Spiritual Disciplines: Worship

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

It seems that God works from the inside out. He transforms our heart and mind

inside us. Then he uses that transformed heart and mind to transform the

world. Another way to say this is that faith grows out of an internal battle with

doubt. Then, we outwardly put faith in action by obeying God even when

obedience means hardship.

Spiritual disciplines are designed to help us win the internal battle for faith so

that we can live transformed lives in the world. We call spiritual activities

carried out regularly by ordinary believers “spiritual disciplines.” Spiritual

disciplines include regular prayer, fasting, and study and mediation upon the

word of God. But worship and regular participation in the Lord’s Supper are

also spiritual disciplines.

To worship God is to give glory to God who is great and who is holy. To worship

God is to honor God and to recognize his goodness. Worship brings God joy.

Psalm 22:3 says he inhabits the praises of his people.

Many times when we think about worship, we think of the body of Christ

coming together to form a large group to sing praises to God. This is indeed

worship. But there is another kind of worship that transforms Christians. We

can worship God simply as we pray, as we read the Scriptures, and as we sing

by ourselves.

Worship as a spiritual discipline is more than giving thanks to God in prayer.

And it is much more than simply singing the words of a worship song. In

worship, we connect with God by humbly recognizing his goodness and his

power. In worship, we remember the mighty deeds of God that brought us

salvation and we thank him. We remember the character of God, his goodness,

kindness, mercy, righteousness, and holiness. Then we honor him for each

trait. In worship, we surrender ourselves to God. We entrust ourselves to him

as a living sacrifice.

As we worship God, we gain two attributes which make us useful to God in this

world. First of all, as we worship God, our faith grows. We trust him more

because through worship, we remember better his love and his power. As we

worship God, debilitating fear melts away. Fear is replaced by a sense of

security that comes from being held in the Father’s arms. In additions to faith,

we gain inner peace through worship. Faith and peace make us fit for the

challenges we face in the world.

So what does this personal experience of worship look like? Externally, it may

look like silent prayer. It may sound like the singing of songs of praise. It may

look like reading the Bible or listening to an audio recording of God’s word.

Internally, worship is the faith-empowered experience of honoring God and

recognizing his goodness.

So here is my word of encouragement for you today: Build regular, extended

times of personal worship into you practice of the spiritual disciplines. As you

do so, you will be transformed from the inside out.

This has been “Multiply,” and I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this

encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #WorshipGod #FromTheInsideOut

One Another Series - Offer Hospitality to One Another

 

This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders.

This year, in these podcasts, I am focusing upon the “One Another” scriptures found in the New Testament as viewed through the lens of leadership.

Our verse for today’s podcast is 1 Peter 4:9 where we read, “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” At the outset, I will say that my observation is that Africans are much, much better at this than people in my country.

Hospitality seems to be ingrained in African culture. I’ve observed it, and I’ve been the recipient of African hospitality on many occasions. I love Africans and their hospitality! On the other hand, people in my country sometimes need to be reminded to offer hospitality “without grumbling.”

Why do you suppose the Apostle Peter added this admonition “without grumbling”? I asked myself this question, and I believe that it’s because demonstrating hospitality can be an inconvenience to the host. There are many preparations to consider. Will there be enough food and drink? Will there be places for everyone to sit? Or beds to sleep in? Practicing hospitality may mean that I’m not able to complete all the day’s tasks. Hospitality will usually cost me something. Peter’s counsel is to set all those objections, considerations, or excuses aside. As I researched this verse, I found a helpful description of what Peter’s instruction looked like to those in the first century.

“Be hospitable” means to be friendly to strangers or guests. A “stranger” is someone who we do not regard as a member of our extended family or a close friend. Strangeness produces mutual tension between natives and foreigners, but hospitality overcomes the pressure and makes friends of aliens. 

Times of persecution and distress obligated Christians to be hospitable to one another. Some Christians lost everything they owned and were driven to distant countries for safety. This hospitality sustained people uprooted by persecution. Source: https://versebyversecommentary.com/1997/11/24/1-peter-49/ Leaders are to set the example in this practice.

1 Timothy 3:2 – “Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.” The Greek word translated “overseer” is also translated elsewhere as bishop or shepherd. Leaders set the example.

The subject in Titus chapter 1 is appointing elders. Verse 8 tells us that ”he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.” Again, we see that leaders set the example in offering hospitality. Whether it is easy or convenient or not, we are to “offer hospitality to one another.”

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters and leaders.

Spiritual Disciplines Meditate on God's Word

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters. 

