both global and local dimensions. This 16-week class will help you understand that call and your specific place within it. Hear from a different guest lecturer each week. Discover for yourself how to find your particular assignment within God’s ageless plan!

Perspectives will meet at New Covenant Bible Church (Cedar Rapids, IA) on Monday nights from 6:30 to 9:00 PM from January 15 through May 7. For more information or to register for this dynamic class, contact me at the church office at 319-395-0021.