When I was a young Christian, I loved the moments when I saw the Holy Spirit at work in dramatic ways. I loved to see people experience salvation.  I was delighted when people quickly and dramatically yielded their lives to Christ.  But I am so thankful that I was taught as second, less dramatic way the Holy Spirit works in the lives of the people of God.

God works in us through activities which seem rather ordinary and simple.  We call spiritual activities carried out regularly by ordinary believers “Spiritual disciplines.”  Spiritual disciplines include regular prayer, fasting, and study and mediation upon the word of God. These activities are not dramatic.  They are not spectacular.  Sometimes when we practice spiritual disciplines, we are moved with emotion, but many times, we are not. Even so, spiritual disciplines are life giving for the child of God.

As a church planter, it is your privilege to see God work in dramatic ways to save and heal.  Praise the Lord! Continue to exercise faith for him to work in power by granting salvation, healing and deliverance.  But makes sure you do not neglect God’s transforming work through the spiritual disciplines.  Allow him to work in you through quiet moments of prayer and meditation on the word of God.  

The Apostle Paul rejoiced when he saw the transforming work of the word of God in the lives of new believers in Thessalonica.  He wrote in I Thessalonians 2:11 – 13, “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.” 

Paul knew that “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” He remembered God’s promise to Joshua, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8)

Church planter, do your people know and understand that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God? Have they learned to read a passage of God’s word every day so they can allow it to minister to them?  Do they listen to audio Bible stories daily or view segments of the Jesus Film in their local language on a smart phone?  Are they memorizing God’s word?

Let me encourage you to teach your people the spiritual discipline of meditating on God’s word daily.  As you do, you, like church planter Paul will see the word of God at work in those who believe.

This has been “Multiply,” and I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #MeditateOnTheWord

Spiritual Disciplines of Prayer

 

Hello this is Multiply a podcast to encourage village church planters and leaders. I am Brad Snowden and today we want to look at the subject of prayer and what a privilege it is to pray. 

Hebrews 10:19-22 says  Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

I believe that there should be nothing that hinders us from entering into our time with the Lord. It is sad when followers of Christ do not feel comfortable praying because they feel they don’t say the right things or in the right way. The scripture tells us that we need to be sincere in our desire to spend time talking and listening to God. We also come to the Lord knowing that He will hear our cries because He knows the heart. I have to be honest that there has been many times that I have cried out to the Lord and I had no idea how He was going to work it all out and yet I do not have to know that part . 

Psalm 5:3 says   In the morning, Lord, you will hear my voice;  in the morning I lay my requests before you  and wait expectantly.

Our prayer life must be part of our spiritual disciplines. Whether we spend time in prayer in the morning or at night, the Psalmist in the verse we just read it is all about spiritual discipline . We may not feel like praying yet, that is when it is most important to strengthen our relationship with the Lord.  Through our time with Him praying He extends His kingdom and accomplishes His will here on earth. Our own life and the life of our families ,the church and it’s ministry to the lost depend on our discipline to devote time in Prayer. This life in prayer is more valuable than we could ever realize and it is more effective than we could ever imagine . I know this because if this wasn’t the truth the enemy would not work so hard to try to distract us from praying. Church planters our prayer life is important so please draw into that time with sincerity and expectation.

 This has been a word of encouragement for village church planers . Who will you share this with today?

Sanctifying Grace Part 2

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

I remember when I was new Christian and was first learning about God’s grace.

Grace is a word that is used very often in the New Testament. But in my

family, grace was not a word we used much at all. So I really didn’t

understand its meaning. My teachers at church helped me. They said that

God’s grace is his unmerited favor. We do not deserve God’s grace. We

cannot earn it. But, by grace, God shows us favor. Because of His great grace,

the Father sent his Son Jesus into the world to save his people from their sins.

Ephesians 2:8,9 teach us that “It is by grace you have been saved, through

faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so

that no one can boast.” 

Grace: God’s unmerited favor. I am so glad I learned this definition. But later

I learned that there is more to grace than simply unmerited favor. I learned

that God’s grace is the power to do his will. The Apostle Paul said in I

Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to

me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but

the grace of God that was with me.” Here Paul understand the grace of God as

the power of God to do the will of God.

What an amazing truth. God calls us to be holy and God gives us power to be

holy. If we had to transform our behavior in our own strength, we would surely

fail. But God is kind to us; he gives us power to be holy. We call this power

from God to live a transformed life “sanctifying grace.” Sanctifying grace is

God’s power at work in us enabling us to do the will of God. And like saving

grace, sanctifying grace is free. It is not earned or deserved. Like saving grace,

sanctifying grace is received by faith. And like saving grace, the Holy Spirit is

God’s agent who delivers sanctifying grace to us.

I know that as a church planter you long to lead and multiply strong, healthy

churches. And as a church planter who has worked to make disciples, you know

that churches are only as healthy as the people who form them. As a church

planter, you have seen sin which has broken and impoverished families for

generations. And, praise the Lord, as a church planter, you have seen God’s

saving grace at work through the ministry of the Holy Spirit to bring new life to

men and women who were far from God.

So here is my word of encouragement for you today. Just as you have

proclaimed the saving grace of God to hundreds, so also proclaim the

 sanctifying grace of God. Teach new believers from Philippines 2:13, “God is at

work in you both to desire and to work for his good pleasure.” Teach church

members that the God who calls them to be holy will give them power to be

holy. Invite them to receive sanctifying grace moment by moment. Teach them

to expect the Holy Spirit to deliver God’s grace every hour and every day.

This has been “Multiply.” And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this

encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #SanctifyingGrace #BeHoly

How the Spirit Produces Fruit

 Hello, this is Multiply! A podcast for church planters, pastors, and Christian leaders. I am your host today, Daneille Snowden.

Fruit contains seeds and most fruit is sweet and is enjoyed as a refreshing food. My favorite fruit is berries. They are sweet and oh so juicy. There are many nutrients in fruit that better our health, and even helps us fight diseases plus viruses. God didn’t stop there with fruit, he made sure we would never run out of it! How? By placing a seed within the fruit to plant, reproducing even more fruit. Take apple trees for example, on average one tree can produce 200 to 300 apples, and an older tree the same size produces up to eight hundred apples per tree. 

In Galatians 5:22-23 it says: “But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” 

How does the fruit of the Spirit reproduce? For me, the answer is simple! As we seek the Lord, worship Him and feast upon His Word, this fruit will be a part of our lives. The Fruit of the Spirit reproduced is not of us. Our human devices are listed just a couple verses before, in verses 19-20 (please read). 

 He will give us joy! Joy is contagious, another words that joy will reproduce. Each part of the fruit listed becomes a part of who we are through the Holy Spirit. He gives us a deep love, that we in turn can give out to others. There is Self-control, with the help of the Holy Spirit we can have power over evil temptations, and even over ourselves. 

When we eat fruit, it is full of nutrients that becomes a part of our body, flowing into our cells and blood. As the Holy Spirit flows, His fruit will multiply within our own soul and even mind. Changing us for His Glory! We will walk in peace and strength. We will shine a light and send a message to others as they see and even hear the Holy Spirit’s presence! Then, they too will be touched and be led to seek the Lord, thus we will witness the power of multiplication in the Spirit. Let us rejoice that God has designed this too, as we will never run out of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit!

Will you share this word with others? Also, find us on our website www.vcpencouragement.org. Multiply is also on several podcast channels.

Sanctifying Grace

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

One of the most challenging commands of Scripture is first mentioned in the

Old Testament and is repeated in the New Testament: The Lord says, “You

shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” God gives this command in

Leviticus 11:44 and 45. Peter repeats the command in 1 Peter 1:16.

For many of us, when we hear this command and think about it, our first

response is “Impossible. There is no way that I can be holy. There is no way

that I can be like God.” But it is very clear that God wants us to be holy. He

wants us to separate ourselves from evil and be devoted to him. He wants us

to take on his character of righteousness and love.

One of the major themes of Village Church Planting is the need to teach God’s

big story from start to finish. We call this Chronological Bible Storytelling.

When we think about God’s big story, we remember from Genesis 1 and 2 that

he is the Creator. He created man and woman in his image. God delighted to

have fellowship with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. But, first the woman

and then the man disobeyed God. They ate the fruit he said that they must not

eat. Because of their sin, they were separated from God.

The rest of God’s big story tells about God’s initiative to restore fellowship

between himself and the people he has created. It’s not easy. In Genesis 6:5,

God observes that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was

only evil all the time. Even so, God saves Noah and his family. Then he calls

Abraham to himself. He blesses Abraham and his descendants in hundreds of

ways. But they seem so unwilling to separate themselves from worldly, unholy

ways. Even so, God never gives up. In the fullness of time, God send his Son

Jesus to save his people from their sins. By his life, death, and resurrection,

Jesus changes everything! Listen to the Good News announced in Romans 8:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ

Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set

you free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law was powerless to do

because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the

likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the

flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in

us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Did you hear that? “The righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in

us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Because of the Holy Spirit living in us, as children of God, we can say “No!” to

sin and “Yes!” to righteousness. We can be separated from sin and live for God.

In fact, the common name for Christ followers in the New Testament is “saint.”

What are saints? They are people made holy by the work of Christ and the

presence of His Holy Spirit.

We give thanks to God for his wonderful gift. Won’t you share this good news

with everyone in your church!

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #BeHoly